Louisiana

Top 25 Louisiana Boys High School Basketball State Rankings (12/26/2024)

Published

1 year ago

December 30, 2024

Top 25 Louisiana Boys High School Basketball State Rankings (12/26/2024)

The last few days have been action packed with star-studded tourneys taking place across Louisiana, including the St. Thomas More Sunkist Shootout, which featured several ranked teams and was won by the host Cougars over Calvary Baptist.

Here is a look at this week’s top 25 boys basketball teams in Louisiana as sizzling holiday matchups unfold again this week ahead of the start of district play.

Previous rank: 1

Power rating: No. 1 (Division I nonselect)

The Broncos played three games against Texas schools, defeating Grand Prairie and Dallas Kimball and losing to Lancaster (games against out of state schools aren’t reflected on the Geaux Preps power ratings). Sophomore Ian Edmond scored 23 points with six assists, two steals (and no turnovers) in the win over Kimball. Xavier Ferguson scored 30 points.

Previous rank: 2

Power rating: No. 1 (Division I select)

The Patriots defeated Southern Lab and Broadmoor. Leading scorers are Malek Robinson (14.9 ppg), Chivas Lee (10.7) and Kingston Jarrell (10.6). Robinson is averaging 6.7 steals, 6.2 assists and six rebounds. Jarrell is grabbing 7.8 boards.

Previous rank: 3

Power rating: No. 2 (Division I select)

The Bears picked up wins over Texas schools Ridge Point and Wheatley. Catholic showed crisp ball movement against Ridge Point (15-5), which is considered a top 25 team in Texas, with a kickout to Tate McCurry for an early 3-pointer from the top of the key. Later in the quarter, McCurry added a 3 from the wing for an 18-9 lead.

The Bears are scheduled to face undefeated East Ascension at the University Lab Tournament on Jan. 2.

Previous rank: 4

Power rating: No. 1 (Division II select)

The Eagles defeated Mount Vernon Christian (Georgia) and Westlake (Georgia). Kobe Butler scored 30 points in the win over Mount Vernon. Triston Naquin added 19. Butler (6-7, Sr.) had 20 in the win over Westlake. Khalil Awogboro had 17, and Naquin (6-5, Soph.) chipped in 16 points.

Previous rank: 5

Power rating: No. 6 (Division II select)

The Warhorses were busy, winning games over Lafayette High, St. Martinville, Acadiana, Ouachita Parish and Bunkie. Peabody overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to beat St. Martinville, 57-53, at the Tigers’ Darrel Mitchell Sr, Holiday Classic. Rashad Mitchell was named tourney MVP. He had 21 points and five steals in the St. Martinville game. Telek Love recorded a double-double (12 pts, 13 rebs).

Previous rank: 6

Power rating: No. 3 (Division I nonselect)

The Yellow Jackets defeated Glen Oaks, East Iberville, Franklin Parish and Washington-Marion. DaSean Golmond finished with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists in the 63-56 win over Washington-Marion. Jermaine O’Conner totaled 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds in the 79-62 win over Franklin Parish.

Point guard Trae Dorsey is averaging 10 points, three assists, three rebounds and 2.8 steals per game and is shooting 40% from beyond the arc.

Previous rank: 7

Power rating: No. 4 (Division I select)

The Trojans defeated Montgomery and Red River. Trey Dorty made a breakaway lay-up for an early 7-1 lead in the 77-38 rout of Montgomery, then scored again on the next possession on a double-pump shot off the glass. Jordyn Johnson and Tyshawn Duncan made the Hudl highlights with smooth plays in transition.

Previous rank: 9

Power rating: No. 4 (Division II select)

The Trailblazers were idle. Five of the top six scorers are underclassmen, led by juniors Jaiven (12 ppg) and Juriah Matthews (9.5 ppg). LCCP will take on an always-tough Beau Chene team on Jan. 4 at Mal Mundy’s Lake Charles Classic.

Previous rank: 10

Power rating: No. 2 (Division II select)

The Chargers defeated Donaldsonville, East St. John and St. Charles. Elijah Garner scored 13 points with seven rebounds in the 48-40 win over St. Charles. William Nelson also scored 13 points (eight rebs). Madison Prep blew out East St. John, 76-28, and will face David Thibodaux (13-1) on Jan. 1.

