The Town of Stonewall is in the heart of the Haynesville Shale and one of the fastest growing communities in the Ark-La-Tex due to its excellent public education opportunities and low crime rate. Alcohol sales have been recently approved by the voters. Stonewall should also benefit from federal money allocated to build a North Desoto Parish Sewer District. This property is on Hwy 171 inside Stonewall and has city water. The Stonewall Frierson Road East of I-49 is being redesignated as I-69 Spur to allow the Port of Caddo Bossier truck traffic direct access to I-49.
The entire tract is built up, level and drains well
Two LaDOTD commercial driveways are available
No known environmental issues or other development issues
Existing manufactured home and outbuildings will be removed by Seller
Sale Price: $2,100,000 Price Per Acre: $475.1K/ac Acres: 4.42 ac Is Vacant: Yes Zoning: COMMERCIAL Sale Terms: Cash to Seller Nearest MSA: Shreveport-Bossier City Property Use Type: Vacant/Owner-User Property Status: Existing Vehicles Per Day: 12,000 VPD Lot Frontage: 451 ft Lot Size: 500′ deep Adjacent Parcels Available: Yes Topography: Level Soil Type: Clay Nearest Interstate: I-49 – 5 mi Nearest Highway: Hwy 171 Nearest Airport: Shreveport Regional Airport – 20 mi Nearest Port: Port of Caddo Bossier – 20 mi Parish: DeSoto Parish
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BY THE NUMBERS: 2024
In 2024, The Parish Journals of Louisiana saw over fourteen million articles read by over three million unique readers!
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During its November 6 meeting, the Caddo Parish Commission also recognized local performer Max Chambers for his growing impact on the national stage through his appearances on the hit television show The Voice.
Chambers has quickly become a fan favorite on the program and is currently being coached by renowned entertainer Michael Bublé. Commissioners highlighted his talent, stage presence, and the positive attention he continues to bring to Caddo Parish as he advances in the competition.
Chambers’ rising profile reflects the region’s vibrant pool of artistic talent and the community’s strong support for local performers.
There’s no place quite like Ruston, LA for the holidays. With beautifully decorated downtown shops, streets lined with twinkling lights, and holiday cheer in the air, Ruston produces all those cozy feelings of being home for the holidays.
Ruston and Lincoln Parish offer a holiday season full of festive fun, making it the perfect time to make the drive and celebrate the holidays with your friends and family. From parades and performances to light displays and shopping events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.
Thursday, November 20, kick start the holiday season in the heart of Ruston. Holiday Open House & Kickoff to Christmas invites you to shop and stroll downtown’s special promotions, get your pictures with Santa, and see the downtown tree lighting. While you’re around for Kickoff to Christmas, stroll Ruston’s quarterly Art Ramble happening 5:30pm-8:30pm. Local artists will be displaying and selling artwork and curated creations, perfect for finding your loved ones that one-of-a kind gift.
Thursday, December 4, Ruston’s Annual Christmas Parade will hit the streets. This parade fills Ruston with festive floats and plenty of Christmas cheer. Bring your blanket, grab a warm drink from a local coffee shop, and enjoy one of the merriest events of the season.
December 4-7, experience the timeless story of A Christmas Carol brought to life at the Dixie Center for the Arts. Ruston Community Theatre brings you Ebnezer Scrooge, the three Spirits of Christmas, and musical adaptations by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynee Ahres.
Lincoln Lights Up the Pines is a Ruston holiday staple and a can’t miss event. Pack up the whole family and come experience Ruston’s only drive-thru Christmas light display at the beautiful Lincoln Parish Park happening December 4-6 and 11-13. Enjoy twinkling lights, holiday scenes, and festive decor all from the warmth of your vehicle as you take in the glow of the season.
December 5-7 is a big weekend in Ruston, LA and full of holiday adventures. You can shop Big Creek Trade Days on December 5-7, where you’ll find handmade jewelry, accessories, furniture, antiques, outdoor items, and more to help you knock out your holiday shopping list. December 6, visit the OWL Center for their Christmas on the Farm. This holiday event brings you pony rides, a petting zoo, a bouncy house, crafts, pictures with Santa, rock wall, zip line, games, and so much more. Also on December 6, you can visit downtown Choudrant for Christmas in the Village featuring a parade, bounce houses, cookies with Santa, a movie in the park, and more.
On December 12, the Dixie Center for the Arts presents A Christmas Blues. This benefit concert is full of holiday spirit and down-home blues bringing together some of the area’s most gifted musicians for an unforgettable night of music.
Downtown Ruston hosts the Christmas Cookie Crawl on December 14. Satisfy your sweet tooth this holiday season and sign up to get a delicious holiday cookie at each participating local business all while you shop the local, holiday deals and specials. While you’re in town, step into the holiday spirit with Holiday Tour of Homes, sponsored by Pine Hills Children’s Advocacy Center happening December 14. Tour beautifully decorated homes and gather festive inspiration for your own holiday decor.
Ruston has it all – late night shopping, downtown deals, cookie crawls, parades, live music, light displays, and of course, the annual holiday5K race. On December 18 the Ruston Rudolph 5k Race will take place at the Ruston Sports Complex. Grab your holiday running gear, strap on your Santa Claus hat, and get ready for the most festive race of the year.
End the holiday season on a high note. The Ruston Sports Complex brings you Christmas at the Complex on December 20. Spend a festive day with friends and family and enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, take your picture with Santa, watch a Christmas movie, and go ice skating.
This is just a quick look at the holiday adventures you can go on this year in Ruston, LA. Recurring events throughout December include artificial ice skating at the Ruston Sports Complex and the Ruston Farmers Market happening every Saturday – perfect for finding your holiday gifts and festive flavors all while enjoying some live music.
Come experience the holidays in Ruston, LA, where small town charm and big holiday spirit bring you back to those nostalgic feelings of Christmas when you were a kid.
PRIDE OF THE LIONS: Sophomore quarterback Devion Stewart has been the focal figure in Booker T. Washington’s breakthrough season. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOD, landgphoto.com)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
The milestones continue to pile up for the Booker T. Washington Lions.
The latest: last week’s 22-14 win over visiting Istrouma was BTW’s first home playoff game in seemingly forever, and it was the Lions’ first postseason win in 20 years.
That’s reason enough that coach Gary Cooper’s squad is the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week as the 13th-seeded Lions take aim at No. 4 U-High, Friday night’s Select Division II second round opponent, on the Cubs’ homefield just off the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
BTW (7-4) is undaunted, riding a crest of momentum – one that ironically began with mid-season District 1-4A losses to top-ranked North DeSoto, Northwood, Minden and Loyola – all but Minden ranking in the top five in their divisions in power points when they faced the Lions.
“The kids are battle tested,” said Cooper. “You want to win every game you play, that’s true enough, but at the same time, playing in a district like this, getting game reps against teams like that, it gets your kids ready to try to make a playoff run.”
