Thursday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; upcoming schedule

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Thursday’s score

LSU 5, Tennessee 2

Today’s games

Tennessee at LSU, 6 p.m.

Dallas Baptist at Louisiana Tech, 3 p.m.

Centenary at Trinity, 6 p.m.

Northwestern State at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Louisiana Christian at LSUS, DH, 2 p.m.

Centenary at Trinity, DH, 1 p.m.

BPCC at Navarro, DH, 1 p.m.

Tennessee at LSU, 1 p.m.

Northwestern State at New Orleans, 2 p.m.

Dallas Baptist at Louisiana Tech, 2 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Louisiana Christian at LSUS, noon

Northwestern State at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Dallas Baptist at Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m.

College Softball

Thursday’s scores

No games scheduled

Today’s games

N.C. State vs. Louisiana Tech, at LSU, 11:30 a.m.

BYU vs. Louisiana Tech, at LSU, 2 p.m.

Houston Christian at Northwestern State, DH, 4 p.m.

Southern U. at Grambling, 3 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Centenary at Trinity, DH, noon

Houston Christian at Northwestern State, noon

Southern U. at Grambling, DH, noon

BPCC at Paris, DH, 1 p.m.

N.C. State vs. Louisiana Tech, at LSU, 1:30 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at LSU, 4 p.m.

Sunday’s game

Centenary at Trinity, noon

High School Baseball

Thursday’s scores 

District 1-5A

Benton 14, Airline 3
Byrd 9, Captain Shreve 3
Parkway 7, Haughton 6

District 1-4A

Northwood 9, Minden 4
North DeSoto 9, Evangel 5

District 1-2A

Calvary 11, Lakeside 8
Loyola 11, D’Arbonne Woods 3

Non-District

Converse 15, North Caddo 0

Today’s games

District 1-4A

North DeSoto at Evangel

District 1-2A

Calvary at Lakeside, DH

D’Arbonne Woods at Loyola, DH

Non-District

Captain Shreve at Converse

St. Mary’s at Parkway

Saline at Huntington

Franklin Parish at Northwood

North Caddo at Logansport

Plain Dealing at Ringgold

Saturday’s games

District 1-5A

Airline at Benton

Captain Shreve at Byrd

Parkway at Haughton

Southwood at Natchitoches Central, DH

Non-District

Red River at North Caddo

High School Softball

Thursday’s scores

District 1-4A

Minden 15, BTW 0

Non-District

Airline 12, Many 11
Captain Shreve 12-17, Castor 0-7
Cedar Creek 17, Benton 9
North DeSoto 7, Natchitoches Central 1
Montgomery 2, Parkway 0
St. Mary’s 2, Northwood 1
D’Arbonne Woods 16, Byrd 1
Saline 20, Southwood 10
Lakeside 7, Evangel 1
Calvary 9, Ouachita Christian 3
Loyola 10, River Oaks 0
Haynesville 19-15, Bossier 1-0

Today’s games

District 1-4A

Woodlawn at Evangel

Caddo Magnet vs. Woodlawn, Cargill 5 p.m.

Non-District

Byrd at Stanley

Parkway at North Webster

Arcadia at Green Oaks

Loyola at North Caddo

Saturday’s game

North DeSoto at Calvary, 1 p.m.

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


NSU’s new basketball coach reflects on his ‘dream job’

REUNITED: Northwestern State athletics director Kevin Bostian (left) and new Demons’ basketball coach Rick Cabrera first met when both worked at Tennessee Tech a decade ago. Cabrera becomes the 11th coach in NSU history. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State)

By JASON PUGH, Special to the Journal

NATCHITOCHES – Rick Cabrera’s introduction as Northwestern State’s new basketball coach Thursday afternoon was just another part of a longtime dream.

“My dream job is being here as your head coach,” Cabrera told NSU supporters in an afternoon event on campus. “When I decided to get into coaching, I laid down at night and said, ‘I want to be a Division I head basketball coach.’ This is my first opportunity, so this is my dream job. I’m so greatly appreciative of having this opportunity. There are only 363 (Division-I head coaching jobs). I had people believe in me that I was the next man to win an NCAA Tournament game.

“Just watching a Fairleigh Dickinson, Florida Atlantic, I say, ‘Why not us?’ That’s the attitude you’ve got to have.”

Cabrera, 47, said he wants to instill a “tough” team for the 2023-24 season and beyond, but Thursday was a chance for the first-time Division I head coach to show the other side of his emotional spectrum.

He fought back tears when speaking about his wife, Danielle, and had to compose himself when his thoughts turned to his late father Hugo Sr., saying out loud through a raspy voice, “I’m not going to talk about Dad,” to which his sister sitting in the front row responded, “He’s here.”

A six-year head coach at Lackawanna College (2004-08) and Tallahassee Community College (2021-23), Cabrera compiled a record of 152-45. He guided TCC to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Final Four and a 31-6 record this winter, earning HoopDirt.com’s NJCAA national Coach of the Year honor.

He has also accumulated 13 years as a Division I assistant at Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech, Austin Peay and Arkansas State.

“As we went through the search process, it was clear coach Cabrera possessed all the qualities we desired in a head coach,” NSU director of athletics Kevin Bostian said. “We wanted somebody who was an elite recruiter and a developer of young men, not only on the court but off it as well. We wanted someone to fit the culture of Northwestern State. His enthusiasm, passion, energy and hands-in-the-dirt approach and grind-it out work ethic were a perfect match.”

Cabrera’s biggest takeaways from his journey? Patience and the value of family.

Throughout his remarks, Cabrera referenced a handful of quotes. One related to the Cabrera family as a whole.

“A quote that has always stuck in my head is, ‘A good coach needs a patient wife or husband, a loyal dog and a great post player, but not necessarily in that order,’” he said. “I definitely have two of the three in a patient wife and a loyal dog. I have a great post player coming, just wait and see.”

For Cabrera, Thursday’s introduction was the culmination of a two-decade journey that began as a graduate assistant at Tennessee Tech where he played basketball and baseball. It wound through Miami Killian High School and Keystone College before taking him to Lackawanna College in his wife’s hometown of Scranton, Pa.

It was during his time at Keystone that Cabrera had a bit of an epiphany and discovered just how much he wanted to coach basketball.

“I was a dorm director and an assistant coach at Keystone College,” Cabrera said. “I wish I had kept my first pay stub from Keystone College. I remember it. With taxes taken out, it was $159.38 just for the coaching stipend. That was every two weeks. I’ll never forget it. I’m out of college, and I have a master’s degree. I’m thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ It’s all about patience. It has paid off. It has allowed me to take care of myself and my family.”

It also led Cabrera to a place that helped him develop as a New York City high school basketball player.

“Dale Brown is a great friend, not a good friend,” Cabrera said of LSU’s legendary former coach. “I talked to him this morning for 20 minutes. He’s 87 years old and kicking like he did when he was 45. When I was (growing up) in New York City, Dale Brown was great friends with my dad, and my dad got him a player by the name of Jose Vargas from the Dominican Republic. Dale said, ‘Bring your son to our camp.’ I went my freshman year, sophomore year, junior year and senior year. Dale is a mentor of mine. He’s always been good to me.”

