The Shreveport Police Department this week joined forces with Adventures With Purpose, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, to conduct underwater searches of several local bodies of water as part of ongoing investigative efforts.

Adventures With Purpose travels across the country partnering with law enforcement agencies to assist in locating missing persons and recovering evidence connected to open cases. On Wednesday, members of the organization worked side-by-side with Shreveport officers during the multi-hour operation.

While no missing persons were located during the search, investigators discovered several submerged vehicles, at least two of which are suspected to have been stolen. Those recoveries have been turned over to detectives and are now part of active investigations.

“We are grateful for partnerships like this,” the department said in a statement. “It takes collaboration, innovation, and community involvement to continue pushing forward in our mission to serve and protect.”

The Shreveport Police Department expressed sincere appreciation to the Adventures With Purpose team for their commitment to bringing answers to families and supporting law enforcement agencies at no cost to the communities they serve.

Anyone with information related to open missing persons cases or stolen vehicles in the Shreveport area is encouraged to contact the Shreveport Police Department at (318) 673-7300 or Caddo-Bossier Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373.

Eight LSU Shreveport students took home a collective 10 “ADDY” awards at Saturday’s American Advertising Awards presented by the American Advertising Federation of Shreveport-Bossier.

Milan Bolden captured top honor Best of Show in the college division for his movie poster “Deceptive Colors.”

The digital arts student took one of six Gold awards in a deep field of 43 submissions.

Mikayla Dean walked away with LSUS’s other Gold with her illustration “The Red Shoes.”

Two LSUS students garnered Silver awards.

Lisa Marshall’s “Red Rooster Hot Sauce” was recognized in the packaging design category. Marshall was honorably mentioned for her “Buff City Soap” catalog.

Michael Landry’s illustration “Summer Glow” recorded a Silver as well. Landry also was honorably mentioned for his poster “Velvet Mirage.”

Four other LSUS students were honorably mentioned for their work.

Amity Dossett collected two recognitions for her print magazine “Olympics Advertisement” and for the illustration “Architecture Digital Painting.”

Faith Robberson pieced together a Photoshop composition “organic meets industrial.”

Danny Talley was recognized for his Photoshop composition “Decay & Daydreams.”

View each recognized work in a digital version of the 2026 American Advertising Awards Winner’s Booklet.

Professionals from the design, marketing and advertising world outside of the Shreveport-Bossier market judged the submissions.

Mackenzie Newlan, who serves as Vice President I and Education Chair for AAF Shreveport-Bossier, said student participation in the competition and organization at large is extremely beneficial.

“AAFSB is really special because it is a really fantastic place for local students to share their work and have that work be seen by local professionals and companies,” said Newlan, who is a graphic designer at LSUS and was not involved in the judging. “AAF Shreveport-Bossier helps build and maintain spaces for the local advertising community, where both students and professionals can network, build connections, and celebrate their work.”

In the professional division, Newlan picked up a silver for her work on the AAF Shreveport-Bossier’s “Murder at ADDY Manor” for promotion of the 2025 awards show.

LSUS weightlifters were featured in an honorably mentioned still photography collection by the Romph Pou Agency.

The Bossier Chamber of Commerce recognized the grand opening of The Picklr Bossier City at the Louisiana Boardwalk. The new facility is located at 240 Boardwalk Blvd., Building H, in Bossier City. Chamber officials congratulated The Picklr on its opening and welcomed the business to the Boardwalk community.

Akston, a biotechnology company focused on animal health, has opened a new manufacturing facility as part of a $7 million investment in Caddo Parish to expand its U.S. manufacturing capabilities and strengthen Louisiana’s life sciences sector.

The company is expected to create 69 direct new jobs over five years with an average annual salary of nearly $100,000, which is 76% above the average Caddo Parish wage. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 93 indirect new jobs, for a total of 162 potential new job opportunities in the Northwest Region.

“Akston’s decision to expand in Louisiana reinforces the state’s position at the forefront of advanced life sciences, as innovation continues to translate into new industries and new opportunities,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “With our economy continuing to diversify, investments like this give emerging industries the staying power needed to grow, compete and create high-wage jobs here in Louisiana.”

