Basketball 2011

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

Notre Dame Pioneers !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Notre Dame Pioneers’ basketball team include, kneeling from left, BJ Vidrine, Drew Trahan, Stu Cook, Waylon Young, Will Mahaffey, Jesse Smith, Andrew Breaux; standing coach Raymond Griffin, Jeremy Smith, CJ Hundley, Jacob Rogers, Luke Habetz, Kane Thibodeaux and Ricky Stoma. Missing from the photo are Austin Bordelon, Jackson Landry and manager Cody Hayes.

Notre Dame’s Pioneers look to overcome inconsistency /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

CROWLEY – For coach Ramond Griffin and the Notre Dame Pioneers, the beginning of the 2010-2011 prep basketball season has been an uphill battle. The Pios are 8-10 overall, but consistency has been a problem for most of the season thus far. “It seems like when we take one step forward, we end up taking another step backwards,� said Griffin, whose Pios travel to North Vermilion Tuesday for a District 5-AAA contest. “We have some big district games coming up and we have to improve

a whole lot before we get to those games. “Turnovers and free throw shooting has been a problem of ours since the beginning. If we can eliminate turnovers and do a better job of making free throws, we’ll be a very successful team but until that, it’s going to be tough for us.� All has not been bad for Griffin’s squad though, which returns just one starter in Kane Thibodeaux. The Pios do own quality victories over Jennings, Midland and Kinder and they have played well in a number of their losses to teams from higher classifications. “We have flashes where we look really

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really good and then we have times where we look really really bad,� said Griffin. “At times, we move the ball well, we make free throws and we shoot well. “At times we look real good but it’s still the small things that we have to eliminate. When the pressure gets high, we have to make sure that we elevate our game and not stay the same. We have to not worry so much about losing. We can’t be afraid to lose. You have to keep going and attack, attack, attack.� The level of play increases this week as the Pioneers enter district play. The Pios began their league slate against Class AAA’s

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No. 1 ranked Abbeville Friday. They also have to contend with Rayne, North Vermilion, Kaplan and Erath. “I don’t know about all the other AAA districts in the state but we definitely have a tough one,� said Griffin. “I think everybody will be chasing Abbeville. But North Vermilion and Rayne are always tough and so is Kaplan and Erath. We’re going to be in there and we’re definitely bring a lot of energy, heart and determination. “It’s going to be tough. There’s no easy games in our district. Everybody’s got to play every single night otherwise you can get beat just that easy.�

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

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Notre Dame Lady Pios !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Notre Dame Lady Pios’ basketball team include, kneeling from left, Mallory Chiasson, Gabbie Romero, Peyton Miller, Mary Charles, Taylor Simon, Sam Lyons, Taylor Grey, Katherine Parsley; standing, coach Nolan Theriot, Alex Miller, Annie Sarver, Lexie Trosclair, Kylie Pannell, Katherine Kirsch, Marie Ledet, coach Tara Young and coach Gretchen Dore.

Lady Pios off to best start in recent history /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

CROWLEY – Notre Dame’s Nolan Theriot has had a number of successful seasons as a head basketball coach. But none of those seasons have started out quite the way this one has for his Lady Pios. The Lady Pios have jumped out to one of their best starts in recent history, logging a 20-2 record going into last Friday’s District 5-AAA showdown at Abbeville. That record has Theriot’s squad ranked No. 3 in the recent Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association Class AAA Prep Basketball Polls. “Our best record since I’ve been here as far as a season as a whole was 20-10,� said Theriot. “We’ve averaged probably 17 or 18 wins a season and we’ve had some good starts, but this season is by far the best start we’ve had. “And I think that has a lot to do with the fact that we’ve had everyone here since the start of the season. Every year I’ve been here, we’ve had something whether it be injuries or people out for school trips.� Theriot also credits his team’s summer workouts for their success. “The summertime helped out a lot,� said Theriot. “I thought we built a lot of team chemistry. Having three freshmen that are playing for the varsity this year, in order for

