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Bugs Beat: Turned around, playoff bound — with room to spare

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By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

 

As the clock approached midnight on the ride home from Odessa on Saturday night, Shreveport Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell was able to reflect on the chaotic 2021-22 regular season.

His team was fresh off a 2-1 victory that put a bow on a weekend sweep of the Jackalopes and clinched a playoff spot. The last time the Mudbugs were in Odessa they were in last place in the North American Hockey League’s South Division.

Saturday, they’d solidified at least a fourth-place effort and another postseason appearance – their fifth in five full seasons in junior hockey. Not long ago, Saturday’s scenario seemed improbable. Especially considering the regular season isn’t complete.

“It’s crazy that we have four games left in the season,” Campbell said. “I’m really proud of the guys. They were under the gun for a long time and they completed a pretty monumental task.”

No, the Mudbugs didn’t set out simply to make the playoffs this season. They are the defending Robertson Cup champions. However, given the early season woes — including losing 14 of 18 at one point — Campbell realized the run deserved acknowledgement.

“We said, ‘Congratulations, great job. You made the first step, but to really feel the elation of a winner and a champion, it’s going to take more than what you’ve given up to this point,’” Campbell said.

Friday, the Mudbugs never gave Odessa an opportunity to believe. Austin Brimmer’s goal 2:03 into the game was the first of four goals for Shreveport in the opening period. The Mudbugs cruised 4-1.

But Saturday night, with the chance to clinch on the line, things were a little tougher.

Odessa took the lead early in the second period before Garrett Steele tied things up with 4:09 left in the period. Lukas Sedlacek’s goal 5:45 into the third period was the difference in a 2-1 win.

For Campbell, Saturday didn’t provide much of an emotional moment, even though he’s been through the ringer on and off the ice this season.

“I had the same emotion I do every night — nothing too high and nothing too low,” he said. “Maybe, there was a little bit of relief from that pressure (of making the playoffs), but it was business as usual. That won’t change until the last game we play this season.”

Mudbugs’ Iron Man

Barring disaster, Shreveport defenseman Davis Goukler will become the most experienced player in the franchise’s NAHL-era on Saturday. Goulker’s 160th career regular-season game in a Mudbugs uniform will break the mark previously held by Gueorgui Feduolov (2016-2019). Lone Star head coach Dan Wildfong leads the organization in regular-season games played (488).

Mudbugs all-time regular-season appearances (NAHL)

Davis Goukler (159)
Gueorgui Feduolov (159)
Billy Feczko (148)
Jay Feiwell (144)
Garrett Steele (142)
David Breazeale (140)

Journal’s 3 Stars

1. Devon Bobak, stopped 63 of 65 shots over the weekend and has won 11 of his past 12 starts

2. Lukas Sedlacek, collected the game winner in the third period of Saturday’s clinching effort

3. Austin Brimmer, the Mudbugs started fast Friday and Brimmer set the stage 2 minutes in

NAHL South Division standings

*Lone Star (35-11-10), 80 points
*New Mexico (35-16-5), 75
*Wichita Falls (32-16-8), 72
*Shreveport (32-19-5), 69
Odessa (27-24-5), 59
Amarillo (26-27-3), 55
Corpus Christi (24-29-3), 51
El Paso (14-38-4), 32

*clinched playoff spot

Team leaders

Goals: Austin Brimmer, 18
Assists: Brimmer, 30
Points: Brimmer, 48
Penalty Minutes: Davis Goukler, 131
Game-winning goals: Connor Gatto, Lucas Sedlacek, 4
Goals-against average: Devon Bobak, 2.02
Save percentage: Bobak, .924

Up next

The final homestand of the regular season begins with a pair against Corpus Christi (Friday and Saturday, 7:11 p.m.)

(Photo by CHRISTI LANG

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Benton’s McWilliams sizzles with 60s, runs away with LJGT crown

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TIGER ROARS: Benton’s Noah McWilliams shot a 7-under 64 in the final round to take the Boys’ Overall (13-18) title at the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour’s event Sunday afternoon at Querbes Park Golf Course.

By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

After a scorching front nine Sunday afternoon, Benton’s Noah McWilliams held off the field to capture the Overall Boys’ (13-18) title at the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour’s event at Querbes Park Golf Club. The 2021 LGA Player of the Year followed Saturday’s first-round 2-under 69 with a 7-under 64 in the final round.

McWilliams, who entered Sunday’s second and final round two shots behind leader Alston Manne of Baton Rouge, went on a tear to separate himself early from the rest of the field. The Benton High School junior was 7-under par through the first eight holes after five birdies and a chip-in for eagle on No. 2. The only blemish on his card on the front was a bogey on the par-3 ninth hole.

“I started really good,” McWilliams said. “I had the putter rolling.”

Manne, who followed his first-round 4-under 67 with a final-round 2-over 73, finished in a tie for second place at 2-under with Byrd High School sophomore Grant Reagan. Reagan fought back from a 2-over 73 on Saturday with a 4-under 67 on Sunday.

McWilliams gave another shot back to the field with a second straight bogey on the par-4 10th hole but recovered with a 6-footer to save par on No. 11. He hit his second shot on the par-5 just left of the green, chipped over it on his third shot and two-putted from off the green to save par.

“I knew I had a pretty good lead (at the turn),” said McWilliams. “Then I think I got a little jittery. I ended up bogeying No. 12.”

The jitters didn’t last long, however, as McWilliams sank a 30-footer for eagle on the par-4 14th hole to get him back on track. While McWilliams has had two eagles in a round before, Sunday marked the first time he has done it on two par-4’s.

McWilliams, Reagan, Manne, and David Marsh of Baton Rouge were the only players to shoot under par for the tournament. Marsh shot a final-round 70 to finish in fourth place at 1-under, followed by Broussard’s Ben Blanco (even) in fifth, and Shreveport’s Ryder Briggs in sixth place at 2-over. Shreveport’s Maxwell McDonald and Benton’s Cason Toms tied for seventh at 3-over.

Shreveporters James Holtsclaw, Shep Smith, and Charlie Bell finished in a tie for ninth place at 4-over.

While Marsh’s 1-under put him in fourth place of the Overall Boys’ 13-18 division, it was good enough to give him first place in the Overall Boys’ 15-under division.

Hudson Green of Bossier City finished at 3-under to take first place in the Boys’ 11-13 division, followed by Broussard’s Noah Chauvin (1-over) and Logansport’s Slayte Guidry (5-over). Shreveport’s Reed Winkler (30-over) and Tillman Brown (45-over) finished fifth and seventh, respectively.

The battle for the title in the Overall Girls’ (13-18) division went down to the wire as Mattie Purgahn of Lake Charles and Vivian Volion of Springfield both finished at 15-over. Purgahn defeated Volion on the first playoff hole.

Photo by JOHN PENROD

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SPOTLIGHT: Tom Burnett trades Chair for … something softer

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FINAL FOUR FOREMAN: NCAA Tournament Selection Committee Chair Tom Burnett, who has watched more basketball than you over the past five years, talks with the CBS audience on Selection Sunday.

By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports

Meet a Chair who needs a couch.

Outgoing Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett, a West Monroe High and Class of ’88 Louisiana Tech graduate, has watched more than 1,000 college basketball games during the past five years as a member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection Committee.

But Monday night after he hands the national championship trophy to the Final Four survivor in the Caesars Superdome, the Houston native’s final job as a five-year member of the committee — and as its Chair this year — Burnett will watch “definitely less” hoops next season.

“Maybe tremendously less,” he said, the exclamation obvious. And understood.

A lifelong lover of sports, Burnett is one of those guys who’s nearing 60 and has left it all on the field. But even a guy this easy-going, efficient and dependable as sunrise, knows when it’s too much of a good thing.

Commissioner of the Southland for the past 19 years after working on communication staffs at Tech and with the old American South Conference (which later merged with the Sun Belt), Burnett felt it was time to step away after hoops season. He’ll be in a consulting role for the league for a bit, then will decide what he and wife Tracy will do.

Going to a basketball game or committee meeting might not be at the top of the list.

“I’ve learned,” he said, “that the Tournament never stops.”

Burnett’s first job on the committee — service and responsibilities change as you advance through a five-year term — included meeting with other members five times a year, being co-monitor with another member of five-to-seven conferences, and watching as many games as possible on TV or through a database of coaches’ films the committee has access to. The first year, 2017-18, he counted watching all or parts of 170 games.

“After that,” he said, “I quit counting.”

The committee is also charged with the full oversight of the men’s tournament: the business operations, television negotiations/relations, officiating, site selection including future Final Fours, planning for next year and the year after, and … it’s always something.

Plus, each member has, well, a regular job. So think about playing for the run-happy Kansas Jayhawks all year. While wearing a tie. Or, if you’re a committee member and Atlantic 10 commissioner Bernadette McGlade, sensible pumps.