Brown wasn’t the only iconic Louisiana coach Cabrera referenced Thursday. He paid respects to longtime Demon head coach Mike McConathy.

“Mike McConathy is a guy I followed in my Division I career,” Cabrera said. “He was a heck of a coach. One of my assistant coaches came up to me in my first year at Tallahassee in the middle of the season. We were struggling on getting some offense early in the shot clock. He came up to me and said, ‘Coach, listen, I was at Southeastern Louisiana. That coach at Northwestern State had an unbelievable secondary break. They scored really quickly. At some point, they led the country in scoring (2014-15).’

“I don’t have an ego. I steal from everybody in the coaching community. I said, ‘OK, let’s try it. As a head coach, I’m going to allow you to put it in.’ He put it in and our offense was like, ‘Pop.’ It changed in a day.

“Thank you, coach McConathy. I appreciate that. Your legacy is still here. As an assistant coach, I watched you win a lot. I look forward to talking to you in the near future.”

Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu


Deal to renew Tech-ULM football series is done, but kickoff will wait seven years

POPULAR DEMAND:  Fans on both sides of the Louisiana Tech-ULM rivalry are expected to fill Aillet Stadium in Ruston when the Bulldogs and Warhawks kick off seven years from now. (Photo courtesy Louisiana Tech)

JOURNAL SPORTS

The Louisiana Tech-ULM neighborhood football rivalry is back on, albeit several years away from kicking off.

Wednesday, the schools announced a two-game, home-and-home scheduling agreement to meet in 2030 and 2031.

The renewal of the rivalry is Sept. 21, 2030 at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston and the following season on Sept. 13, 2031, at Malone Stadium in Monroe.

The two programs were scheduled to face one another in 2020 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the ULM football program.

The programs have met a total of 43 times with Louisiana Tech leading the all-time series, 30-13. The Bulldogs have won eight straight over the Warhawks, including the last meeting which was a 42-19 victory on Nov. 11, 2000, in Monroe.

At its peak in the 1980s, the annual contests filled both stadiums and generated intense interest. Tech shifted to the FBS ranks (then Division I-A) in 1987 and exited the Southland Conference, just before ULM (then Northeast Louisiana, led by Shreveport-Southwood quarterback Stan Humphries) soared to the NCAA Division I-AA championship, with former Tech player and assistant coach Pat Collins as head coach. A 44-7 ULM rout in Ruston that year was the last Warhawks’ triumph; the Bulldogs won the eight meetings since, annual home-and-home contests ending in 1991, then picking up again for four years from 1997-2000.

Louisiana Tech athletic department spokesman Kane Maguire said existing non-conference football contracts already in place were among the factors that kept the nearby rivals from colliding any sooner than seven years from now.


Wednesday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Wednesday’s scores

Louisiana Christian 12, Centenary 2, 7 innings
Paris 12-8, BPCC 8-14

Today’s games

Centenary at John Melvin, DH, 10:15 a.m.

Tennessee at LSU, 7 p.m.

College Softball

Wednesday’s scores

No games scheduled

Today’s games

No games scheduled

High School Baseball

Wednesday’s scores 

Byrd 5, Many 4
Huntington 18, Homer 11

Today’s games

District 1-5A

Benton (12-12, 4-2) at Airline (11-10, 5-1)

Byrd (14-10, 2-4) at Captain Shreve (13-8, 4-2)

Haughton (15-7, 2-4) at Parkway (16-4, 5-1)

District 1-4A

Minden (14-7, 2-0) at Northwood (18-5, 4-0)

Evangel (7-16, 3-0) at North DeSoto (18-5, 3-0)

BTW (0-4, 0-4) at Woodlawn (1-5, 0-3)

District 1-2A

Lakeside (11-8, 1-2) at Calvary (12-9, 3-0)

Loyola (4-18, 3-6) at D’Arbonne Woods (8-11, 1-2)

Non-District

St. Mary’s (13-9) at Southwood (3-17)

Converse (16-2) at North Caddo (10-8)

High School Softball

Wednesday’s scores

Calvary 14, Lakeside 4
Evangel 19, Huntington 1
Plain Dealing 15-15, Bossier 2-11

Today’s games

District 1-4A

BTW (4-10, 3-4) at Minden (14-11, 6-1)

Caddo Magnet (10-7, 3-3) at Huntington (5-3, 1-3)

Non-District

Many (16-10) at Airline (19-7)

Castor (5-9) at Captain Shreve (13-7)

D’Arbonne Woods (14-10) at Byrd (1-17)

Saline (10-7) at Southwood (2-20)

Lakeside (14-9) at Evangel (6-17)

Ouachita Christian (16-10) at Calvary (18-8)

River Oaks (10-7) at Loyola (7-8)

North Caddo (1-8) at Logansport (16-7)

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements. 


NSU to introduce new basketball coach today

 

JOURNAL SPORTS

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State officially will welcome Rick Cabrera as the 11th men’s basketball head coach in program history – and second in as many seasons —  with a 2 p.m. introduction today. 

The event, which is open to NSU students, faculty, fans and the media, will be held in the ballroom inside the NSU Student Union in the center of campus.

Cabrera was named Hoop Dirt’s national Junior College Coach of the Year on Monday, after leading Tallahassee Community College to a 31-6 record and the NJCAA Final Four as a national 12-seed.

He was named NSU’s new head coach last Wednesday, taking over for Corey Gipson, who departed NSU after one 22-win season to take the head coaching job at his alma mater, Austin Peay. 

The 47-year-old Cabrera, a native of Spring Valley, New York, has 13 seasons as an NCAA Division I assistant coach at his alma mater, Tennessee Tech, Arkansas State and Austin Peay.

Head coach from 2004-08 at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa., Cabrera began his coaching career in the high school ranks following his playing days at Tennessee Tech. In his six years as a head coach at Lackawanna and Tallahassee Community College, Cabrera has compiled an overall record of 152-45. 


Tuesday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Tuesday’s scores

Centenary 3, LeTourneau 2
Louisiana Christian JV 12, BPCC 10
Louisiana Tech 14, Sacramento State 4
LSU 17, Grambling State 5

Today’s games

Paris at BPCC, DH, 1 p.m.