Akston has opened a new manufacturing facility at BRF’s InterTech Park in Shreveport. The 31,000-square-foot facility, located on nearly 2.5 acres, includes cleanrooms for biologics production, quality control laboratories, fill-finish manufacturing capabilities, cold storage, warehousing and administrative space. The site will support commercial manufacturing operations and the company’s U.S. production capabilities in animal health.

“This new facility is a major milestone in our plan to commercialize our USDA-regulated protein therapeutics aimed at addressing unmet needs in pet health,” Akston Co-founder and CEO Todd Zion, Ph.D. said. “It was critical for us to expand our presence right here in the U.S., and we are grateful for the support of the State of Louisiana, BRF and the City of Shreveport. This expands our capabilities and adds to the momentum of the growing animal health industry in the region.”

Founded in Beverly, Massachusetts, Akston is an animal health biotech company focusing on developing protein-based therapies for companion animals. The company has embraced a vertically integrated model that spans research, development and manufacturing, with existing GMP biologics operations for FDA-regulated biologics in Massachusetts. The new Shreveport facility extends that footprint and supports Akston’s commercial-scale manufacturing for its USDA regulated therapeutics.

“The Caddo Parish Industrial Development Board is excited to welcome Akston to our community. The IDB is proud to support this project and to help diversify our local economy by working with Akston to bring new jobs in biotech to Caddo Parish,” IDB Board President William Bradford, Jr. said. “Biotech and advanced manufacturing are part of the larger economic development landscape that’s expanding statewide and right here in Caddo.”

Akston began occupying the new Shreveport facility in July 2025. Build-out and commissioning activities are ongoing, with commercial manufacturing operations to begin in the coming months.

“BRF is pleased to welcome Akston from the Boston area to the Shreveport Healthcare and Technology Corridor,” BRF President and CEO John F. George Jr., M.D. said. “I thank our partners, including the Caddo Parish Industrial Development Board, for helping make this opportunity possible.”

To win the project in Shreveport, the state of Louisiana offered Akston a competitive incentives package that includes participation in the state’s High Impact Jobs program.

Louisiana companies, make sure your business is registered at SourceLouisiana.com to enter the pipeline for contract and vendor opportunities with development projects statewide.

Twenty-one months ago, Adam Hester was as occupationally happy as he could be. Loved his job, loved where he worked and felt like he was exactly where he needed to be at that point in his life.

Then the phone rang.

It was a call that inquired as to whether Hester would like to throw all of that aside and try something that he had never done before. It wasn’t exactly a paved road.

He really didn’t know what he was getting into, but how could he? No roadmap, no handbook, no model to follow. Sure, there would be people willing to help, but basically what he was being asked to do was going to have to be done with blind faith.

So Adam Hester left what he loved to take on a new job, which didn’t actually exist, at a place that not a whole lot of people had heard of.

Not exactly the way LinkedIn draws it up.

You can find Hester these days at Providence Classical Academy in Bossier City as the athletic director. And head boys soccer coach. And assistant girls soccer coach. And anything else the school might need him to be.

“Sometimes I look back,” he says, “and wonder what I was thinking.”

Since he left the comfort of his position as social studies teacher/soccer coach at Calvary Baptist long behind him, Hester has been up for the challenge of building a high school athletic program. Not quite from scratch, but a dramatic shift from what it had been.

“It’s a total mindset thing,” he says. “It’s something we are still trying to figure out. And probably will be trying to figure out for a while.”

Hester was brought in as the school began to move from playing in the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), where the athletic program landed after reaching the high school level.

Job One for Hester was to steer the transition from the MAIS (which stretches across four states) to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

Once Hester, who was quite familiar with the working of the LHSAA from coaching at Calvary, was handed the keys, there was no shortage of questions. What sports would need to be offered or added? What facilities needed to be built? Who was going to coach these sports?