BTW has won its last three games.
“The turning point was when our quarterback got hurt and missed three games, three tough games, and the kids gelled together and fought through it. That said a whole lot about them,” said Cooper.
Every team’s quarterback is a key figure. Devion Stewart is just a sophomore, but he’s the pivotal guy for the Lions in their spread passing game.
Stewart got hurt at the end of BTW’s Week 4 game, the district opener at Bossier – a 42-41 triumph for the visitors.
“He had a helluva game that night and we won it with a two-minute drill, the last drive,” said Cooper. “But we had to go without him the next three games against North DeSoto (10-0), Northwood (8-3) and Minden (5-6) before we got him back for Loyola (9-1).
“North DeSoto was a 22-16 ballgame into the second half. The kids battled against the Number 1 team in the state. That showed a lot about who they were.
“Getting him back allowed us to get back to who we are offensively,” said Cooper, whose team is averaging 41 points in its win streak.
“He’s the guy who makes us go. For a kid who’s a sophomore, we put a lot on his shoulders and he’s handled it. He’s very cerebral, loves the game, and nobody is going to outwork him. He’s our guy and we are going to ride with him.”
Heading Stewart’s list of high priority targets is returning All-State receiver D.K. Mitchell, who is near the 1,000-yard mark this season. Tray Moore is “a possession guy who makes yards after the catch,” said Cooper, and Devondre Johnson is the slot receiver and kick returner who “is very dangerous. When we get him into space, he can score from anywhere.”
Getting Stewart time to operate is an offensive line that “has played very well in spurts,” said Cooper. “They have their moments when they go crazy, but they play their butts off. They make the right adjustments when it matters most.”
On the other side of the ball, the Lions are reliably resistant.
“We have one of the best defensive staffs I’ve seen – Tony Reliford, Mike Green, and Josh Jones. Those guys put it together and have those kids playing extremely well,” said Cooper.
Not only did they hold Istrouma to 14 points, but the Lions’ defense scored the last points to break a 14-all tie on a 5-yard fumble return by junior linebacker Grazier May.
BTW’s eight-point margin didn’t reflect the dominance the Lions displayed.
“The score didn’t tell what it was. We had a lot of wasted opportunities to put it away. We moved the ball up and down the field, but didn’t finish very well. Our defense played lights out, well enough to win the game.”
The anchors are at linebacker: Cameron Page (“our defensive QB, who makes all the calls”), Ladarion Banks and May, “all over 70 tackles this year, playing their butts off,” Cooper said.
Cooper began rebuilding the program three years ago, starting by painting and dressing up facilities, setting a tone so the Lions could take pride in their surroundings. He also instilled discipline and demanded accountability.
“Just being consistent with them – staying on their butts about the way we were going to do things. We didn’t let up on the standard. We kept our foot down and the kids bought in,” he said.
“Year one, we saw progression. We were very young, and had a lot of kids coming back who got a lot of experience. We were in a lot of tough games, and took our lumps. In the second year, we were one win better and got a better playoff position by 5-6 places. We were seeing growth.
“Now we have seven wins, we are in the second round of the playoffs, and this is a byproduct of the hard work of the staff and the kids – kids who have been busting their butts for three years, doing things the right way.”
Getting to host a playoff game at Leonard C. Barnes Stadium on campus was exciting. Going on to the next round, even more so.
“Last week was a great week,” said Cooper, “and this week has been even better.”
RARE AIR: Captain Shreve’s Erik Lane has just reached elite status as a high school soccer coach with 700 career high school wins. (Photo courtesy Captain Shreve High School)
By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
Captain Shreve coach Erik Lane has achieved a milestone that is rarely reached these days: 700 career high school soccer wins. He did so when the Lady Gators defeated Northwood on Monday night, 8-0.
Lane is in his seventh year at Shreve with a 141-28-16 record with the Lady Gators. He moved here from the Houston area, where he coached for 28 years, and in those 35 years holds a 701-204-131 record, after the Lady Gators defeated Sterlington Tuesday night 5-0.
The season has started slowly as the top girls teams get ready for the Loyola Flyers Invitational this weekend. This tournament has become a large attraction drawing strong teams around the state, eager to get the opportunity for competitive games against Shreveport-Bossier’s best teams. Highly-ranked girls teams coming this weekend include Lakeshore, Dutchtown, Archbishop Hannan, University Lab and West Monroe.
The inaugural Shreveport-Bossier Journal coaches’ poll of the 2025-26 season is close at the top, with places 1-3 separated by only four votes. Benton starts the season at No. 1, with three first place votes and 22 overall points.
The Lady Tigers faced West Monroe Tuesday night, blanking the Lady Rebels 2-0. They will be facing Sterlington, Hannan and University Lab this weekend in the Flyer Invitational.
Byrd went to the state finals the last two years and hopes to take that next step and bring the title back to Shreveport this year. The Lady Jackets recorded two first-place votes and 20 points overall to sit in the second spot in the coaches’ poll.
The Lady Jackets defeated Ouachita Parish 7-0 on Monday. Byrd is playing four games in this weekend’s Flyer Invitational, meeting West Ouachita, Zachary, Hannan and University Lab.
Loyola, who also was in a 2025 state title game, finished a close third in the coaches’ poll, with 18 points. The Lady Flyers began their season Monday, defeating Alexandria 2-0. Loyola will kick off its tournament Friday, when the Lady Flyers face University Lab. They follow up that game Saturday against Lakeshore and West Ouachita.
Captain Shreve earned eight votes and the fourth spot in the preseason poll. The Lady Gators will play tonight for the third day in a row, at Ouachita Parish, before taking the weekend off prior to the Thanksgiving break.
Calvary edged Caddo Magnet 4-3 to take the fifth and final spot on the poll. The Lady Cavaliers fell to Loyola in last year’s semifinals. Calvary started the season on Monday with a 4-0 win over North Caddo. The Lady Cavaliers will face Lakeshore, Hannan and Ouachita Parish this weekend in the Flyer invitational.
Caddo Magnet was the only other team to record any votes in the preseason poll and began the season on Monday, in a wild game against Haughton, winning 10-6. The Lady Mustangs will face a trio of Monroe teams in this weekend’s invitational: Ouachita Parish, West Monroe and Sterlington.
This season the SBJ’s coaches’ poll will be limited to the top 5 teams, using a panel of 5 coaches, representing multiple divisions.
The first 2025-26 girls’ poll listing school (W-L-T record), points and (first place votes):
JOINING FORCES: Basketball teams from Bossier Parish Community College and Barksdale AFB gathered postgame Tuesday at Billy Montgomery Gym on the BPCC campus. (Submitted photo)
JOURNAL SPORTS
Five Bossier Parish Community College players scored between 10-13 points and three more added nine apiece Tuesday night at Billy Montgomery Gym as the Cavaliers cruised by the Barksdale Bombers 113-69.