College Softball

Tuesday’s scores

LeTourneau 4-8, Centenary 1-3
Louisiana Tech 5, Northwestern State 1

Today’s games

NE Texas CC at BPCC, DH, noon

High School Baseball

Tuesday’s scores 

Airline 12, Southwood 3
Benton 14, Byrd 6
Captain Shreve 6, Parkway 2
Natchitoches Central 4, Haughton 3
Northwood 15, BTW 0
Calvary 5, Ruston 3, 9 innings
North Caddo 16, Haynesville 9
Ebarb 17, Plain Dealing 2

Today’s games

Many at Byrd

Huntington at Homer

High School Softball

Tuesday’s scores

Natchitoches Central 3, Airline 2
Benton 26, Southwood 0
Captain Shreve 11, Byrd 0
Haughton 14, Parkway 2
Huntington 29, Bossier 5
Minden 6, Northwood 2
Loyola 15, Red River 0
North Webster 13, Plain Dealing 3

Today’s games

Plain Dealing at Bossier, DH

Huntington at Evangel

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


Techsters ride two homers, solid pitching to season sweep of Lady Demons

RELIABLE:  Senior shortstop Keely Dubois handled a routine groundout by visiting Louisiana Tech Tuesday night but couldn’t help Northwestern State outscore the visitors. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State)

JOURNAL SPORTS

NATCHITOCHES — Solid pitching performances and home runs from Jordan Manning and Katelin Cooper lifted the Louisiana Tech softball team to a 5-1 win at Northwestern State and a sweep of the season series.

Tech (20-12) got on the board early with Manning’s three-run home run to left field in the second inning. Cooper followed with a solo shot in the third to left centerfield.

Emma Hutchinson worked the first three innings and Allie Floyd pitched the final four, holding the Lady Demons (16-14) in check and stranding 10 baserunners.

Tech only had four hits to six for NSU, but three of the visitors’ hits were for extra bases.

“Those two big swings put them up and gave them some breathing room and we couldn’t get anything going despite some pretty good at bats early in the game,” said NSU coach Donald Pickett. “We had a lot of chances late and didn’t have those quality at bats there like we did earlier.” 

“Allie (Floyd) really grinded there late to keep Northwestern from doing damage. I am really proud of how she competed tonight being able to get out of a tough situation. We made some big plays late and the home runs that we got played a huge role,” said Techsters’ coach Josh Taylor.

Brooke Diaz led the Techsters with two hits, including a two-out RBI double down the third base line in the fifth. She also singled ahead of Manning’s bomb.

In the sixth, a leadoff walk and back-to-back one-out singles loaded the bases for the Lady Demons. Tristin Court came through with her second hit of the day, a sharp single to right to plate Laney Roos and make it 5-1. That was all NSU got in the inning though after Floyd notched an infield pop up and fly out to deep left field and left the bags full. 

The first two batters of the seventh also reached base but did not advance as Floyd recorded a three-pitch strikeout, a foul out and another strikeout to end the game. 

NSU left seven runners on base in the final three innings.


Wondering if there’s a little magic left in the shrewdly-managed Mulkey Miracle

Watching the Ohio State-Virginia Tech women’s basketball regional final, where the halftime score is 48-45, and remembering LSU’s 54-42 victory over Miami the night before.

Didn’t watch Iowa’s 97-83 regional championship win Sunday night over Louisville, but our lunch bunch women’s basketball expert, Steve Graf, reported Monday that Hawkeyes’ guard Caitlin Clark is the best college player in America, male or female. Her 41-point, 10-rebound, 12-assist performance supports Graf’s assessment, which was drawn from his eyeballs, not analytics.

Tuned in last night at the end of South Carolina’s 86-75 cruise past Maryland, only to get the final score. We all knew the Gamecocks would roll, because Kim Mulkey told us so in LSU’s postgame press conference Sunday night.

You gonna argue with Kim? I’m not gonna argue with Kim. NCAA Tournament officials don’t. They endure her histrionics and don’t dare to hit her with a technical foul, when any other coach grimacing and grousing at that level would be served an unsweet T. She’s earned the right with her resume’.

I am gonna disagree with Kim, while I praise her (and her wardrobe). She’s shrewdly developed her second Tiger team – that nobody, nowhere thought would still be playing this week – and a vital part of that was patience. Patience was possible because Mulkey made it so.

Referring you back to the Nov. 16 Journal:

While she fits new pieces together with her second Tigers’ team, and awaits the arrival next season of Parkway’s extraordinary student-athlete Mikaylah Williams, Mulkey’s non-conference schedule is softer than your pillow.  Her team will face tougher tests during fall semester final exams.

Sunday night, Mulkey made reference to critics of the pliable part of the 2022-23 slate. Obviously the attention paid to the layup drill schedule prior to Southeastern Conference competition is a burr in the Tigers’ saddle.

LSU’s strength of schedule in the NCAA’s ratings? Try 315, of roughly 350 Division I teams. Question that? Bellarmine, Mississippi Valley, Western Carolina, Houston Christian, Northwestern State, all at home to begin. George Mason and UAB in the Bahamas, then back to the PMAC for Southeastern Louisiana, down to Tulane (the toughest test before SEC play), home for Lamar, then to Hawaii for Montana State and Oregon State. The only NCAA Tournament team: the Lady Lions of Southeastern.

So what did LSU get out of that cakewalk? There were points of contention. SLU remarkably played LSU to 63-55 on Nov. 29, making former Lady Lion star Robin Roberts (who played with a ponytail, compared to Mulkey’s pigtails) proud. In the next outing, just off St. Charles Avenue in cozy Fogelman Arena, Tulane stayed in range at 85-73.

Here’s what that not-very-competitive cruise through November and December did for LSU. There was steady development without any crisis of confidence in an unproven group. Of course the toughest times were in practice with the masterful Mulkey bringing along her refurbished roster to prepare for the SEC, and March.

All of this makes me wonder if LSU can keep up Friday night in Dallas at the Women’s Final Four.

Doesn’t look like the Tigers can score with Virginia Tech, who hung 87 on Ohio State.

Until you mention one of Mulkey’s favorite words: defense. None of the three other Final Four teams D-up as well. South Carolina, with Philly street-tough coach Dawn Staley, is the only one comparable.

LSU will have a decided homecourt advantage with DFW-area alumni.

I’ll take the Tigers in the semis, to gobble up VaTech. Bet the under.

It’s hard to forecast a South Carolina loss, especially glancing back at the Gamecocks’ 88-64 victory over LSU Feb. 12 – at Columbia, S.C.  However, it was not a 40-minute mangling – the spread was just five late in the third quarter.

If the two square off Sunday night for the natty, I’d take LSU and the points. If there are not too many points on the scoreboard, Mulkey might just pull off the biggest surprise in Women’s Final Four history.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com


Monday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

College Baseball

Monday’s scores

No games scheduled.

Today’s games

BPCC at Louisiana Christian, 6 p.m.

Sacramento State at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.

Grambling State at LSU, 6:30 p.m.

College Softball

Monday’s scores

Prairie View 8-5, Grambling State 3-0 (first game 9 innings)

LSUE at BPCC 4-0, LSUE 3-1 (second game 11 innings)

Today’s games

Louisiana Tech at Northwestern State, 6 p.m.

Grambling State at Tarleton State, DH, 1 p.m.