Three games into the boys basketball season a year ago, the coach departed. About two weeks before the baseball and softball seasons, both of the coaches of those sports also left.

“That was challenging,” he says.

Welcome to the LHSAA.

But lo and behold, an experienced high school softball coach was teaching math at Providence. “We are two weeks away from the season,” Hester told him. “Uh, we need you.”

Job accepted.

A former basketball coach came out of retirement to coach both basketball teams before retiring again.

Hester was able to navigate through that first year before getting everything steered in the right direction in Year Two.

A few months ago, there was nothing but trees surrounding the Providence campus (located on Old Brownlee Road). Not anymore. The softball field will have some home dates this year while the baseball team will play a road-only schedule in 2026. There will be a soccer field with a track surrounding it. Having a gym completed for volleyball and basketball has been an enormous step forward.

The trees are gone. Providence athletic facilities are growing in their place.

Providence will play in District 1-B for the next two school years for basketball, baseball, softball and track after the recent reclassification. (Soccer and volleyball will play in divisions.) Hester says there is “no desire” to add football.

Scheduling can be a problem as many of the Class B-level schools do not offer some of the sports that Providence plays and the school is surrounded by Class 5A and 4A schools.

“You see the vision that they had a few years ago all coming to fruition,” Hester says. “These people had a plan, and they are going to get it done.”

Soccer is still Hester’s first athletic love and being able to still coach that sport is “vital,” he says.

“If I was in the office all day and not interacting with kids, it wouldn’t be worth it,” he says. “But I’ve always got something to do. There’s always frustration, but I really enjoy moving around at that fast pace and trying to get ahead of things and solve problems.”

 Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

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By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – For a head coach who loves defense and rebounding, the first half between No. 6 LSU and Tennessee Thursday night was painful for LSU’s Kim Mulkey.

The Tigers led 43-42, allowing the third-most first-half points scored against them by an SEC opponent this season. They got outrebounded 27-18, including 11 offensive rebounds by the Vols, resulting in 14 second-chance points.

“The first half was rec ball,” Mulkey said. “Both teams with nobody guarding anybody. I guess some people like that. But it settled down a little bit more in the second half.”

Leave it to stoic former Bossier City Parkway star Mikaylah Williams to steady the Tigers.

The multi-position junior recorded the second double-double of her college career, scoring 20 points all on mid-range jumpers and drives, and grabbing 10 rebounds in an 89-63 victory to lock up the fourth and final double-bye in next week’s SEC Tournament in Greenville, S.C.

If the favored teams win as expected on Wednesday and Thursday, LSU (25-4 overall, 11-4 SEC) will play Ole Miss in Friday’s quarterfinals at 1:30 p.m. CT. The winner moves to a Saturday semifinal at 3:30 p.m., likely against league regular-season champion South Carolina.

The Tigers finish the regular season on Sunday at Mississippi State (18-11, 5-10) at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs have a couple of quality league wins over Kentucky (which beat LSU in the Tigers’ SEC opener) and Tennessee.

The Vols (16-11, 8-7 SEC) stayed with the Tigers for the first half. Then Williams went to work in the third quarter when she had a hand in 14 of LSU’s 27 points (8 points, 3 assists) to extend the lead to 70-59 entering the fourth period.

“I thought the entire game was Mikaylah Wiliiams,” LSU associate head coach Bob Starkey said. “Even when we struggled in the first half, she was able to make some things happen.

“We played her quite a bit at the ‘4’ (power forward) today for the second game in a row. We’re asking her to do a lot of stuff, and it’s not affecting her in any way.”

Williams, who had no turnovers for just the second time this season, had plenty of scoring help.

Junior transfer guard MiLaysia Fulwiley had 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 2 steals. Freshmen Zakiya Johnson (14 points, 8 rebounds) and Grace Knox (13 points, 9 rebounds) combined for 27 points and 17 rebounds.

“I’m really hard on them (LSU’s five freshmen) for a lot of stuff,” said LSU guard Flau’Jae Johnson, who scored 10 points as one of three seniors being honored on Senior Night. “But they always rise to the occasion. They’re all really great players. I’m always telling them, `Y’all stay here for four years and y’all really could build something special.’”