Barksdale’s Simon Pruhs scored a game-high 20 while Christian Tolbert and Larry Williams each added 10 for the Bombers.
“It was an honor to have the real heroes in our gym – the men on the Barksdale Air Force Base Team!” said first-year BPCC coach Jeff Moore. “My father served in the Army before he played college basketball – so nothing but respect for those that serve our country, and appreciation for these patriots to take the court and help us develop our team.”
Drew Cooper and Tony Montgomery each scored a team-best 13 points for the Cavaliers (3-1). Dustin Welch added 12, Zequan Lewis 11 and Mazi Lumori 10. Contributing nine points were Antonis Kalavros, Drin Tafilaj and Darnell Morris.
Tafilaj was the top rebounder with six. Yoav Botzer had five assists to lead the Cavs and suffered only one turnover. Lewis recorded seven steals.
BPCC (4-1) opened a 63-36 halftime lead. A dozen Cavaliers scored as all but one of the 14 on the roster got extensive playing time.
“Our guys really came out tonight with a lot of energy,” said Moore, whose team rebounded from its first loss on Saturday to Southern-Shreveport. “We made steps forward at improving on parts of the game we worked on and watched on film the last two days.”
BPCC continues a homecourt-heavy first month under Moore, a former LSU and Northwestern State assistant, when the Cavs play host to Southwest Mississippi Community College Friday night at 6:30.
Next Monday and Tuesday, Bossier Parish will play as it hosts the Fourth Annual Decari Markray Classic. Region XIV competition begins Dec. 3 at Paris JC.
By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
Basketball season is underway with both new Centenary coaches working to develop their young rosters before Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference competition begins after the holidays.
That was apparent in a Tuesday night home doubleheader at the Gold Dome.
The Gents (0-4) lost a tough game to the Arlington Baptist Patriots on Tuesday night at home, 74-71, in a non-conference contest. Centenary returns to action next Tuesday against Mary Hardin-Baylor at 5:30 p.m. in Belton, Texas.
The Ladies (1-4) lost to the Patriots 68-60 on Tuesday night and will be back in action next Tuesday against the Wiley Wildcats in nearby Marshall, Texas at 5 o’clock.
SWIMMING: The Ladies and Gents return to action this weekend as they compete in the “Mid-Season Invitational” hosted by Hendrix College in Conway, Ark.
Centenary is entered in a pair of meets in January – the Austin College Invitational on Jan. 10 in Sherman, Texas before closing the regular season at home in a conference tri-meet against Austin College and St. Thomas on Jan. 17 on Senior Day.
The 2026 SCAC Championships are set for Feb. 11-14 in Garland, Texas.
STUNT: The Centenary College STUNT program has released its 2026 season schedule.
The Ladies open their second season in the McNeese State Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 1 in Lake Charles, where they will face Texas Woman’s University and Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
Centenary will welcome Muskigum and McNeese to the Gold Dome on Sunday, Feb. 8 as the Ladies will make their home debut as a program.
The Ladies finished eighth in the country in the Division III rankings last season. As the first and only NCAA Varsity STUNT team in the state of Louisiana this past season and the only DIII team in the south, Centenary was forced to play cross divisional the entire season.
The Ladies will finish their season in the Warrior Invitational held in East Stroudsburg, Pa., Feb. 21-22.
FOOTBALL: Centenary’s season ended last Saturday as coach Byron Dawson’s Gents fell 16-14 to the Austin College ‘Roos in the opening game of the inaugural Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Football Championship last Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
The Gents, the sixth seed, finished their second varsity season at 1-8 overall. The Gents and ‘Roos were playing each other for the third time this season. Austin College recorded a 41-15 win over Centenary on Oct. 4 in Sherman, Texas and a 20-10 win in Shreveport Nov. 8 to finish 3-0 against the Maroon and White.
All-conference honors will be announced soon, and the Gents on the All-SCAC team will be cited here next week.
REGIONAL WINNER:LSUS lifter Henry Ludbrook is one of five men and five women lifters to win their division at the 2025 Southwest Regionals last Saturday at Texas State. (Submitted photo)
JOURNAL SPORTS
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Out of the 16 LSU Shreveport men’s and women’s weightlifters that competed in the 2025 Southwest Regionals last Saturday, just one finished off the podium in their respective weight class.
Five men and five women each won their respective weight classes as LSUS captured the men’s and women’s regional titles.
That’s the level of domination LSUS wrought on its competition, which included institutions like the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Houston, TCU and Rice.
LSUS also laid claim to the best overall male and female lifters – Bryson Brown and Grace Gonzales-Liz.
Brown logged 258 kilograms in his best snatch and clean and jerk lifts combined, which not only topped his 65-kilogram weight class but was more than any lifter in the two weight classes above him.
Gonzales-Liz had a similar effect as her 171 kilograms in her two best lifts placed fifth overall regardless of weight class, as she’s in the second-lightest class (58 kilograms).
The best overall lifters are determined by the Sinclair Formula, which accounts for a lifters’ weight, age, and combined weight lifted.
It’s the program’s best showing in the second season of coach Aaron Adams, a former national record holder at LSUS.
“I expected us to win on the women’s side, but the men’s competition is always dicey,” said Adams, whose 23-person roster is still overwhelmingly freshmen. “The culture is starting to get established.
“People kind of know what to expect when they are coming into the program now. But to me the best part is that every single one of our athletes volunteered to help with the event after they finished. Whether it’s at the registration table, loading weights, or whatever needed to be done. They really are part of the weightlifting community.”
Joining Brown as LSUS men’s division winners include Angel Vazquez (60 kg), Braxton Wright (71 kg), Henry Ludbrook (79 kg), and Noah Leggio (94 kg).
Gonzales-Liz had plenty of company at the top of the podium as well from LSUS teammates Savannah Bolden (69 kg), Enyjai Tyson (77 kg), Neveah Kellerman (86 kg ) and Clair Callahan (86+ kg).
The Pilots sent full teams (eight men and eight women) to a regional for the first time in about a decade.
The LSUS women are coming off a second-place finish at the 2024 regionals while the program sent a combined 10 men and women to the university national championships this past season.
But this year, LSUS lifters are in line to qualify for the university world championships.
Brown met the “Junior B” standard that would qualify him for the world championships if he can duplicate those numbers at a national meet.
Adams said he expects other lifters, which include multiple transfers expected to join the program this spring, to likely meet the “Junior B” standard as well.
The LSUS weightlifting culture is known nationally and internationally thanks to the legacy built by international hall of fame coach Dr. Kyle Pierce, and Adams is delivering that culture to younger generations of lifters via the team’s @lsusweightlifting Instagram account, which can generate thousands of likes and hundreds of comments.
Adams is attracting lifters who competed in the Junior Pan American Games like Brown.
In addition to social media, LSUS is conducting summer camps that are bringing in high school lifters from across the nation, effectively building the recruiting pipeline.