High School Baseball

Monday’s scores 

Minden 2, Loyola 1
Lakeside 10, Evangel 4
North Caddo 5-4, D’Arbonne Woods 2-12
Plain Dealing 14, Homer 4

Today’s games

Southwood at Airline

Byrd at Benton

Captain Shreve at Parkway

Natchitoches Central at Haughton

BTW at Northwood

Calvary at Ruston

North Caddo at Haynesville

Plain Dealing at Ebarb

High School Softball

Monday’s scores

Byrd 15, Southwood 0
Ouachita Christian 6, Haughton 1
Lakeside 15-17, Bossier 0-0
Wossman 16-12, Woodlawn 1-1
Calvary 12, Ouachita 2
Loyola 7, River Oaks 4
North Caddo 16, Green Oaks 0

Today’s games

Airline at Natchitoches Central

Benton at Southwood

Byrd at Captain Shreve

Haughton at Parkway

BTW vs. Woodlawn

Huntington at Bossier

Minden at Northwood

Red River at Loyola

Plain Dealing at North Webster

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


NCAA’s revised transfer rules cramp Coleman, outbound Demon duo

PATIENTLY LOOKING:  Captain Shreve product Kendal Coleman (4) intends to find a new basketball home after leaving Northwestern State last spring and entering the transfer portal last week following a season at LSU. (Photo by PETER FOREST, Journal Sports)

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

The NCAA transfer portal has gotten speed bumps installed.

That will stall plans for Shreveport’s Kendal Coleman and a couple of prominent departing Northwestern State players to be on the court at their new schools next season.

Coleman, who played a reserve role in 21 games this winter at LSU, announced last week that he was looking for a new hoops home, with more playing time as the obvious objective. Last March, the Captain Shreve product ended his days as a Northwestern State Demon, where he had emerged as an All-Southland Conference forward under Mike McConathy.

Meanwhile, among eight Demons departing NSU following Corey Gipson’s one-and-done, 22-win turn as head coach, at least six are joining Gipson at Austin Peay. But two, starting guard Isaac Haney and 7-foot-3 inside presence Jordan Wilmore, will  have to sit out next season to regain eligibility.

In a development not widely known until a recent social media push, the NCAA has tightened transfer rules, especially as they apply to second-time transfers from four-year schools. Since Coleman left NSU for LSU, and is now relocating again, he’ll have to sit out a year. Same for Haney and Wilmore going from their previous schools to Northwestern and now to Austin Peay.

Fortunately for all three players, each has a redshirt season remaining. But for Haney and Wilmore, there’s some sting since the Demons’ dynamic duo of Southland Conference Player of the Year DeMarcus Sharp and second-team All-SLC guard Ja’Monte Black will exhaust their college eligibility next season at Austin Peay.

Sharp and Black will have to graduate from Northwestern this spring or summer to be eligible as graduate transfers, but are said to be on track to do so.

The adjusted portal rules changed without fanfare but to significant impact, said NSU assistant athletics director for compliance Dustin Eubanks, who noted nothing is set in stone.

“They didn’t like the transfer landscape and this is what they’ve come up with; but remember, this is what we have right now. It could change next year, or even in the next couple of months,” he said. “For the kids transferring for 2023-24, these are the rules we have to follow now.”

There are some extreme cases that can result in a waiver for second-time transfers, including instances of assault or other violence, mental health, injury or illness. It’s no longer simply about a better opportunity to play or a desire to follow a coach to a new school.

“That’s the doors they’ve closed. There’s nothing there for kids who are undergraduates, unless there’s a pretty egregious situation they encountered at their current school,” said Eubanks.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com


Weekend baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

SPRING FLYOVER: Saturday was a perfect day for spring sports and a Blue Angels flyover of the newly-turfed softball field at BPCC. (Photo by LEE HILLER, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Friday’s scores

Arkansas 9, LSU 3, 10 innings
LSUS 13-8, University of the Southwest 2-6, 2nd game 10 innings
Oregon 16, Northwestern State 1

Saturday’s scores

BPCC 9-16, Baton Rouge CC 3-5
Dallas 11-0, Centenary 4-18
Grambling St. 20-7, Alcorn State 3-6
LSUS 15, University of the Southwest 4
LSU 12-14, Arkansas 2-5, 1st game 7 innings
Louisiana Tech 5-3, Western Kentucky 3-2
Oregon 12-13, Northwestern State 7-3

Sunday’s scores

Grambling State 14, Alcorn St. 6, 6 innings
Centenary 3, Dallas Baptist 2
Western Kentucky 5, Louisiana Tech 2
Oregon 5, Northwestern State 0

Today’s games

No games scheduled.

College Softball

Friday’s scores

Northwestern State 6-3, Nicholls 5-1

Saturday’s scores

Middle Tennessee 5-2, Louisiana Tech 2-1
Nicholls 4, Northwestern State 3, 8 innings

Sunday’s scores

Louisiana Tech 4, Middle Tennessee 1
Prairie View 3, Grambling State 1

Today’s games

Prairie View at Grambling State, DH, 1 p.m.

High School Baseball

Friday’s scores 

Benton 18, Redwater 0
Calvary 8-10, Loyola 1-1

Saturday’s scores

Airline 14, Southwood 1
Benton 6, Byrd 2
Doyline 15, Bossier 0
Haughton 6, Natchitoches Central 0
Parkway 6, Captain Shreve 4
Ouachita Christian 7-11, Evangel 5-5
Northwood 17, Grace Christian 1

Today’s games

Loyola at Minden

Lakeside at Evangel

North Caddo at D’Arbonne Woods

Homer at Plain Dealing

High School Softball

Friday’s scores

Calvary Tournament

Airline 4, Jena 2
Calvary 15, Benton 0
Haughton 16, Ruston 12

Saturday’s scores

Calvary Tournament

Airline 8, Stanley 3
Airline 10, Ruston 0
Benton 10, Jena 1
Benton 9, Ruston 1
Calvary 16, Haughton 0
Calvary 14, Jena 3
Haughton 16, Stanley 10

Converse Tournament 

Negreet 25, Southwood 10
Converse 15, Southwood 0

Quitman Tournament

Evangel 9, Mangham 7
Parkway 11, Weston 1
Quitman 12, Evangel 1
Quitman 8, Parkway 4

Today’s games

Benton at Florien

Ouachita Christian at Haughton

BTW at Evangel

Caddo Magnet at Doyline, DH, 4:30 p.m.

Bossier at Lakeside

Woodlawn vs. Wossman, DH

Quitman at Evangel

Calvary at Ouachita

Loyola at River Oaks

Glenbrook at Plain Dealing

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


Locals Roberts, Ward heading to Final Four with LSU women

CELEBRATION:  Benton High’s Emily Ward (right), shown celebrating in LSU’s earlier NCAA Tournament win over Michigan with teammate Flau’jae Johnson, will end her basketball career in the Women’s Final Four in Dallas. (File photo by PETER FOREST, Journal Sports)

JOURNAL SPORTS 

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Behind a suffocating defensive performance, LSU earned its first trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 15 years, defeating Miami (Fla.), 54-42, on Sunday evening at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. 