Previous rank: 12

Power rating: No. 3 (Division I select)

The Cougars won their Sunkist Shootout, defeating Patterson, Westgate, Sulphur and Calvary Baptist. Elijah Guidry, who was named Mr. Basketball, scored 19 points in the 49-44 semifinal win over Sulphur. He and Matthew Cook each scored a team-high six points in the 33-31 championship win over Calvary Baptist. Grayson
Roy was named to the All-Tourney Team.

Previous rank: 13

Power rating: No. 1 (Division II nonselect)

The Wildcats defeated Carroll and Bastrop. 6-foot-1 senior guard Zion Weeks scored 28 points with seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in the 72-59 win over Bastrop, which had former Wossman guard Antron Mason on its team. The Wildcats host Liberty and Zachary on Jan. 3 and 4.

Previous rank: 14

Power rating: No. 5 (Division I select)

The Blue Jays defeated H.L. Bourgeois and The Willow School. Seniors Ben Cimini and Ethan Lapeze scored 15 and 13 points in the 66-47 win over H.L. Bourgeois. Juniors Zachary LaGraize and Tanner Hughes added 10 and nine points, respectively.

Previous rank: 15

Power rating: No. 1 (Division III select)

The Cavaliers defeated Lafayette Christian, Vandebilt Catholic and Isidore Newman and lost to host St. Thomas More at the Sunkist Shootout. Tyrone Jamison and Jaiden Hall were named to the All-Tourney team after the Cavs finished as runner-up. Hall scored 17 points in the 33-31 loss to STM. Calvary Baptist beat Vandebilt, 61-60, and routed Newman, 49-28.

Previous rank: 18

Power rating: No. 6 (Division I select)

The Purple Knights defeated Lutcher, Ponchatoula and Hammond. Aaron Miles scored 19 points in the 61-50 win over Lutcher, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports. Ja’Vardes Brazile (6-6, 200) added 16 and Khalil Jones contributed 11 points.

Previous rank: 19

Power rating: No. 3 (Division II select)

The Hawks defeated Chalmette, Mandeville and Sophie B. Wright, winning the last game by a 75-44 margin. Brenton Gordon and Zachary Lauro hit 3-pointers early in the 79-22 win over Chalmette. Cornelius Woodard converted a reverse lay-up off a turnover in full-court pressure. Gabe Timmons had a two-handed monster jam.

Previous rank: 22

Power rating: No. 11 (Division I nonselect)

The Bearcats defeated Minden, Bossier, Huntington and Benton. It was Minden’s first loss. 6-foot-7 sophomore Ahmad Hudson was named MVP of the Doc Edwards Tournament at Airline. He scored 30 points with 20 rebounds in the championship win over Huntington, according to Brian Trahan of The Ruston Daily Leader.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Power rating: No. 2 (Division I nonselect)

The Lions bounced back from losing three of four games by defeating Central-BR and Booker T. Washington-Shreveport. Freshman guard Darren Ford has been playing at a high level.

Previous rank: 11

Power rating: No. 6 (Division I nonselect)

The Wildcats lost to Ouachita Parish and defeated West Monroe. Markell Sampson threw down a vicious slam, and Jace Conrad knocked down a corner 3 in the early going against West Monroe. Kedrick Franklin (6-5, 205) showed off his range from the wing, and Conrad had another 3 from way beyond the arc.

Previous rank: 16

Power rating: No. 8 (Division I select)

The Green Wave lost to St. Augustine (51-48) and defeated Destrehan. Ponchatoula has upcoming games of interest in early January vs. Dunham (5-0), which should be a force with its football players, and Catholic-BR. Jarvis Labee had a left-handed slam dunk in the first quarter of the 51-48 win over Destrehan. Cory Jackson picked the opposing point guard’s pocket near midcourt and outmaneuvered him for a finger roll.

