The Shreveport Regional Arts Council is continuing conversations about the role of artificial intelligence in the arts following its AI Forum held Jan. 8.
Council officials said the forum brought together members of the local arts community to discuss concerns surrounding both the current and future impact of artificial intelligence on art and artists.
According to SRAC, the issues raised during the event highlighted the need for ongoing dialogue as technology continues to influence creative work.
SRAC described the forum as the starting point for a broader process that will help inform future practices and policies. The organization stated that its approach moving forward will remain focused on centering, prioritizing, and protecting authentic artists and their artistry.
The council indicated that additional discussions and updates are expected as this work progresses.
It’s hard to get high school coaches to agree on just about anything … unless you ask who they think is going to win Monday’s college football national championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes.
“Indiana,” says Captain Shreve’s Jeremy Wilburn.
“Indiana,” says Calvary’s Rodney Guin.
“Indiana,” says Airline’s Justin Scogin.
“Indiana,” says Northwood Austin Brown.
“Indiana,” says Haughton’s Matthew Sewell, who quickly added “but I think it will be close.”
“Indiana,” says Booker T. Washington’s Gary Cooper, who may have the most profound reason of all for his selection. “That’s because I’m a Florida State guy. I hate Miami. Can’t ever pull for them.”
Granted, Cooper’s reasoning may not be the most practical of them all but never stand in the way of a man’s passion.
Coaches – not matter what the level – see a different game than the rest of us. Sure, it all comes down to blocking and tackling, but it’s a little more nuanced that simply which team is the betting line favorite. (By that way, that would be the Hoosiers, who are something in the neighborhood of a nine-point favorite. Depends on your neighborhood.)
Local coaches arrived at the same place in regard to picking Indiana, but they come at it from different directions.
“I think they (the Hoosiers) are getting more out of their guys than any other staff is,” Wilburn says. “And I’m really not sure what the recipe is but they have obviously figured it out. These guys are playing above their paygrade, both individually and as a unit.”
“They are a veteran team with a bunch of older guys,” Guin says. “I think that makes a huge difference.”
But Sewell isn’t ready to start engraving the trophy for Indiana quite yet. “Miami is so physical and talented,” the second-year Bucs coach says. “They have NFL guys all over the place. And in watching their games the last couple of weeks, their style of play lends itself to playing in close games. They are just going to line up and pound you and on defense, I think they can create some negative plays.”
Says Scogin: “Indiana is older and a little more prudent.”
That may be the first time the word “prudent” has been used to describe a college football team. Nevertheless, he says there are plenty of reasons to like what Miami does.
“I love how they control the line of scrimmage,” Scogin says. “And it looks they enjoy doing it.”
“Indiana makes less mistakes, but Miami has got that swagger,” Brown says. “Being in Miami, they (the Hurricanes) will keep it close, but Indiana is just too well coached. They are methodical and an almost psychopathic resilience.”
Wow, we just entered into “psychopathic resilience” territory. We are diving deep into the language pool.
“As a coach to get your team and your whole organization to that level, I don’t think the general public knows how good of a job (Indiana coach Curt) Cignetti has done,” Brown says.
“I really like Indiana’s coach,” Cooper says. “He’s a program builder and it’s great to see.”
As for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Guin doesn’t hold back. “He’s the next Joe Montana,” he says. “He’s something else. It’s his accuracy just how fast the dang ball gets out there.”
All the analysis in the world won’t matter when they kick it off Monday night. And Cooper isn’t really all that concerned about the Xs and Os involved.
“I just can’t have Miami win,” he says. “I won’t be able to handle that.”
Not sure who you’re rooting for Monday night in the College Football Playoff championship game between unbeaten, No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami, playing in its home stadium?
There are local angles for the Hoosiers and Hurricanes.
Indiana’s football staff includes former Northwestern State strength coach Jared Myatt, who was a volunteer coach earlier at Louisiana Tech and LSU.
David Blay, who was an all-conference player at Tech in 2024, is part of Miami’s defensive line rotation.
And the Hurricanes have not one, but two Orgerons. Cody and Parker Orgeron, sons of former LSU national championship coach Ed Orgeron (a Northwestern State alumnus), are young analysts on Mario Cristobal’s coaching staff.
Myatt is in his second year an assistant athletic performance coach but he’s not handling 14 sports as he did at Northwestern, where his main focus was with Brad Laird’s football team from 2017-19. He helped coach a pair of FCS All-American wide receivers in Jazz Ferguson (2018) and Quan Shorts (2019), with Ferguson named the Southland Offensive Player of the Year.
He also worked with three top-10 round picks in the Major League Baseball Draft, including Cleveland Guardians 2024 MLB All-Star David Fry.
His first full-time position came with Appalachian State where he headed the strength program for wrestling and assisted with the football program.