LSUS competes again at the American Open Finals in Daytona Beach, Fla, from Dec. 4-7.
The university national championships are in April, where LSUS qualified 10 lifters in 2024 but should bring the full 16 this season.
Have you ever been asked, “Can you keep a secret?” Sure, you have but there’s probably not another group of people on earth who have more secrets than tournament bass anglers. Secrets that they will take to their grave! Let’s dive into the secret world of tournament bass fishing and look at the mental side — how anglers think.
It’s absolutely amazing how anglers won’t ever give up any of their secret baits or locations where they catch bass. I don’t care how long you’ve been fishing, there are just certain bits of information a tournament bass angler will never reveal, not even to his best buddies.
This is why it’s hard for one angler to trust another! It’s like opening a closet door and revealing everything you never wanted anyone to find out. Every angler thinks they know something no one else does, but if the truth be told, there are no secret baits or secret locations any more on any body of water.
Anglers, as I have said so many times in the past, are a funny bunch. Every single tournament angler on the water is always looking for that ONE bait that no one else is throwing. That one bait that they have the utmost confidence which no matter the conditions, will catch fish. Anglers are always searching for anything that will give them a leg up on their competition.
This is where the mental side of tournament bass fishing comes into play. Bass fishing, as so many pro anglers will tell you, is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. This is actually what separates the average anglers from the great ones.
The greatest angler of all time, Kevin Van Dam, once told me that if you believe in the bait you’re throwing, you’ll fish that bait totally different than one you don’t believe in. Confidence in bass fishing goes a long way in catching bass!
That’s another key word in tournament bass fishing — confidence. It’s funny how this one word is crucial for anything we do in life. It’s a word that can make you average, or great.
Again, I reference a conversation I had with Kevin Van Dam when I asked if he believed in adding scent to the bait he’s fishing? His answer was not what I was expecting when he reversed the question and asked me if I believed in adding scent to my baits?
My answer was “yes.” I do think it makes a difference in the number of bites I get in a day. He then said, “That’s all that matters; if you believe in it, use it! Because the more you believe in what you’re doing, the better you ‘ll fish that bait! It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, it only matters what you think.”
So, I guess you could say that the best-kept secret of any angler is not a certain bait or location on any body of water, but it’s the confidence they have in what they’re doing!
It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Earnest Bruce Murphy who passed away peacefully with his beloved niece by his side on October 24, 2025, in Shreveport, LA. He was dearly loved and admired by his family and friends.
Earnest was born on January 17, 1945, to Alfred and Grace Murphy in Knoxville, TN. He graduated from Powell High School in 1963 and later followed in his brother’s footsteps of joining the Armed Forces by enlisting in the United States Navy in 1966.
After serving in the United States Navy, Earnest went to work for Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1967. He received the Director’s Award in recognition of the successful Development and Deployment of the Payroll, Absence, and Labor System, and played on the K12 co-ed softball team.
Upon retirement from Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1999, Earnest enjoyed working on various projects from glassworking and carpentry to playing his all-time favorite sport, golf. He volunteered with the Knox County Museum of Education and was a proud member of the Airplane Filling Station Preservation Association that restored a 1930s airplane gasoline service station.
He found immense joy in showing and teaching his great-nephew how to play golf. Earnest enjoyed sitting by his great-nephew’s side and listening as he played the guitar he had given him. Earnest had an exceptional memory, sharing his knowledge of history, genealogy, wisdom, and the good ole’ days growing up. Over the years, Earnest enjoyed spending time with his family.
Earnest is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Anthony and Grace Lilian Murphy, sister Kay Murphy, and brother John Richard Murphy. He is survived by his, niece, Angela Kay Tappe, great-nephew Jared Tappe, and his sister-in-law of 64 yrs Lucy Ann Murphy.
A special acknowledgment to his friends, Joe and Gloria Nelson, Stevan Dawn, Elaine Boggs, and numerous others that had the privileged to call him a friend. Earnest was many things to so many people and will leave a hole in everyone’s heart Thank you to the staff at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home and Overton Brooks VA Medical Center for your wonderful care of Earnest. We could not have gotten through this without your kindness and support.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital https://www.stjude.org/ or the Arthritis Foundation https://www.arthritis.org/ in Earnest Murphy’s name. You are gone but not forgotten and will live in our hearts forever —
A service celebrating the life of Mrs. Ruby Lee Harris will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Good Samaritan Funeral Home located at 2200 Laurel Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103.
Family Hour will be held on Friday, November 21, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Good Samaritan Funeral Home.
Mrs. Harris will be laid to rest following the service at Carver Memorial Cemetery located at 498 Kennie Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71106.
Lucille Marie Dority January 25, 1954 – November 17, 2025 Service: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 6pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Walter Fair Johnson June 17, 1947 – November 17, 2025 Service: Friday, November 21, 2025, 2pm at Christian Center, Shreveport.
Christopher Lee Wallace March 4, 1964 – November 15, 2025 Service: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 11:30am at St. Jude Catholic Church, Benton.
Donna Faye Black January 27, 1952 – November 14, 2025 Service: Friday, November 21, 2025, 1pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Marc Tyler Brock August 14, 2000 – November 14, 2025 Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 1pm at North Caddo Magnet High School, Sanders Prudhomme Stadium, Vivian.
Ivory Bell Simpson-White December 18, 1942 – November 14, 2025 Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11am at Willow Chute Missionary Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Frances Jeneane Gaskin Birdsong February 16, 1942 – November 13, 2025 Service: Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Courtney Glyn Matthews October 4, 1990 – November 12, 2025 Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Eunice Marie Bell October 4, 1945 – November 11, 2025 Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Dr. Mary Ann Neff Shaw June 1, 1938 – November 11, 2025 Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10am at First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport.
Glenn Overturf June 23, 1941 – November 10, 2025 Service: Saturday, November 29, 2025, 11am at First United Methodist Church of Bossier, Bossier City.
Benjamin Darnell Canada November 16, 1950 – November 8, 2025 Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11am at Paradise Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Alzetta Roberson-Edwards February 19, 1929 – November 7, 2025 Service: Friday, November 21, 2025, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Edward Marcy Tobey August 16, 1934 – November 7, 2025 Service: Wednesday, November 26, 2025, 2pm at King’s Highway Christian Church, Shreveport.
George Anderson November 8, 1940 – November 4, 2025 Service: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Richard “Dick” Wayne Maxwell September 16, 1943 – October 25, 2025 Service: Friday, November 21, 2025, 5pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com.)
BLESSING IN DISGUISE: Doyle Adams, Pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church, used a “bad choice” to strengthen his relationship with God. (Submitted photo)
Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person – someone who is well-known, successful, and/or influential, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”
By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services
“I was involved in premarital sexuality. I ended up being a teenage father.”
Ok. Now, the preacher had my attention.
“That’s not supposed to happen to me. I’m the star quarterback. I’m the guy who is the head of the class. That’s for other folks. But it happened to me because of my decision.”