Benton’s Emily Ward, who earned a scholarship in preseason after previously being a walk-on in the program in her first three seasons, is a senior who has played in 25 games for the Tigers. Shreveport native Jennifer Roberts, an Evangel Christian and Louisiana Tech graduate, is part of Kim Mulkey’s LSU women’s basketball staff. 

LSU (32-2) returns to the Women’s Final Four for the first time since making five straight appearances from 2004-08. The Tigers will face the winner of tonight’s matchup in Seattle between No. 1 regional seed Virginia Tech and No. 3 seed Ohio State (8:30 p.m. CT). Iowa will take on the winner of South Carolina vs. Maryland (6 p.m. CT) in the other national semifinal. 

Friday’s national semifinal will tip off at either 6 or 8:30 p.m. CT from American Airlines Center in Dallas. 

Mulkey, a three-time national championship coach at Baylor (2005, 2012, 2019), advanced to the Women’s Final Four for the fifth time in her 23-year career as a head coach, along with four straight appearances as a point guard at Louisiana Tech and seven more at her alma mater in 15 years as an assistant coach to Leon Barmore. She and Barmore are in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for their coaching accomplishments.


Dreamy day on the diamond Saturday for Centenary

JOURNAL SPORTS

The Centenary athletic complex turned into the Field of Dreams Saturday, with a no-hitter in baseball and a landmark softball win next door.

Freshman right-hander Aidan Reichek threw a no-hitter in the second game of Centenary’s Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against the University of Dallas Crusaders, an 18-0 run-rule victory, at Shehee Stadium.

The Diamond Gents (10-6, 3-2 SCAC) fell 11-4 in the first contest to the Crusaders (11-10, 2-3 SCAC) and took their frustrations out in the second game, scoring a season-high in runs on 18 hits as the rookie Reicheck shined.

The no-hitter is the first thrown since Matthew Devillier held Austin College hitless on April 20, 2018 at home. Reichek and Devillier’s no-hitters are the only two in the Division III era (2012-present) in program history.

Meanwhile, just over baseball’s right field fence, the Centenary softball team recorded its biggest victory as a Division III program as the Ladies edged No. 4 Texas Lutheran 7-6 to start a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at the Centenary Softball Complex.

The Ladies (6-14, 2-4 SCAC) handed the Bulldogs, ranked fourth nationally by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), their first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference loss since March 2, 2019. TLU (16-3, 5-1 SCAC) responded with an 8-1 win in the nightcap. The Ladies had only beaten the Bulldogs twice in 33 all-time meetings (two wins in 1990) before Saturday. 


Thursday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; upcoming schedule

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

JOURNAL SPORTS

College Baseball

Thursday’s scores

No games scheduled.

Today’s games

Arkansas at LSU, noon

LSUS at University of the Southwest, DH, noon

Baton Rouge CC at BPCC, 6 p.m.

Northwestern State at Oregon, 6:05 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Western Kentucky, 6 p.m.

Alcorn State at Grambling State, 6 p.m.

Saturday’s games

LSUS at University of the Southwest, noon

Baton Rouge CC at BPCC, DH, 1 p.m.

Arkansas at LSU, 1 p.m.

Northwestern State at Oregon, DH, 2:05 p.m.

Alcorn State at Grambling State, 3 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Western Kentucky, 6 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Louisiana Tech at Western Kentucky, 1 p.m.

Alcorn State at Grambling State, 1 p.m.

Arkansas at LSU, 1 p.m.

Northwestern State at Oregon, 2:05 p.m.

College Softball

Thursday’s scores

No games scheduled.

Today’s games

Middle Tennessee at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.

Northwestern State at Nicholls, DH, 4 p.m.

Prairie View at Grambling State, 3 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Middle Tennessee at Louisiana Tech, 2 p.m.

Northwestern State at Nicholls, noon

Prairie View at Grambling State, DH, noon

Sunday’s games

Middle Tennessee at Louisiana Tech, 1 p.m.

High School Baseball

Thursday’s scores

Benton 9, Captain Shreve 3
Airline 6, Haughton 5
Parkway 9, Natchitoches Central 3
Byrd 12, Southwood 4
Calvary 12, Loyola 1
Ouachita Christian 17, Evangel 4
Northwood 17, Huntington 1
Minden 18, BTW 0

Today’s games 

Loyola at Calvary, DH

Mangham at Northwood

North Caddo at D’Arbonne Woods, DH

Mansfield at Plain Dealing

Saturday’s games

Airline at Southwood

Benton at Byrd

Haughton at Natchitoches Central

Parkway at Captain Shreve

Evangel at Ouachita Christian, DH

Grace Christian at Northwood

High School Softball

Thursday’s scores

Airline 10, Parkway 2
Benton 16, Byrd 0
Natchitoches Central 17, Southwood 0
North DeSoto 15, Northwood 0
Loyola 15, North Caddo 0
Caddo Magnet 15, Green Oaks 0
Wossman 18, Green Oaks 2

Today’s games

Bossier vs. Green Oaks, DH

Caddo Magnet at Loyola, 5 p.m.

Calvary Tournament – Haughton, Airline, Benton, Calvary.

Quitman Tournament – Evangel, Parkway

Saturday’s games

Calvary Tournament – Haughton, Airline, Benton, Calvary

Quitman Tournament – Evangel, Parkway

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


Saint Rick? New NSU basketball coach has glowing testimonials

NEXT UP AT NSU:  Rick Cabrera, announced Wednesday as the new Northwestern State basketball coach, has made strongly positive impact at prior stops. (Photo courtesy Tallahassee Community College)

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

NATCHITOCHES — “I find it a little ironic that the Demons hired a saint.”

That from Ryan Kelly, sports director at Tallahassee’s WCTV Channel 6, talking about new Northwestern State basketball coach Rick Cabrera, who leads his Tallahassee Community College Eagles into the Elite Eight of the National Junior College Athletic Association championships today.

Cabrera, 47, a veteran of 13 seasons as a Division I assistant coach and with a 151-44 record in six years as a junior college head coach, was announced Wednesday as the Demons’ replacement for one-year wonder (22 wins) Corey Gipson.

“Through the two years I’ve covered him, Rick Cabrera has been so gracious, so kind,” said Kelly. “That intensity that he brings on the floor is obvious. You know how animated he is, how invested he is, and it’s because he’s invested in his players. You can see by the way they perform on the floor that they feed off that.”

It’s happening in Hutchinson, Kan., at the NJCAA Tournament. TCC (30-5) entered as the 12th seed, scored a three-point win Tuesday (for Cabrera’s 150th career coaching victory), then shocked No. 5 Salt Lake 94-93 in overtime Wednesday.

“This team is playing without arguably its best player, and it doesn’t mean anything. He has a point guard drop 48 (Wednesday) like it’s no big deal,” said Kelly. “That’s what these guys do. They play hard for him. They hustle for him, because he’s done the same for them. He’s willing to take chances on them, to fight for them.