Myatt spent two stints as a volunteer assistant at Louisiana Tech (2015) and LSU, which sandwiched a graduate assistant position at Mercer. A four-year collegiate career at Louisiana College in Pineville included a pair of first-team All-American Southwest Conference honors and a second-team All-America nod on the defensive line from USA College Football as a senior.
He owns a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Louisiana College, now Louisiana Christian, in 2015. He left NSU for a job at Texas Tech and was coaching at Live Oak High School near Baton Rouge when he got the call from the Hoosiers.
Blay moved up to the highest level of college football after a standout two-year career at Louisiana Tech (2023-24). He started all 12 games at defensive tackle for the Bulldogs in 2024, earning All-Conference USA first-team recognition. He topped Tech’s defensive front with 46 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries in final year, serving as team leader in both sacks and TFLs, and finished third in CUSA in sacks and tied for third in TFLs.
He has made 25 tackles while wearing No. 11 for Miami.
The Orgerons are former McNeese football players. Cody was a standout quarterback for the Cowboys and Parker played receiver before injuries halted his career.
They are on opposite sides of the ball for the Hurricanes. Cody is an offensive analyst and Parker works on the defensive staff.
Their proud papa has a condominium in Miami. As defensive line coach from 1988-92, he helped the Hurricanes win two national championships (1989, 1991) while coaching eight All-Americans, including three NFL first-round draft picks. He also recruited Dwayne Johnson to play for the ‘Canes, sparking a career that has made “The Rock” one of the prime figures in entertainment.
Words like “bombshell” and “shocking” were put to frequent use by reporters Thursday covering the far-reaching but on-our-doorstep college basketball betting scandal described in a 70-page federal indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia.
Nope.
Those words fit only for those who haven’t been watching sports.
For the rest of us, there’s a fundamental question – or there should be.
What took so long?
First, regarding the “on our doorstep” tag: that includes four Louisiana colleges mentioned In the indictment which had players involved. There’s no accusation that Northwestern State, Nicholls, UNO or Tulane coaches or staff had anything to do with it – but a few players from each program did.
None of the players remain at those schools. The two from Northwestern were not named in the indictment – unlike others, they were listed as “unidentified” by federal authorities. NSU officials identified them as “former players” in a brief statement. Whether they will face prosecution like those whose names were included, we’ll see.
This we know. They were on Rick Cabrera’s first Demons’ team in 2023-24, on a roster he threw together after one-year wonder Corey Gibson’s whole team from 2022-23 left as he moved to Austin Peay.
The fix was supposed to be in for Northwestern’s Feb. 19, 2024 game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The betting line favoring the Islanders, per the indictment, ranged from 10.5-15.5. The Demons lost by only 11 — not good for the slimebuckets who thought they rigged the outcome.
Either the misguided Demon duo weren’t good enough to get the shave done, or decided not to do it. The fixers got bit for “at least $231,000,” said the indictment. “Unbelievable,” prosecutors said one of the schemers texted another.
In any case, those two players made a terrific mistake. They could not resist temptation.
It began to build eight years ago, when a Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates. It struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which basically restricted sports gambling to Nevada.
Gamblers and the gaming industry rejoiced. Casinos around the country, if local laws allowed, could open sports books that took bets on every phase of pro and college sports.
It won’t take very long for you to use the TV remote and find an advertisement for sports betting. Of course, it had always been happening, but behind the scenes, illegally, or just in Nevada. Now state and local governments could get their cut.
College athletics didn’t back away from the windfall. They raced to it. Suddenly gambling sponsorships were OK. A few years in, the major powers began providing conference-mandated injury updates, better for the bettors to wager wisely.
Last year, Louisiana legislators redirected some of the sports gambling take directly to the budgets of all Division I athletic departments, providing $2+ million bumps to those 11 colleges.
But below the top tier, not many rank-and-file college athletes were getting rewarded. Even with the advent of NIL, relatively few competitors at Louisiana Tech, Grambling, ULM, or Northwestern drew more money than whatever their scholarship or financial aid packages provided.
The fix was in. Yes, it was. Wave enough cash in front of college kids struggling to make ends meet, and at some point, somebody’s gonna cave. The indictment cited payments between $10,000-$40,000. That moves the needle.
This particular prosecution involves players from high profile schools like Georgetown and DePaul – a particularly seedy segment of the indictment details a text sent by a student trainer at North Carolina, at halftime of a DePaul game, congratulating the DePaul player leading the fix. He did not score in the first half.
It involves players suiting up at the other end of Division I – Kennesaw State, Fordham, Robert Morris, Abilene Christian, Alabama State, North Carolina A&T. There are those somewhere near the middle, like LaSalle, Southern Mississippi, Saint Louis and Buffalo.
A Coppin State kid texted his fixer an apology at halftime, saying the opponent was so bad the Eagles couldn’t subdue their scoring to stay within the spread, even though he was telling his teammates to cool it.