It’s a challenge. And for Burnett, a big jump from his first job at Tech for sports information and its director, the now-retired Keith Prince.

“Baseball P.A. announcer in the spring of ’85,” Burnett said. “Didn’t realize that also included keeping the scorebook, running the scoreboard and serving as the ballpark deejay. But, whatever — I was hooked.”

The exclamation obvious. Again.

And that figures, because to do something right in the public sphere takes enthusiasm — and a thick skin. Burnett has heard it all concerning the committee, and it often seems many well-meaning fans tend to miss the boat on at least one sticky point.

“If there is one thing that people either don’t believe or simply don’t want to accept, it’s that there is unimpeachable integrity among the committee members, and throughout the selection process,” he said. “There are no games played or deals made, as we are simply focused on getting it right. Not perfect – but right.

“And some speculate that the bracketing process is gamed, that the committee plans for certain matchups to reunite coaches with certain teams, or that certain travel is arranged to reward or penalize teams,” he said. “Couldn’t be farther from the truth, as the bracketing process is mostly automated based on longstanding principles and procedures, often reviewed and approved by the committee and the national coaches’ association.”

Chris Reynolds, the 2022-23 committee chair and director of athletics at Bradley, will inherit the same questions. But he’ll also inherit being a key part in what many feel is sport’s finest event.

Consider the March Madness so far: powerhouses hanging around, some traditional powers punched out early, Saint Peter’s and Cinderella, a legend retiring, more nail-biting first- and second-round games than ever before … and full gyms.

That’s right, fans. As Burnett prepares to leave, something else is back to stay.

“I’m most proud that the committee, primarily through the great work of the NCAA staff, the local hosts and our medical officials, could get the tournament back on its traditional course,” Burnett said. “A national tournament at the 14 sites, from Dayton through the Final Four in New Orleans. The basketball is going to get played and take care of itself, but to get the tournament back on track was always our focus after the unfortunate shutdown in 2020 — a tough, tough day — and the controlled-environment tournament played in Indianapolis in 2021, which is what we had to do.

“There are great storylines this year, such as upsets, a tremendous group of bluebloods descending on New Orleans this week, Coach K’s retirement, some other things,” he said. “But the return of March Madness as we’ve always known it ranks at the top.”

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Mudbugs can clinch playoff spot at Odessa

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By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

After playing catch up for nearly a full season, this weekend provides an opportunity for the Shreveport Mudbugs to drop the hammer on the only team standing between them and a 2022 North American Hockey League playoff berth.

“Nothing needs to be said, (the players) know,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell told The Journal. “It’s funny how sports works: You play 60 games and it comes down to the wire and you’re playing for a playoff spot.”

The final road trip of a tumultuous regular season has the Mudbugs in West Texas, where they will face the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday and Saturday. Shreveport (30-19-5) is six points ahead of the Jackalopes (27-22-5) with six games remaining.

A sweep of Odessa would help the Mudbugs officially clinch a playoff spot, but even a split would cripple the Jackalopes’ hopes.

“This is why we play the games,” Campbell said. “I know Odessa’s players want to have this opportunity to fight for their playoff spot. It should be one hell of a battle, I can tell you that.”

Odessa leads the season series, 4-2. Following Saturday’s game, Shreveport will return home for the final two weekends of the regular season.

Record setter

Forward Austin Brimmer set a Mudbugs NAHL record with a six-point effort, including a hat trick, in Saturday’s victory at Amarillo. Brimmer’s first goal of the night gave Shreveport a 3-2 lead midway through the second period. He completed the hat trick with 8:49 remaining in the game. Three goals and three assists helped him break the franchise record (in the NAHL), previously held by Giovanni Procopio and Anton Rubtsov (both in 2020).

Brimmer’s six pack is tied for the best single-game output in the NAHL this season (Vincent Corcoran, Wichita Falls). The 20-year-old, a product of Markham, Ontario, leads the Mudbugs in goals (17), assists (30), points (47) this season.

Mudbugs at Odessa
Friday and Saturday (7:15 p.m., CDT)
Jackalopes lead series 4-2

Photo by CHRISTI LANG

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Remember 1982? The first-ever NCAA champion Lady Techsters do

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SHOOTING FOR TWO: On March 28, 1982, Tournament MVP Janice Lawrence (5) and Tech beat Cheyney State (in white) for the sport’s first NCAA title; the Lady Techsters won the AIAW title the year before and finished the back-to-back seasons 69-1.

By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Columnist

Talking to Louisiana Tech’s Lady Techsters of today is not much different than talking to them 40 years ago, back when they were future Hall of Fame coaches or Kodak All-Americans or practice players or Wade Trophy winners, and the thing each of them had the most of was fun.

Today they might put you on hold to talk to a recruit or tell a husband they’ll be right back or quiet a grandbaby, but then it’s March 28, 1982 again, a Sunday afternoon in The Scope in Norfolk, Va., and they are crisp and cool and full of the energy they had at 18 or 21, happy and young and suited up, maybe even a little smugly satisfied with the assurance of the timelessness of both an unbreakable record and the bond forged from what they became, a bit giddy with the memories of what they did best — win games, and win championships.

One of four teams in the NCAA Women’s Final Four Tournament will do this weekend what they did in 1982’s first week of spring, something no team had ever been done before, something no team can ever do again.

They won the NCAA title.

And they did it before anyone else.

They’d gone 34-0 and won the AIAW championship the year before, beating Tennessee 79-59 in Eugene, Oregon. In ’82 it was 34-1 and a 76-62 win over Cheyney State in what had now become the NCAA Women’s Championship.

“A record that will never be broken: it was exciting from that standpoint,” said shooting guard Angela Turner, who that day scored in double figures for the 125th time in her Kodak All-America career. “There were so many people there…it was televised all over the country … And so many of our fans had traveled to be with us. No matter where we went, there was always somebody from Ruston there.”

“Anything that has the word ‘first’ and ‘national’ in it had to be special,” said Debbie Primeaux Williamson, a back-up guard and now a known-by-everyone, quietly efficient bigwig in administration in the women’s game. “Winning big games and winning a lot was special, but knowing it was the first ever NCAA Championship seemed extra special.”

“I was glad we were playing Cheyney because they loved to press and I knew I’d get in the game early,” said Kim Mulkey, who finished with six points and seven assists — one more than the whole Cheyney team — was voted the game’s outstanding player by the CBS-TV crew, and, while remembering that day, sounded like the game was about to start and she already knew how it would end. “They were gonna press and I knew we could run and I could get an assist or score on the other end of the floor.”

“I still watch a good bit of the game; there’s no question that team could play today,” said Leon Barmore, then associate head coach along with Sonja Hogg, today a Naismith and, as several on that ’82 team members are, a Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer. “You’ve got some great teams and players out there, sure. But Angela, Janice (Lawrence), Pam (Kelly) … they’re all in the Hall of Fame and they didn’t get there by not being good.”

Lawrence had 20 points and was named the tournament’s MVP that day, and Kelly, who rewrote the program’s young record book for points, rebounds, and field goal percentage, would days later be named the season’s Wade Trophy Winner; Lawrence earned it two years later.

(A quick word about Hogg: In the March 29 editions of a local paper, the forward-thinking original Lady Techsters head coach was quoted as saying, “We won’t ever replace Turner and Kelly, but we have to get somebody in a uniform, hopefully somebody with a lot of talent.” This was in the middle of a run of 10 Final Fours and two Elite Eight appearances in 12 years. How’d that work out?)

During a time out as his team huddled with less than two minutes left in the title game, team trainer Sam Wilkinson, now retired in the Ruston area, displayed a T-shirt proclaiming Tech as the 1982 national champs.

“I’d been carrying that thing around in my trainer’s bag for two weeks,” Wilkinson said, laughing at the thought of something he hadn’t recalled in years. “Leon almost fell out.”

“Ol’ Sam, he got on TV pretty quick with that,” Barmore remembered.

Barmore gave lots of credit to “Ol’ Sam” for the championship; he got the team’s other star reserve besides Mulkey, forward Debra Rodman, ready to play in four of the five playoff games after Rodman had sprained an ankle in the regular-season finale. Good thing: Rodman came off the bench against Cheyney to get 14 points and a team-best 11 rebounds in just 24 minutes.

But there was one problem even Sam couldn’t solve. In pregame warmups, Rodman broke a bra strap. Nothing a female friend and a safety pin couldn’t fix, proof that even when the Lady Techsters didn’t let it all hang out, they sort of still did.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Photo courtesy LOUISIANA TECH

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Byrd girls bowling team rolls into today’s state semis

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GOING ON STRIKE?: C.E. Byrd’s girls No. 13-ranked bowling team state semifinalists are (Front, L-R) seniors Lola Carlisle, Madilyn McCrary (captain), Olivia Osbon and (Back, L-R) juniors Cathleen Stevens, Jadyn Martin, Kaci Green, Maddisen Rook, Erin Hanson, and Cicely Dawson, pictured at Acadiana Lanes after a 16-11 quarterfinals victory over No. 5 Central Lafourche.