But a decision that at the time “scared the living daylights out of me” was a blessing in disguise. On his way home from bible study, behind the wheel of his flashy Trans Am, the high school student who became a father at 16 had a talk with God.
“Lord, the decision I made was not a God-honoring decision. But I know you forgive. I want to know you in a very real, personal way. I don’t want to keep feeling the way I feel about myself. I want to surrender my will to your will.”
His relationship with the mother of his now oldest daughter did not grow into marriage. But his conversation with God grew into a life built on faith.
“That significant moment propelled me forward to where I am today.”
Today, Doyle Adams is at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Benton. The past 36 years, he has been the church’s pastor and business administrator. The 62-year old is also a husband (married 40 years this Christmas Eve), and father of two other children. Doyle told me his story during lunch at a place he chose, Naaman’s BBQ in Bossier City. Doyle had a half pound of ribs, beans, potato salad, and water. I enjoyed three street tacos and water with lemon.
“I can say unequivocally that bad choice I made, and the ultimate result, drove me to search for God in a more meaningful way than I had prior to that time.”
Doyle was eager to come into the world, born on the side of Benton Road while his mother was on the way to the hospital. He was raised in Benton and went to church only because his parents made him attend. At least until his high school years.
“Going into my 11th grade, I made a profession of faith in Christ Jesus. Not just going to church and youth group, but really understanding what it meant to have a personal relationship, and for my faith journey to be integral in my decision making.”
At Benton High, Doyle was the BMOC (Big Man On Campus). Third in his graduating class. Honor Society. Team and district most valuable player in football (first African American to start at quarterback, which he did all four years) and basketball.
“I was shy. I didn’t say a whole lot. Although those accolades came, I never went after them. Those things didn’t really move me . . . . I was just doing life – going to school.”
Despite his athletic talents, Doyle wasn’t offered a college athletic scholarship. He had an opportunity to attend and play ball for the United States Army at West Point, New York, but chose to be a preferred walk-on at Louisiana Tech. There, Doyle was a two-time All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-America defensive back. In 2001, he was named to the school’s All-Century Team.
Doyle went to college on a mechanical engineering scholarship, but after a year, switched to finance. After graduation, Doyle began what would be a 17-year banking career. But that wouldn’t be his only career. During that time, the pastor of his home church retired. The church reached out to Doyle. Doyle did not reach back.
“I had no interest whatsoever in being a pastor . . . . I had seen the dynamics of a church, and things behind the scenes that sometimes people who just come on Sunday’s don’t know.”
But God had a different interest.
“One day I felt in my spirit the Lord saying to me, ‘This is the assignment I am giving you. Take it.’ I said Lord, are you sure? He said, ‘Take it.’”
So, Doyle did. He continued to work 40-50 hours a week as a banker, and added evening and weekend work as a pastor. For many of his banking years, Doyle specialized in helping churches and non-profit organizations secure financing for their projects.
“As the church grew, the demands of ministry grew. Being a bi-vocational pastor, Monday through Friday I loaned out the money. On Sunday, I collected it.”
But those two vocations gave Doyle knowledge others in his positions didn’t have.
“Understanding the ministry side, plus understanding the banking side, was instrumental in me being able to tell the story to the people who I could sell it to – to say this is a good credit risk we can take. I believe God placed that in my spirit back then, unbeknownst to me, because he knew where I was going to be five years later.”
Eventually, working what amounted to two full-time jobs became too much. In 2003, Doyle chose the gospel over the green.
“I felt like I had to do that because God said, ‘I put you in this space to do this’ . . . . I don’t’ think I could have been at peace if I would not have made it.”
22 years later, Doyle’s decision proved to be right decision.
“It’s been a great experience. We’ve grown from 50 or 60 (members) to almost 600. We average about 340-350 people on a Sunday. We have six full-time staff members . . . . Our budgeted receipts are over a million dollars a year.”
Knowing Doyle’s time would be better spent saving souls, I asked my final question. As always, what is it about his life story that could help others?
“People make mistakes, bad choices, and bad decisions all the time. Learn from it and move forward. Don’t let your past tie you down. People will try to tie you to a bad decision you made. But if you go back and study scripture, all throughout the bible, God used imperfect people to do some super natural things.”
The Caddo Parish Commission honored Booker T. Washington High School student Shamarion McCoy during its regular session meeting on November 6 for his outstanding musical accomplishment. McCoy, a member of the BTW band, was selected for the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) All-State Symphonic Band.
His selection marks a historic achievement, as McCoy is the first student from Booker T. Washington to earn a place in the statewide ensemble. Commissioners commended him for his dedication, musicianship, and the positive representation he brings to his school and community.
HEADED HOME: Parkway’s Brennan Robin comes out of the final curve Monday on the way to second place at the LHSAA boys Division I cross country championship at Northwestern State in Natchitoches. (Journal photo by DOUG IRELAND)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES – Brennan Robin ran the 10th-fastest time Monday by any Division I boys competitor in the history of the LHSAA Cross Country Championships.
His 15:05.70 mark was the second-best clocking among all 1,101 participants and the 788 who finished.
His second place was his top finish yet, two spots higher than last year’s, at the state meet hosted since 1992 by Northwestern State at the Walter P. Ledet Track Complex.
He was not pleased. Not one bit.
The Parkway junior had a state championship in mind. He was primed to upset the presumptive favorite, Jesuit senior Brady Monahan.
But that plan went awry, he said, when he broke away from the pack and set the pace in the first mile of the three-mile course.
“It wasn’t the race I was hoping for,” Robin admitted. “I got impatient and I took the lead during the first mile, and that wasn’t the plan. The other boys from Jesuit had a plan and ended up overtaking me at the end of the race.”
Monahan rallied to win in 14:59.63, sixth all-time in Division I meet history. Robin was 13 seconds faster than the third finisher. No bueno, he said.
“I wanted to win. Second isn’t what I was going for, so to me, it’s kind of a failure. I just ran out of myself today.”
Robin, who uncharacteristically collapsed onto the track immediately after crossing the finish line, didn’t agree that his progression of finishes at the state meet was a consolation.
“It was probably the worst (of his three races), because I was closest to winning, and I failed to do that,” he said. “It definitely is gonna hurt.”
Despite his frustration, as Robin headed toward the awards ceremony with the other top 10 runners, he was eager to learn the team standings.
Parkway duplicated last year’s fourth-place team placement, scoring 142 points. It was the best finish by a Division I public school.
Jesuit won its fifth consecutive Division I crown with 29, followed by New Orleans’ Catholic League rival Brother Martin (93), Catholic of Baton Rouge (105) and the Panthers.
Parkway got a strong race by senior Ben Ruliffson, 11th in 15:50.72. Joining Robin and Ruliffson on the Parkway scorecard were senior Noah Lafitte (35th, 16:42.8), junior Aiden O’Nishea (36th, 16:44.4) and freshman Braxton Thomas (60th, 17:32.8).