Gambling isn’t going away. They gambled on chariot races and gladiators. No small amount of students walking across campus are constantly placing bets, just like you or your pal may be. It’s legal. It’s easy. For a lot of people, it’s fun.
For a few, it’s big bucks. Consider the $231k hit the fixers took when the Islanders didn’t cover. That’s a fraction of the money moving night after night, legally.
This is not the first gambling scandal. They happened on the black market before the Supreme Court inadvertently moved the line out of the shadows and within everybody’s reach.
It won’t be the last. This one just spilled into our neighborhood. Like pollution, all we can do is try to limit the impact and hope it happens somewhere else.
Oscar “Lee” Matthews, Jr., 71, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport, LA. Lee was born on October 22, 1954, to Oscar and Quida Matthews in Texarkana, Arkansas.
Lee loved playing baseball, basketball, and tennis at school and in summer leagues. He graduated from Texas High School in 1973 and later attended and graduated from barber school in Dallas, Texas. He was a member of Westside Church of Christ.
He was a lifelong barber who took great pride in his work and the relationships he built in his chair. For him, a haircut was never just a haircut; it was a conversation, a connection, and often a shared love of music. Oscar loved music of all genres, and anyone who sat in his chair knew there was a good chance they would leave not only with a fresh cut but also with a few CDs he insisted they needed to hear.
He will be remembered for his generosity, his passion for music, and the countless friendships he formed through his work. Oscar’s presence, stories, and love of sharing what he enjoyed most will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Lee is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, and brother-in-law, Janice and George Wood, and his brother-in-law, Max Sewell. He is survived by his loving family and friends who will cherish his memory forever, his sister, Gayla Sewell, of Texarkana, Arkansas. One niece, Krista MacFarlane (Andrew); two nephews, Matt (Angela) Sewell of Valonia, Arkansas, and Nick (Robin) Sewell of Texarkana, Arkansas; and several cousins, great-nieces and nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Chapelwood Funeral Home, Nash, Texas, with Lance Mays officiating. Burial will follow in Chapelwood Memorial Gardens with Charles Lokey, Mason Clem, Jeff Bell, Matt and Nick Sewell, and Lee Cross serving as pallbearers. Eddie Brown, Phil Hughes, and Charles Strachan are serving as honorary pallbearers. A visitation will be held from 1:00 pm until service time at the funeral home.
Dan Keasler was promoted to God’s presence Sunday, January 11, 2026, after a difficult 1 1/2 year battle with cancer. Visitation for Dan’s family and friends will begin at 10:00 Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Broadmoor Baptist Church chapel, followed by a memorial service at 11:00.
Dan was born July 5, 1955, and lived all his life in Shreveport, LA. He began his welding career in 1975 and founded Alpha Welding and Fabrication in 1982. He treasured his relationships with his co-workers and clients.
As a young man, Dan spent a month backpacking in Washington on the Pacific Crest Trail. He became a hunter and was nicknamed “Zorro” for obvious reasons. He hunted deer, duck, elk, pheasant and various animals in South Africa. He loved being outdoors, camping, hunting, water and snow skiing. Dan became one of the best table tennis players in town. He played each week with other local top players and competed in several regional tournaments.
He developed close friendships with his Thursday lunch group of men and the C. Williams class at Broadmoor Baptist.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Jo, and his brother, Jim. Survivors are Bob and Therese Keasler, his brother and wife; JoAnn and Raymond Prestridge, his sister and husband; sister-in-law Lynn Turner and husband Mike. Dan had a lasting impact on his nieces and nephews: Jana, Nathan, Melissa, Carissa, Micah, Meghan, Fawn and Savanna. Special thanks go to his cousin Tim Horn for so much help during his illness. Dan has been described as godly, kind, generous, honest, a man of his word, and a man of convictions.
The family suggest memorials be made to any of the following: Lottie Moon Fund of Broadmoor Baptist Church, 4110 Youree Dr., Shreveport, LA 71105, Answers in Genesis, PO Box 510, Hebron, KY 41048, American Family Association, PO Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803.
Jack L Huffman December 22, 1945 – January 13, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Lilton Greggs, Jr. May 21, 1953 – January 12, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1pm at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Corean Davenport Housley October 17, 1927 — January 13, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1pm at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Shreveport.
Jimmy “Jim” Woodall (Putz) March 18, 1941 – January 13, 2026 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Thomas Gayle Wren March 24, 1943 – January 13, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at First United Methodist Church, Shreveport.
Dorothy Redmon Winzer September 26, 1933 – January 12, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12pm at New Hope Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Shirley W. Brummett September 11, 1935 – January 11, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Charles Ray Duke, Jr. December 7, 1957 – January 11, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Daniel Clyde Keasler July 5, 1955 – January 11, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Broadmoor Baptist Church Memorial Chapel, Shreveport.