By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports

Momma won’t allow throwing the ball inside.

But if you roll it, that’s OK.

And some female student-athletes at C.E. Byrd High have figured out how to do that awfully well.

Trying to score a “first” for north Louisiana in the LHSAA bowling world, the No. 13-ranked Byrd girls team faces No. 1 Ponchatoula in the state semifinals of the Ochsner LHSAA Bowling Championship at 10:30 a.m. this morning at All Star Lanes in Baton Rouge.

At 1:30 p.m., the winner will face the survivor of the other semifinal between No. 2 Dutchtown and No. 6 Denham Springs.

If Byrd can make it happen, the Lady Jackets will become north Louisiana’s first bowling team champion since the sport became LHSAA-sanctioned in 2005. They are the first north Louisiana team in the semis since Parkway’s boys team in 2010.

“The Lady Jackets are a good team because they are a united team who remain focused, positive, and encouraging each match,” said Paula Rowe, their coach and a teacher of history and government at Byrd. “The girls fiercely protect their team dynamic. No negativity allowed. Of course, they put a lot of work in at practice and on their own time.”

Rowe said the leadership of Madilyn McCrary, four-year varsity bowler and the team’s captain, “has been a fundamental part of our team’s success. At the beginning of the season, we were impacted by COVID-19 and a few injuries. But as the season went on, the girls recovered, and our new bowlers further developed their skills in the game.”

In a Shreveport-Bossier area that proved well balanced, Byrd finished 7-5 and second in district to Loyola College Prep, who lost in Round 2 of the playoffs to St. Amant. Captain Shreve was 5-7 and Airline 4-8; the semi-logjam could have been a reason for Byrd’s lower seed.

Regardless, the Lady Jackets seem to have gotten hot at the right time, mainly because of the back-end of the lineup. Teams get the same amount of points for its No. 1-spot (sixth-best bowler) winning as it does for its No. 6, or best, bowler. It’s a format that favors depth.

“The strength in our playoff victories came from our 1-3 bowlers as much as from our 4-6,” Rowe said.

“McCrary and Kaci Green consistently performed each game in the 2 and 3 spots and won critical points. Erin Hanson came back in game 3 of both (playoff) matches to help secure the win against (No. 4) H.L. Bourgeois (in Round 2) and (No. 5) Central Lafourche (in the quarterfinals). Jadyn Martin, Maddisen Rook, and Cathleen Stevens continued to provide strong pinfall (the number of pins toppled during a match) and impressive scores against strong bowlers from the other teams.”

Stevens and Rook also qualified for Singles State Finals, which will be Friday. Other female student-athletes competing Friday are Paris Mendones and LaBresha Lars (Airline) and Ysabella Griego (Loyola). In the Boys Singles State Finals Friday, area competitors include Chris Kouba (Airline), Caden Hutchinson (Byrd) and Jack Perrett (Benton).

Crescent City Sports of New Orleans is partnering with the LHSAA to live stream the semifinals and finals. The link is http://crescentcitysports.com/live-game-streams/

Coverage begins just prior to the 10:30 a.m. start of the four semifinals, with whip-around coverage of those matches, and continues with the girls championship at 1:30 p.m. and the boys final at 3:30 p.m. CCS’ Ken Trahan and Lenny Vangilder will be joined by Kent Lowe on the broadcast.

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State junior golf tour visits Querbes Park this weekend

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OFF THE TEE: Local and area high school teams participated in the North Louisiana High School 9-hole tournament Tuesday at Querbes Park.

By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

Looking at the upcoming weather forecast, it looks like the next few days will be prime for area junior golfers. If you’re interested in seeing some of the top local players, head out to Querbes Park Golf Course this weekend.

The Louisiana Junior Golf Tour’s tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday. The boys’ 11-13 division tees off at 8 a.m., followed by Overall girls (13-18) at 8:27, and Overall boys’ (13-18) at 8:54.

Top players from all over the state will be in competition, including Shreveport’s Grant Reagan and Xan Walker.

Get your kids in the game

In an effort to make golf more appealing, inclusive, and affordable, the non-profit organization Youth on Course has partnered with the Louisiana Golf Association to deliver opportunities to young people. The purpose is to help kids grow and succeed both on and off the golf course.

Participating courses across the state offer rates of $5 or less at designated times for YOC members. Member benefits include World Handicap System Authorized Handicap Index, LGA member benefits, GHIN mobile app, and access to golf at great rates.

YOC member Querbes Park offers availability anytime during the weekday and after 12 p.m. on weekends with fees of $3 for 9 holes and $5 for 18 holes.

Byrd on top

The Byrd High School boys’ and girls’ golf teams took top honors at Tuesday’s North Louisiana High School 9-hole tournament at Crooked Hollow Golf Course. The girls’ team finished first at 23-over while the boys outdistanced their division opponents with an 8-over score..

Sydney Moss (+3) led the Lady Jackets to the top spot while Peyton Johnson (even) and Grant Reagan (+1) gave Byrd the top two spots in the boys’ division.

Byrd’s girls were followed in the team competition by Minden (+39), Many (+54), and Airline (+58). Airline (+34), Northwood (+45), and Magnet High (+55) rounded out the boys’ class.

The next event for high schoolers will be held on Monday at Northwood Hills Golf Club. Check-in is at 3:00 with a shotgun start at 3:30.

NWLA tennis events springing up

The Northwest Louisiana Community Tennis Association (NWLA CTA) has a number of leagues getting ready to kick off in the area.

Registration opens on Friday for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Local Flex Singles League. Men’s and women’s singles flights include 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5. Cost is $25 for USTA members. The season begins May 9.

If you haven’t signed your team up for the fun Tri-Level League yet, you still have a little time. Registration closes on April 8. The season begins April 25 and ends on June 4. The state tournament will be held Aug. 18-22 in Baton Rouge with sectionals in Louisville, KY., Oct. 15-17. Team matches consist of three individual doubles matches with one match at three different levels. Teams must have a minimum of two players at each level registered on the squad. Divisions include 18&Over, 40&Over, and 55&Over. Participants may play at their NTRP level or one level higher.

The NWLA CTA Mixed 2022 League opens registration on April 16 with local play beginning May 27 and running through Aug. 19. Combo-rated divisions include ages 18+, 40+, and 55+. Teams include three men and three women with appropriate combo ratings. For information, contact tammieharris@gmail.com.hed

Photo by JOHN PENROD

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State Cup semifinal exit for local club soccer teams

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PLAYING UPHILL: The Shreveport United 03 boys, coached by Rob Jump, had to play a man down in the state semifinals but competed valiantly.

By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports

Shreveport United 03 girls and boys teams both fell in the semifinals of the Louisiana State Cup soccer tournament Saturday morning in Baton Rouge.

SU 03 girls lost to eventual State Cup winner Baton Rouge Black, 4-1. With two key starters unavailable and a third limping in with a hurt foot, SU 03 found the task tall even before the opening whistle.

Baton Rouge went up early with a solid goal and a penalty kick. Shortly before halftime, Emily Moffett sent a beautiful pass to Khiana Roraback that she was able to put past the keeper to cut the lead in half, 2-1. Momentum seemed to shift to Shreveport.

But early in the second half, the assistant referee put up his flag for an apparent Baton Rouge foul. Though a foul seemed obvious to the local fan base, the center referee waved it off. One pass later and the score was 3-1.

Coach Gil Roraback argued his case to no avail. Baton Rouge then played a defensive formation and ‘parked the bus,’ which equates to having 10 or more players between the ball and their own goal. As Shreveport tried to push everyone up to get back in the game, Baton Rouge added an insurance goal for the 4-1 final.

This marked the end of this team’s run in club soccer; it won a state title in 2019 and went to the US Club soccer nationals in 2021.

Shreveport United 03 boys were defeated by top-seeded LA Fire Navy 6-1. Odds were against them early in the week when it appeared they would only have 11 players for the game, meaning no break for any players. Two hours before game time, the outlook worsened as a player’s nagging injury left him unable to play. This put the team down a man for the entire game.

Things started with LA Fire taking advantage of an overwhelming time of possession to build an early 3-0 lead. The bright spot came for Shreveport when Juan Gomez Carrion scored the team’s lone goal with an assist from Emiliano Garduno to make the score 4-1 at half.

Shreveport showed signs of life even being a man down. They were able to hold LA Fire to two goals in the half, resulting in the 6-1 final. Keeper Marc DeLeon made 12 saves in the game, worthy of the team’s MVP for the game.