Previous rank: 8

Power rating: No. 7 (Division I nonselect)

The Chiefs lost to Red River and Northside. Ja’Dell Demery had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the 55-49 loss to Red River. Jaden Braden added 11 points and five boards. Harold Remo chipped in eight points and five assists.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Power rating: No. 1 (Class B & C)

The Cardinals’ only loss was by three points in the season opener to Negreet. Lacassine has wins over Sulphur, Pleasant Hill, Westlake, Crowley and Eunice.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Power rating: No. 4 (Division I nonselect)

The Tors have wins over Newman, Marksville, Westgate and David Thibodaux with losses to Washington-Marion, St. Thomas More and Lacassine. Ian Malone was named to the Sunkist Shootout All-Tournament team. The Tors defeated Newman, 46-38, for third place.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Power rating: No. 3 (Division III select)

The Tigers will be a force with Elijah Haven and Jarvis Washington transitioning from the football field to the hardwood. Upcoming games include Ponchatoula, East Ascension (12-0) and St. Thomas More.

Previous rank: 23

Power rating: No. 9 (Division II select)

The Vikings rebounded from a one-point loss to Carencro with a win over Natchitoches-Central. Tashawn Coleman made an early 3-pointer in the 58-52 win over Natchitoches-Central at the Alexandria Tournament.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Power rating: No. 2 (Division III select)

The Cajuns’ last two wins are over Sophie B. Wright and Archbishop Hannan.

Dropped out: No. 17 Isidore Newman (8-3), No. 20 Vandebilt Catholic (8-4), No. 21 Carroll (9-7), No. 24 Lafayette High (9-2), No. 25 Iowa (2-3)

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Louisiana

‘Sinners’ shines light on blues legends from Louisiana. See who, how they contributed.

Published

7 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

‘Sinners’ shines light on blues legends from Louisiana. See who, how they contributed.

Hopefully Ryan Coogler has a U-Haul on standby. The 39-year-old movie director may need a moving van March 15 to bring the Oscars home for his horror film, “Sinners.”

The movie, which grossed $369 million in worldwide box office receipts, is up for a record 16 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Original Song.

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This image released by CBS Broadcasting shows Ryan Coogler, center, accepting the award for cinematic and box office achievement for “Sinners” during the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Kevork Djansezian | CBS Broadcasting via AP

“Sinners” is already a winner for putting the spotlight on the blues and at least three Louisiana musicians who shaped the sound. Much of the vampire thriller is set in Southern juke joints of the 1930s, makeshift dancehalls that shook with sounds that poured the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll, soul, R&B, rap, country and more.

Coogler illustrates that past and future in a scene with the original song, “I Lied to You.” The 1930s scene drifts to visions of the coming decades of rock, rap, break dancing and funk.

NO.jazzfestdaily.050523_1823.JPG — Buddy Guy uses a drum stick to play a Jimi Hendrix tune at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 4, 2023.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

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Buddy Guy, an 89-year-old native of Pointe Coupee Parish, appears briefly in the movie as an aging version of the character Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore. Born in 1936 in Lettsworth, Guy was a product of this “Sinners” era with skills that heavily influenced Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and others considered guitar gods.

A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and Kennedy Center honoree, Guy is still going strong with a tour of Australia set for April.

Fellow blues senior and Homer native Bobby Rush has also enjoyed “Sinners” notoriety, along with the late harmonica legend Little Walter of Marksville. Rush, 92, wasn’t seen in the movie, but his harmonica was used for the character “Delta Slim.”

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Bluesman Bobby Rush, 92, right, performs with Kenny Wayne Shepherd in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)

STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

Guy and actor Miles Caton performed the Little Walter original, “Juke.” The song has more than 2.2 million streams on Spotify and nearly 750,000 plays on YouTube.

Like Guy, Rush is not resting in his senior years. Between now and end of May, Rush has gigs stretching from the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans to the Ribs & Blues Festival in the Netherlands.

Similar to Guy, Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs in 1930, left Louisiana for Chicago, where he recorded “Juke,” “My Babe” and more groundbreaking harmonica blues. Renowned as an alcoholic with a short fuse and numerous fight injuries, Walter only lived to the age of 37.