Tennessee, which has lost four straight to the Tigers, presented a unique challenge because of second-year head coach Kim Caldwell’s frequent and massive substitutions.

She made 74 substitutions inserting 3 or more players 14 times including 5 players three times and 4 players five times.

The first half settled into a game of runs.

LSU, jumpstarted by two Fulwiley 3-pointers, scored 14 straight points in a 2:44 span of the second quarter and twice took 8-point leads.

In the last 1:49 of the first half, a 7-0 burst by the Vols, capped by Nya Robinson’s 3-pointer, gave Tennessee a 42-41 lead before Williams’ driving layup with four seconds left pushed the Tigers to a one-point edge at halftime.

As aggravated as Mulkey was about her team’s lack of rebounding, Caldwell was as happy about her squad physically outworking LSU.

“We were sharing the ball and doing a really good job on the offensive glass,” Caldwell said. “That’s where a lot of offense came from in the second half.

“Then we came out for the second half, they (the Tigers) really picked up their effort. They had 12 second-chance points in the second half.”

Mulkey’s halftime message to her team was simple.

“We weren’t very physical, and this doesn’t fit our idea of what we’re supposed to be doing,” Mulkey said. “I thought we became a little bit more physical rebounding, taking the ball off the dribble and getting to the paint.”

In the second half, LSU outrebounded Tennessee 27-16 for a 45-43 edge, shot 50 percent from the field to finish at 47.3 percent and committed just four turnovers after committing five in the first quarter.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

Huntington’s defense got the Lady Raiders in control Thursday night and the defending Select Division I state champions captured their third straight state semifinal berth and a sixth trip to Marsh Madness in seven seasons by dispatching visiting Alexandria Senior High.

The 68-45 win in a girls basketball quarterfinal earned Huntington (20-9) a rematch with top-seeded John Curtis (23-1) next Thursday at 2:45 in Hammond at the University Center. The Lady Raiders entered last year’s Marsh Madness as the fourth seed, knocked off Curtis – also the top seed then – 61-59 in the semis and won it all over No. 3 Woodlawn-Baton Rouge 61-51.

ASH (20-12), seeded 12^th, didn’t sink a basket from the floor until the second quarter Thursday night.

The Lady Raiders are the only local team to make it to next week. Eighth-seeded Captain Shreve (20-12) was unable to stay with Curtis Thursday night, falling 59-37 in River Ridge.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Every advantage matters in the postseason. Captain Shreve, Green Oaks, Huntington and North Caddo all have the homecourt edge tonight In the first round of the LHSAA boys basketball playoffs.

A dozen teams from Shreveport-Bossier made the LHSAA’s brackets. Airline was eliminated Thursday night, 60-44, at Covington in a Non-Select Division I game.

Calvary and Bossier are off tonight after securing high seeds and first-round byes.

Tonight’s first-round state boys basketball playoffs involving local schools, with tip times:

SELECT DIVISION I

No. 19 Holy Cross (17-14) at No. 14 Captain Shreve (17-11), 6:30

No. 24 Hammond (14-9) at No. 9 Huntington (19-8), 6:30

No. 22 Evangel (9-15) at No. 11 Karr (24-9), 6:30

NON-SELECT DIVISION I

No. 26 Benton (14-13) at No. 7 Sulphur (26-4), 6:30

No. 23 Parkway (17-15) at No. 10 Slidell (24-7), 6:30

SELECT DIVISON II

No. 20 Booker T. Washington (12-8) at No. 13 St. Michael (15-14), 6:30

NON-SELECT DIVISION II

No. 24 Woodlawn (13-13) at No. 9 Opelousas (22-11), 6:00

SELECT DIVISON III

No. 17 Rosepine (12-15) at No. 16 North Caddo (19-12), 6:00

NON-SELECT DIVISION III 

No. 22 Many (17-10) at No. 11 Green Oaks (13-14), 6:30

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By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Assistant AD for Communications 

When you go to Conway, Ark., lunch at David’s Burgers is recommended. But the Centenary basketball team will be busy then and hopes to get a happy postgame meal instead.