those girls to play with the other girls and do as well as we’ve done early, I think that probably has more to do with our work over the summer.� The Lady Pios’ 20 victories are the most in Class AAA with Avoyelles logging 16 victories. “This is the same schedule that we played a year ago,� said Theriot, whose squad was 15-5 and ranked No. 10 at this time a year ago. “We’re just more of a junior-seniorladen team this year and instead of being a sophomore-junior team. Some of the mistakes we were making (last year) were because we were an immature team. We’re not making those same mistakes. We are making mistakes, but a large part of our success is that we have improved since last year.� Even in Notre Dame’s two losses, the Lady Pios have had chances to win. They suffered a 55-42 defeat to Iota at the Sam Houston Tournament in a game that they led for most of the second half and they dropped a 48-42 decision to Class 5A Westgate on the road. “Even in the games we lost, we were in there and we feel like we could have won both of them,� said Theriot. “With that being said, 20-2 doesn’t do us a whole lot of good if we can’t get better and continue to improve because we’ve got to be better than we are when we start February, than we were when we started January.�

The difference between this year’s Lady Pios team and last year’s team is the fact that they are winning the games they should win and doing so in dominant fashion. “Last year, we’d take over those games late in the third or fourth quarter,� said Theriot. “This year, the girls are playing with such a confidence and we’re putting some teams away, that we should put away, early. That’s a mark of their confidence and their level of commitment to execution because we are executing some things right now that we were never at that level last year, at any point.� The Lady Pios return three starters from last year’s team in guards Taylor Simon and Lexie Trosclair and foward Kylie Pannell. Newcomer’s that see significant playing time are Peyton Miller, Mallory Chiasson,

Marie Ledet, Mary Charles and Alex Miller. Notre Dame’s toughest challenge began Friday when they began district play at Abbeville. Also on the league slate for the Lady Pios is Kaplan and South Caroline signee Tina Roy, North Vermilion, Erath and Rayne. “I think the huge thing for us is to keep our eye on the prize,� said Theriot. “Our big goal is for us to continue to improve. “But obviously, we would love to win a district championship. That’s something we really don’t talk a whole lot about and something we haven’t been able to do since I’ve been here. We’ve beaten the eventual league champion at least once every year that I’ve been here, but we’ve never won a title so I think our kids are out to prove that they are a lot better team than what our track record shows.�

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

Crowley Gents !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Crowley High Gents’ basketball team include, Tuskani Figaro, Dorris Senegal, Jessie Harmon, Danny Malbrough, Andre Mills, Damon Malbrough; standing, coach Cedric Figaro, Kaleb Cormier, Tromone Davis, Jerrell Andrus, Davante Bourque, Dylan Montgomery and coach Derrick Boone.

Crowley survives brutal non-district schedule /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

CROWLEY – Heading into the 20102011 prep basketball season with the bulk of his players still in football, CHS coach Derrick Boone knew his squad was in for a stiff challenge. With just one starter, Jerrell Andrus, back from last year’s squad and a brutal non-district slate that included perennial powerhouses Northside, Washington Marion, St. Martinville, North Central and Lafayette, just to name a few, the odds were stacked against the Gents. “I knew that at the beginning of the season, our schedule was going to be tough on

us,� said Boone. “You know, 95 percent of my team plays football and those guys hadn’t touched a basketball in five months before they got to us. “But I thought we were mentally ready to handle that challenge and it has only made us a better team.� That early strength of schedule has paid off as the Gents have won seven of their last nine games to improve to 11-7 overall. They also won the prestigious Midland Holiday Spectacular in December. Of the Gents’ seven losses, all but one of them have been at the hands of teams in higher classifications and four were to teams ranked in the recent LSWA Prep Polls.

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North Cental, ranked No. 1 in Class A, owns a victory over the Gents as does Class 4A’s No. 5 Northside, No. 7 Washington Marion and No. 9 St. Martinville. The Gents other losses are to 5A Pineville, Class 4A Lafayette and Class 3A Rayne. “It was a struggle early on, but we figured that it would pay off and we would be starting to click once we hit the holidays,� said Boone. “We are playing well now, but we have a long way to go. I do see some good things, but we’re still learning. You’re always learning and there’s always room for improvement.� One thing that has improved since early in the season has been Crowley’s ability to score. Andrus has been the leader thus far, but he has a surrounding cast that is more than capable and also runs deep. All 10 of Boone’s players see action every outing and, for the most part, contribute in the scoring column. “All of our guys play solid on both sides of the floor,� said Boone. “It’s great when you can take one group out and put a whole new group in and not really miss a beat.� Andrus is the lone returning starter but he is joined by a number of players that saw significant playing time last season during the Gents’ district championship season, inculding Tuskani Figaro, Kaleb Cormier and

