(LSWA Release, Written By Chris Singleton)
A familiar champion reclaimed its glory again at the LHSAA’s girls’ state basketball championship tournament, while another school celebrated its first boys’ basketball state title in 42 years.
Wossman won its fifth straight girls’ basketball state championship, while Brusly captured its first state crown since 1984.
For their success, both schools headlined the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A All-State basketball teams.
Wossman sophomore Heaven Weeks was the girls’ Most Outstanding Player, and her coach, Otis Robinson, was Coach of the Year.
Wossman defeated LaGrange 50-39 in the Division II nonselect final in Hammond. Weeks, who was the championship game’s MVP with 26 points, 16 rebounds and four steals in the title game, averaged 16.5 points per game this season.
Brusly senior Ben Radford was the Most Outstanding Player, while NorthsideWw’s first year coach Troy Jones received Coach of the Year.
The 6-foot-5 Radford averaged 15.6 points, 14 rebounds and 6.3 blocks. He saved his best for last during Brusly’s 45-38 win over Wossman in the Division II nonselect state championship with 17 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks to earn the game’s Most Outstanding Player award.
Despite entering the LHSAA Division II select state playoffs as a No. 12 seed, Northside pushed its way to the state finals in impressive fashion, upsetting No. 5 Lake Charles Prep 66-65 in the regionals and defeated No. 13 St. Michael-Baton Rouge 66-55 in the quarterfinals. The Vikings upset No. 1 Madison Prep 65-61 in the semifinals to advance to the state finals.
Jones, who won a state championship as a player at Peabody, helped Northside to its first appearance in the state championship since 2014. Northside’s run ended in the finals with a loss to 11-time state champion Peabody.
Boys
First Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Ben Radford, Brusly, 6-5, Sr., 15.6
Jayden Coleman, Vandebilt Catholic, 5-11, Sr., 23.8
Monte Farmer, Washington-Marion, 6-8, Sr., 15.0
Jakyris Jenkins, Plaquemine, 6-1, Sr., 21.3
Jontae Turpin, Jr., Wossman, 5-10, Sr., 19.2
Second Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Malachi Anderson, Peabody Magnet, 6-5, Sr., 13.0
Corey Blake, Peabody Magnet, 6-2, Fr., 15.0
Christian Clair, Archbishop Shaw, 6-1, So., 20.1
Jaydon Francis, Northside, 6-2, Jr., 18.1
Ryan Robertson, St. Thomas More, 6-5, Jr., 16.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Ben Radford, Brusly
COACH OF THE YEAR: Troy Jones, Northside
Honorable mention:
Chris Addison, Franklin Parish; Trevonta Allridge, A.J. Ellender; Jason Astorga, McDonogh #35; Jackson Bates, Booker T. Washington-Shreveport; Micah Bryant, Brusly; CJ Charlot, Beau Chene; Jemaine Davis, Cecilia; Ja’Nathan Dalcour, David Thibodeaux; Jay Dantzler, Archbishop Hannan; Ron Dillard, Bossier; Semin Green, Assumption; Brayden Hutchison, Pearl River; Kervin Johnson, Tioga; Ryland Johnson, Brusly; Cayden Lancelin, Westgate; Carlos Levingston, St. Michael the Archangel; Triston Naquin, Archbishop Shaw; Cameron Parker, Minden; Terrance Pitre, South Lafourche; Jordan Senegal, Teurlings Catholic; Devontre Sword, Peabody Magnet; BrysonWalker, DeRidder; Jaden White, Woodlawn-Shreveport; Ziky White, A.J. Ellender.
Girls
First Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Justyse George, Teurlings Catholic, 5-5, Sr., 23.5
Imerii Ingram, E.D. White, 5-8, Fr., 20.7
Tyanna Stewart, Vandebilt Catholic, 5-9, Sr., 17.5
Heaven Weeks, Wossman, 6-0, So.,16.5
Aubrey Young, Iowa, 5-10, So., 15.0
Second Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Eryn Brown, Istrouma, 5-7, Sr., 30.7
Journee Johnson, Vandebilt, 5-10, Sr., 15.5
Amiya Montgomery, G.W. Carver, 5-3, Jr., 16.0
Makayla Rogers, Northwood=Shreveport, 5-8, Sr., 24.0
Ashanti Smith, Wossman, 5-7, Sr., 9.7
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Heaven Weeks, Wossman
COACH OF THE YEAR: Otis Robinson, Wossman
Honorable mention:
Stevie Brasseaux, North Vermilion; Victoria Darrah, St. Scholastica; Comora Davis, Plaquemine; Naomi Dishmon, Tioga; Kayla Harding, LaGrange; Zoey Jackson, Archbishop Hannan; Brooklyn Jefferson, Minden; Kiley Johnson, E.D. White; McKayla Jones, Peabody Magnet; Di’Amon Levings, Iowa; Gabby Lighfoot, Lakeshore; Nyla Lyons, South Lafourche; Sa’Niya Morris, Opelousas; Sa’niah Stokes, South Terrebonne; Ja’Nia Senegal, Teurlings Catholic; Jamaria Senegal, Northside, Sa’Niyah White, The Willow School.