They begin the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament there at noon today. Coach J.A. Anglin didn’t need to spend much time on scouting their opponent. 

A week after playing Colorado College, the Gents will have a rematch with the Tigers today  in the opening game of the SCAC Tournament held at Hendrix College in Conway.

The Gents (10-15, 8-8 SCAC)  lost their regular-season finale to the nationally-ranked  (No. 4) University of St. Thomas Celts 75-63 on Sunday in Houston preceded by an 81-62 loss to Colorado College last Friday night in Colorado Springs.

Centenary, which started the season 1-9, rebounded to go 9-6 since under Anglin, in his first year with the Gents after a successful run at Bossier Parish Community College.

The Gents secured the No. 2 seed in the SCAC’s Blue Division and Colorado College will be the Gold Division’s No. 3 seed. The top six teams in the conference (top three in each division) qualified for the event which end Sunday. The champion will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

If Centenary defeats Colorado College (12-13, 10-6 SCAC), then a rematch with St. Thomas (24-1, 16-0) awaits in the semifinals on Saturday.

A positive memory: The Gents defeated Colorado College 83-76 on Feb. 25, 2024 in Shreveport to win the SCAC Tournament title and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

STUNT:  Centenary is ranked fifth in the country again in the second Division III poll of the regular season.  

See the official rankings here: https://collegestunt.org/2026-rankings/

The Ladies were in that same spot in the first poll of the regular season last week. Centenary recorded three shutouts last weekend in the Warrior Invitational in East Stroudsburg, Pa. 

The Ladies blanked Randolph College 24-0, Saint Elizabeth  8-0, and Albright College, 12-0. The Ladies’ only loss came to host East Stroudsburg 27-4 in a tough set of four games on Saturday in the Keystone state.

LACROSSE:  The Gents remained unbeaten following a hard-fought 13-11 victory over the Huntingdon College Hawks in a non-conference contest last Saturday at home. 

The Gents (5-0) are now 3-0 at home this season and scored double-digit goals for the fifth time in five games. Centenary is also off to its best start in program history. 

Sophomore Noah Walsh scored a game-high five goals to lead the Gents and freshman Aiden McQuat had three.  Freshman Andrew Hayden and junior Ethan Hewett each scored two goals and freshman Gavin Ferrington added one. Walsh added two assists and sophomore D Carter Romero had one. Freshman GK Jake Huff went the distance and recorded a season-high 16 saves

Centenary hits the road to face Augustana College next Friday, March 6) and Cornell College on March 7. 

SOFTBALL: The Ladies went 0-4 last weekend in the Belhaven Tournament, falling twice each to Hardin-Simmons and the nationally-ranked and host Belhaven Blazers in Jackson, Miss.

The Ladies (3-6) return to conference play this weekend against Concordia in Austin, Texas. Centenary is off to a 3-0 start in the SCAC  after a home sweep over Schreiner Feb. 12-13. 

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

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Sabine Parish Sheriff Aaron Mitchell reports that a 71-year-old Haughton man was found deceased Wednesday morning on Toledo Bend Lake.

Richard Edward Whatley was discovered in the water near the bank at the end of Ed Callie Road in San Patricio Bay at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 25. According to the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, Whatley’s boat was still running nearby when he was located.

Authorities said it remains unclear how Whatley drowned, but investigators believe he may have fallen from his boat.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is leading the investigation.

Sheriff Mitchell and his staff extended condolences to Whatley’s family and friends.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, February 21, 2026, Robert Doyle “Sonny” Neal Sr, peacefully entered into eternal life. Sonny was born on December 25, 1941 in Goldonna to the late Ella Mae Hickman and E. S. Neal. He is survived by his children; Charlene Bowers, Robert Neal Jr., Arthur Neal, and step children; Terry Conlay, Tanya Baxley, and Cheryle DeYoung and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sonny will be remembered for his kind heart, hard work, humor and dedication to family. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Olla Faye Neal.