Jerry Ann Hall Erwin May 12, 1943 – January 10, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Jack O. Waren February 1, 1928 – January 10, 2026 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Yusef Ahmed-Lasana August 26, 1949 – January 8, 2026 Service: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. at NWLA Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Ruthie Black Long March 25, 1966 – January 8, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at First Antioch Baptist Church, Rodessa.
Crystal Nicole Bryant March 3, 1984 – January 7, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at United Outreach Church, Bossier City.
Marilyn Jack July 25, 1959 – January 7, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Shreveport.
Billy Joe Douglas July 26, 1945 – January 6, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Chester McClought May 4, 1934 – January 6, 2026 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Alberta Jones September 14, 1950 – January 5, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1pm at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, Rodessa.
John Richard Craig July 7, 1948 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 9am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Reginald Van Dudley April 19, 1965 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1pm at Stoner Hill Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Jerry Sloan July 11, 1949 – January 4, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Canaan Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Willie Clearance Jackson, Jr. December 24, 1945 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12pm at Bilberry Park & Recreation, Shreveport.
Anna Maria Nobles January 24, 1960 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Mary Lucy Thomas April 16, 1932 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Liberty CME Church, Keithville.
John Franklin Luck, Jr. April 3, 1951 – December 30, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 4pm at East Ridge Country Club, Shreveport.
Davina DeSapio June 29, 1967 – December 29, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Charles “Eddie” Edwin Cannatella March 12, 1954 – December 24, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Helen West Walker May 4, 1940 – December 24, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Jonnie Rae Richardson January 16, 1935 – December 22, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville.
James Robert Baker September 26, 1955 – December 20, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Eloise Bullock Gibson March 25, 1941 – December 17, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Terrie Michelle Smith June 11, 1966 – December 17, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 1pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Gilbert L. Lawton March 28, 1934 – December 15, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11:30am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Shreveport.
Richard Henry Wadsack December 27, 1946 – November 24, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026,
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.)
With the assistance of a Crime Stoppers tip, the suspect involved in multiple thefts at the Walmart located at 1645 E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop has been positively identified as Andrew James Harvey, a white male.
The original offenses occurred on two separate dates in June and July, when Harvey allegedly entered the business, selected merchandise, proceeded to the self-checkout area, and pretended to complete his purchase before exiting the store without paying. These actions resulted in a total loss of nearly $1,000 in merchandise. The incidents were reported by Walmart Asset Protection, and investigators determined the same offender was responsible in both cases.
Harvey is currently being housed at the Bossier Maximum Security Facility for a similar theft committed at the Minden Walmart on September 2, 2025.
Further investigation revealed Harvey has two prior theft convictions. As a result, a warrant has been submitted for one count of Habitual Theft related to the Shreveport incidents.
The Shreveport Police Department thanks the public and Crime Stoppers for their assistance in identifying the suspect and helping bring this case to a resolution.
The Shreveport City Council unanimously re-elected its officers for 2026 during a recent meeting.
Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor was re-elected to serve as chairwoman, while Councilwoman Ursula Bowman was re-elected as vice chairwoman. Both officers were selected by unanimous vote of the council.
The re-election of Taylor and Bowman maintains continuity in council leadership as the city enters the 2026 calendar year.
Bossier Parish Fire District #1 conducted intensive confined-space training exercises for four probationary firefighters, focusing on search and rescue operations under challenging conditions.
The training tested both physical endurance and mental resilience as firefighters navigated simulated confined-space environments designed to mirror real-world emergency scenarios. Officials said exercises like these are critical for preparing firefighters to operate effectively when time-sensitive decisions and actions are required.
Department leaders noted that ongoing hands-on training helps ensure personnel are prepared to respond safely and efficiently during emergencies where confined-space rescues may be necessary.
A new boat launch providing direct access to the Red River recently opened at John Franks Wildlife Management Area, expanding recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.
The Twelve Mile Bayou Boat Launch was opened through a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Red River Waterway Commission. The launch offers improved access for hunting, fishing, kayaking, and boating along the Red River.
According to LDWF, the new facility is part of ongoing efforts to expand public access to Louisiana’s waterways while supporting conservation and wildlife management goals. The boat ramp will be operated and maintained by LDWF as part of the John Franks Wildlife Management Area.
The Red River Waterway Commission maintains a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and LDWF for the management of mitigation properties associated with the Red River Waterway Project. These properties are incorporated into the state’s wildlife management area system.
Visitors to LDWF wildlife management areas are required to have a valid WMA Access Permit or an eligible hunting or fishing license, including senior, lifetime, or Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise licenses.
Additional information on permits and access requirements is available through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
TOP TIGER: Marquel Sutton’s 16 points led LSU but the Tigers fell at the buzzer Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – Any Kentucky basketball fan can tell you about the most devastating loss in school history.
1992 NCAA East Regional finals. Duke’s Grant Hill throws a three-quarter court inbounds pass, teammate Christian Laettner catches it and hits a 15-foot foul line turnaround jumper for a 104-103 victory as time expires.
