Prep Roundup – High School Basketball – Week 3

Same ol’ Terrebonne? Nah, not this year: Tigers enjoy quick 2016-17 start
December 7, 2016
A Louisiana-Dakota connection
December 7, 2016
Same ol’ Terrebonne? Nah, not this year: Tigers enjoy quick 2016-17 start
December 7, 2016
A Louisiana-Dakota connection
December 7, 2016

Lady Gators keep on rolling

Something special is happening at South Terrebonne High School.


The Lady Gators basketball team has continued its strong, early-season push this week, winning several more games to ascend to the upper echelon among local teams.

South Terrebonne has won eight of its first nine games, including a four-win week this past week, topping Jeanerette, Central Lafourche, Slidell and Baker.

With the 8-1 start, the Lady Gators have already matched their win total from last season.


A lot of credit for that is owed to first-year coach Nick Cenac, who has seemed to jump-start the struggling program.

But Cenac deflected credit to the team’s players, stating that they’re buying in to the new syste.

“We have a great group of girls,” Cenac said this past week. “All of the credit goes to them. We opened the season and got a few good wins, and winning truly is contagious. I think everyone sees how things are going, and the kids are showing up to practice ready to work and excited to see about what’s going to come next.”


The Lady Gators have another busy week coming. They’ll play at the Northshore Tournament from Thursday-Saturday.

CARDINALS TO HONOR PAST THROUGHOUT SEASON

This season is the 50th year of E.D. White High School basketball.


The Cardinals boys’ basketball program has big plans this season to honor several of the great players who have walked the school’s halls.

E.D. White will host two-separate reunions this season – one to honor a title-winning team from the past and another open to all players in school history.

On Dec. 22, E.D. White will hold a 10-year reunion for the school’s 2007 Class 3A State Runner-Up team – just before the Cardinals take on Vandebilt in a non-district rivalry tilt.


The team will be recognized before the opening tip, then a ceremony will take place after the game for the team’s players.

A month later, the school will do it again, hosting a reunion in commemoration of its 50th anniversary.

That reunion will take place on Jan. 21 at halftime of the team’s game with Centerville.


Anyone who ever competed for the Cardinals is welcome to attend and be honored.

UPDATE: Tarpons job not yet posted

There is still little movement in the quest to hire a new head football coach at South Lafourche High School.


The Tarpons have not yet posted the job on the Louisiana High School Athletic Association website – a formality that is required to meet the LHSAA’s criteria for conducting a proper coaching search.

The reason the school hasn’t posted the job is because it currently doesn’t have a teaching position available to offer to an incoming staff member.

The Tarpons relieved outgoing coach Brandon Nowlin of his duties after the season – his first with the program.


South Lafourche was 3-7 on the year.

It is not yet known the type of interest the job will receive on the open market.

Nowlin is still employed with the school as a physical education teacher.


SUPERDOME MATCHUPS SET FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

There will be some big-time football played in the Superdome this weekend.

A total of 10 teams punched tickets to the Class 1A-5A State Championship games this past Friday night, setting the state for some big-time battles, which will be played out this weekend.


In Class 5A, powerhouses will collide, as Landry-Walker will take on West Monroe – a meeting of two of the best teams in Louisiana.

In Class 4A, No. 1 Neville will meet No. 2 Karr – a long-anticipated meeting between teams that have been atop the Class 4A hierarchy throughout the season.

Other battles will see Amite face Lutcher for the Class 3A crown, Sterlington vs. Madison Prep in Class 2A and Haynesville vs. Logansport in Class 1A.


Players of the Week – Basketball Week 3

Bronze – South Lafourche guard Seth Borne – Tarpons guard Seth Borne had a big week, helping his team have a nice showing at the Terrebonne High School Tournament. Borne scored 24 points in the team’s win against Donaldsonville. He followed that up with impressive games the rest of the weekend to help his team.

Silver – Ellender standout Kobe Hartman – A lot of attention goes to DaVontavean Martin – and rightfully so. But Kobe Hartman is one heck of a player, too. The Patriots standout scored 22 points against Sophie Wright this week, helping Ellender cruise to an easy win.

Gold – Terrebonne guard Deedy Gauno – Terrebonne is establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the area, and Gauno is one of the major reasons why. The standout had a week filled with 20-point showings – many coming in just three quarters of work. Gauno is a dynamic, top-fight player.


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High-Five (boys)

1. H.L. Bourgeois – Maybe I’m wrong, and certainly there are a lot of quality teams locally who can make this an enticing debate. But I just think H.L. Bourgeois is poised to have a special season. The Braves just have so many top-tier players, and I think that’s going to allow them the opportunity to make a strong run in Class 5A.

2. Central Lafourche – The Trojans are a machine – now annually among the top teams in the state under coach Mark Sanders. This past week, the Trojans hung more than 100 points on South Terrebonne, showcasing their offensive prowess.


3. Ellender – The Patriots, obviously, aren’t too shabby, either. Ellender keeps on cruising through the season, led by DaVontavean Martin and a talented cast of support players. The Patriots will be probably the most tested team in the state before the playoffs begin. They play an absolutely brutal non-district slate.

4. Terrebonne – Terrebonne doesn’t have the size it had last season, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a team locally with more speed. When the Tigers are hitting shots from the outside, they’re going to be awfully hard to beat. These days, that happens more times than not.

5. E.D. White – The Cardinals were a big question mark locally, because they started their season so late. But after a fairly comfortable win against Morgan City this past week, it’s safe to assume that Kevin Johnson and his teammates are as strong as ever – yet again.


By the numbers – Prep Basketball 

29 – South Lafourche’s defense smothered and swarmed Berwick on Friday at the Terrebone High School Tournament. The Tarpons limited the Panthers to just 29 points in a 39-29 victory. South Lafourche’s defense challenged the Panthers to shoot outside shots, which didn’t fall in the win.

8 – South Terrebonne’s girls basketball team already has eight wins this season – matching the number of victories the team collected a year ago. Kudos to Nick Cenac and his staff on a job well done over in Bourg.


92 – Ellender’s girls basketball team is among the best in the state in Class 4A – there’s no question about it. But the Lady Patriots had a whale of a time corralling Destrehan this past weekend, surrendering 92 points to the Lady Wildcats in a blowout defeat. Ellender will bounce back. We’re sure of it.

30 – This past week may have made many believers in the Houma Christian girls’ basketball team. The Christian Warriors got a pair of huge wins last week – first trumping South Lafourche and then St. Michael – a pair of title contenders in Class 4A. The victory over St. Michael was decisive and dominant – a 30-point win.

Seth BorneCASEY GISCLAIR


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