Under the radar was the fifth-place finish by Airline senior Jayden Williams, a quantum leap forward from a very good 22nd last year. Williams clocked a blistering 15.25.55 Monday, earning composite All-State honors with a mark that would have won any other division.
Two other local runners posted top 10 finishes.
Caddo Magnet’s Jack Pattillo took seventh in the boys Division II race with a 16:09.64 time. Also crossing in seventh, in the girls’ Division III competition, was Sophia Fertitta of Loyola, posting a 20:08.91 clocking.
The Byrd girls team ran fifth in the Division I standings with 229 points, with Mt. Carmel’s 55 winning the state title.
Loyola’s boys were ninth in the Division III competition, scoring 231, in a race won by perennial power Episcopal’s 39 points.
BEARKATS’ NEW BEGINNING: Gerardo Martinez (far right) takes over for Orlando Medelin (second from right) as Bossier boys soccer coach, assisted by Madison Ersoff (left of Medelin) and teacher representative Christa Denney (far left). (Photo courtesy Bossier High School)
By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
Boys teams from Bossier, Captain Shreve and Loyola have big shoes to fill this soccer season, with all three losing key pieces from their strong 2024-25 rosters.
Bearkats head coach Orlando Medelin stepped down after amassing a record of 137-45-20 over eight years. His Bearkats made the playoffs every season and were in the state semifinals the last four years, with a finals appearance in 2023.
Taking over is Gerardo Martinez, who has been the Bearkats assistant coach the past four years, providing a smoother transition than if the new head coach had not been a part of the Bossier program.
The Bearkats also must replace Logan Bamburg, their three-year starter at keeper. Bamburg was solid in goal for his whole career, having never missed a game due to injury. Bamburg was the verbal leader on the field and will be hard to replace.
Captain Shreve has more than two important pairs of shoes to fill this year. The Gators, in fact, have 16 pairs to fill. They graduated 16 seniors from last year’s squad. This includes almost every starter. Coach Greg Palmer will be put to his greatest coaching test, molding his young and inexperienced team into the force that has become synonymous with Gator soccer over the past decade.
While Loyola only has one major set of shoes to fill, it is undoubtedly the single most impactful — goalie Hudson Moore. Moore was far more than just an outstanding goalie, he was the back stop that cleaned up any mistakes made by the young team that Loyola was over the last couple of years. He allowed the Flyers to commit more players forward, knowing he’d be there for any counters. Coach Wes Kyle will need to adjust some of that style while their new goalies get used to the fast-paced play the Flyers employ.
The Flyers start the year atop the first Shreveport-Bossier Journal coaches’ poll.
The season began Monday, with Loyola visiting Benton in an early test for both. This was the Tigers’ first official home game at their new turf field. Loyola took control early, scoring twice in the first half, to go into the break up 2-0. The Tigers were able to fight back in the second half and earned a hard-fought 2-2 tie.
Bossier, No. 2 in the opening poll, began the season Monday night traveling to West Monroe for a Day 1 traditional meeting with the Rebels. This matchup has created very tight and intense games, and this one followed suit, ending in a scoreless tie.
Captain Shreve started the season against Providence Classical Academy Monday night. PCA signaled that it must be taken seriously this year, tying the Gators 3-3, the best result in the program’s young history.
There is no easy start for the top area squads. Strong teams from around the state converge in Shreveport for Loyola’s Flyer Invitational this weekend. Participants include University Lab, Dutchtown, Prairieville and West Monroe. It will provide highly anticipated rematches for Loyola and Bossier against Division III state champion University, Loyola having lost to the Cubs in the finals a week after Bossier fell to them in the semis.
This season the local coaches’ poll will be limited to the top five teams, using a panel of five coaches, representing multiple divisions.
Following their run to the finals last year, the preseason poll located Loyola’s Flyers in the top spot with four of the five first-place votes. Bossier took the remaining first place vote, placing second in the poll.
The preseason SBJ boys soccer poll listing school (W-L-T record), points (first place votes):
ONE-MAN SHOW: With regular quarterback Garrett Nussmeier sidelined last Saturday, new starter Michael Van Buren was the only scholarship QB LSU had against Arkansas. (Photo by GUS STARK, LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – Does anybody out there want to be LSU’s backup quarterback who has actually played a couple of series as a college QB?
A precarious situation overlooked in the Tigers’ 23-22 victory over Arkansas last Saturday – LSU had no scholarship QB available as sophomore starter Michael Van Buren’s backup – has accelerated to a viable concern for the Tigers (6-4) as they close their home season Saturday night at 6:45 vs. Western Kentucky (8-2).
Senior Garrett Nussmeier, who started 23 straight games until being sidelined vs. Arkansas after reaggravating a lower torso injury last Thursday, may miss his second straight game this week.
Redshirt freshman Colin Hurley, the third-string quarterback, took a leave of absence last Friday for personal matters. He has not returned to the team.
Who’s left?
Well, there’s a sophomore backup running back who happens to be the most productive high school quarterback in Louisiana prep history, with career state records of 14,451 total offense yards and 171 touchdowns.
Former Lafayette Christian Academy star Ju’Juan Johnson is LSU’s “Break Glass in Case of Emergency” QB until further notice.
“We got a guy (Johnson) that went through the entire spring with us at quarterback and all the way into fall camp,” LSU interim coach Frank Wilson said. “We’ve been constantly still working him as Garrett’s injury started to reveal itself. We feel confident about him stepping in.”
On LSU’s game-winning TD drive vs. Arkansas, Johnson completed his first college pass ever on one of four trick plays the Tigers used. His 14-yard completion to Trey’Dez Green on second-and-four from the LSU 49 moved the ball into LSU territory.
Four plays later on third-and-six from the Arkansas 12, Van Buren escaped the pocket and found tight end Bauer Sharp in the back corner of the end zone for what proved to be the game-winning TD.
After Arkansas missed a potential game-winning field goal with 5:08 left, Van Buren’s 35-yard run to the Arkansas 41 set the table for the Tigers to maintain possession and eventually run out the clock.
In getting his first SEC win as a starter, Mississippi State transfer Van Buren completed 21 of 31 for 221 yards and the TD to Sharp and ran 10 times for 36 yards.
“I thought Michael’s body of work was imperfect, but yet something that we can certainly build on again,” Wilson said. “When you are the guy who’s coming off the bench. The pressure is different, the expectation is different, compared to the guy who starts and has all the monumental pressure and expectations to live up to.
“It was the first start in Tiger Stadium for Michael, and it took a minute for him to digest. He settled down. He finished in a flurry. He was willing to do whatever it took to help us win the football game. He delivered and gave his best when his best was needed, and proud of him and the job that he did.”
As for Nussmeier’s availability on Senior Night in Tiger Stadium, Wilson said he will defer to the medical staff on deciding.