“A players’ coach, yes, and I get that in some corners that’s not always well received because people assume he’s not disciplined. He runs a tight ship, and TCC is better for it. It’s very clear that everything he does, it’s with his players in mind, and he’s inclusive. People love the sense of community he’s built around that Eagles’ program,” said Kelly.

Even more compelling:  rave reviews from two former NSU coaches who worked with Cabrera in a couple of his previous Division I stops. One is former Tennessee Tech head coach Steve Payne, his boss with the Golden Eagles as Cabrera worked first as an assistant coach, then associate head coach from 2012-17.

“I adore the guy, and he’s just a fantastic fit in Natchitoches and at Northwestern,” said Payne, who has known Cabrera since 2004. “The NSU family, and that community, will love him and his family. He’ll want people to come watch practice, to buy in, to be included.

“He’ll be great to work with. He’s just a good dude, a really fun, super solid guy,” said Payne, who got his Division I start on J.D. Barnett’s NSU staff from 1994-98.

“From a basketball perspective, he knows good players. He’s brought them into every program he’s been in. People in the profession like him. They’re going to try to help him succeed. His players will love him.”

Travis Janssen, who was Austin Peay’s baseball coach while Cabrera was an assistant on the Governors’ basketball staff from 2017-19, and Janssen’s wife Christy were overjoyed.

“He personifies class in every way. Be sure that’s in there,” said Janssen, a Demon baseball assistant under Mitch Gaspard from 2002-04. “He’s a stud, a family guy. He and his wife will embrace the town, with their four kids making great friends. They’ll be visible.  I think the world of Mike McConathy, one of the great people I’ll ever know. I think Coach Mike will love spending time with him. Rick is a purely good person.

“When I heard, I was shocked, in a good way. I told Christy, ‘How great is this?’  About every November we say, ‘wouldn’t it be great to come back to Natchitoches for the Christmas Festival,’ and with three kids and all we have going, we haven’t made it yet. Rick being there, that would make it even more special to get back.”

As to Cabrera’s coaching chops, what he’s accomplished in Tallahassee is winning as an under-resourced member of the Panhandle Conference, anchored by powerhouse programs Northwest Florida State and Chipola CC.

“There are so many obstacles because other programs have big legs up in this league, and he has been able to power TCC past all that,” said Kelly. “To see what some of the others have compared to what TCC has, and know his teams are not just competitive, but they’ve won the league, it’s really impressive and I commend him for it.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com


Lady Cavaliers take Region XIV doubleheader from Trinity Valley

(Photo by LEE HILLER, Journal Sports) 

By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Bossier Parish used big innings in each game of a Region XIV doubleheader with Trinity Valley and some stellar pitching to take both games 8-0 and 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

The Lady Cavaliers took advantage of a misplayed two-out fly ball to right field by scoring six unearned runs in the fourth inning to break open a 0-0 ball game.

Skylar Heger got things going with a one-out single and was sacrificed to second by Fia Tofi. Taysia Constantino then lifted a fly ball to right that was misplayed into a two-base error and scored Heger. A hit batsman and walk loaded the bases to set up a run-scoring single by Piper Garcia and a 2-0 lead. Makinzie Stutts scored two runs with a double and a third run came home when the ball ended up in the BPCC dugout and the Ladies led 5-0. Stutts scored the final run of the big inning when Briana DeLeon singled her in.

Tofi hit a solo home run in the fifth and DeLeon doubled in Garcia to end the first game by the eight-run rule in the sixth.

Macie LaRue (8-4) got the six-inning complete game win allowing two hits, one walk and struck out nine.

The second game resembled the first game as both starting pitchers locked up in a duel. The Cardinals scored their only run of the day in the first inning and took the 1-0 lead into the sixth inning when the Cavaliers finally broke through to score their seven runs.

Catcher Gracie Bellard drew a bases loaded walk to score DeLeon with the first run. Madison Ruiz followed her with a two-run single and a 3-0 lead. A Garcia hit loaded the bases to set up a bases clearing triple by Stutts. DeLeon singled in Stutts with the final run.

Mallory Pitre (8-4) got the second game win allowing eight hits, walking one and striking out 10.

Bossier Parish is now 23-7, 5-1 with the wins and TVCC drops to 17-17, 0-2.


Wednesday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Wednesday’s scores

Angelina 11-19, BPCC 10-18

Today’s games

No games scheduled.

College Softball

Wednesday’s scores

BPCC 9-7, Trinity Valley 0-1
Texas A&M 6, Louisiana Tech 3

Today’s games

No games scheduled.

High School Baseball

Wednesday’s scores

Byrd 7, Lakeside 6
Captain Shreve 5, North DeSoto 4
Huntington at Ringgold
Northwood 5, Logansport 4

Today’s games

Captain Shreve at Benton

Haughton at Airline

Parkway at Natchitoches Central

Southwood at Byrd

Calvary at Loyola

Ouachita Christian at Evangel

Northwood at Huntington

BTW at Minden

D’Arbonne Woods at North Caddo

High School Softball

Wednesday’s scores

Minden 16, Woodlawn 0

Today’s games

Airline at Parkway

Benton at Byrd

Ouachita Christian at Haughton

Natchitoches Central at Southwood

Bossier at Red River, DH

Huntington at Evangel

Northwood at North DeSoto

North Caddo at Loyola

Caddo Magnet at Green Oaks, 4 p.m.

Caddo Magnet vs. Wossman, at Green Oaks, 5:30 p.m.

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


Grambling great Willis Reed, an iconic figure in basketball, passes away at 80

(Photo courtesy Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame)

JOURNAL SPORTS 

GRAMBLING — Willis Reed, a proud Grambling State product who arose to basketball immortality as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, died Tuesday at age 80. 

Reed, who was born on June 25, 1942, in Dubach, was raised in Bernice. He earned a football scholarship from coach Eddie Robinson to Grambling State in 1960 and quickly found his way onto Fred Hobdy’s basketball team as well. While with the Tigers, he dazzled fans and dominated the court, closing his collegiate career with 2,280 career points as he sparked Grambling to an NAIA National Championship in 1961. As a senior, he averaged 26.6 points per game and 21.3 rebounds per contest. 

In 1963, he helped the United States win a gold medal in the Pan American Games held in São Paulo, Brazil. 

Upon completing his amateur career, he was drafted by the New York Knicks in the second round of the 1964 NBA Draft. Following his first season in the league, Reed was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and made the NBA All-Rookie First Team, beginning a legendary career. 

During his illustrious professional career, Reed won two NBA Championships, earned two NBA Finals MVP awards (1970, 1973) for world championship Knick teams, was named the NBA’s MVP in 1970, was a seven-time NBA All-Star, won an NBA All-Star game MVP award and was a five-time All-NBA selection. Reed also earned one NBA All-Defensive Team recognition and was selected to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. 

His participation in the NBA Finals Game 7 in 1970 remains one of the most stirring events in basketball history. Reed suffered a severe thigh injury in Game 5, a muscle tear that sidelined him for the next game. After the Los Angeles Lakers tied the series at 3-3, Reed took a shot of cortisone and limped out to the excitement of teammates and the packed Madison Square Garden home crowd, sank the first two baskets and propelled New York to the NBA crown. 

