Parish hoopsters reap post-season awards

Saturday was the final night of the boy’s Top 28 basketball tournament. This means that the 2014-2015 basketball season is officially finished. With that comes the doling out of post-season honors for the players who have excelled on the court this year.
Because of the success that the Evangeline Parish teams had this past season, a number of individuals were included in their respective all-district teams. Here is a rundown of players earning all-district honors from both the boys and girls parish basketball teams.
For the boys, district 5-3A was a wild one. Two parish teams went head-to-head to try and take home the district title. The Pine Prairie Panthers and the Ville Platte Bulldogs split their district games, but it was the Panthers that took home the crown when Ville Platte suffered a loss to the Northwest Raiders.
Both teams made the playoffs, only to lose in the first round. Pine Prairie was ousted by Bossier High School, while Ville Platte suffered a loss at Madison High School.
The success of both teams in the district, allowed both the Panthers and the Bulldogs to get multiple players named to the first team all-district squad. Pine Prairie landed two players on first team along with the coach of the year honors for Head Coach Chris Guillory. Josh Freeman and Douglas Fontenot were both named to the first team list.
Freeman averaged 16.2 points a game, while producing two assists per game. Fontenot netted 13.6 points and four boards per game. Second team selection for the Panthers was Sylus Carson. Carson averaged 11.3 points and eight rebounds per game. Javon Ardoin was selected on the all-defensive team, while Allen Myles and Dustin Ardoin earned honorable mention spots.
Ville Platte was fortunate enough to have Alex Gooden named as the MVP for the district. Gooden helped the Bulldogs to their great season by recording 18 points and five rebounds per game. Joining Gooden on the first team is Ernest Ardoin. Ardoin knocked down 14 points per game, while pulling down eight rebounds per game.
Center Keilan Semien earned a place on the second team. Semien was responsible for 11 points and 10 boards per game. Brandon Dominic and Dayton Jackson were placed on the all defensive team, with Darren Poullard, JaQualen Doucet, Martin Jason and Shanicole Holland earning honorable mention honors.
Mamou’s 11-17 overall record was not enough to get them into the playoffs. However, the Demons did get one selection to the district 4-2A first team. Sophomore Russell Edwards earned his way onto the first team by averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Named to the second team was Lil Paul Williams. Williams, a freshman, averaged 13 points and five rebounds per game. Honorable Mention selections for Mamou were Trey Wilson, Toby Ortego and Mack Thomas.
In district 5-1A, the Sacred Heart Trojans battled their way to a second place finish. Even with the runner-up spot, the Trojans could not muster enough wins to find a place in the post-season. Still, Sacred Heart did have one of their players earn a place on the first team. Sean Fontenot, the senior forward, was given that honor. Fontenot recorded 19 points a game along with 11 rebounds per contest.
Keaton Tate was named to the second team. Tate averaged 12.1 points and eight rebounds per game. Trojan guard Mikey Laughlin earned a spot on the all-defensive team, while Seth Shipp, Nathan Fontenot, Wacen Fontenot, Connor Fontenot and Jacques Fontenot were all placed on the honorable mention list.
For the girls, Ville Platte High ran roughshod over district 5-3A, winning the district title once again. The Lady Bulldogs turned up the heat in the playoffs, making it back to the Top 28 for the second straight year.
Unfortunately, Ville Platte was upended in the semi-finals by Mansfield High School. The Pine Prairie Lady Panthers struggled most of the season, but showed some resiliency with a young squad.
Because of their dominance in the district the Lady Bulldogs landed two players on the first team, along with the coach of the year, Dot Doulet. Senior Deja McKinney was not only named to the top squad, but was also tabbed as the MVP. McKinney poured in a whopping 22 points per game, along with two assists and three steals per game.
Joining McKinney on the first team was her sister, Miya McKinney. The younger McKinney averaged nine points and seven boards per game. Brianna Pete garnered second team honors. The senior guard averaged 10 points and four rebounds per game.
For her defensive effort, Breonna Stevens was chosen on the all-defensive team. Honorable mention spots went to Ja’Kayra Thomas and Kealogah Calvin.
Pine Prairie’s Meghan Harvey was named to the all-defensive team. Kaitlyn Bradley and Tori Bordelon were honorable mention selections for the Lady Panthers.
In district 4-2A, the Mamou Lady Demons fought their way to a runner-up title and a playoff berth. The Lady Demons faced off against Northeast High School in the first round of the post-season, but could not pull off the win against the Lady Vikings.
Great play from two of Mamou’s players earned them a spot on the first team. Darelzray Bellard and Arkeiyanah Thomas helped pace the Lady Demons all year. Bellard averaged 18 points per game along with four assists and one steal per contest. Thomas netted 17.5 points and five rebounds per game.
Kierra Griffin’s seven points and 10 boards per game earned her a spot on the second team. Honorable mention players for Mamou were Tia Gallow, Kamaneisha Gallow and Kazhana Richard.
The Sacred Heart Lady Trojans wound up one game above .500 on the year, but played their way to becoming the district runner-up. The Lady Trojans received stellar play from junior post player Gabbie Andrepont, earning her a spot on the first team. Andrepont had a tremendous season averaging 15.5 points per game while hauling down an outstanding 13.4 rebounds per contest.
Second team honorees included Kara Aguillard and Natalie Earles. Aguillard was good for 10.2 points and 2.3 steals per game. Earles, a senior point guard, averaged seven points and 3.4 assists per game.
Erin Fontenot was selected to the all-defensive team, while Hannah Lemoine, Sydney Shiver and Catherine Poche were named to the honorable mention team.