Next up for the Louisiana Soccer Association State Cups is the U11 and U12’s, known as the Bob Abbott Cup, April 9-10 in Baton Rouge. There will be four boys and three girls local teams vying for state titles at different competitive levels. Look for our preview during the week leading up to the event.

Photo by LANCE FOUTS

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Lightning bolt hits close to home

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The folks at the TV station had cautioned us about the possibility of thunderstorms in our area one morning last June. We had been warned so while we kept our eyes on the skies, life around our house was continuing as normal.

As rain began falling, I made sure our garage door was closed and I settled down with my morning coffee inside, rather than taking my usual treasured spot on the back porch. Kay was folding laundry as we watched the rain and the sky darken and periodic flashes of lightning and accompanying thunder drew closer.

Without warning, it was like a bomb detonated inside our house. The explosion was ear splitting and with all the tall pines around our house, we knew that a bolt must have struck one of them.

Recovering from the blast, I cautiously stepped into the garage to begin assessing the damage. Strangely, the garage door I had closed only moments ago had opened by itself. Hitting the switch to close it, nothing happened; the bolt had knocked out the remote control.

Next, I checked our alarm system; it was also dead. The biggie, though, was when we activated the central air system and it was inoperative.

The sum total of damages resulted in replacement and repair costs approaching $2,000.

Fortunately, homeowners insurance paid a portion but we had to pay the difference.

I began a search later that day for the tree that lightning had struck to cause such damages to our home. It was not until several weeks later that I noticed the tell-tale results of a dying tree, the little white globs of resin that begin showing up once a tree begins it demise. Bugs had started working on the tree that lightning had struck, a tall pine that stood within 10 steps of our garage.

Lightning is something that can be deadly, according to a source I found. A typical lightning flash is about 300 million volts and about 30,000 amps. In comparison, household current is 120 volts and 15 amps. Wow, no wonder we experienced damage when it hit a tree so close to our house.

When lightning strikes a tree, water in the cells instantly begins to boil, creating steam and the expanding steam can explode, cracking or stripping off bark.

Another source said that lightning is one of the leading weather-related causes of death and injury in the United States. Did you know you can be struck by lightning when the center of the thunderstorm is 10 miles away?

Several years ago, I witnessed the aftermath of a lightning strike on a big oak at Lincoln Parish Park. The tree was virtually blown apart with strips of bark catapulted several yards from the trunk.

On another occasion, hay was being baled in the pasture across the road from our home with round bales on the ground waiting for pick up. A bolt of lightning struck one of the bales and I watched in amazement during a heavy rainstorm as the bale caught fire and burned.

This is the time of year when folks are out on the lake fishing, boating or skiing and it’s also the time when thunderstorms can crop up quickly. If skies darken and the rumble of thunder is heard, it’s time to leave the water and seek shelter until the storm passes.

Lightning can be deadly and can do strange things, like causing a garage door to open by itself.

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Encouraging post-surgery outlook for Shreveporter Robert Williams III

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JOURNAL STAFF

North Caddo High School product Robert Williams III has been a vital part of the Boston Celtics’ surge to the top spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and despite a knee injury requiring surgery Wednesday, he could return to action in the playoffs.

The Celtics issued a hopeful statement following Williams’ arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Team doctors project a recovery requiring no more than 4-6 weeks, a timetable that could have the native Shreveporter back on the court in the second round of the playoffs.

Williams, considered a strong contender for NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors before Sunday’s injury, helped Boston go 24-4 since mid-January and into the conference lead. They’ve since slipped into the No. 2 spot.

The 6-foot-9, 237-pound post player is having a breakout campaign in his fourth NBA season, averaging 10 points and 9.6 rebounds while starting 61 games and playing more minutes (1,804) than he had combined in the three previous seasons. Williams is averaging 2.2 blocked shots and 2.0 assists while shooting 73 percent from the floor. His inside play has keyed the Celtics’ emergence as perhaps the league’s best defensive team.

Williams, an avid supporter of North Caddo High and active during the offseason in local civic endeavors, signed a four-year, $48 million deal during this season to begin for the 2022-23 campaign. The 24-year-old is a top candidate for the NBA’s All-Defensive Team and is in the mix for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

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Kansas basketball: A psychiatrist’s dream

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Kansas is a 4.5-points favorite against Villanova Saturday in the first of two NCAA Tournament semifinal games. Duke and North Carolina will follow at approximately 7:49; the Blue Devils are a 4-points favorite.

Hello, Awesome Saturday Night. Except …

If you see a Kansas fan between now and then, and if he or she is gnawing on tree bark and unable to mumble a complete sentence, move along. Yes, the Jayhawks are favorites. Yes, Kansas has a basketball tradition as rich as anyone’s.

But yes, Kansas come Tournament time is a heartache waiting to happen.

East Coast. West Coast. Midwest. Deep South. Historically, the Kansas basketball program has arguably left more hoop-loving hearts broken all over this great land and on the Final Four Road than any other program that’s ever dared nail up a peach basket.

They’ve got the awesome old-school gym. The simple, bright, cheerful uniforms you could probably wear to church and get away with. That happy-go-lucky Jayhawk mascot.

It’s a program that’s strung together a ridiculous 31 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the most ever. All the Jayhawks do is win.

Until it’s time to finish. Kansas has only three NCAA Tournament titles in its illustrious history.

Which is three more than lots of programs, for sure. Most anyone would trade for what Kansas has been able to do, generation after generation.

And still, their reputation is that of a Bracket Buster. Kansas giveth, and Kansas taketh away. Saturday will mark the program’s 16th trip to the Final Four, which means that for all their trips to the mountaintop, the Jayhawks have left as King of the Hill only once every five times.

They’ve been runners-up six times, college basketball’s equivalent of baseball’s 1950s’ Brooklyn Dodgers and 1990s’ Atlanta Braves.

Bridesmaids City.

Recent history:

In 2010, Northern Iowa, historically one of the finest programs in all of the great state of Iowa, bounced them out.

In 2011 as the Tournament’s No.1-seed, Kansas was dismissed by VCU in the Elite Eight. (Time flies; Shaka Smart seems like last week.)

2014, they got Stanford-ed, although it’s important to remember that Kansas was Joel Embiid-less thanks to an unfortunate injury.

2016 and 2018, well, we’ll come back to that in a sec.

In 2020, the Jayhawks were ranked No. 1 in some polls and … The Ultimate Indignity … the Tournament was pandemically cancelled.

So here they are again with head-scratching Kansas, never ranked No. 1 this season, yet champions of the Midwest Regional and the only No.1 Regional seed left in the ballgame. If you are a Kansas fan, you are probably preparing for a dagger where it hurts.

But who knows? Bill Self could become just the 16th guy in the college game to win multiple national titles. Kansas could do what the 1952 and Self’s 2008 team did and win it all.

Very un-Kansas-like, they’ve even won it when they weren’t supposed to. I happened to be there hanging around in Kemper Arena in Kansas City in 1988 when “Danny Manning and the Miracles,” a 6-seed, upset No.1 Oklahoma, 34-3 and winners of 21 of its last 22 games, 83-79. The game was tied 50-50 at the half, the small (for a Final Four) arena was an explosion of cheers and colors and gasps and drama, and the whole thing was more fun than a little bit.

And maybe the same will be true this weekend. Maybe. With Kansas being a favorite over Villanova in the Saturday semis, that’s a step in the right direction.

Except … remember we mentioned 2016 and 2018? Kansas played Villanova in the tournament both those years. And lost. First, in 2016 when the Jayhawks were the top-seeded team in the tournament.

And then in 2018, when Kansas lost to the underdog Wildcats … in the semifinals.

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Knee injury puts Robert Williams III’s NBA season in jeopardy

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JOURNAL SPORTS

A breakout season for North Caddo High School product Robert Williams III appears possibly ended by a knee injury suffered Sunday that could sideline the Boston Celtics center indefinitely.

Williams, considered on a short list of candidates for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee late in a 134-112 victory over Minnesota.

Coach Ime Udoka told media Monday that Williams’ injury will require surgery at some point. He did not rule out the possibility of Williams returning to play, if able, before having the surgery in the offseason.

The Celtics are considering options as team medical staff finish testing on an injury that could sideline the Shreveport native for several weeks, if not the entire postseason.

Boston is 24-4 since a mid-season turnaround and holds the No. 1 position in the Eastern Conference.

Williams is averaging 10 points per game and shooting 73 percent from the field while snatching 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2 assists in 61 starts while playing 30 of the 48 minutes. All stats are career bests.

The 24-year-old signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension that begins next season.

He is in his fourth NBA season after two years at Texas A&M. He graduated from North Caddo in 2016 and has been an ardent supporter of his high school since becoming a pro, while participating in local camps for youth.