His No. 19 jersey was also retired by the New York Knicks. He was enshrined in the NAIA Hall of Fame (1970), the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1981, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame a year later and was also in the College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006) and the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame (2016). 

Upon his retirement from the NBA in 1974, Reed embarked on a coaching and administrative career beginning in 1977 when became the head coach of the Knicks. From 1981-85, he served as the head coach of Creighton University’s men’s basketball program. He also spent time as a volunteer coach at St. John’s University.

After exiting the college ranks, he made assistant coaching stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings. In 1988, he assumed head coaching duties of the New Jersey Nets. He moved into the Nets’ front office one year later where he was hired as the general manager and vice president of basketball operations, a position he held until 1996 when he was promoted to senior vice president of basketball operations. During his tenure, he helped craft New Jersey into a title contender. The Nets reached the 2002 and 2003 NBA Finals.

In 2004, Reed took the position of vice president of basketball operations with the New Orleans Hornets. He retired in 2007. 

“The department of athletics mourns the passing of legendary former Grambling State basketball player Willis Reed,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott. “He was one of the game’s most fierce competitors with many legendary accomplishments both on and off the court. He will be remembered for being an inspiration to all he encountered — from rural Louisiana to the bright lights of New York City. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Gale and the entire Reed family at this time.” 

“The Grambling State University family is saddened by the loss of Willis Reed. He was a legend in his own right, and a close friend to my family,” said GSU President Rick Gallot. “His stature and athleticism were equivalent to the depth he gave to the game, his life, and his family. Mr. Reed is the personification of what can be achieved when you purposefully go beyond what is considered possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Reed family.” 

Reed was honored by Grambling State in 2022 when he became the first basketball player in school history to have their jersey retired. The court inside the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center was also named in his honor.


Tuesday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Tuesday’s scores

LSUS 5, Southwestern Assemblies of God 4
Louisiana Tech 10, ULM 6
Northwestern State 12, LSUA 3
Louisiana-Lafayette 13, Grambling State 1
LSU 10, Central Arkansas 4

Today’s games

BPCC at Angelina, DH, 1 p.m.

College Softball

Tuesday’s scores

No games scheduled.

Today’s games

Trinity Valley at BPCC, DH, 3 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Texas A&M, 6 p.m.

High School Baseball

Monday’s scores

Haughton 9, Airline 2
Byrd 14, Southwood 1
Captain Shreve 2, Benton 0
Parkway 6, Natchitoches Central 1
Calvary 4, Evangel 1
Haynesville 18, Bossier 3
North Webster 19, Plain Dealing 1

Today’s games

North DeSoto at Captain Shreve

Huntington at Ringgold

Northwood at Logansport

High School Softball

Tuesday’s scores

Airline 20, Southwood 0, 3 innings
Haughton 12, Benton 11, 9 innings
Natchitoches Central 15, Byrd 0
Parkway 14, Captain Shreve 4
North DeSoto 15, Evangel 0
Northwood 15-15, Woodlawn 0-0
Huntington 14-12, BTW 13-4
Lakeside 12, Loyola 2
Haynesville 18, Plain Dealing 2

Today’s games

BTW at Caddo Magnet, DH 4-5:30 p.m.

Woodlawn at Carroll, DH

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


Warhawks push away from struggling Bulldogs in midweek scrap

BULLDOG BASH:  Philip Matulia doubled in a pair of runs Tuesday for Louisiana Tech. (Photo by TOM MORRIS, Louisiana Tech)

JOURNAL SPORTS

MONROE — Louisiana Tech overcame one large deficit Tuesday night, but could not rally again as the Bulldogs fell, 10-6, to ULM in a non-conference baseball battle at Lou St. Amant Field.

Tech (10-11) struck first in the top of the second when Jonathan Hogart singled through the right side for a 1-0 edge.

The lead was short-lived as ULM (8-14) put up a 5-spot in the bottom half of the inning. The Warhawks did all of their damage with two outs, tallying four singles while also taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch and a Bulldog error to gain a 5-1 advantage.

Tech quickly evened things up at 5-all in the top of the third. After loading the bases via two walks and a hit-by-pitch, Philip Matulia drove the ball to right field for a double that scored two. Walker Burchfield stepped to the plate next and drove in two as well with a single to center.

The ULM offense was not done. The Warhawks tacked on two more in the fifth after opening up the frame with a single and a double. The lead expanded to 10-5 in the sixth when the Warhawks pounded out four more hits to score three.

The Bulldog offense was not able to erase this deficit. After putting up five runs on five hits through the first three innings, the ‘Dogs could only manage three hits (including a solo home run from Ethan Bates in the ninth) the remainder of the game.


Demons near new basketball coach as roster empties

OUTBOUND:  DeMarcus Sharp, recently named Southland Conference Player of the Year in his first and only season at Northwestern State, is among seven Demons who entered the transfer portal Monday. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State)

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State is moving toward announcing its new men’s basketball coach today or Wednesday, and he will apparently inherit little of the production from the Demons’ 22-win season under departed coach Corey Gipson.

Monday, all five players who started at the end of the regular season and in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game entered the NCAA’s transfer portal, along with at least two key reserves. While entering the portal does not require a player to leave, it indicates a strong interest in transferring.

Heading the list: Southland Conference Player of the Year DeMarcus Sharp, second-team all-conference pick Ja’Monta Black, and standout defender Isaac Haney – all who followed Gipson, a longtime assistant at Missouri State, to NSU last spring.

Also entering the portal from the starting lineup two weeks ago was the team’s leading rebounder, freshman forward Jalen Hampton, and freshman Hansel Enmanuel, whose exploits playing despite having only one arm have built a global social media audience over 4.2 million.

Key inside reserves Dayne Prim and Jordan Wilmore also went into the portal on Monday. Combined, the seven players apparently leaving Northwestern averaged 64.2 of the team’s 74.6 points per game and 25.3 of the Demons’ 33.8 rebounding average. The team’s top four scorers, the only ones averaging in double figures, are outbound as of Monday.

Gipson relied on transfers and recruits to build the roster for his first and only season at Northwestern. After posting a 22-11 record (13-5, good for second, in the Southland), Gipson was hired last weekend as head coach at his alma mater, Austin Peay, and reportedly is bringing his entire NSU coaching staff along – notably associate head coach Rodney Hamilton, reported to have been a candidate to replace Gipson.

Sources said anticipating Gipson’s exit, NSU president Dr. Marcus Jones and athletics director Kevin Bostian engaged a search consultant to identify coaching candidates, likely the same one — Kyle Bowlsby – who last year identified Gipson and Bostian as hires at Northwestern.

The announcement of a new coach could come as early as today, barring late developments, sources said.