Well, it took almost three and a half decades, but the basketball gods paid back Kentucky here on Wednesday night.
UK’s Colin Chandler heaved a three-quarter court pass to teammate Malachi Moreno, who caught it just over the outstretched hands of LSU’s Rob Miller III and swished a 17-foot turnaround buzzer-beating game-winner for a 75-74 SEC victory over the Tigers in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
“It’s like being a little kid in your backyard again,” said Moreno, a 7-foot freshman forward who played the last 8:56 with four fouls and finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds. “Those are the kind of shots you practice because you just want to kind of have that feeling. But that doesn’t happen if we don’t come out with the intensity we had in the second half.”
It was a gut-wrenching loss for LSU head coach Matt McMahon, who’s now 57-58 (14-43 in SEC) in four seasons with the Tigers. His job security is now dwindling with each loss. LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry told the Baton Rouge Advocate that McMahon was informed before the season that the Tigers needed to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022.
The Tigers (12-5, 0-4 in the SEC), the only winless team in league play, have yet to play a conference game with starting point guard Dedan Thomas. He suffered a lower leg injury on Jan. 2 and hasn’t been cleared for games.
“We had our two best practices of the year on Monday and Tuesday,” McMahon said. “The first half defensive effort by our players was just phenomenal.
“Then, in the second half, tremendous credit to Kentucky. They really got going from behind the three-point line, and we could not get enough stops there. All that said, you’re in position to win the game, and unfortunately, I couldn’t help get our guys across the finish line there.”
The Tigers, led by Marquel Sutton and Max McKinnon with 16 points apiece, roared out of the gate for an 18-3 lead with 11:25 left in the first half. They led 38-22 at halftime.
Two McKinnon free throws in the first minute of the second half pushed LSU’s lead to 18 points. But by the halfway point of the second half, the Tigers’ lead had been reduced to single digits.
“Our response to the physicality of the game was poor in the first half,” said UK head coach Mark Pope, whose team improved to 11-6 overall and 2-2 in the SEC after a 0-2 start. “Our guys did a great job in the second half, responding and engaging in a game that is like a fist fight. Our guys were much more forceful.”
The Wildcats trailed by 65-56 with 6:34 left when they went on a 13-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 69-68 with 3:55 left.
After UK made just 2 of 12 3-pointers in the first half, they hit 8 of 11 in the second half, including two by point guard Denzel Aberdeen. He scored all of his 17 points in the second half, sharing the scoring load with Otega Oweh, who finished with 21 points.
“Shout out to Coach Pope,” Aberdeen said. “He got on me at halftime. Told me to be aggressive. Be yourself. My teammates found me in the right spots. That got me going, and then that opened up for everybody else. We got some open ball screens for the middle of the court that led to downhill drives and some kickouts (to 3-point shooters).”
Miller’s tip-in to regain the lead for the Tigers at 70-69 with 3:29 left, but the home team could manage only four McKinnon free throws the rest of the way.
LSU had a chance to stretch its lead to 76-73 with 1.8 seconds left. When Pablo Tamba missed both free throws, UK’s Oweh rebounded the second miss, and the Wildcats immediately called a timeout with 1.6 seconds left.
“We just had a couple of options, but we were really going to try and get Otega a catch and maybe squeeze in a dribble (before a shot),” UK’s Pope said. “We drew it up, and we had a crossing pattern at the top (of the key) as a default.
“And as we walked out of the timeout, I grabbed Malachi. I’m like, `Hey, if we overthrow this, just catch it and go shoot it.’”
On the LSU defensive end, the instructions were simple.
“Keep everything in front of us, play hard to the end, and no fouls,” Tigers’ guard Rashad King. said. “It was just tough, tough shot.”
Chandler’s inbounds pass had to clear over LSU’s 6-10 Sutton. But he delivered a perfect strike to Moreno, who turned just inside the top of the key and delivered a quick deposit jumper for the win.
“There were 15 times in the second half where we could have folded, and there were more than that in the first,” Pope said. “But they (his team) just kept hammering away.”
LSU’s next three games – home Saturday vs. Missouri, followed by road games Tuesday at defending national champ No. 19 Florida and next Saturday at No. 17 Arkansas – are against teams with a cumulative record of 38-15 overall and 9-3 in the SEC.
Any chance of LSU winning is based on when Thomas returns to game action.
“He’s gone from clearly being out to doubtful,” McMahon said of Thomas. “He’s making great progress. He’s still day to day. He started back running and jumping. He’d give anything to be on the floor. He just can’t cut and jump and do everything at full speed that would allow him to get back out there.
“I know he wants to be on the floor. Hopefully it’ll be sooner than later, but I’m not trying to duck the question. I just don’t have a timeline other than day to day.”
