By: William Weathers
Written for the LSWA
More than three decades and a name change later Lincoln Prep is back atop the mountain in Class 1A basketball.
The Panthers added their first state championship since the school was formerly known as Grambling Lab, and eighth overall in a 69-42 victory over arch-rival Southern Lab in the Division IV select final.
Two of the team’s driving forces, sophomore Jabari Levington and head coach Antonio Hudson, were rewarded for their efforts in bringing Lincoln Prep to the first state title in 34 years.
Levingston, who scored a game-high 28 in the state title game, was voted the Class 1A Outstanding Player by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. He averaged 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals.
Hudson, a graduate of Grambling Lab who played on the school’s Class 1A state runner-up team in 2000, completed his 12th season at Grambling Lab which became Lincoln Prep in 2016. He guided the Panthers to a 30-3 record and No. 1 seed in the postseason.
Senior Trey Spann was another key member of Lincoln Prep’s state title team. He earned a spot for the second straight year on the Class 1A All-State team with 18 points and 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals.
Southern Lab senior point guard Asia Patin helped the Lady Kittens maintain their dominance with a third consecutive state championship and eighth overall with a 43-38 victory over J.S. Clark. The McNeese State signee earned Outstanding Player honors with averages of 19.8 points, 7.6 steals, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Eighth-year head coach Stormy Fortenberry guided Merryville (27-8) to the school’s first state championship in Division IV nonselect with a 49-46 win over No. 1 seed Midland. Junior guard Avery Cournoyer, who averaged 23.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 2.9 assists, was a first-team selection.
Class 1A
Boys
First Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Kristofer Jackson, Arcadia, 6-6, Sr., 24.0
Jabari Levingston, Lincoln Prep, 6-2, So., 21.3
Dwight Magee, Crescent City, 5-11, Sr., 31.3
Trey Spann, Lincoln Prep, 6-1, Sr., 18.0
Daylon Telsee, Lakeview, 5-5, Sr., 16.0
Second Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Parker Jennings, Central Catholic-MC, 6-4, Sr., 22.3
Nathan Neal, St. Frederick, 6-3, Sr., 19.0
Jordan Scharnett, Jr., East Iberville, 6-1, So., 15.4
Dylan Spansel, Ascension Catholic, 5-11, Sr., 20.4
Kade Vinju, St. Martin’s, 5-9, Sr., 17.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Jabari Levingston, Lincoln Prep
COACH OF THE YEAR: Antonio Hudson, Lincoln Prep
Honorable mention:
Ben Andres, Westminster-Lafayette; Stephen Austin, St. Frederick; Jaden Carter, Covenant Christian; LeDamian George, J.S. Clark; Warren Gougisha, Southern Lab; Braylon Harrell, Arcadia; Chase Joseph, East Iberville; Malachi Joseph, North Central; James King, Southern Lab; Jaden Lusk, Delhi; Tyler Mingo, Central Catholic-MC; Deon Percy, Tensas; Wyatt Poland, St. Frederick; Bobby Reliford, Lakeview; Trevor Russell, Ascension Christian; Kamryn Schexnyder, Ascension Catholic; Trevin Simon, Ascension Catholic; Collin Starks, Central Private; Jaylin Thomas, Elton; Navaughn Williams, Oberlin.
Girls
First Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Taylor Barnaba, J.S. Clark, 5-1, Sr., 16.2
Avery Cournoyer, Merryville, 5-6, Jr., 23.1
Jorden Geason, Central Catholic-MC, 6-3, Jr., 29.0
Asia Patin, Southern Lab, 5-7, Sr., 19.8
Avery Ryan, Cedar Creek, 6-2, Sr., 15.5
Second Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
DeAsia Alexander, Arcadia, 5-10, Jr., 22.3
Jakayla Douglas, Plain Dealing, 6-2, Jr., 27.3
Arianna Washington, Arcadia, 5-7, Jr., 18.5
Jalaysia Washington, Logansport, 5-11, Fr., 21.0
Kori Wesley, Southern Lab, 5-3, Jr., 13.2
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Asia Patin, Southern Lab
COACH OF THE YEAR: Stormy Fortenberry, Merryville
Honorable mention:
Rhyanna Abney, Arcadia; Emily Anderson, Delhi; Journee Borel, Jeanerette; Addy Brown, Central Private; Avery Brown, Central Private; Ja’Layah Brown, Ascension Christian; Ja’Myah Brown, Ascension Catholic; Jazarah Brown, White Castle; Ingernique Chatman, Logansport; Madison Clark, Highland Baptist; Jalee Edwards, J.S. Clark; Trae’lyn Frederick, Jeanerette; Hannah Gammage, St. Frederick; Indiaah Grant, McGehee; Ava Hebert, St. Mary’s; Laila Hidalgo, Hanson; Bry’Kal Jones, White Castle; Garri Lawson, St. Martin’s; Lyric Martin, White Castle; Kam Townsend, Covenant Christian, Miranda Williams, Merryville.