ULM hosted Louisiana Tech at Lou St. Amant Field for the first I-20 rivalry game of the 2023 season. For the first time since 2007, the Warhawks defeated the Bulldogs at home, 10-6. After the win, Head Coach Michael Federico said, “It was fun to see us fight and persevere. That is the word I’ll use tonight.”
The LSU Tigers have earned a Top 16 seed for the second time under head coach Kim Mulkey. LSU will host the first and second rounds at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Lincoln Prep boys’ basketball falls to top seeded Northwood-Lena in the Select Division IV championship game, 73-56. Winnfield drops to No. 1 Port Allen in the Non-Select Division III championship game, 73-56.
Carroll boys’ basketball put up a fight, but ultimately falls to Bossier in the Non-Select Division II State Championship, 42-33. Senior Rictavion Johnson led the Bulldogs with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.
It’s year number two for the LSU football team under head coach Brian Kelly. The Tigers held their first practice of spring football early Thursday, March 9.
ULM Athletic Director, John Hartwell, announced that Brooks Donald Williams has step down as the head women’s basketball coach, effective immediately. “I want to thank Brooks Donald Williams for leading our women’s basketball program over the last four seasons,” Hartwell said. “ULM has a rich tradition in women’s basketball, and we are committed to building on that history. Our search will focus on finding an energetic, program-building coach that can lead our Warhawks to competing for Sun Belt Conference Championships.”
Anthony Black was voted second team All-SEC and to the SEC All-Freshman team; Ricky Council IV was tabbed second team All-SEC; and Davonte Davis was named to the SEC All-Defensive team.
Wossman girls’ basketball beat Albany, 63-43, in the Non-Select Division II State Championship. The Lady Cats capture the title for the second consecutive year.
Five NELA boys’ basketball teams are headed to the semifinals in Lake Charles. Wossman defeated Franklin Parish, 65-56. Ruston dominated Barbe, 70-33. Carroll beat Beaux Bridge, 71-52. Winnfield moves on over Richwood, 77-63. Lincoln Prep won against Southern Lab, 70-58. Marsh Madness starts Monday.
West Monroe girls’ powerlifting is celebrating a Regional Championship. All 48 members took a short break from preparing to defend their state title to enjoy the recognition of Little Caesars Team of the Week.
The #6 Richwood Rams have punched their ticket to the quarterfinals in the non-select division III bracket behind an eye popping performance by senior guard, Courtney McCarthy. The newest Aaron’s Ace put up 20 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals in the 95 to 55 win over #11 Marksville. McCarthy and the Rams look to carry that momentum into Winnfield, when they go take on the #3 Tigers on Friday for the quarterfinals.
The LHSAA boys’ basketball quarterfinals is represented well by northeast Louisiana squads. Nine northeast Louisiana teams have punched their tickets to the third round. Non-Select Division I#5 Ouachita beats #12 Hahnville (68-61) - Play #4 Walker on Friday #2 Ruston dominates #15 East St. John (75-35) - Play #7 Barbe on FridayNon-Select Division II#1 Wossman rolls over #16 Abbeville (82-54) - Play #9 Franklin Parish on Friday#3 Carroll takes a bite out of #19 Beau Chene (62-44) - Play #6 Breaux Bridge on Friday#9 Franklin Parish stuns #8 Lakeshore (82-78) - Play #1 Wossman on FridayNon-Select Division III#5 Rayville stings #12 Donaldsonville (64-47) - Play #4 Patterson on Friday#6 Richwood cruises by #11 Marksville (95-55) - Play #3 Winnfield on Friday#3 Winnfield advances over #14 Rose Pine - Play #6 Richwood on FridaySelect Division IV#2 Lincoln Prep moves past #18 Riverside Academy (78-60) Play #7 Southern Lab
The Warhawks bats wake up in game two against Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. ULM brought the fire on offense with nine hits and 8 strikeouts, dominating the Cougars, 7-1. Louisiana Tech didn’t have the same electrifying performance in game two but they still got the win with home runs from Philip Matulia and Jorge Corona, 3-2 the final.
The Wossman Wildcats finished with another impressive regular season record, going 27-4 and winning 16 of their last 17 games. Wossman now switches their focus to the postseason. The road to to the state championship game goes through Wossman as they have earned the number one seed in non-select district II.
Phillip Craig has built himself an impressive résumé over his 22 years as Neville’s head boys basketball head coach. He racked up 381 wins and three top 28 appearances with the Tigers. After the 2023 playoffs, Craig has decided it is finally time to hang up the whistle.
Bastrop has found their new head man for their football program, naming Alex “Tank” Washington as their new head coach. Previously, Washington spent four seasons at Carroll High School as the head coach of the Bulldogs, he went 14-22 in that span. Washington takes over a Rams program that has gone 15-27 in the past four years and 1-9 in 2022.
The Rayville Hornets are celebrating nine consecutive district championships. After going undefeated in district play, the Hornets earned themselves the 5th seed in non-select division III as well as team of the week honors.
Louisiana Tech dominated BYU, 10-2, to split the four-game series at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The Bulldogs collected six extra-base hits, including a three-run homer from Philip Matulia and a solo shot by Brody Drost. Ethan Bates picked up his first win on the mound for La Tech.