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Bugs Beat: Shreveport overcomes scary injury to sweep weekend

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By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

Shreveport Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell does his best to prepare his team for big games, but when one of his hottest players is rendered unconscious 20 seconds in, even the best plan can be derailed.

That’s what happened during a rare Wednesday affair at Wichita Falls. Shreveport’s Logan Gotinsky was leveled from behind, and his teammates were left terrified as the 20-year-old suffered convulsions on the ice and was ushered to the hospital.

“It should fire them up, but you have six guys over there knowing he’s not looking right,” Campbell told The Journal. “Our players are the ones carting him off the ice. It’s not a normal situation.”

Campbell doesn’t believe the incident was a carryover, but simply a “bang-bang” play.

“(Gotinsky) was trying to protect the puck and they got him from behind,” Campbell said. “It’s unfortunate because he was playing some really good hockey.”

Adisen Brueck was sent to the shower with a checking from behind major and a game misconduct, but the Mudbugs couldn’t convert on the ensuing 5-minute power play or any of the three other man-advantages in the opening period. Shreveport had an opportunity to take over third place in the North American Hockey League’s South Division, but eventually fell, 3-0.

The good news: Gotinsky is on the mend.

“He’s recovering,” Campbell said. “All signs indicate he’s going to be OK, but it’s going to take time.”

With news their teammate was out of the hospital and headed back to Shreveport to recover from a concussion, the Mudbugs rallied on a trip to Amarillo.

Shreveport swept the Wranglers with a 4-2 victory on Friday and a 6-2 triumph on Saturday – aided by a six-point effort, including a hat trick, by Austin Brimmer.

“I think it was good for the boys to be able to talk to Goat Boy and Facetime him,”

Campbell said. “They knew he was good and the focus was on hockey. We were able to score the right way and defended pretty well – we used both goaltenders.”

The Mudbugs have won 11 of their past 13 games and are now six points clear of Odessa in the race for the final playoff spot in the South.

Journal’s 3 Stars

1. Austin Brimmer, factored in on all six goals Saturday, registering a hat trick and three assists
2. Burke Simpson, two goals and three assists Saturday
3. Tim Khohhlachev, two goals Friday

NAHL South Division standings

*Lone Star (33-11-10), 76 points
*New Mexico (35-15-4), 74
Wichita Falls (30-16-8), 68
Shreveport (30-19-5), 65
Odessa (27-22-5), 59
Amarillo (26-25-3), 55
Corpus Christi (23-28-3), 49
El Paso (13-37-4), 30

*clinched playoff spot

Team leaders

Goals: Austin Brimmer, 17
Assists: Brimmer, 30
Points: Brimmer, 47
Penalty Minutes: Davis Goukler, 131
Game-winning goals: Connor Gatto, 4
Goals-against average: Devon Bobak, 2.07
Save percentage: Bobak, .921

Up next

In a second-half full of crucial series, the biggest thus far comes at Odessa. The Mudbugs have an opportunity to put the hammer down on a postseason berth with games Friday and Saturday against the Jackalopes.

PHOTO: courtesy of Shreveport Mudbugs

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From diamond to oval, Boothill brought redemption

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WINNING TEAM: Derick Grigsby (at left), his father Wes and crew chief Paul Rust (at right) pose after a victory at Boothill Speedway.

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports

Carved out of tucked-away land surrounded by pine trees on the good side of the Louisiana-Texas statSBJ spotlighte line, a quarter-mile circle of red clay dirt saved Derick Grigsby’s life.

Grigsby had just struck out on a promising baseball career. So promising, the Houston Astros chose Grigsby — and paid him a $1.125 million signing bonus — in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball amateur draft.

“He had a fastball that lit up radar guns and a slider that buckled knees,” wrote esteemed Houston Chronicle baseball writer Richard Justice.

But on the eve of his fourth season in the Astros organization, Grigsby’s grandmother died — on the same date his mother died six years earlier.

Ballgame.

“I had pretty severe depression and anxiety,” he said. “I still deal with anxiety today. The depression, not so much. I still go to counseling.”

So, Grigsby came home, finding comfort while working on his father’s race car. There was also the weekly payoff pitch — cheering Dad to the checkered flag on Saturday nights at Boothill Speedway in Greenwood.

“Just getting out there and being around people,” he said, “it was good for me.”

These days, Grigsby spends late nights (“It’s really like a whole other 40-hours-a-week job”) turning wrenches on his car. Saturday evenings, Grigsby is turning the wheel left, while Dad cheers.

“It’s the competition,” Grigsby said, explaining a hobby which costs more than it pays. “We’re not out there making a living for sure. Just being able to race like I always wanted to means a lot.”

Like several of the 115-120 drivers hauling their cars to Exit 3 on I-20 in Greenwood, Grigsby once dreamed of racing at legendary tracks like Daytona and Talladega. “I thought I was going to be the next biggest thing,” he admitted. Now, the 39-year-old married father of four settles for earning part of a $12,000 weekly purse — spread over six classes of races.

“To be the fastest and baddest race driver at that moment,” said fellow racer and track promoter Brian Frazier, explaining why drivers love Boothill. “To be the guy holding the trophy and, back in the day, kissing the girls in victory lane.”

But for all the excitement, attendance (both fans and drivers) has dropped off like a Limited Modified running on fumes.

“My grandstand area will hold 3,200 people, and it would be standing room only,” Frazier said of Boothill’s glory nights. “Now, those standing room only crowds only happen a few times every year. It used to be every week.”

You don’t have to pop the hood to find out why.

“Cars aren’t easily worked on,” Frazer said. “We aren’t car-centric, or as ‘car nuts’ as my dad’s generation was, and as my generation was, where we could work on them. We’re struggling with our crowd dying. I don’t know another way to say it.”

Meanwhile, Grigsby — who spends more than 50 hours a week changing oil, tires, and brakes at his lube shop — keeps working his “other job.” Grigsby’s skin-cracked hands are a self-described “mess.” There’s grease under his fingernails, and hard, yellow-tainted callouses that take a romantic toll on his wife.

“Last night,” he said, “she was saying how she didn’t like how they felt on her hands.”

But it’s all worth the price to be, mentally, in a better place.

“It’s kind of like an escape from every day, and the stress of everything,” Grigsby said. “When you get out there and get strapped in, you don’t have to worry about your problems. You’re just out there having fun. It’s kind of like a getaway.”

Grigsby and his fellow racers will be back on the track at Boothill, having fun, Saturday night at 7:30. Gates open for the loyal fans and all comers at 6.

Photo courtesy SCOTT BURSON

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Shreveport United 03 girls and boys try for state titles

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NO SCORE, MOORE – Shreveport United 03 girls keeper Bailey Moore made this save during the State Cup preliminaries last weekend. She and her teammates aim for the state title this weekend.

By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports

The Shreveport United 03 girls club soccer team advanced to the Louisiana Soccer Association’s State Cup semifinals this Saturday by going 1-1-1 in the preliminary round last weekend in Lafayette. They join the SU 03 boys team, which earned a bye straight to the semifinals, Saturday in Baton Rouge.

The SU 04 boys team could not overcome multiple injuries, and was not able to advance to the semifinals, going 0-3 in the preliminaries.

The SU 03 girls began the preliminaries Saturday against Thibodaux, who tied them during the regular season. They took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Landry Jones, with Khiana Roraback making the assist. They were able to hold that edge until with 20 minutes left in the game a Thibodaux player hit a rocket that found the back of the net. The game remained tied when the final whistle blew. Bailey Moore came up big in goal, making multiple game saving saves for Shreveport United.

Sunday morning the Shreveport team faced off with the New Orleans Spartans, who they topped 2-1 during the regular season. The result this time was only briefly in question, with United dominating play. Roraback scored a pair of goals, with assists from Erin Campbell and Madalyn Van Devender. Moore made a few saves, but was never pressed. This win secured their advancement to the following weekend. The question remaining: what seed they would end up with following game 3.

Sunday afternoon’s game was against a familiar foe, seven-time reigning State Cup champion Baton Rouge Black. Both teams were assured of advancement. The first half was hard fought, with the United girls having a few good chances to score, but unable to break through. Moore had four saves in the half. In added time a Shreveport defender was called for a foul in the box, giving Baton Rouge a penalty kick, which it converted. The second half played out similarly, except there was no penalty kick and the score stood 1-0 Black at the end.

The SU 03 girls earned the third seed and will rematch against No. 2 Baton Rouge Black on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. in Baton Rouge. Despite last Sunday’s outcome, the United girls have a lot on confidence, having not surrendered a goal in the flow of play. The formula to stopping them has been found. The winner will face the winner of the other semifinal game between top-seeded Cajun Rush and No. 4 Thibodaux in the championship contest Sunday at 9 a.m. in Baton Rouge.