After averaging 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals for the Demons, Sharp told ESPN college basketball writer Jeff Borzello that he has interest from Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi State, Loyola of Chicago, Central Florida and St. Louis, along with Austin Peay, in the hours since entering the portal.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com


Grambling fires women’s basketball coach Freddie Murray

DONE AT GRAMBLING:  Freddie Murray’s seven seasons as head women’s basketball coach at Grambling State ended Monday. (Photo courtesy Grambling State Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS 

GRAMBLING – After seven years highlighted by a Southwestern Athletic Conference co-championship and a WNIT victory at Ole Miss, Freddie Murray was terminated Monday as Grambling State’s women’s basketball coach. 

Murray was 93-115 overall, including 10-20 this season. Grambling was 9-9 in the SWAC, eighth in the 12-team league. 

He took over as interim coach in 2016-17 and led the Lady Tigers to a pair of 19-win seasons, following the SWAC championship year with a SWAC Tournament title in 2018 and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. 

But after going 39-15 in the conference in his first three seasons, Grambling’s overall and SWAC records dipped. The Lady Tigers were 31-37 in SWAC play in the last four seasons, and 39-71 overall, although challenging non-conference schedules contributed to that overall under .500 performance. 

“THANK YOU GRAMFAN!” Murray wrote on Twitter. “(Eight) years of success, milestones and achievements have unfortunately come to an end at Exit 81 (on Interstate 20). My time at Grambling State University has garnered a lifetime of friendships, memories and relationships I will forever cherish.” 

Murray came to Grambling in 2015 as assistant coach and was promoted to interim head coach early in the next season, and then permanent head coach following the 14-4 SWAC championship run that produced the league’s first postseason tournament win in women’s basketball. 

“I’d like to thank coach Murray for his service to the women’s basketball program and his commitment to the department and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott, who indicated a national search was underway for a replacement.

Since taking over as AD July 1, 2021, Scott has fired and hired head coaches in football and volleyball and hired new coaches in soccer, track and field and baseball.


Monday’s baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

(Photo by LEE HILLER, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Monday’s scores

BPCC 7-8, John Melvin 3-5

Today’s games

Southwestern Assemblies of God at LSUS, 2 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at ULM, 6 p.m.

LSUA at Northwestern State, 6 p.m.

Grambling State at Louisiana-Lafayette, 6 p.m.

Central Arkansas at LSU, 6:30 p.m.

College Softball

Monday’s scores

BPCC 9-8, South Arkansas CC 0-0 (both games 5 innings)

Today’s games

No games scheduled.

High School Baseball

Monday’s scores

Benton 12, DeRidder 6

Today’s games

Airline at Haughton

Byrd at Southwood

Benton at Captain Shreve

Natchitoches Central at Parkway

Evangel at Calvary

North Webster at North Caddo

High School Softball

Monday’s scores

Captain Shreve 18, Summerfield 1
Haughton 15, D’Arbonne Woods 6
River Oaks 19, Southwood 4
Minden 17, Bossier 0
Caddo Magnet 11, Carroll 1
Northwood 7, Calvin 4
North Webster 16, North Caddo 6
Haynesville 18-15, Woodlawn 3-0

Today’s games

Southwood at Airline

Benton at Haughton

Byrd at Natchitoches Central

Parkway at Captain Shreve

North DeSoto at Evangel

Woodlawn at Northwood

BTW at Huntington

Loyola at Lakeside (District Tournament)

Plain Dealing at Haynesville

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.


Weekend baseball, softball scoreboard; today’s schedule

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

College Baseball

Friday’s scores

Centenary 8, Texas Lutheran 4
Louisiana Tech 2, Charlotte 1
Grambling State 8, Southern U. 7
Northwestern State 9, Little Rock 4
LSU 9, Texas A&M 0

Saturday’s scores

BPCC 12-7, Panola 3-8
Charlotte 14, Louisiana Tech 6
LSUS 7, Houston-Victoria 3
Centenary 5-3, Texas Lutheran 4-6 (second game 10 innings)
Southern U. 8, Grambling State 7, 11 innings
Northwestern State 5, Little Rock 0
LSU 12, Texas A&M 7

Sunday’s scores

Charlotte 9, Louisiana Tech 0
LSUS 6-5, Houston-Victoria 1-1
Little Rock 8, Northwestern State 6
Texas A&M 8, LSU 6
Grambling State 16, Southern U. 6

Today’s game

BPCC at John Melvin, DH, 2 p.m.

College Softball

Friday’s scores

Louisiana Tech 12, FIU 3
Indiana 4, Northwestern State 2
Northwestern State 6, Memphis 3
Grambling State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, ppd.

Saturday’s scores

Centenary 2-0, St. Thomas 1-9 (second game 6 innings)
FIU 1-2, Louisiana Tech 0-10
Indiana 11, Northwestern State 6
Northwestern State 15, Memphis 5, 5 innings
Grambling State 10-12, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-6

Sunday’s scores

Grambling State 7, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2
St. Thomas 10, Centenary 6

Today’s game

South Arkansas CC at BPCC, DH, 3 p.m.

High School Baseball

Friday’s scores

Haughton 7, Quitman 0
North Caddo 17, Plain Dealing 2
Bossier at Plain Dealing, ppd.
Loyola 9-2, Lakeside 8-2

Saturday’s scores

Airline 4, Byrd 3
Captain Shreve 7, Haughton 3
Parkway 10, Southwood 0
Natchitoches Central 5, Benton 0, completion of Thursday’s suspended game
Benton 11, Natchitoches Central 3
North Caddo at Bossier, ppd.

Mandeville Tournament

Calvary 4, Hammond 1
Pope John Paul II 5, Calvary 4

Northwood Tournament

Northwood 12, Cedar Creek 0
Northwood 11, Quitman 1

Today’s games

Benton at DeRidder

Huntington at Mansfield

North Caddo at Plain Dealing

High School Softball

Friday’s scores

Cedar Creek Tournament 

West Ouachita 9, Benton 6

Stanley Tournament

Lakeside 6, Parkway 5
Stanley 8, Parkway 3

Evangel Tournament

Evangel 19, North Caddo 1
Minden 11, Evangel 7

Saturday’s scores

Buckeye Tournament

Airline 2, Buckeye 1
Airline 8, Sacred Heart 5
Calvary 8, Rosepine 2
Calvary 20, Bunkie 5

Cedar Creek Tournament

Benton 14, Cedar 13
West Monroe 28, Benton 4

Evangel Tournament 

Converse 20, Evangel 7
Evangel 12, Zwolle 0

Grace Christian Tournament 

Grace Christian 17, Southwood 2 

Stanley Tournament

Glenbrook 15, Parkway 6

Summerfield Tournament

Captain Shreve 12, Ebarb 2
Captain Shreve 15, Gibsland-Coleman 0

Today’s games

Summerfield at Captain Shreve

Haughton at D’Arbonne Woods

River Oaks at Southwood

Bossier at Minden

Carroll at Caddo Magnet

Northwood at Calvin

Loyola at Saline

Woodlawn at Haynesville, DH

Schedules are subject to cancellations and postponements.