Dylan Montgomery. Newcomers to the lineup include Davante Bourque, Danny and Damon Malbrough, Dorris Senegal, Jessie Harmon and Andre Mills. “I feel, as a 3A team, we are deeper than any team around here,� said Boone. “Abbeville is really the only other team as deep as us. We have 10 guys that can really go and, in the long run, if everybody gets on the same page, it’s going to help out tremendously once we get into the playoffs.� Crowley now begins the key stretch in the season that is district play. The Gents are the defending champions of District 4-AAA, winning a league title for the first time in recent history last year. And on paper, they look to be the favorite this season. “When we come out and play, I feel that we are 15 points better than every team in our district,� said Boone. “I don’t think we’re going to just sweep through district. We’re going to face some adversity, but if we come out and do what we are supposed to do throughout the game, we should be ok. “I’m real critical on getting this team as perfect as I’m can get them. We’re not going to be perfect the entire time, but if we’re perfect three quarters of the time, I think we are going to win a lot of games.�

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

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Crowley Ladies !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Crowley High Ladies basketball team include, seated from left, Brandalyn Milson, Tiara Dugar, Bianca Anderson, Carlita George, Takeisha Freddie, Jamara Freeman; kneeling, Kierra Guillory, Alanna Plummer, Raven Ardoin, Sara Woodard, Tyisha Mouton, Beverly Broussard; standing, head coach Alton Allen, Kara Wilridge, Isis Broussard, Mercedes Rogers, Vivian Barker, Arlissa Byers and assistant coach Latoya Nelson. Missing from the photo are Akeela Dugar and assistant coaches Tanisha Motte and T.J. Drew.

Crowley Ladies continue to improve /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

CROWLEY – Just one year ago, turnovers and a lack of scoring plagued the Crowley Ladies, who started the season with a dismal 5-15 record.. This season, it’s an entirely different story. A significant improvement on offense has led to a 14-6 overall start overall and has the Ladies in the driver’s seat in District 4-AAA with a 2-0 record. “We have been playing well and it’s kind of a welcomed surprise,� said CHS coach Alton Allen. “Not that I didn’t think our girls had the talent, but we are finally starting to do the little things right.� Those little things begin with the turnover ratio. A year ago, the Ladies averaged over 20 turnover a contest. This year, they have cut that ratio nearly in half. “Last year, the turnovers were the culprit in the majority of the losses that we had,� said Allen. “If we limit our turnovers, the chances of us winning goes up. We’ve done a little bit better job with that this year, but it’s nowhere near what I would like. There is still room for improvement.� Another key to the Ladies’ recent suc-

cess is the return of forwards Mercedes Rogers and Kara Dugar. That duo is averaging double digits scoring and rebounding. “We always knew that Mercedes and Kara would play a big role in us being successful,� said Allen. “If we have both of them scoring, it makes it difficult for other teams because they are such a strong presence on the inside.� The play of Rogers and Dugar also opens up the floor for the Ladies, who have added weapons in Tiara Dugar and Isis Broussard. “When Mercedes and Kara are on, it opens up the outside game for us,� said Allen. “Tiara has come in and been able to knock down some big 3-pointers for us. And Isis works hard on the inside and when they are preoccupied with Mercedes and Kara, she’s able to get in and contribute big down there.� Sara Woodard and Akeela Dugar have also contributed from the outside to give the Ladies even more offensive weapons. “We are getting more and more people in the scoring column and that has been a big reason for our success,� said Allen. Allen’s squad started the season with three straight victories in the Breaux Bridge

Tournament before falling in the finals to Donaldsonville. A loss to Kaplan followed before the Ladies won five of their next seven games, including a big victory over Sam Houston. Crowley is currently riding a four-game winning streak that includes victories over St. Martinville and North Central and district foes Iowa and Church Point. In both the league games, the Ladies won convincingly. However, the road that lies ahead is still a difficult one. The Ladies took on Westlake Friday and have Eunice Tuesday and defending champion Northwest next Fri-

day to close out the first half of district play. “If you want to be considered good, one of the things that a good team does is protect its home court,� said Allen. “We’ve done a better job of that this year, but now that district is here, we really have to do a good job of protecting our home court. And when we go on the road, we have to hopefully win a few to give us a shot at winning district. “When we were winning and winning district championships, we did that well and I’m trying to get that across to the girls. If we want to contend for a district championship, we have to do those two things.�

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

Northside Warriors !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Northside Christian Warriors’ basketball team include, kneeling from left, Randy LeBleu, Kaleb Clement, Nicholas Zaunbrecher, BJ Starks, Joseph Trahan, Shea Bertrand; standing, coach Byron Starks, Grant Williams, Nathan Zeller, Josh Wheeler, Ben Rogers, Pierce Rivera, Nick Gotte and Kade Miller.

Northside Warriors enjoying success under Starks /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

CROWLEY – After a two-year hiatus, Byron Starks has returned to Northside Christian and things couldn’t be much better for the Warriors. After coaching the Warriors from 2003 to 2008, Starks left to take an assistant’s position at his alma mater UL-Lafayette for one season before coaching at Vermilion Catholic in Abbeville last season. This season Starks is back at NCS and his Warriors (12-6) are enjoying one of the best seasons since the school joined the LHSAA some eight years ago.

“This is (certainly) the best start that I’ve had since I’ve been here,� said Starks. “We have a lot of senior leadership and the guys have matured. When we started here, these guys were all young pups and now they’ve all grown up and the experience is paying off.� The most experienced player for Northside is senior Pierce Rivera, who has started since he was in the seventh grade. Rivera is the Warriors’ leading scorer and rebounder and is a returning All-District player. “Pierce has always been an aggressive scorer,� said Starks. “He does what you ask him to do; he’ll rebound, he’ll defend and he’s just been an overall good player

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for us.� However, Rivera isn’t the only key for the Warriors, who also return Ben Rogers and Grant Williams to go along with newcomers Josh Wheeler and Nick Gotte in the starting rotation. “The biggest member of the supporting cast that was a surprise to everybody is Nick Gotte who plays that five spot for us,� said Starks. “He’s strong on the boards and he’s been able to clean up a lot of missed shots around the basket.� But even with the keys to the puzzle there and the early success, Starks knows that the second half of the season is what counts the most.

Northside has nine regular-season games left, including a home-and-away series with Assembly Christian that will determine the District 8-C championship. “These are the times when you always want to be playing your best basketball,� said Starks. “If we can avoid injury and everybody does what they are supposed to do, then we have a chance to make a real big push in the playoffs and that’s what we’re focusing on now. “Our mission at the beginning of the season was Mission 20 Miles. This is the last year that the Top 28 will be in the Cajundome and we’re really going to fight hard to get there if we can.�

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

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Northside Lady Warriors !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Northside Christian Lady Warriors’ basketball team include, kneeling from left, Madisyn Clement, Kathryn Zaunbrecher, Brooke Stanford, Maddison Conrad, Maegan Deshotel, Delaney Rivera; standing, Kristen Spell, Tori Clement, Samantha Hoffpauir, Mia Mier, Julie Roosa, Natalie Hayes, Kirstin Lane and coach Tracie Clement. Missing from the photo are assistant coaches Renae Stanford and Rachel Meaux.

Lady Warriors showing signs of improvement /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

CROWLEY – For Northside Christian coach Tracie Clement and her Lady Warriors, the 2010-2011 prep baskeball season has been on filled with adversity. Starting with their senior team captain Tori Clement missing an entire month due to illness, mixed with a rouged schedule that included three Top 10 teams as well as a number of teams receiving votes, the season has been one struggle after another. “We had a little setback early on with Tori being sick and I think that we were missing a little bit of team chemistry, especially early

on,� said Clement whose team entered Friday’s Homecoming contest against Grace Christian with a 1-13 record. “But they are really coming together and starting to mesh like a team now.� Northside’s early schedule included losses to Class B’s No. 4 Plainview (twice) as well as No. 11 Hosanna Christian and Class AAA’s No. 7 Kaplan. “I set us up with a pretty stiff schedule this year, maybe too stiff,� said Clement. “But we want our team to play up and we like a challenge.� Clement returns four starters from last year’s team, including her daughter, Tori, as well as senior Julie Roosa, junior Samantha