The Shreveport United 03 boys team, seeded fourth, will face the No. 1 LA Fire Navy Saturday at 10:45 in Baton Rouge. They fell to LA Fire 3-1 on March 12 during the regular season play. The winner will meet either Baton Rouge Black or Mandeville Soccer Club in the final Sunday at 2.

The 03 boys team is coached by Rob Jump. The team is full of All District and some SBJ All-Metro players from the recently completed prep season. They hope to shock the league by winning the state title from the fourth seed.

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Women’s tees at Querbes, please?

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By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

Have you heard this one? A group of women sitting around the clubhouse, talking about the upcoming golf tournament at their country club. “I’m winning a trophy this year,” one of them says with consternation. “All I’ve gotta do to win a division is get my handicap higher. Guess I’ll go play a few rounds at Querbes.”

Yes, it’s a joke, but it’s not that far off. In fact, a version of that conversation actually took place at a local country club recently. Truth is, there are a number of women who are reluctant to play at Querbes Park Golf Course because of the lack of ladies’ tees.

First you must understand that I fit into the “average” golfer category, meaning my handicap hovers between 14 and 16. In a good year, I can get it down to 11 or 12 (those years, however, are few and far between). That means I’m going to shoot (on average) in the 80s – good days will be low 80s and not-so-good (that’s my wheelhouse) will rise to the upper-80s or – the golfing gods forbid – the low 90s.

In other words, I play from the women’s (or ladies’) tees. Those of you who would condemn (or cancel, or whatever) me go ahead. I’m not offended when they’re called ladies’ or women’s tees. (I also appreciate it when a person of the male gender opens the door for me.) Politics aside, call them what you want. Women – and older gentlemen who like to play these particular tees – who are offended by that term like to call them “forward” tees. Potato/potato.

All golf courses are not set up the same. Years ago, you would generally find three tee boxes – the forward, middle, and back (or championship) tees. Nowadays, courses may have up to five tee boxes with different colors representing different distances and levels of difficulty.

Huntington Park Golf Course has five: black, gold, blue, white, and red. Call them what you will – it’s 6,954 yards from the black, 6,646 from the gold, 6,304 from the blue, 5,656 from the white, and 5,068 from the red. Par for the course (a great term) is 72, except for the ladies, which is 74 (Nos. 17 and 18 are par-5’s for us). Even with a couple of holes on the front nine that are difficult for the average woman golfer to reach in regulation, it’s set up pretty fair.

Just what is fair? In a study commissioned by the National Golf Course Owners Association and conducted by the Sports & Leisure Research Group, it was determined that “women who play golf at facilities that follow best practices tailored to them will play the sport more often and enjoy an enhanced overall experience, while rewarding course operators with better financial results and pace of play.”

First on the list of “best practices” was this:

Four or more sets of tees, with the forward set of tees ideally under 4,500 yards (though up to 4,800 yards considered) all to allow golfers to reach greens in regulation.

The rule of thumb for that determination was taking the average woman golfer’s tee shot and multiplying it by 30. Yes, the survey was conducted 11 years ago so improvements in equipment would drive that total higher on today’s courses. I don’t have a problem with a 5,000-plus-yards course as long as the tees are fair – for the average woman golfer. If you’re a championship woman golfer, play from the back tees.

It didn’t take long to find other women golfers who feel that same way.

“That’s one of the reasons our ladies’ group moved to Huntington,” says Nina Glorioso. “It’s frustrating when you hit two incredible shots and you say, ‘My gosh, I’m not even near (the green).’ There’s no reason you should have to use driver, 3-wood, 3-wood on a par-5. It just got frustrating. I know they used to have ladies’ tees at Querbes.”

Indeed they did. There are now three tee boxes at Querbes Park Golf Course – black, silver, and gold. According to the scorecard, black is 6,139 yards, silver is 5,851, and gold is 5,388. All three distances are par-71.

“My daughter was in town a couple of weekends ago and I brought her here to play,” a Querbes regular – of the male persuasion — said one recent afternoon. “She was confused that there weren’t ladies’ tees, so we just moved her up (to hit her drive) where it would be fair.”

Recent statistics show an increase in the number of new golfers to the sport. Sure, beginners are going to play slower than the average golfer. If the tees are not fair, however, those long rounds are not only going to be frustrating to the beginner; they’re going to infuriate the group behind it…and the one behind that one.

“If they would put the ladies’ tees (back at Querbes), that would help the pace of play,” says Glorioso, who is quick to point out she misses playing at the historic golf course. “I love Querbes. I want to play there. I know, for not lots of money, they could make it fair.”

For sure, it would require some work – and money. But at least they wouldn’t have to buy the red tees – they’ve still got the old ones. They’re on the property — in storage.

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Treasures found while turkey hunting

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We’re sitting here on the cusp of one of my favorite times of year. It’s spring; dogwoods and azaleas are blooming, everything is turning green, except for the yellow dust that falls like a heavy mist from my pine trees. I’ve already had to break out the lawn mower so, yes, it is spring.

As much as I enjoy watching the metamorphosis of the drab shades of winter evolve into a kaleidoscope of color, there is another experience that supersedes being there for the birth of yet another spring. Wild turkey season opens in Louisiana and the prospect of hearing a longbeard gobbler sound off from the roost and watching him, in full strut, slowly shuffle his way to my gun makes other springtime happenings pale in comparison.

Before having the experience of an encounter with a gobbler, you have to know where he hangs out once he leaves his roost tree and the only way to do that is to scout. This involves looking for tracks, droppings, feathers and strut marks in addition to hearing the actual gobble of your quarry.

Time has to be spent in the woods along old woods roads, log decks, pipeline and power line rights of way looking for the telltale sign where turkeys are hanging out.

While looking for evidence of turkeys in an area, on more than one occasion, I have found other treasures as a bonus.

A few springs ago, I was walking an old woods road with wild flowers pushing through the new green grass when I spotted something that seemed out of place. Upon closer examination, the tip of white protruding from the greenery was the tine of an antler that had been cast aside as always happens once buck deer drop the old to begin growing the new. For the moment, I forgot turkey tracks, retrieved the prize that now rests in my office.

On another occasion, I was walking through a food plot near a deer stand when I spotted an antler among the clover. Another trophy got a ride home in my truck.

As exciting as it is to find shed antlers, there are other treasures that are more mind-boggling. One day I was walking a recently plowed pipeline that exposed bare iron ore-laden ground in search of turkey sign when a small rock at my feet looked different. It was an arrow head.

Picking it up, I was transported back in time as I tried to imagine how it got there. I realized that long ago, Native Americans roamed these hills in search of game. Perhaps an errant arrow launched from a primitive bow had missed its mark, or it could be that the arrow had hit the target, and the deer ran before expiring on the site of the pipeline. I’ll never know the answer, of course, but it is a mind-stretcher just to consider the possibility of what may have happened hundreds of years ago.

That’s not the first arrow head I’ve recovered while scouting for turkeys. A couple more made their way into my pocket until I could get home with my special treasures.

On another occasion, I was walking along a pipeline on our hunting club, stopping in a patch of clover to listen for a gobbler. Looking down, I spotted a 4-leaf clover right between my boots. Did it bring me luck? If memory serves, I was able to call in and bring down a gobbler that day.

When you’re out turkey hunting this spring, it’s always an adrenalin rush to be able to locate and call in a mature turkey gobbler. If the turkeys don’t cooperate, though, be on the lookout for some of these special treasures that when found, can make failing to get a gobbler not such a bad deal after all.

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Shreveport native’s nutritional guidance vital for brand-name sports figures

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PLANNING PROPERLY: Shreveport native Lindsay Gosslee Langford (at right) works with a chef for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers to design nutritional meals for the team.

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports

Shreveport’s Lindsay Gosslee Langford hasn’t scored a goal for the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team.SBJ spotlight

She’s yet to win an IndyCar Series race.

Nor has she scored a point for Butler University’s basketball teams.

But for those who have, Langford is a vital asset.

The Captain Shreve High School, University of Alabama, and Louisiana Tech University graduate is a sports dietitian with Ascension St. Vincent Sports Performance in Carmel, Indiana (just north of Indianapolis). The meat and potatoes of her current and past client list include soccer star Megan Rapinoe, Six-time IndyCar Series race winner Graham Rahal, the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, and Butler University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams.

“When you’re a professional — and even when you’re not — you’re always looking for that edge,” Langford explained. “‘What’s something that my competitor may not be doing, so I can be better than them?’” Nowadays, I feel like everybody has their own strength coach. Everybody has someone that helps them (deal) with injury. Not everyone has truly latched on to nutrition. From a performance enhancing standpoint, also from a recovery standpoint, when you’ve got back-to-back games or races, ‘How can I recover as quickly as I can?’”

A big part of Langford’s work for the US Soccer Women’s National Team is “menu preparation.”