“If there’s any way that he can, I know he’s going to want to do so, but I don’t have those answers just yet,” Wilson said. “To say that he (Nussmeier) played courageously throughout the year is probably an understatement.
“I wasn’t always privy to the injuries and the things that he was going through, but he went through a lot. He persevered through a lot. He pushed through an awful lot to give our team himself every opportunity to be our best.”
Here’s Wilson on other subjects:
On the possibility of Wilson coaching the team in a bowl game
“If I’m allowed to, I would certainly love to. It (playing in a bowl) is a big deal for us anytime you’re able, when you think of your program holistically, in the continuous opportunity to develop your team, the longer and the more you can practice, there’s development, there’s engagement, there’s cohesiveness that happens with your football team. So, we’d like to play into January to advance our football team, to keep the camaraderie and the building of a program.”
On the play of Virginia Tech transfer cornerback Mansoor Delane, one of the highest graded defensive backs in college football
“He came here as a man on a mission to accomplish the things that he was looking for. There are so many things that are not statistical superlatives. It’s play after play. It’s showing up. It’s turning a play back inside to set the edge of the defense to allow us to corral and run to the ball, rally to the ball. His style of play has been superlative.”
NATCHITOCHES — Tonight, one of the most remarkable feats in college sports history will be relived when the undefeated 2025 NAIA national champion baseball team from LSU Shreveport takes part in a panel discussion and unveiling of an exhibit at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.
The free event begins at 6 p.m. with an interview session moderated by veteran Shreveport sports journalist Roy Lang III getting underway around 6:30.
The LSUS Pilots were perfect in 2025 with a 59-0 record, concluding their unprecedented run with the NAIA Baseball National Championship – the first national title in the university’s history. In honor of this milestone, the museum will unveil a year-long exhibition featuring team memorabilia, championship artifacts, and behind-the-scenes stories from their remarkable season.
“Louisiana has always been home to champions, but what the LSUS Pilots accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “This team didn’t just win games – they captured the spirit of Louisiana with their grit, teamwork, and relentless drive. Their undefeated season will forever stand as one of the proudest moments in our state’s sports history.”
The Pilots swept both the regular season (47–0) and postseason (12–0), setting the longest winning streak in college baseball history and dominating national polls throughout the year. The team’s success earned widespread recognition, including multiple NAIA All-American honors, RRAC Gold Glove awards, and major national coaching accolades for Head Coach Brad Neffendorf.
Their historic run even reached the nation’s capital Oct. 20, when the team was recognized by President Donald Trump at the White House and greeted by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol.
Tonight’s discussion panel will feature Neffendorf, assistant coach Jordan Schwellenbach, and select players sharing stories and reflections from their undefeated journey.
“We will get to hear directly from the people who made history,” said Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Chairman Doug Ireland. “This is a rare chance to celebrate a truly once-in-a-lifetime achievement in Louisiana sports, and to get insight into how it was done.
“It’s a baseball story that transcends baseball,” he said. “There will surely be team dynamics discussed that can not only apply to any sport at any level, but truly, any organization, business or pursuit.
“The ‘Perfect Pilots’ have been honored in their hometown, in Baton Rouge and in Washington, D.C., but there’s never been a discussion of just how this incredible accomplishment happened,” said Ireland. “Here it is, and it’s free.”
Yes, if you’re curious, despite this week’s 80-degree temps, the Christmas lights are on in Natchitoches.
The official lighting ceremony is Saturday night, complete with a drone and fireworks spectacular over Cane RIver Lake downtown.
The multi-colored bulbs have actually been on for a week now. It is a bit of a trial run to assure all of the more than 300,000 flashers are working when the 99th Annual Festival of Lights launches.
But nothing will shine more brightly tonight along Front Street than the Perfect Pilots, the 2025 NAIA national champion baseball team from LSU Shreveport.
The one-and-only undefeated college baseball team.
59-0.
Perfection never achieved before, at any level of college baseball. Very unlikely to ever be done again.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is hosting an evening honoring the Pilots, including the unveiling of a year-long exhibit of items helping illustrate one of the most remarkable stories not only in our state’s sports history, but our country’s.
These festivities are free, and don’t require a jacket or tie. Those were needed Oct. 20 when coach Brad Neffendorf and his guys stood alongside President Trump and their big brothers, the NCAA College World Series champion LSU Tigers, in front of an audience of Louisiana government and education VIPs at the White House.
This will be relaxed, just like the 2025 Pilots were throughout their run, or so they said at the time.
Was that true?
What was their special sauce?
Were there secret rituals, or just subtle routines, that contributed to continuing perfection?
Those questions and more will be addressed, and answered, by the Pilots in a panel discussion moderated by your pal and mine, Roy Lang III, the esteemed Shreveport sports journalist (and unabashed Cubs fan). The conversation will start about 6:30 or so in the Hall of Fame museum at 800 Front Street (across the street from the traffic circle).
There have been plenty of celebrations and ceremonies commemorating the Pilots and their super season. But there’s not been a public forum led by an insightful moderator, with opportunity for audience members to offer their inquiries to Neffendorf and players.
This is a one-off event. Like the perfect season, this is not going to happen again. It does tonight, in Natty, where state sports greatness is commemorated.
It’s a case study in extraordinary performance. What the LSUS baseball team conjured up is rich in values that are transferable to any other sport, or any other endeavor.
Not many of us can hit a 95 mph fastball, a curveball that looks like it fell off a table, or snag a line drive.
That’s just part of what made the Pilots the best to ever do it. Not the most talented, or MLB scouts would have been camping out off south Youree Drive.
How they came into the season with a mission, to reach the NAIA World Series and win it, is something not uncommon. How they accomplished that, never losing a game, is something that Lang will delve into tonight.
Much of the answer has nothing to do with bats, gloves or skill sets. It has to do with an entire team being dialed in to an exceptional level, from Game 1 in January to the national championship game in late May, 59 times, and all the days and nights in that incredible run.
No team will replicate it. But we all can learn from it. That’s the chance you and yours have tonight, free of charge, at the Hall of Fame museum in Natchitoches.
HAVING FUN: LSU senior Flau’jae Johnson smiles coming upcourt after a basket Monday night in a rout of Tulane by the No. 5 Tigers in New Orleans. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
NEW ORLEANS – The only suspense for No. 5 LSU as the final buzzer neared here Monday night was if the Tigers could tie the school record of scoring 100 or more points in five consecutive games.
They did, thanks to the defensive brilliance of South Carolina transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley.
Her eighth steal – tied for the third most steals in a game in LSU history – led to her free throw with 26 seconds that got the Tigers to 100 in a 101-71 victory at Tulane.
After LSU jumped to a 33-10 lead at the end of the quarter, the first question was which Tiger would have the best individual night.
Returning All-SEC stars Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams of Bossier City and Parkway High were rock solid as usual, scoring 22 and 16 points respectively.
