JOURNAL SPORTS
Every basketball team loves homecourt advantage. For the next three years, Centenary will have a significant degree of it at the most important point in the season – the conference tournament that is the gateway to March Madness.
Centenary teams can travel six miles from their homecourt, the Gold Dome, east across the Jimmie Davis Bridge spanning Red River to play their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament games.
The SCAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will move from member institutions’ campuses to six-team neutral site tournaments at Brookshire Grocery Arena.
The shift, announced Tuesday in an event at the Bossier City arena, will coincide with the tournament’s 25th anniversary.
Understandably, Centenary men’s coach J.A. Anglin, a Shreveport native, was beaming talking about the news.
“It’s going to be great for the Shreveport-Bossier area, having NCAA basketball at the end of February going right into March Madness. I think it’s great for Division III basketball,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of people who aren’t familiar with Division III basketball and it’s going to open a lot of eyes to the quality brand of basketball we play, not only at Centenary College, but across the Division III level.”
Shreveport mayor Tom Arceneaux and his Bossier City counterpart, Tommy Chandler, were equally excited about the announcement. Arceneaux touted the exposure Centenary will gain in local circles.
“Centenary College has been an important part of Shreveport for generations, and we are proud to see its student-athletes help welcome the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference to our community,” said Arceneaux. “This tournament gives local families the opportunity to support the Ladies and Gents while introducing visiting teams and fans to the hospitality and character of our area.”
The other SCAC member institutions are Austin College, Colorado College, Concordia University of Dallas, Hendrix College, LeTourneau, University of the Ozarks, St. Thomas and Texas Lutheran.
The three-day tournament will feature the top six men’s teams and top six women’s teams from the 10-member SCAC, competing for conference championships and automatic berths in the NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
The 2027 championships are expected to generate approximately $650,000 in economic impact as visiting student-athletes, coaches and fans use local hotels and restaurants, and visit shops and attractions.
“We are excited to welcome the SCAC’s student-athletes, families and fans to Bossier City for three years of championship basketball,” said Chandler. “Events like this give our residents new experiences to enjoy while supporting the hotels, restaurants and businesses that serve our community.”
The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission with Visit Shreveport-Bossier showcased the destination’s ability to host the championships, and with the help of community and state partners, secured a three-year agreement with SCAC. Presented by Ochsner LSU Health, the tournament will debut in Shreveport-Bossier on Feb. 26–28, 2027, and return in 2028 and 2029.
Dwayne Hanberry, Commissioner of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, welcomed the neutral site venue and its location.
“Moving our men’s and women’s championships to a neutral site allows us to elevate the championship experience and create a true championship atmosphere for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. Shreveport-Bossier demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the SCAC throughout the bidding process, and we are excited to partner with the community to showcase our championships at Brookshire Grocery Arena,” he said.
Stacy Brown, president/CEO of Visit Shreveport-Bossier, said collaboration between Centenary and local businesses made it possible.
“Bringing events of this caliber to our community takes strong relationships and a shared vision,” said Brown. “This championship began with local partners recognizing an opportunity for Brookshire Grocery Arena and working together to pursue it. The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission with Visit Shreveport-Bossier helped turn that vision into a three-year agreement, and another major sports tourism win that will attract visitors and generate economic impact throughout our community.”