“I design a menu that is based around performance-enhancing foods,” Langford said. “Foods that dilate the blood vessels to allow more blood to get into the muscles. That helps with recovery. What are some foods that are high Omega, fatty acids, that help with inflammation? What are specific antioxidants that help fight off some of the muscle damage from a hard workout?”

It sounds like Langford has the soccer players’ complete trust.

“Good nutrition is so crucial to being able to compete at the highest level, and Lindsay is one of the best nutritionists in the game,” said USWNT defender Abby Dahlkemper. “She is extremely knowledgeable in her craft, and has helped me get my body to where it needs to be.”

Butler’s student-athletes have seen the benefits of Langford’s work.

“The things she has really championed for us the last couple of years have been some processes such as sweat analysis, so we get the right hydration plan for each player,” said Ralph Reiff, BU’s senior associate athletic director of student-athlete, health, performance, and well-being. “That has greatly reduced our muscle cramp and fatigue issues.”

While Langford enjoys working with athletes and teams from a variety of sports, she really enjoys working with the Indy Car people.

“Those drivers are very receptive, because they have not had any education before,” Langford said. “Nobody’s paying attention to them from a nutrition standpoint. But it’s very much needed when they’re in the car, and it’s 120 degrees in the fire suit, and they’re losing 10 pounds of fluid in a race. That’s a big deal. That’s nutrition. That’s hydration.”

You might think being a mother of two boys, ages 8 and 10, Langford is strict on what her children eat. But she tries to find a balance between being mom, and being a dietician.

“On road trips, we get McDonald’s, and they look forward to that, but they don’t ever ask for that. That doesn’t mean we don’t eat out. We eat at Chick-fil-A plenty. But they are educated on the foods we want to fuel with frequently, and the foods that we get to fuel with for fun. I never restrict. They get a treat in their lunch every day.”

 

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A wayward camel, the NCAA, and Dolly: Tupperware Tales, Chapter 5

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Table scraps …

From the “You Really Aren’t Having A Bad Day” Files: It’s been nearly two weeks since several news services reported that two men at a Tennessee farm were killed by a “rampaging camel.” The farm housed several kinds of animals and no reason was given for the camel’s rampage. The bottom line is that, if you get attacked by a camel, and in Tennessee of all places, it ain’t your day…

A baseball team I follow has some long bus trips so I suspected it would be thoughtful and different to get them some playing cards along with some silly things, games children play with like Etch-A-Sketches and a magnetic checker set and some Wooly Willy drawing games, the ones where you put the “magic wand” against the plastic and it pulls little slivers of iron where you want them to go so you decorate the face of Willy. And then I thought how that was the stupidest idea I’d ever had—and it’s a long line—because all these dudes do is play on their phones and listen to music. Would have been a great idea—in the mid-80s…

Can’t give you the link here ’cause we don’t want you jumping to another site BUT in honor of these first days of spring, take 30 seconds and find “Welcome, Sweet Springtime: The Andy Griffith Show” on YouTube or the site of your choice and listen to Barney, very flatly, usher in the new season. Good ol’ 14A in your songbook. Never gets old …

To paraphrase Kris Kristofferson, my NCAA Tournament Bracket woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold its head that it didn’t hurt. Over the span of 48 hours, from the Opening Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament through Saturday of the Second Round, my little black-and-blue bracket went from “tightness in the joints” to “full body cast.” …

BUT … to paraphrase singer-songwriter Travis Tritt, “Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares.” Because no one cares about your NCAA bracket. No one but you cares that you had Kentucky and flamed out on ascent or that you pulled a rabbit out of the hat and picked St. Peter’s. No one even cares if your bracket is leading in any of the groups you have joined, because everyone knew SOMEbody was going to win—somebody besides them. Nobody knows the trouble your bracket has seen—but no gives the slightest rat’s rip either. If it makes you feel any better, anything your bracket can do, mine can do worse. We might be enjoying the first days of spring, but it remains a cold, cold world. (Just ask anyone who’s been attacked by a camel, hard by the Tennessee River)…

Speaking of hoops, one good thing that’s come from the pandemic is that very few men’s basketball coaches wear coats and ties on the sidelines anymore. They dress down. They used to look like they were going to call time out, then take up offering. Most women’s coaches still dress up for games, but for them, dressing down is still dressing up when compared to guys. We like to think we’re dressed up if we have our shoes tied…

Country Music Hall of Famer and perpetual wonder woman Dolly Parton has teamed with bestselling author James Patterson to write a climbing-the-charts mystery, “Run, Rose, Run,” a novel about a young female singer with hopes to make it big, but a secret from her past might destroy her. I’m good as long as the secret isn’t that she killed Porter Wagoner…

For all you Bracket Folk, good luck this weekend in the Sweet 16 (and no, do NOT tell us who you’ve picked; it’ll save us both the embarrassment).

And, if at all possible, stay away from camels: any one of them might have picked Kentucky or Wisconsin to win it all and be in a surly mood.

Welcome, Sweet Springtime.

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Lang’s Locks: Getting golf in early with Wednesday’s WGC-Match Play start

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By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

After his victory at the Valspar Championship, Sam Burns withdrew from the WGC-Match Play Championship in Austin, Texas. However, with the tournament start on Wednesday, we have a special Tuesday edition of Lang’s Locks!

Nothing special last week, as we lost a little more 1 unit including our NCAA Tournament bets, but we still have live tickets on Arizona and Houston.

At the Match Play we have some Group Bets and some Win Bets. The field of 64 is divided into 16 pods of 4 and they will play round-robin over the first three days. The winners of the Groups advance to the Sweet 16.

We also have the alternate PGA Tour event and some European Tour action as well. Watch out of Sahita Theegala at the Corales Puntacana Championship. The former Pepperdine star has been knocking on the door often in his young career. Good luck this week! We will be back Thursday for some NCAA hoops.

Notes

All bets are measured in units. For instance, if your normal bet on a game is $100, that is one unit. If the bet is listed as .2 units, it’s a $20 bet.

Best line (as of Tuesday) is listed in parenthesis. Find the best price, one key to being a successful sports bettor! Shop around!

Sportsbook legend

CAE: Caesar’s
FD: Fan Duel
MGM: Bet MGM
DK: DraftKings
BS: Barstool

LANG’S LOCKS

Last week recap: -1.56 units

THIS WEEK’S SELECTIONS

Golf

WGC-Match Play

Win bets

Tom Hoge, +9900, .1 unit (DK)
Max Homa, +6150, .1 unit (DK)
Corey Conners, +7000, .1 unit (FD)
Keegan Bradley, +9900, .1 unit (CAE)

To advance to Sweet 16 (Win Group) bets

Group 1, Jon Rahm, +150, .1 unit (DK)
Group 2, Collin Morikawa, +200, .3 units (DK)
Group 6, Justin Thomas, +165, .4 units (DK)
Group 8, Max Homa, +230, .1 unit (DK)
Group 9, Talor Gooch, +225, .2 units (DK)
Group 10, Corey Conners, +300, .1 unit (DK)
Group 11, Keegan Bradley, +300, .3 units (DK)
Group 12, Tom Hoge, +250, .1 unit (DK)
Group 13, Si Woo Kim, +400, .2 units (MGM)
Group 15, Brian Harman, +300, .1 unit (DK)

PGA Tour, Corales Puntacana Championship

Win bets

Jhonattan Vegas, +2000, .1 unit (DK)
Vincent Whaley, +9900, .1 unit (CAE)
Sahith Theegala, +3470, .1 unit (DK)
Alex Smalley, +4060, .1 unit (MGM)
Nicolai Hojgaard, +4450, .1 unit (DK)
Trey Mullinax, +9900, .1 unit (CAE)
Wyndham Clark, +6500, .1 unit (MGM)
Brandon Hagy, +11000, .1 unit (DK)

European Tour, Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

Win Bets

Callum Shinkwin, +4450, .1 unit (DK)
Niklas Norgaard Moller, +14200, .1 unit (MGM)

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Burns’ sizzling putter helps local pro defend Valspar title

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PLAYOFF DAGGER: Sam Burns exults moments after his 33-foot playoff putt dropped and he captured the PGA’s Valspar Championship for a second straight year.

JOURNAL STAFF

Sam Burns already had a reputation on the PGA Tour for owning one of the better putting strokes among the world’s best golfers.

His performance with the putter Sunday saved, then won the Valspar Championship.

Burns poured in short-to-mid-range putts throughout the tournament’s final round, regaining the lead he had shared in the opening round Thursday. Then when he was on the brink of falling behind with only one hole left, the Shreveport native and Calvary Baptist graduate conquered a nasty nine-footer to salvage bogey and hold onto a one-shot edge.

Golfers don’t play defense, and there was nothing Burns could do to stop the gritty rally of his former Junior Ryder Cup teammate Davis Riley, whose birdie on the 17th knotted him for first. Neither could convert difficult birdie chances on the 18th, minutes apart, and headed into a playoff.