Behind-the-scenes of — Art director Tim Davis helped create the church in “Sinners,” and fans have analyzed its design. Miles Caton plays preacher boy Sammie in the film.

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Photo courtesy Tim Davis

Yet the blues of Walter, Rush and Guy live on, thanks to “Sinners,” introducing a new generation to the foundation of American music.

Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS Public Media.

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Louisiana

Louisiana State Police provide update on officer-involved shooting in Gonzales

Published

19 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana State Police provide update on officer-involved shooting in Gonzales

Louisiana State Police released updated information regarding an officer-involved shooting March 5 in Ascension Parish.

According to an LSP news release, the preliminary investigation found that a Gonzales Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop at around 10:45 p.m. near the intersection of South John Street and Orice Roth Road.

In the release, LSP identified the driver of the vehicle as 21-year-old Anthony Talbert of Baton Rouge, who was accompanied by a female passenger.

During the stop, Talbert allegedly reached toward a firearm that was inside the vehicle, per the release.

The officer responded by discharging a department-issued firearm one time, which grazed both Talbert and the unidentified female, the release continued.

According to police, Talbert then fled the scene, exceeding 100 miles per hour and disregarding multiple traffic controls.

Troopers reported Talbert was taken into custody following a short pursuit.

He was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail on charges of aggravated flight, reckless operation, obstruction of justice and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said in the release.

Per troopers, the female was transported to a hospital and was treated for minor injuries.

LSP’s initial news release reported no officers were injured.

According to police, the investigation remained active and further information would be released as available.

Michael Tortorich is a journalist for the USA Today Network in Louisiana.

Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.

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Louisiana

Should Shreveport homeowners buy earthquake insurance in Louisiana?

Published

1 day ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Should Shreveport homeowners buy earthquake insurance in Louisiana?

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in Louisiana’s onshore history, struck near Shreveport.
Standard homeowner’s insurance policies typically do not cover earthquake damage.
Property owners can purchase add-on earthquake coverage, which is generally inexpensive in low-risk areas like Louisiana.
Despite the low cost, the deductible for earthquake insurance is usually high.

Thursday’s earthquake that shook furniture and rattled pipes in the Shreveport region may have some property owners wondering whether they should consider buying insurance to cover them from potential stronger movement in the future.

The 4.9 magnitude earthquake that struck just north of Coushatta at 5:30 a.m. March 5 was the strongest onshore event in Louisiana history.

No structural damage has been reported from Thursday’s earthquake so far, but the strength of the movement may have been enough to raise concern.

“If people are concerned they should call their insurance agent and explore pricing and options,” Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said in an interview with USA Today Network.

“It’s not an issue that has come up often in Louisiana, but if coverage can alleviate anxiety and risk it’s absolutely something homeowners and property owners should consult their agent about,” he said.

Earth movement or subsidence insurance is generally excluded from homeowners’ policies, as is flood insurance, but property owners can secure the coverage through their insurers as an add-on, called an endorsement.

Eugene Montgomery, owner of Community Financial Insurance Center in northern Louisiana, said a subsidence endorsement to cover earthquake damage would generally be inexpensive in Louisiana because of the low risk.

“The coverage itself is inexpensive, but the deductible would be high,” Montgomery told USA Today Network.

That’s the case for one Shreveport homeowner who asked not to be identified. The homeowner secured a subsidence endorsement following Thursday’s earthquake that cost $120 per year after discounts with a 10% deductible.

Republican state Sen. Adam Bass, who also operates an Allstate agency in Bossier, said most people won’t buy an add-on that’s not required by their mortgage holders no matter how inexpensive it is.

Bass said he hasn’t had any inquiries about earth movement insurance during his career.

But Montgomery said he remembers a temporary spike in those policies in 1990 when climatologist Iben Brown predicted a major earthquake would strike the New Madrid Fault in Missouri on Dec. 3 of that year, a forecast that flopped.

“It really created a little bit of a panic,” Montgomery said. “Everybody wanted insurance for a short period of time.”

Montgomery doesn’t expect a similar run on earthquake after Thursday’s event, but said he won’t be surprised if some level of interest increases.

“When people can actually feel the earth moving it gets their attention,” he said.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

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