A local hero: Mullooly inspiring others in fight
December 11, 2012
The 2012 Casey Awards for the prep football season
December 11, 2012
It hasn’t taken Thibodaux native Shavon Coleman long to make his mark at LSU.
The Tri-parish native was given his conference’s top honor this week when he was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.
The 6-foot, 5-inch junior earned the distinction after scoring 18 points in the Tigers’ victory against Seton Hall.
The local scored 14 of those points in the second half, which allowed LSU to rally from a 16-point deficit to remain unbeaten with a 72-67 win against the Big East foe.
“It was just what the defense was giving me,” Coleman said following the Seton Hall game. “We were just trying to force it out of them. I was open and I would take the shot. … I just came out there in the second half and executed well.”
Execution hasn’t been a problem all season for the former Thibodaux High School standout.
Coleman currently averages 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Tigers. He also leads the team in blocks with eight.
One of the biggest strengths for Coleman this season has been offensive efficiency.
The LSU junior is currently shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line.
He’s also achieving all of his success as the team’s sixth man.
Plaisance shining for LSU women
While Coleman is making his mark on the men’s team, another local is shining for the LSU women.
Former Vandebilt Catholic All-American Theresa Plaisance is currently anchoring the Lady Tigers’ roster.
The LSU junior leads LSU in points and rebounds, averaging 17.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
In the Lady Tigers’ Dec. 2 game against N.C. State, Plaisance scored 21 first-half points and 28 points total.
Plaisance’s output was the most points scored by a Lady Tiger in a game since Allison Hightower dropped 29 points against Auburn on Feb. 14, 2010.
“Theresa has accepted the responsibility of being a go-to-player for us,” LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Caldwell said. “Offensively, she’s about as skilled as they come. I like Theresa being aggressive for us right out of the gate because it does allow our guards to have a little bit more leeway because she brings double teams.
“Anytime she is on the floor, you’ve got to guard her.”
Plaisance’s 28-point game wasn’t out of nowhere. She’s been the consistent cog pushing the Lady Tigers’ offense.
The former Lady Terrier has scored 18 or more points in four games this season.
Plaisance has also become a more consistent rebounder, owning a 15-rebound game and an 11-rebound game so far this season.
Locals wanting to keep up with Plaisance’s season are in for a treat in the next few weeks.
The Lady Tigers’ next three games will be shown on Cox Sports Television, beginning tomorrow with a game against East Tennessee State.
LSU will also play Louisiana Tech on Dec. 16 and Grambling on Dec. 19.