On the second extra hole, Burns drained a 32-foot, 6-inch bomb for the win. It did a fishhook loop around the back of the cup and fell in, sending the normally placid Burns into a feverish, fist-pumping flurry of celebration, paused briefly as Riley failed to match the make.

Burns shot 2-under 69, his eighth consecutive round in the 60s over two years in the event at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course on the outskirts of Tampa.

The win came on the same track in the same event where Burns claimed his first career victory last May. A win at the Sanderson Farms Classic in the fall, and Sunday’s triumph, make Burns one of only two players, along with Patrick Cantlay, to cash a trio of championship checks in the past 12 months.

He zoomed to No. 2 on the season-long FedExCup standings, climbed from 17th to 10th on the Official World Golf Rankings, and picked up a $1.4 million winner’s prize.

The former collegiate player of the year at LSU will play close to home next weekend, at the World Match Play Championships in Austin.

Former world No. 1 Justin Thomas, who played the final round with Burns, was a shot shy of the playoff with a 16-under score.

Image courtesy NBC Sports

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Bugs Beat: Torrid run extends with sweep of first-place New Mexico

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SHOT STOPPER: Goallie Devon Bobak has been key to the Mudbugs’ late-season surge.

By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

A recent string of comeback victories let everyone in the North American Hockey League South Division know the Shreveport Mudbugs are unfazed by deficits. This weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Mudbugs proved they can play with the lead, too.

Shreveport swept first-place New Mexico and inched within a point of third place in the South, extending their lead over the first team out of the playoffs to four points with nine games remaining in the regular season.

“It’s all the same,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell told The Journal. “You feel a sense of urgency when you’re down to maybe score some goals and it’s hard to stay poised and patient. At the same time, when you’re up you hope the guys stay poised and patient and hopefully you pull out the win.”

After leading twice in Friday’s series opener against the Ice Wolves, the Mudbugs prevailed in a shootout – the fifth straight time Shreveport has won when a game has gone that far.

The shootout system isn’t broke, so there was certainly nothing for Campbell to fix. He’s employed the same three shooters in the same order. For the second straight game, Austin Brimmer – as the third shooter – tallied the difference maker.

Goaltender Devon Bobak stopped all three New Mexico shooters.

Saturday, the Mudbugs took a 2-0 lead and held on for a 2-1 victory behind another outstanding performance from Bobak, who stopped 70 of 73 shots in the sweep.

“I liked our work ethic,” Campbell said. “We just work. We made mistakes. We know it, the guys know it, but we just keep working.”

The Mudbugs have won nine of 10 games (tied for best in the NAHL during that span) and Bobak is on a personal eight-game win streak.

Shreveport will play a rare midweek game (to make up for an earlier cancellation) at Wichita Falls on Wednesday. A victory would push the Mudbugs past the Warriors into third place.

“We’re ready for a couple of good days of practice,” Campbell said. “The day doesn’t matter. This is a game in hand we have on every team in our division. There is so much motivation there. The boys should be fired up and ready to go.”

Last week’s 3 Stars

1, Devon Bobak, weekend sweep has him third in the NAHL in goals-against average (2.05) and fourth in save percentage (.922).
2, Austin Brimmer, continues to come up with the clutch shootout tally. At a time when every point has mattered, he’s delivered several.
3, Logan Gotinsky, scored twice in Friday’s victory.

NAHL South Division standings

New Mexico (34-14-4), 72 points
Lone Star (31-11-10), 72
Wichita Falls (27-16-8), 62
Shreveport (28-18-5), 61
Odessa (26-21-5), 57
Amarillo (26-23-3), 55
Corpus Christi (23-26-3), 49
El Paso (13-35-4), 30

*top four make the playoffs

Team leaders

Goals: Austin Brimmer, Connor Gatto, 14
Assists: Brimmer, 26
Points: Brimmer, 40
Penalty Minutes: Davis Goukler, 129
Game-winning goals: Connor Gatto, 4
Goals-against average: Devon Bobak, 2.05
Save percentage: Bobak, .922

Up next

The Mudbugs travel to Wichita Falls for a Wednesday affair (7:05 p.m.) before they head to Amarillo for Friday and Saturday games (both 7:05 p.m.)

Photo by CHRISTI LANG

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Timmy B. had 4x the fun on March Madness, Day One

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CRASH COURSE: Shreveporter Tim Brando (left) and his CBS crew met with coaches during practice sessions in his 18 years of NCAA Tournament coverage.

By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports

For 18 straight years in mid-March, Tim Brando would answer the phone at his Shreveport home around 8 on the night of Selection Sunday, get his marching orders from CBS Sports, pack his bag, and head out to do play-by-play for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

For the broadcaster many locals know as Timmy B., March Madness was crammed into one opening-round Thursday or Friday: eight teams, four games, and one truly special, genuinely extraordinary, and undeniably long, long day.

“There’s no denying it’s the hardest day, the most challenging live event, in sports television,” said Brando, whose opening-round travels took him from Albuquerque to Columbus, from Austin to New York, and many points in between. “Even the guys who work the Olympics and things will tell you that in terms of preparation, of stamina, calling four games with eight different teams in one day is the most challenging live sports assignment a play-by-play guy can get.”

There’s the game preparation for teams you know nothing about but will need to learn everything about during the next 96 hours or so. Coaches and players and gotta-have-’em sports information people to talk to. Production crews to coordinate with. And it’s back to the hotel to watch a recording of each team’s most recent game, probably with your broadcast partner.

For various reasons, Brando had plenty of those. Derrek Dickey. George Raveling. Al McGuire. “Big Game” James Worthy. Rolando Blackman. Rick Pitino. Eddie Fogler. Bob Wenzel.

“For the first nine years,” Brando said, “it felt like I was the Grim Reaper for every analyst who worked with me.”

In 2004, former Duke great Mike Gminski became Brando’s partner. They stuck, all the way to the end of Brando’s time at CBS in 2013.

There were times he thought he’d lose his voice. Times the bladder was unkind and needed to be made of iron. Times long ago when the Tournament was on only one channel, regionalized, and the director and producer would be silent in his ear and Brando would know that the majority of the TV audience had been switched from his dud game to a nail-biter somewhere else.

“Then maybe our game would come alive again,” Brando said, laughing at the memory, “and they’d tell you in your ear that they were bringing in another audience and what you wanted to say was, ‘We welcome those of you who didn’t give a rat’s ass about our game a while ago but you do now.’”

On the opening day of this 2022 Tournament, Brando, fresh off calling the Big East Tournament with longtime beloved sidekick Bill Raftery for FOX, was like a lot of other lucky basketball junkies, contentedly on his couch at home wondering if Murray State could beat the Dons, if Marquette would cover against North Carolina, if the Catamounts could upset Arkansas.

“I might just throw something at the television,” he said.

After a long season of football and hoops, the winner of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s inaugural Ambassador Award in 2020 has earned some time off to be a fan — until football season, when his broadcast duties crank up again. But for the next three weekends, he’ll enjoy the Tournament with the same joy and anguish as the rest of us.

“I don’t miss doing it,” he said, “but I’m so glad I did. Had a great run. It’s funny, but those first games are just a lot of work and then it’s over. Just like that. And if you’re not doing the Sweet 16, suddenly you’re going home and it’s a little bit of an empty feeling unless you got one of those great moments, maybe a Round 2 buzzer beater and a team is punching its ticket to the Sweet 16. Then it’s awesome.

“You get some games that aren’t so good, not a lot of drama,” he said, “but over time, you get your fair share of those great ones.”

Some of those could come today … on arguably the second greatest weekday of the year in sports?

“To me, the opening Thursday of the NCAA Tournament is the greatest weekday of the year in sports,” he said. “Part of that is, at the end of the day you can say, ‘We get to do this again tomorrow.’”

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Defending champ Burns grabs opening round lead in Tampa

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JOURNAL STAFF

Shreveport native Sam Burns picked up Thursday where he left off last year, leading at the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship in Tampa.

Burns, the defending champion, was one of four players to card 7-under par 64s on the par-71 Copperhead Course, joined by 2017 champion Adam Hadwin, David Lipsky and Jhonattan Vegas.

The leaderboard is tightly packed, with 28 golfers within three shots of the lead, including five who rank in the world’s top 25.

Burns, a Calvary Baptist graduate who was the collegiate golfer of the year while at LSU, is No. 17 in the world rankings. Thursday, after a bogey at the demanding 16th hole, he birdied the last two holes with short putts to finish in the lead.

Burns, who now lives in Choudrant, has found success in Florida recently following three missed cuts at the end of the Tour’s West Coast swing. He tied for ninth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and shared the 36-hole lead at The Players Championship, where he eventually tied for 26th.

Last year’s Valspar win was his first career PGA Tour triumph. He added another in the fall at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

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