HIGH RISE: Huntington’s Peyton Parker has helped the Raiders to stand ninth in the LHSAA’s Division I Select power rankings entering Friday’s games. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
JOURNAL SPORTS
With about a month to go in the high school basketball regular season, teams around Louisiana are tracking on the official LHSAA power rankings that determine 12 boys and girls playoff brackets.
Ten local boys teams and 10 girls squads would reach the postseason if competition in the regular season ended Thursday.
The highest-ranked local team is the Bossier boys at No. 2 in Division II Non-Select. Calvary’s boys are third in Select Division III.
Boys teams from Green Oaks and Huntington, along with the girls from Captain Shreve, Huntington and Parkway, are top 10 in their divisions.
LHSAA power rankings
The top 28 Non-Select teams qualify for the playoffs; in Select, the top 20 qualify.
The No. 1 team in the state in each category is shown, along with Caddo and Bossier Parish teams, with W-L records and official power rankings as of Jan. 14.
GAME WINNER: D.J. Dudley hits the decisive 3-pointer for Louisiana Tech Wednesday night. (Photo courtesy Louisiana Tech Athletics)
JOURNAL SPORTS
RUSTON – Down 20 points and ice cold from beyond the arc, the Louisiana Tech basketball team once again found itself staring at a familiar script against visiting Middle Tennessee.
This time, the ending belonged to the Bulldogs.
D.J. Dudley buried a contested three with 4.7 seconds remaining — Tech’s first and only made three of the night — to cap a stunning comeback as the Bulldogs erased a massive deficit and stunned the Blue Raiders, 59-58, Wednesday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
“If it is a clutch situation, I am going to hit the shot,” said Dudley, who led the Bulldogs with 19 points. “I trust myself. I feel like no matter what happens in that situation, I am going to be confident and feel like I am going to make the shot.”
The 20-point come-from-behind-win was the second largest in the last 50 years and the largest since Dec. 12, 2009, when Tech overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat then-Division I Centenary.
Much like the previous meeting 12 days ago in Murfreesboro, Tech (10-7, 3-3 CUSA) was all out of sorts while MTSU (10-7, 4-2 CUSA) ran away with the lead. Last time, the Blue Raiders used a barrage of three-pointers. This time, they were dominating inside on both ends.
The lead ballooned to 34-14 for the visiting team after Kamari Lands’ dunk with 6:06 left before halftime. MTSU took a 40-21 advantage into the locker room, holding Tech to just 20.7 percent shooting and a 0-for-4 mark from three.
The Bulldogs used a 16-3 run to start the second half and make it a six-point deficit with still 12:50 to play in the contest.
MTSU was holding onto the lead for dear life, making just one field goal in the final 5-plus minutes. That one was a big one though as Tre Green connected on a three-pointer from the wing to make it 58-51 in favor of the Blue Raiders with 3:31 left.
With the Bulldogs using pretty much the same lineup for the entire second half, Tech looked as though it may have run out of gas. But that was not the case as the Bulldogs had one more run in them.
Dudley got it started at the 2:41 mark, sinking all three free throws after getting fouled on a three-point attempt to get back to within four. After another defensive stop, Jaylen Fenner made a strong move to the basket to make it a one-possession game.
The home crowd got an assist on the ensuing play as the noise in the TAC contributed when MTSU’s Torey Alston missed both of his free throw attempts, keeping the score at 58-56. Tech had two tries to tie or take the lead, but Fenner’s three-pointer from the corner was off the mark, now making it 0-for-11 from deep for the team. Then it was Bates who missed on his floater in the lane.
With 37 ticks to go, the Bulldogs got yet another defensive stop, but the ball went out of bounds as players were fighting for the rebound. Initially called Blue Raiders ball, the officials overturned the call, giving Tech one last chance.
Both Dudley and Bates tried to get downhill for a potentially game-tying shot at the rim, but all attempts were unsuccessful. Ultimately, Bates kicked the ball out to Dudley who side-stepped his defender and let it fly from three in front of the team bench.
Nothing but net.
As was the case for the entire second half, LA Tech made another defensive stand, forcing a missed shot by MTSU to complete the second-largest comeback in the last 50 years.
The Bulldogs outscored the Blue Raiders, 38-18, in the last 20 minutes. Fenner and A.J. Bates tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively. Avery Thomas II controlled the glass all night for Tech, finishing with a career-tying 15 boards.
By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Athletic Communications Director
Centenary’s swimming teams compete at home for the last time this winter on Saturday afternoon.
They will celebrate Senior Day while welcoming Austin College and the University of St. Thomas inside the Centenary Fitness Center. Competition begins at 1.
Centenary returned from a long break last Saturday in the Austin College Invitational in Sherman, Texas. The Ladies earned a second-place finish with 286 points and the Gents placed third with 363 points.
Centenary competed against the host ‘Roos and McMurry in their first regular-season competition since the “Mid-Season Invitational” Nov. 21-23 in Conway, Ark.
