Stewart, Brister headline Class 3A All-State basketball teams

Written for the LSWA
Carlos Stewart and Deonna Brister had storybook endings to their respective senior seasons of high school basketball.

Both players entertained fans with stellar play during memorable runs to LHSAA championships earlier this month. Now Brister and Stewart have been selected as the Outstanding Players on the LSWA’s Class 2A All-State teams.

Stewart led Dunham to a second straight Division III crown. The Santa Clara signee averaged 32.1 points a game, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.8 steals. He made 44.5 percent of 3-pointers, 55.4 percent overall and 85.7 percent of his free throws.

Brister helped Lake Arthur win the Class 2A girls championship. The Nicholls signee averaged 19.8 points per game, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. She had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks in championship game win over Doyle.

Stewart and Brister were joined by their coaches on top of the Class 2A All-State team.

Dunham’s Jonathan Pixley was voted the Class 2A boys Coach of the Year and Vickie Sketoe netted the girls Coach of the Year honor.

Pixley has led Dunham (18-11 overall) to Division III titles in three of the last five seasons, while leading the Tigers to a fifth straight title games.

Sketoe led Lake Arthur (28-4) to its first LHSAA girls basketball title since 1976. LAHS was the 2A runner-up in 2018 and had been in the tourney four times in the last five years.

Stewart was joined on the Class 2A first-team by Rayville’s Kashie Natt (18.0 PPG), Franklin’s Travis Zeno (21.1 PPG), Port Allen’s Tawasky Johnson (15.0 PPG) and Newman’s Chris Lockett (19.0 PPG).

Joining Brister on the girls’ team were Rayville’s Amari West (26.0 PPG), Lafayette Christian’s Jada Richard (21.2 PPG), St. Thomas Aquinas’ Jade Brumfield (18.0 PPG) and Doyle’s Presleigh Scott (22.6 PPG).

LSWA CLASS 2A CHARTS
Boys
First team
Player School ht cl avg
Kashie Natt Rayville 6-2 Sr. 18.0
Travis Zeno Franklin 5-9 Sr. 21.1
Carlos Stewart Dunham 6-1 Sr. 32.1
Tawasky Johnson Port Allen 5-10 Sr. 15.0
Chris Lockett Newman 6-5 So. 19.0

Second team
Player School ht cl avg
Jourdain Dishman Menard 6-8 Sr. 17.5
Parker McNees Notre Dame 6-3 Sr. 25.8
Elijah Pete Lafayette Christian 6-2 Sr. 16.5
J’Michael Gray Franklin 5-9 Jr. 22.5
Ze’ Quarrius Rhone Many 6-2 Sr. 16.6
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: CARLOS STEWART, DUNHAM
COACH OF THE YEAR: JONATHAN PIXLEY, DUNHAM

HONORABLE MENTION: Johnny Nelson, Rapides; Car’tracus Mitchell, Rapides; Lee Posey IV, Oakdale; Javonte Howard, Lakeview; Canin Jefferson, Newman; Kameron Williams, Lafayette Christian; Zyquarius Cowart, Rayville; Elliot McQuillan, Port Allen; Stewart Bonnecaze, Episcopal; Trey’Dez Green, East Feliciana; Braden Keen, Doyle; Edward Allison, French Settlement; Andrew Yuratich, Doyle.

Girls
First team
Player School ht cl avg
Amari West Rayville 5-7 Jr. 26.0
Deonna Brister Lake Arthur 5-10 Sr. 19.8
Jada Richard Lafayette Christian 5-7 Fr. 21.2
Jade Brumfield St. Thomas Aquinas 5-6 Sr. 18.0
Presleigh Scott Doyle 5-10 Sr. 22.6

Second team
Player School ht cl avg
Peyton Hines Avoyelles Charter 5-10 Jr. 20.3
Ja’Naiya Fisher Lakeview 5-3 8th 20.1
Amari Butler Franklin 5-8 So. 17.0
Elise Jones Doyle 5-9 Sr. 19.3
Izzy Besselman Episcopal 6-0 Jr. 19.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: DEONNA BRISTER, LAKE ARTHUR
COACH OF THE YEAR: VICKIE SKETOE, LAKE ARTHUR

HONORABLE MENTION: Makenzie Joseph, Vinton; Kelly Norris, Rosepine; Timberlyn Washington, Lakeview; Jameisha Fisher, Lakeview; Samiyah Smith, Rayville; Ava Roy, Avoyelles Charter; Kali Hornsby, Lake Arthur; Monique Patterson, Lafayette Christian; Rontrinia Hawkins, Franklin; Mya Brown, St. Charles Catholic; Trinity Williams, Newman; Tomyree Thompson, St. Mary’s Academy; Timberlyn Washington, Lakeview; Jewel Jones, Episcopal; Lyric Nelson, Port Allen.