In accordance with Sonny’s wishes, no formal service will be held, but there will be a graveside service Sunday, March 1, 2026, 2pm at Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Fairview Alpha.. The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the Red River Council On Aging who tended to him and treated him like family, he loved each and every one of you. May Sonny rest in peace, remembered always with love and gratitude.

Carol Pauline Anderson Cross passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, February 19, 2026.  

Memorial services honoring Carol will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Faith Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, with Pastor Ernie Barr, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls.  Inurnment will be at a later date in Staples, Minnesota.  

Carol was born to Albin and Tilda (Dahlvang) Anderson in Wadena, Minnesota on February 26, 1944.  Her father was a dairy farmer and entrepreneur, and her grandparents were immigrants from Sweden and Norway respectively.  She started her schooling in a one-room county school, which she was proud to have attended, then went to Staples, Minnesota where she graduated. She went on to graduate from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and began her teaching career. In 1972, she married Thomas Cross, also from Staples and followed and supported him through his USAF career, living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Omaha, Nebraska, Bossier City, Louisiana, (where their two sons, Robert and William were born; who brought them immense pride, joy, and restlessness), then on to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom and finally to Wichita Falls, Texas where Tom retired and they stayed.

After an eleven-year break, when their sons were young, Carol re-entered teaching full-time at John Tower Elementary School, where she remained until her retirement. She had forty plus years of full-time teaching (her passion.) Then, tutored for a few years after retirement.

Wherever they lived Carol was always active in their church, whether it was teaching Sunday school, making billboards, being on church councils, or call committees. She was always involved in her professional education organizations. This continued until her death, at which time she was Vice President of and coordinated the monthly speakers of the Burkburnett Retired Teachers Association. 

She enthusiastically supported and followed her sons in their education, sporting endeavors, and careers. Including her grandsons, she survived twenty-eight years of youth and collegiate tennis and soccer. 

Preceding her in death were her parents; brother, Douglas; sister, Louise; and son, Robert (1977-2021).

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Tom; son, William and his wife Amanda; grandsons, Cale and Lukas; nephews, Craig Wilson and David Anderson; niece, Kristy Wilson Jedinak; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 1437 Southwest Pkwy, Wichita Falls, TX 76302; Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4400 Cypress Ave, Wichita Falls, TX 76310; or to a charity of your choice.

Phonetic: /sed·u·lous/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

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A deputy is being recognized for his quick action and compassion during a house fire response in the early morning hours of Feb. 24.

At approximately 1:15 a.m., Deputy William “Cody” Conly was assisting Fire District No. 8 at the scene of a residential fire in Caddo Parish when he heard a dog howling from a fenced kennel next to the burning home.

According to officials, Deputy Conly borrowed cutters from firefighters and moved quickly to free the trapped animal. His actions resulted in the dog being safely rescued from the area and spared from potential injury.

Officials also expressed appreciation to Vivian Officer Mark Trenor for his assistance during the incident.

Authorities commended the efforts of first responders who go beyond protecting residents to also ensure the safety of their pets.

Supplier Outreach and Information Sessions for the Northwest Louisiana Data Center project were held today at the Bossier Central Library and the Shreveport Convention Center.

Representatives from Haskell and key contractor partners provided an overview of the project and outlined upcoming opportunities for local suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers. Discussion focused on anticipated needs, including site preparation, erosion control, concrete and asphalt work, hauling, mechanical and plumbing services, electrical and instrumentation support, third-party testing, and related services.

Presenters from four contracting companies emphasized the scale and rapid timeline of the project, highlighting the importance of strong regional participation and long-term partnerships.

The sessions aimed to equip local businesses with the information and connections needed to participate in this major construction project.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Defending Select Division I state girls basketball champion Huntington has homecourt advantage tonight as the Lady Raiders shoot for their sixth state semifinal appearance in the past seven years.

Huntington (19-9), seeded fourth as it was for last year’s championship run, takes on the lowest remaining seed, No. 12 Alexandria Senior High (20-11) in a 6 o’clock quarterfinal contest.