Last Saturday, junior Reece Esser had a solid meet for the Ladies as she picked up wins in the 50 free (26.55) and 100 fly (1:03.57) and earned a runner-up finish in the 100 back (1:05.34). Esser now has 13 wins this season.
On the men’s side, sophomore Adam Stelly picked up a win in the 200 free (1:52.71) and also finished third in the 100 fly (57.87) and fourth in the 50 free (24.21).
BASKETBALL TRAVELS AGAIN THIS WEEKEND: Centenary’s teams are back on the road this weekend for games at Austin College (Friday, men at 6, women at 8) and the University of Dallas (Saturday, men at 4, women at 6).
The Gents (2-10, 1-3 SCAC) split a pair of road games over the weekend in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play, defeating McMurry 94-89 on Friday in Abilene, Texas and falling 68-65 to Schreiner on Sunday in Kerrville, Texas.
Senior guard Quentin Beverly scored a combined 57 points last week in those games and eclipsed 1,000 career points on Sunday with 27 against the Mountaineers. He became just the 37th Gent to score 1,000 or more career points in the 102 years of Centenary men’s basketball.
He led all scorers on Sunday after scoring 30 on Friday night against McMurry. Beverly reached double figures for the 11th game in a row. He has scored 20+ points five times this season and now has four 30-point games in his career.
Beverly has 1,010 career points, is averaging 18.1 this season, and 12.0 for his career.
The Ladies (2-10, 1-3 SCAC) lost both of their weekend games, 85-34 at McMurry on Friday and 64-32 at Schreiner on Sunday.
GYMNASTICS: Centenary finished third in the Bulldog Invitational, a quad meet versus host Fisk, Wilberforce, and Greenville. The Ladies earned a team score of 182.500 in their season-opening meet in Nashville, Tenn.
The Ladies’ top event score of the meet was a 46.875 on vault followed by a 46.575 on floor, a 45.600 on beam, and a 43.450 on bars. Junior Olivia Williams and senior Amy Foret each recorded an impressive 9.675 on floor to tie for second as they were the Ladies’ best individual score of the meet.
Junior Hayden Cagle earned a new career-high 9.475 on beam to finish fifth, Foret had a 9.35 on beam to place sixth, and sophomore Anna Ichiba made her debut on floor and scored a 9.375.
Foret had the Ladies’ best score on vault (9.525) to finish third, sophomore Peyton Burford was next with a 9.40, Flores had a 9.375, and freshman Nyah Washington scored a 9.35 in her collegiate debut.
The Ladies are back in action Friday as they will compete in the 2026 Windy City Invite in Chicago.
Neil William Huard, age 82, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born to the late Neil Louis Huard and Viola Farrer Huard on October 31, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Huard was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joan Cole, and brother Jim Huard.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Walta Gilbreath Huard of Flowery Branch, GA. His survivors also include his daughters Etta Anne (Tom) Elliott, Nicole Dolan (Robert) of Thompsons Station, TN, and Crissy Huard of Gainesville, GA. Additionally, he is survived by his grandchildren Ian, Erin, Sean (Kyra) Elliott, Anna, Emma Joy, Kate, and Maegan Dolan; his great-grandchild, Amelia; and many nieces and nephews.
Neil will be remembered for his love of walking, laughing, singing, spending time with his family, and his love for the Lord. He served in the US Air Force and was stationed in Thailand and Barksdale Air Force Base. Professionally, he worked as a Certified Public Accountant and built his own accounting firm, where he enjoyed serving his clients for many years. He spent his last few years in Georgia walking his little dog Jack and sitting on his back porch waving at cars as they went by.
Neil had been sick for several years and was well cared for by his family, Susan Cherian, and Pruitt Health Hospice. His family appreciates all the care that was given to him to allow him to stay at home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lakewood Baptist Church of Gainesville, Georgia, Mission’s ministry to honor Neil’s desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home at 1:00 PM. Dr. Tyler Smiley will officiate the service, and interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Memorial Park Funeral Homes, located at 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504, is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to memorialparkfuneralhomes.com
Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504 is in charge of the arrangements.
Karl Dudley Tew, Sr., was a larger-than-life man whose story is defined by courage, adventure, and independence. Born on September 24, 1946, Dudley lived boldly and without hesitation, embracing life with a fearless spirit that left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.
Dudley was preceded in death by his mother, Bernice Campise, and his father, Orville Tew.
He is survived by his four children: Casey Bolen (David), and her children Emily and Daebo, along with three great-grandchildren; William “Billy” Tew, and his children Victoria, Abigail, and William; Karl “Tookie” Tew, Jr. (Carey), and their children Jake and Sawyer; and Stephaney Tew. He is also survived by his sister, Winnie Ainsworth, and many extended family members (especially Brooklyn Cassel) and friends who were touched by his remarkable life.