By Aaron Dietrich, Megan Murray and Brendon Fairbairn
In the LHSAA girls’ basketball second round playoffs, top ranked Wossman defeated Abbeville, 66-33. OCS beat St. Edmund, 44-26. Sterlington fell in a squeaker to Winnfield, 32-29. Bastrop beat Church Point, 67-48. Union defeated St. Helena, 44-31. Oak Grove won over Montgomery, 40-24.
West Monroe baseball opened the season against Airline. The defending 5A State Champion Rebels beat the Vikings, 1-0. OCS faced off against Calvary Baptist at Lou St. Amant Field for a rematch of last year’s Division IV State Championship game. The Eagles got revenge in a 10th inning walk off win to beat the Cavaliers, 6-5.
ULM baseball beat Bradley in the rubber match (8-4) to start its season with a series win. In his ULM debut, Ragin’ Cajun transfer Chipper Menard picked up the win (6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO).
ULM starts off the season with a shutout against the Bradley Braves (7-0). Veteran pitcher, Cam Barlow finished the game with seven strikeouts. Louisiana Tech had a rough first day at the office against the BYU Cougars. The Bulldogs only brought in one run while allowing 10 runs on defense (10-1). Head Coach Lane Burroughs gives his thoughts on his teams dismal performance.
Louisiana Tech dropped its third straight game, falling to North Texas, 72-62. Keaston Willis led the Bulldogs with 18 points, while Isaiah Crawford and Quandre Bullock combined for 23 points. La Tech’s season leading scorer Cobe Williams is no longer a part of the roster. In regard to Williams, Head Coach Talvin Hester said, “Personal reasons. We decided it’s best for him that he move on.”
The Richwood Rams punched their ticket to the district championship after handing the Wossman Wildcats their first district loss in 68 games. The Rams carried that momentum in the title game against the Carroll Bulldogs but just fell short. A late game technical on the Rams, sealed the victory for the Bulldogs, 77 to 74 the final.
The OCS Lady Eagles have been flying high, winning 16 of their last 17 games. None bigger than their district championship win over Cedar Creek, that went all the way to the final tick. Senior point guard, Anna Dale Melton hit the game winning shot over the Lady Cougars to secure OCS a district championship and the fourth seed in select division IV. Ava West has also been lighting up the scoreboard as a eighth grader at the varsity level, averaging 11 points per game.
Expectations couldn’t be higher for Louisiana Tech baseball after winning the C-USA championship and making it to the Regionals. Head Coach Lane Burroughs believes his Bulldogs are ready for the season opener, first stop for the C-USA favorites is right at home against BYU. First pitch is Friday at 6 P.M, a double header on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Bayou Jamb is known for football games but this spring they decided to throw baseball into the mix. Six local area teams will compete in a one day, two game series. OCS, West Monroe, Ouachita, Ruston, West Ouachita and Neville will all participate in the inaugural Bayou Jamb baseball jamboree on Saturday, February 18th.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey and her No. 3 Tigers suffered their first loss of the season to South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and her No. 1 Gamecocks.
Wossman hosted Carroll for a District 1-3A showdown. The Wildcats defeated the Bulldogs, 66-60 to finish undefeated in District play. Antron Mason led the way with 21 points, and Kamron Coleman recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
The 3rd Annual Cajun Collision Tournament will be held February 9-12 at the Sterlington Sports Complex hosted by LSU-Shreveport and the Sterlington Sports Complex. This tournament will bring an estimated economic impact of over $270,000 to Ouachita Parish. Twenty NAIA baseball teams from across the country will compete.
Sterlington girls basketball has been on a tear, after Hope Tucker hit the buzzer beating three against Union Parish, they have been playing their best ball. The Lady Panthers have won four of their last six, boosting them to number five in non-select division III, the Lady Panthers thank their team chemistry for their success.
Louisiana Tech women’s basketball beat FIU inside the Thomas Assembly Center, 76-65. Keiunna Walker led the Lady Techsters with 17 points and nine rebounds. In her first game back since January 21st, Anna Larr Roberson added 16 points.
Racer Holstead is a staple name in northeast Louisiana. Holstead coached at Tallulah High and then at Tallulah Academy for more than four decades, racking up 309 wins and eight state championships along the way — along with one state basketball title and three Louisiana Independent School Association golf championships. He retired in 1996 as the 18th winningest coach in the country, was inducted to the Louisiana High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. His 1961 state championship letterman jacket was finally found after six decades at a New Orleans flea market.
Sterlington is known as a football powerhouse but this Panthers squad is flipping the script. Right now, Sterlington boys basketball is 22-7 and currently ranked 9th in non-select division III. Coming off huge wins over Richwood and Union Parish. The Panthers glue comes from the big three of seniors Cooper Smith, Cardez Norman and freshman Cooper Nelson. Their electric play that has lead Sterlington to four straight wins earns them this week’s Aaron’s Aces honors.
The Warhawks are making final adjustments ahead of their season openers. Both teams start the season at their newly updated home fields. ULM baseball opens against Bradley February 17, while softball gets underway against Western Michigan February 10.
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