The Lady Raiders cruised past visiting Woodlawn of Baton Rouge 57-40 Monday night. Woodlawn was the last team to beat Huntington in playoff action, eliminating the Lady Raiders in the 2024 state semifinals.

ASH surprised fifth-seeded Acadiana 58-52 Monday night in Lafayette to earn its trip to Shreveport.

The only other local team left in the LHSAA postseason, Captain Shreve, will play in metro New Orleans tonight at 6 against No. 1 seed John Curtis (22-1). The eighth-seeded Lady Gators (20-10) thrashed another New Orleans team, No. 9 Archbishop Chapellle, 56-24 Monday, racing to a 27-1 lead in another Select Division I second round game.

A third District 1-5A squad, 9^th-seeded Natchitoches Central (21-8), visits No. 1 Zachary (28-3), the defending Non-Select Division I champ, in a quarterfinal game tonight.

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JOURNAL SPORTS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Going into the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Evangel Christian product Roy Morris led the conference in his specialty, the long jump.

He played the favorite’s role perfectly as the Northwestern State sophomore took gold on the first day of the SLC Indoors on Wednesday at the Birmingham Crossplex.

In his young career with the Demons, Morris had done just about everything. Last outdoor season, he earned outdoor second-team All-America honors and he captured a bronze medal in last year’s indoor meet. One accomplishment missing was a SLC Championship gold medal, indoors or outdoors.

That wait is over. He led the entire way, punctuating it with a 24-9.75 on his final jump. Stephen F. Austin’s Bryson Williams came close with a 24-7.75, barely behind Morris’ leading jump at the time of 24-8.75.

“First of all, I want to thank my family and coaching staff for always believing in me and giving me that push I needed,” Morris said. “It feels amazing to walk away with the gold. After last season, I went back to the drawing board and physically and mentally prepared myself for this day.”

The Lady Demons are trying to become the only the third program since 1987 to win four SLC Indoor team championships. They and the Demons project for runner-up finishes if pre-meet rankings and preliminary finishes play out accurately.

The teams are back in action today on the second and final day which starts with the men’s heptathlon 60-meter hurdles at 9:40 a.m.

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JOURNAL SPORTS

After last Saturday’s shooting performance, when the Bossier Parish Community College basketball team couldn’t throw it in the ocean, there was only one direction for the Cavaliers to go.

They zoomed to life Wednesday night in a 90-77 win over Lamar State College-Port Arthur in a Region XIV game at Billy Montgomery Gym.

BPCC hit 55 percent of its overall shots including 17 of 34 from 3-point range, and sank 9 of 12 at the free throw line to counterbalance a dreadful day last Saturday at Angelina College, when the Cavaliers scored only 33 points in a 29-point loss with 28 percent shooting including 17 percent from distance.   

The winners had a pair of 25-point scorers, Tony Montgomery and Drew Cooper. Montgomery went 7 of 14 overall, 4 of 8 on 3s, and made 7 of 11 at the line while getting five rebounds and making five assists. Cooper had the hot hand, sinking 10 of 15 including 5 of 8 from distance. Dustin Welch pitched in 18 points, making 7 of 12 overall including 4 of 7 on 3-pointers.

Cooper scored 21 in the first half to keep BPCC close as LSC-PA took a 43-36 lead. Montgomery had 23 after halftime while the Cavaliers erupted for 54 points.

Moore said the abysmal outing last Saturday provided a spark for his first BPCC team, which has 11 freshmen.

“What a reat team win at home,” he said. “We were really connected as a team. Tonight we had players really step up off the bench and as a whole we knocked down open shots.

“We talked about this the last couple days — we are not here to compete with each other but to COMPLETE each other as a team,,” he said.  

BPCC (10-17 overall, 4-15 Region XIV) will wrap up its home schedule Saturday afternoon at 4 against Blinn CC., when the program will honor its three sophomores: Minden product Stafford Bailey, Yoav Botzer and Mazin Lumori.

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