A proud United States Marine, Dudley carried the values of strength, resilience, and determination throughout his life. He was a successful business owner, operating local bars, grocery stores, and pawn shops, earning respect for his work ethic, sharp instincts, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Dudley was best known for his unmatched sense of adventure and fearless approach to life. An avid daredevil, he found excitement wherever it existed—catching alligators, handling snakes, and even owning venomous snakes, including cobras, gaboon vipers, and rattlesnakes. He was a scuba diver, barefoot skier, skydiver, pilot, and paraplane enthusiast. His stories included surviving a grouper swallowing his arm, noodling, and breaking his neck while riding a jet ski backwards—each tale told with humor, grit, and disbelief.
Dudley loved the water and the outdoors, spending time on his houseboat on Lake Ouachita, enjoying his Florida home, building a reef in the Orange River under his dock, and traveling whenever possible. He cherished adventures such as kayaking, bicycling, and sharing laughter and unforgettable memories along the way. Even the unexpected—like keeping a fainting goat—became part of the legend that was Dudley Tew.
Above all, Dudley lived fully, boldly, and unapologetically. While liver cancer was not on his bucket list, it was the final challenge that ended his escapades. His life was an adventure, his stories unforgettable, and his legacy lives on through his family, friends and all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Honored to serve as pallbearers will be: Bill Geaslin, David Bolen, Edward Best, Karl “Tookie” Tew Jr., William “Billy” Tew, and William Tew.
Graveside Memorial service will be held at Forest Park West 4000 Meriwether Road, Shreveport on Friday, January 16th at 2:00pm.
Jack L Huffman December 22, 1945 – January 13, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Lilton Greggs, Jr. May 21, 1953 – January 12, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1pm at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Patrick “Spud” Ingram April 16, 1963 – January 12, 2026 Service: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
James Taylor Brown June 14, 1953 – January 11, 2026 Service: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 11am at First Baptist Church, Keithville.
Charles Ray Duke, Jr. December 7, 1957 – January 11, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Jerry Ann Hall Erwin May 12, 1943 – January 10, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Jack O. Waren February 1, 1928 – January 10, 2026 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Yusef Ahmed-Lasana August 26, 1949 – January 8, 2026 Service: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. at NWLA Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Ruthie Black Long March 25, 1966 – January 8, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at First Antioch Baptist Church, Rodessa.
Alberta Jones September 14, 1950 – January 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1pm at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, Rodessa.
Crystal Nicole Bryant March 3, 1984 – January 7, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at United Outreach Church, Bossier City.
Marilyn Jack July 25, 1959 – January 7, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Shreveport.
Billy Joe Douglas July 26, 1945 – January 6, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Chester McClought May 4, 1934 – January 6, 2026 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Mary Elizabeth Walker-Blalock February 15, 1937 – January 5, 2026 Service: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 12pm at Our Lady Of The Blessed Sacrament Church, Shreveport.
John Richard Craig July 7, 1948 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 9am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Reginald Van Dudley April 19, 1965 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1pm at Stoner Hill Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Nina Darlena Hicks November 18, 1940 – January 4, 2026 Service: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Jerry Sloan July 11, 1949 – January 4, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Canaan Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Willie Clearance Jackson, Jr. December 24, 1945 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12pm at Bilberry Park & Recreation, Shreveport.
Anna Maria Nobles January 24, 1960 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Mary Lucy Thomas April 16, 1932 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Liberty CME Church, Keithville.
John Franklin Luck, Jr. April 3, 1951 – December 30, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 4pm at East Ridge Country Club, Shreveport.
Davina DeSapio June 29, 1967 – December 29, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Charles “Eddie” Edwin Cannatella March 12, 1954 – December 24, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Helen West Walker May 4, 1940 – December 24, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Jonnie Rae Richardson January 16, 1935 – December 22, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Grawood Baptist Church, Keithville.
James Robert Baker September 26, 1955 – December 20, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Eloise Bullock Gibson March 25, 1941 – December 17, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Terrie Michelle Smith June 11, 1966 – December 17, 2025 Service: Friday, January 16, 2026, 1pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Gilbert L. Lawton March 28, 1934 – December 15, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11:30am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Shreveport.
Richard Henry Wadsack December 27, 1946 – November 24, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 17, 2026,
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.)
A Waskom, Texas man about to go on trial in Caddo District Court for a 2023 traffic collision that led to another man’s death pleaded guilty on Jan. 12 to vehicular homicide.
On July 18, 2023, Rodney Dan Lemay, 60, was driving home from work in the 6900 block of Woolworth Road when he swerved over the center line and struck head-on an oncoming vehicle driven by Jeffrey Merritt. Mr. Merritt, 60, had to be extracted from his vehicle. He was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital. Due to the serious injuries involved, routine toxicology samples were taken from Lemay, who was determined to have methamphetamine in his system.
District Judge Chris Victory sentenced Lemay to serve 10 years at hard labor, with three years of the sentence to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Lemay also was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000.
Lemay was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Courtney N. Ray. He was defended by Michael Enright.