Hoffpauir and sophomore Natalie Hayes. However, following that group, she has just one more junior and the rest of the unit is made up of freshmen and sophomores as well as eighth graeders. “We are pretty young,� said Clement. “We have four returning players, but overall we are very young. At any given time, we’ll have an eighth grader on the court.� Clement notes that the struggles have made her team bond together more and that could make for what she hopes is a solid run during the final stretch. “If we continue to work hard and keep our eyes on the goal, I really think that they will start winning some ballgames and it will

pay off in the end,� said Clement. “I really haven’t been discouraged with them at all because I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. “I’m excited about the remainder of the season and we’re looking forward to winning some games. We’re not giving up.� Northside will get an automatic bid into the Class C playoffs despite its record because the Lady Warriors are the only team in their district. “We’re just taking it one quarter at a time, one ballgame at a time and one opponent at a time,� said Clement. “We’re just going to keep working at it and hopefully it’s going to pay off in the end and go our way.�

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

Iota Bulldogs !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Iota Bulldogs’ basketball team include, kneeling from left, Blake Best, Bryce Zaunbrecher, Colby Istre, Deandre Curtis, Chance Benoit, Keegan LeJeune, Briggs Brown, Luke Reed; standing, coach Stacy Bertrand, Jeff Murrell, Thomas Murrell, Jimmie Hillman, Andrew Bellon, Shane Caswell, Caleb Ray, Josh Delome and Jude Roy.

Iota Bulldogs struggle to get over hump /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

IOTA – After 20 years as head coach of the Midland Lady Rebels, Stacy Bertrand left the program late in the summer to take over as the boys’ head basketball coach at Iota High. And although the transition went over well, the Bulldogs are still struggling to get over the hump. “The kids here put in the work,� said Bertrand of his new squad. “They work hard and their attitudes are great. We just haven’t been able to come up with the wins.� Bertrand’s Bulldogs are just 2-15 on the season and most of those early-season woes can be contributed to their lack of experi-

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ence. Iota’s lone returning starter is senior Colby Istre. He is joined by newcomers Briggs Brown and freshman Chance Benoit at guard. Andre Bellon, Thomas Murrell and Jimmie Hillman are Bertrand’s three rotating post players. “The pressure kind of gets to us because we don’t have that much experience,� said Bertrand. “You know, Colby is the only one with any real varsity playing time that we have back. “That and it’s a whole new system for them and it’s going to take some time. I just don’t want to take too many losses in the meantime.� Iota’s two victories were against Lake Arthur (56-55) and Sacred Heart (57-30). However, the Bulldogs have played well

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in a number of their losses. They lost to Gueydan (35-34) earlier in the season and dropped a 66-63 decision to Westminster. “We’ve had some close games but we just couldn’t finish them off,� said Bertrand. “We are making too many mistakes. We have to get better with our fundamentals. When fundamentals get better and we cut back on our turnovers, we’ll start winning some games.� Despite the dismal record, Bertrand says the most important thing is that his kids aren’t getting discouraged. “Once you start losing, it’s real hard to turn around,� said Bertrand. “But these guys are handling it well. They continue to work hard. Heck, sometimes I have to chase them out of the gym. They want to get better and

they are working to get there. “We have gotten better. The other teams have gotten better too, though.� Iota has three games left to close out the first half of district play before hitting the final stretch in the second round. “In our district, Kinder and Oakdale are the two strongest teams and we played them well for the first half,� said Bertrand. “We played well in the first half and then they pulled away in the second. The turnovers in the second half killed us in both of those games. “The rest of the district is up in the air. We could win or they could win. I guess it will come down to who wants it the most. I’m hoping we can pick up a few more wins.�

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Iota Lady Dogs

!"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Iota Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team include, kneeling from left, Claire LeJeune, Ashlyn Manuel, Caroline Hebert, Allison Baggett, Kate Lege; standing, coach Stan Baggett, Madison Meche, Candace Sensat, Adalie Wriborg, Anna Lege and Madison Smith.