ZaKiyah Johnson’s inside work resulted in 14 points and 5 rebounds, and Amiya Joyner came off the bench to score 12 points and collect a team-high 7 rebounds.
But nobody seemed to be everywhere at once like Fulwiley. She scored 20 points, dealt 6 assists, grabbed 3 rebounds, and swiped all those steals that equaled Tulane’s team total for the night.
“She’s out there like she’s playing a video game,” Tulane head coach Ashley Langford said of Fulwiley.
“Her will to have the ball is just an amazing thing to see,” Williams said. “I’m glad she’s on my side.”
Though the Tigers were tested a bit at times – LSU only outscored Tulane (2-2) 69-61 in the final three quarters – head coach Kim Mulkey used LSU’s big early lead to experiment with some different lineups and use a full-court pressing defense for the first time this season.
“The thing they’re doing so good right now,” Mulkey said of her team, “is they’re sharing the basketball. And if you watch them, they’re they’re cheering for each other.
“It’s amazing when you can go to work every day and you don’t have to worry about pouters and you don’t have to worry about selfishness. You’re just happy for them, and they pick on each other when they do something funny or crazy.
“I’ve got a very, very unique and good combination of older players in that locker room and new ones. We just got to keep getting better.”
The Tigers will host Alcorn State on Thursday night. It’s LSU’s last home game until Dec. 16 when they face Morgan State.
After Alcorn, LSU plays in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. LSU plays Marist and Miami of Ohio faces Washington State on Nov. 28. The winners and losers of those games play the next day.
The Tigers also play at Duke on Dec. 4 in the ACC/SEC Challenge, then play at UNO on Dec. 7 and vs. Mulkey’s alma mater Louisiana Tech on Dec. 13 in the Compete 4 Cause Classic in the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
“That’s fun basketball,” Mulkey said of her deep and talented team. We can score the ball. We can also pass the ball, so you better have your hands ready. We’ve just got to make free throws, continue to rebound and take care of the ball.”
TO THE RACK: Freshman Dustin Welch drives to the basket for Bossier Parish Community College Saturday against Southern-Shreveport. (Photo courtesy BPCC)
JOURNAL SPORTS
New Bossier Parish Community College basketball coach Jeff Moore has a neighborhood focus for the early schedule his rebuilding team is facing, continuing tonight at against Northwest Louisiana–Barksdale in the Billy Montgomery Gym on campus.
The Cavs (3-1) have played Centenary’s junior varsity twice, and the JV squad from Pineville’s Louisiana Christian, whose athletic director and former head coach is erstwhile Captain Shreve star Reni Mason.
Saturday, in a physical, hard-fought game from the opening tip to the final buzzer, Bossier Parish came up just short in a 63–59 Homecoming loss to Southern University–Shreveport.
BPCC fans and SUSLA supporters created a high-energy arena environment. Every run, defensive stop and big shot was met with a surge of noise that pushed the intensity on the floor.
Tony Montgomery powered the Cavaliers’ offense with 24 points, while Drew Cooper delivered a double-double, finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Moore said the team showed the kind of competitiveness he expects moving forward.
I’m very proud of our team’s effort – we battled hard throughout the game and maintained the lead well into the second half,” Moore said. “SUSLA’s size and physical play on defense created problems for us late, and they made us pay for our mistakes. It’s a tough loss, but an early-season lesson we can use to get better as we move forward.”
BPCC has a series of home games over the next two weeks, with tonight’s contest followed by a Friday matchup against Southwest Mississippi Community College at 6.
Next week, the Cavaliers host the Fourth Annual Decari Markray Classic Basketball Tournament, honoring the memory of one of the BPCC program’s more respected competitors. A star at Doyline High School, Markray died in a car crash in October 2021.
This year’s event features five games across two days, with BPCC, Navarro College, Baton Rouge Community College and Tribulation Prep competing. The tournament closes with a high school matchup between Markray’s alma mater, Doyline, and Plain Dealing.
Moore said the Markray Classic remains an important tradition for the program and the region.
“It’s an honor for our program to continue this event in his memory. The Classic represents the pride, toughness and commitment he brought to the game, and we’re proud to help carry that legacy forward for his family, his former teammates and the community.”
Ethan Zuckerman is a name you are probably unfamiliar with, but there is little doubt that you have interacted with his invention. Almost everyone on the planet has had to deal with Ethan’s invention. Let me explain.
In 1993, Ethan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. In 1994, Ethan dropped out of graduate school and focused on what was the newest technological craze, the World Wide Web. These days, we call it the internet. Until mid-1993, there were only about 50 websites in existence, but it snowballed shortly thereafter. Within a year, the number of websites grew into the thousands. (In October 2025, there were over 1.2 billion websites worldwide, and a new website was built about every three seconds.)
In the first year of the internet boom, Ethan and a couple of his friends in Williamstown began building an internet-based company called Tripod. Their intention was to provide content and services for graduates, what Ethan described as “tools for life.” The website was popular, but it was not making enough money to cover expenses. At its peak in the mid-1990s, about 15 million people visited their website daily. Although the number of visitors was certainly impressive, few people bought anything from the company. Ethan and his partners switched from trying to sell products to trying to get customers to pay for a subscription to gain access to their content. It was not successful. They tried to sell content in an online magazine format, but that failed too. As a last resort, they turned to advertisers, just as many other popular websites had done. Finally, they were making a hefty profit.
Then, a problem arose. A major car company which he refused to name purchased an ad that was placed on numerous websites indiscriminately. Executives at the car company were surprised and angered when their company’s ad appeared at the top of a popular pornographic website. They feared that the public would think that they were promoting pornography which could have destroyed the company’s reputation. Ethan began working to find a way to continue to have advertisements for websites but in a way that they seemed somewhat disconnected from the content on the website. After a period of trial and error, Ethan invented something the world had never seen before. Within a short time, his invention became almost inescapable. It also became one of the most hated inventions in history. In 1999, Ethan and his partners sold their company, and Ethan began to regret his invention. In August 2014, Ethan apologized to the world by saying, “I’m sorry. Our intentions were good.” Once opened, Pandora’s box is not easily closed. Ethan’s invention still pops up on computer screens across the world. You see, Ethan was the inventor of pop-up ads.
Sources:
1. Janhoi McGregor, “The Man Who Invented Pop-Up Ads Says ‘I’m Sorry’,” Forbes.com, August 15, 2014, accessed November 9, 2025, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcgregor/2014/08/15/the-man-who-invented-pop-up-ads-says-im-sorry/.
2. Katherine Haan, “Top Website Statistics for 2025,” Forbes.com, October 24, 2025, accessed November 9, 2025, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/website-statistics/#:~:text=There%20are%20about%201.2%20billion%20websites%20on%20the%20internet%20in%202025&text=As%20of%20October%202025%2C%20the,of%20those%20websites%20are%20active.
