Readers ask about prep hoops

Vacation time is overrated!

But not as overrated as cold weather.

I enjoyed some time off this past week, using some company-offer paid leave to ring in 2017 in style.

It was fun for a few days, but by about mid-week, I got bored.

So I decided to open up my e-mail and Twitter for some questions to do a mailbag.

Below are the fruits of those labors.

We plan to do one mailbag a month in 2017, so if you ever have questions, send them to casey@rushing-media.com.

Q. Tay Martin and Amik Robertson both decommitted. Where will they end up on Signing Day? Any chance either goes to Nicholls? (Asked by Mike Reid)

A: Let’s start with the second question first. No, I don’t think either Martin or Robertson will end up at Nicholls State University. Both players have expressed a desire to leave home, and quite frankly, both have offers from major-conference programs that are higher up the college football totem pole than the Colonels. Now, let’s give specifics on where each ends up. Honestly, I don’t have a clue. I think Robertson likes Houston, but his offer list is growing daily, so there’s no telling where he may ultimately end up. For Martin, I think Washington State and Mike Leech’s offense is a fantastic fit, but that’s an awfully long way from home. I think he may end up somewhere closer, though likely still outside of Louisiana.

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Q. Ellender girls vs. South Lafourche girls. You can only pick one. Who you got? (Asked by PelicanHoops)

A: You put me in an impossible position here, buddy. As an alum of South Lafourche High School, I have to go to church with people who support the Lady Tarpons. As someone who has friends in East Houma, you put me at risk of being called a homer (as always) if I say anything besides the Ellender Patriots. Jokes aside, I honestly think this is the Lady Tarpons year. They’ve lost only one game all season and they’ve hardly been challenged. I think the Lady Patriots are awfully good, too, but the core of their star power are freshmen and sophomores. I think they’re one year away from being as good as they’re ultimately going to end up being. So my reluctant answer is South Lafourche, but let the record show that it may well be a situation again where the teams split their two meetings with the home team winning each game – just like last year. This time, I slightly lean toward South Lafourche winning that tiebreaker game, though.

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Q. Who is going to win District 7-5A in boys’ basketball? (Asked by Larry Smith)

A: District 7-5A basketball is like the SEC West in football, except there’s no clear-cut powerhouse like Alabama. I think there are literally five or six teams in the district who can all beat anyone else on a given day, which should make for some unbelievably dramatic basketball in the coming weeks. In the preseason, I picked H.L. Bourgeois, because of the depth of returnees they have off last year’s group, which made the Class 5A State Quarterfinals. So I’ll stick with the Braves, but a lot of things that I’ve seen in non-district play have me questioning my pick. Terrebonne and Central Lafourche are both awfully good and could easily steal the title. My sleeper is East St. John. They were inconsistent in non-district play, but got a much more complete team now after the mid-term, thanks to a handful of players becoming eligible.

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Q. Who is your favorite coach to interview? (Asked by Joseph Pitre)

A: There are actually quite a few. On a personal level, I spend time with a lot of the coaches in the area, and I consider a lot of those guys and gals to be friends. I’ve always enjoyed talking with South Terrebonne football coach Richard Curlin, because of his longevity. I enjoy hearing his stories about how high school football has evolved from the 1980s and 1990s to where it is today. I also enjoy H.L. Bourgeois volleyball coach Peter Verret, who is one of the nicest gentlemen I’ve ever encountered. I’m not much of a volleyball fan, but I enjoy excellence, and the Lady Braves volleyball program is always a gold standard for how to run a clean, successful program. Outside of the area, I enjoy talking with Houma native and St. Charles Catholic girls’ basketball coach Kathy Luke, as well. Coach Luke is a straight shooter, who isn’t afraid to debate if she disagrees. In today’s world of coachspeak, I love that fire.

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Q. Will LSU basketball make the NCAA Tournament? (Asked by TigerGrad)

A: When I saw this question, I was all prepared to give a quick-witted answer about how much of a laughing stock LSU basketball is, but I’m actually going to show some restraint. The LSU basketball team still isn’t very good, but I give them credit for actually having an identity in 2016-17. They like to play fast and they like to shoot a lot of 3-pointers, and when they’re making shots, they’re actually pretty exciting to watch. Look, they’re still pretty awful, and no, I don’t think they’re going to make the NCAA Tournament. But I don’t mind watching them. A lot of points are scored in those games.

HLB volleyballCASEY GISCLAIR | HOUMA TIMES

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