Iota’s Lady Bulldogs battle through adversity /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

IOTA – For a coach whose team is already light on numbers, losing two starters is not exactly the way Iota’s Stan Baggett envisioned his season going. Baggett’s squad has had to battle through that adversity after losing Ashley Hargrave before the season and then Dominiquia Thomas before the midway point. “Out of 24 seasons, this has been one of the toughest ones as far as losing quality players like we’ve lost this year,� said Baggett, who is down to just 10 players on his roster. “But with that being said, I’m extremely proud of the way the rest of the team has stepped up.� Iota, which has a tradition-rich girls’ basketball program, has defied the odds in ringing up a 19-5 overall record. In addition, they sit atop the District 5-AA standings with a mark of 4-0 and are also ranked No. 9 in the recent LSWA Class AA Prep Basketball Polls “This team has bonded together and I

think that they want to prove to people that they can still win,� said Baggett. “I think a lot of people were saying that we weren’t going to be that good this year because we lost two starters. I think our kids kind of rallied behind that to prove to people that we can still play.� And play they can. Iota is averaging nearly 50 point per outing with the bulk of their points coming from beyond the 3-point line. On average the Lady Dogs fire up 30 shots from beyond the arch and are connecting on over 30 percent of those. “We aren’t afraid to shoot it,� said Baggett. “We shoot a lot of threes. Out of the 24 games, I think we’ve had more threes than twos in 14 of them. That’s crazy.� And it’s not just one person knocking down those long range shots. Baggett’s starting five, which includes his daughter Allison Baggett, along with Anna Lege, Adalie Wriborg, Candace Sensat and Caroline Hebert, can all shoot from the outside. “We’ve got a pretty consistent group,� said Baggett. “We have six kids who can

knock down threes and that’s why it makes it so dangerous for people to try to gang up and stop one or two of our players. If you leave one of the five open, they can make you pay.� Baggett is pleased with his team’s offensive production thus far, but he says there are a number of things that need to improve for his team to have a shot at a league title and another deep playoff run. “The one good thing is that we’ve already beaten two of the top teams in our

district (Oakdale and Lake Arthur) and we beat them on the road,� said Baggett. “But we still have room for improvement. We’ve got to rebound better, no doubt about it. The other things don’t need a lot of drastic improvement but our rebounding does. People get too many second shots on us and that’s what kills us. “We’re protecting the ball a whole lot better, but defensively and rebounding, that’s the two areas we’ve got to get better at.�

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

Midland Rebels !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Midland Rebels’ basketball team include, seated from left, Timie Geerts, Cody Stutes, Alan Vondenstein, Jake Gautreaux, Allen Fontenot, Chance Vincent, Andrew Hains, Darren Arceneaux; standing, Joel Roche, coach William Stanley, Stephen Primeaux, Korey Chatagnier, Devon Gauteaux Michael Primeaux, Randy Primeaux, Nick Primeaux, Traven Guidry, Alex Hains and coach Todd Briley.

Briley’s Rebels fight to overcome inexperience /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

MIDLAND – The Midland Rebels carried the torch for Acadia Parish during the 2009-10 basketball season, marching all the way to the Top 28 where they were defeated in the Class B finals by Rapides. This year, the road back to he Top 28 may be a little bit tougher. Midland returns just one starter (Allen Fontenot) from that state runnersup team and have just one senior on the roster. “We’re coming around,� said MHS coach Todd Briley, whose team is currently 16-8 on the year and 1-0 in District 7-B play. “We’re just making a lot of mistakes and stuff because of lack of experience. But I find we are improving and we are better

than we were when the year started. “We’re just young and inexperienced and I find, physically, we’re not as strong as we need to be.� But despite the youth, Midland has played well to this point and the Rebels are ranked No. 9 in the LSWA Class B-C Prep Basketball Polls. Three of the Rebels’ losses have been at the hands of Class B’s No. 6 Fairview and one was to No. 8 and defending state champion Rapides. They also lost to Class AAA’s No. 12 Crowley as well as Notre Dame and Basile. Among their victories, have defeated Class A’s No. 5 Elton in the Midland Spectacular semifinals and Northside Christian and Centerville, both of which are receiving votes in the Class B-C Polls. “We were in a few of those games, in-

