Variety honored on LSWA Class C All-State Basketball teams

LSWA CLASS C BASKETBALL CHARTS
FOR A.M. NEWSPAPER RELEASE ON MARCH 24
NO BROADCAST/INTERNET RELEASE UNTIL 12 A.M. MARCH 24

By DANIEL GREEN
Written for the LSWA

It was a banner year for not only repeat champions, Jehovah-Jireh and Plainview, but also for Simpson and Claiborne Christian.

A total of eight players from the aforementioned schools claimed first or second-team recognition on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class C All-State basketball teams.

Jehovah-Jireh landed three players on the squad, including Outstanding Player Jaron Davis, a senior who averaged 23 points and eight rebounds per game, fellow first-teamer Timothy Jackson (16 ppg, 12 rbg) and freshman John-Paul Ricks (18 ppg), a second-team choice.

Simpson head coach Jade Losavio, who won just two games in his first season at Simpson seven years ago, was named Coach of the Year after leading the Broncos to their first Class C boys basketball title in school history. Simpson finished 39-2 and beat Summerfield 63-53 in the title game.

Plainview was again the dominant girls team. Led by Most Valuable Player Allie Willis (15 ppg, 7 rpg, 5 apg) and returning all-state first-teamer Alex Harrison (16.7 ppg, 9 rpg) Plainview won the Class C title.

Ebarb head coach Taylor Lee was selected as the Coach of the Year after leading the Rebels to the semifinals for the first time in school history.

Joining Davis and Jackson on the boys first-team were Simpson senior Cameron Bettez (18 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg), Summerfield senior Zack Kingham 21 ppg, 5 rpg) and Pleasant Hill junior Montonious Burrough (16 ppg).

Along with Ricks, the second-team selections were Simpson senior Dustin Williams (17 ppg), Summerfield’s Derrick Royal (16 ppg, 10 rpg), Atlanta’s Keondrick Sapp (13 ppg) and Saline senior Elijah Malone (18 ppg, 13 rpg).

Willis and Harrison are joined on the girls’ first team by Atlanta senior Arianna Young (18,3 ppg) Ebarb sophomore Millie Tanner (21.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and Family Christian junior Jamila Smith (23 ppg, 7 rpg).

Second-team selections were Starks junior Abbie Clark (19 ppg, 10 rpg), Claiborne Christian senior Taylor Lilly (17.6 ppg), Singer freshman Kayleigh Hardwick (16.2 ppg, 8 rpg), Reeves; eighth-grader Maddison Ford (20.4 ppg) and Johnson Bayou junior Gracie Young (19 ppg)

CLASS C BASKETBALL CHARTS
BOYS
First team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Jaron Davis Jehovah-Jireh 5-8 Sr. 23.0
Zach Kingham Summerfield 5-10 Sr. 21.0
Cameron Bettez Simpson 6-2 Sr. 18.0
Montonious Burrough Pleasant Hill 5-10 Jr. 16.0
Timothy Jackson Jehovah-Jireh 6-4 Sr. 16.0

Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Derrick Royal Summerfield 6-4 Jr. 16.0
Keondrick Sapp Atlanta 5-9 Jr. 13.0
John-Paul Ricks Jehovah-Jireh 6-0 Fr. 18.0
Dustin Williams Simpson 6-1 Sr. 17.0
Elijah Malone Saline 6-6 Sr. 18.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: JARON DAVIS, JEHOVAH-JIREH
COACH OF THE YEAR: JADE LOSAVIO, SIMPSON

Honorable mention: Eddie Seaberry, Epps; Fredrick Ford, Pleasant Hill; Zach Parrie, Ebarb; Gavon Sandifer, Singer; Brandon McCurley, Grand Isle; Deonte Davis, Summerfield; Cody Baugus, Georgetown; Nashaun, Reddick, Phoenix.

GIRLS
First team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Allie Willis Plainview 5-9 Sr. 15.0
Arianna Young Atlanta 5-1 Sr. 18.3
Millie Tanner Ebarb 5-8 So. 21.5
Alex Harrison Plainview 5-10 Sr. 16.7
Jamila Smith Family Christian 5-7 Jr. 23.0

Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Abbie Clark Starks 5-8 Jr. 19.0
Taylor Lilly Claiborne Christian 5-9 Sr. 17.6
Kayleigh Hardwick Singer 5-7 Fr. 16.2
Maddison Ford Reeves 5-1 8th 20.4
Gracie Young Johnson Bayou 5-9 Jr. 19.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: ALLIE WILLIS, PLAINVIEW
COACH OF THE YEAR: TAYLOR LEE, EBARB

Honorable mention: Abbie Hardie, Harrisonburg; Ajai Meadors, Summerfield; Aryn Johnson, Plainview; Jamaya Jackson, Gibsland-Coleman; Kyla Crosby, Grand Isle; Lexi Rachal, Family Christian; Rayleigh Bennett, Claiborne Christian; Jade Bonner, Evans.