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cluding the loss to Rapides,� said Briley. “It’s getting better and I can see the kids gaining confidence.� Fontenot has been a big reason for the Rebels’ success, not only with his play but with his leadership ability. “Alan has done a good job and I’m proud of him,� said Briley. “He had some big games last year, but he didn’t have to do that night in and night out because of the other guys we had. He didn’t have to carry the load on his shoulder. This year, he just doesn’t have the supporting cast like those guys. But he’s handled it well and he has really become a leader out there for these younger guys.� Alan Vondenstein has shouldered some of the load this year as well as Andrew Hains, Chase Vincent, Michael Primeaux

and Jake Gautreaux. “Most of the time, teams come out and focus on stopping Allen (Fontenot),� said Briley. “Thankfully some of our kids are beginning to step up and they’ve all had moments where they’ve shined. Maybe as the year goes on, the mentality of those teams will change and they will have to respect these other guys.� Stepping up will be key down the stretch in a tough district that includes Lacassine, Hathaway, Grand Lake and Bell City. “I think we matchup well with all the teams in our district,� said Briley. “When you look at the whole district, it’s pretty balanced. A lot of it is going to come down to character and toughness and which kids want to compete when it comes down to it.�

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

11

Midland Lady Rebels !"#$%&'!(')*+,-$.$Chris Quebedeaux

Members of the 2010-2011 Midland Lady Rebels’ basketball team include, first row from left, Hannah Fremaux, Katie Primeaux, Morgan Clement; second row, Alex Fremeaux, Skyler Fruge, Callie Duhon, Nakia McZeal, Katie Woods, Skylar Dugas, Melody Hebert, Roxie Richard, Elizabeth Broussard; third row, coach Lauren Myers, Chelsie Thibodeaux, Bethany LeJeune, Tori Craigen, Haley Guidry, Kalli Benoit, Lanie Thibodeaux, Maci Premo, Hagan Richard and coach David Carter.

Midland Lady Rebels hitting stride as district begins /0$1"2)'$34#/#5#,46 SPORTS EDITOR

MIDLAND – Early on, things looked bleak for first-year coach David Carter and his Midland Lady Rebels. Carter, who took over as head coach of the Lady Rebels when Stacy Bertrand left to take over the Iota boy’s program, watched his new team struggle through the first half of the season, dropping their first nine games. But the Lady Rebels have turned their fortunes around lately, winning four of their last six games to improve to 6-17 overall. “Hopefully, we’re hitting our stride at the right time,� said Carter, who coached for 15 years in Texas before taking the Midland job. “The kids are playing much better together. They are responding and doing the things that they need to do to win ballgames.� Carter attributes some of the early season woes to a youthful squad that has just three seniors as well as the unfamiliarity of a new coach. “Part of it is youth and part of it is just getting used to a different coach,� said Carter. “We are kind of young, but anytime you

transition from one coach to another, it’s usually a three-year turnaround. We are just lucky enough that we kind of figured out what we needed to do and how we needed to do things. And when I say we, I mean the team and me.� The Lady Rebels have figured it out and it showed recently when they upended Class 5A Barbe, 58-50. It was even more telling last week when they knocked off Class B’s No. 8-ranked Lacassine in the two teams’ District 7B opener, 53-47. “I think the biggest factor in the turnaround has been our teamwork,� said Carter. We’ve been preaching teamwork all year and they are finally starting to play together. And, we’ve been able to shoot the ball well.� The Lady Rebels dropped a 61-41 decision to Class 5A New Iberia Senior High following their victories over Barbe and Lacassine but were in that game until the final stanza. “We played New Iberia Monday and we were in the ballgame for three quarters. But we kind of lost it in the fourth,� said Carter. “So really, for three games we’ve played 11 good quarters of basketball. That’s the one good thing that we’re doing now is we’re

putting our quarters together and trying to play four good quarters of basketball.� Another factor has been the leadership of his three senior starters Katie Primeaux, Morgan Clement and Hannah Fremeaux along with the progress of several underclassmen including sophomore starter Hailey Guidry. “Everyone seems to be playing well,� said Carter. “The seniors are playing team ball and the young players have stepped up and played well.� The road for the Lady Rebels doesn’t get any easier in coming weeks. Midland’s dis-

trict is top heavy with three teams ranked in the Class B state polls (Lacassine, Hathaway and Grand Lake). Those three teams are also ranked in the top five in the LHSAA’s unofficial power rankings while Bell City comes in at No. 20 and Midland No. 21. “We knew coming in that this was a tough district to compete in,� said Carter. “I feel like at least three and possibly all five will make the playoffs. “It’s a tough district to play in but if you play well and do well in district it should help prepare you for the playoffs.�

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THE CROWLEY POST-SIGNAL

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

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