By: Daniel Green
Written for the LSWA
One player led his team to another state title, while one player’s effort fell just short of championship glory.
Lacassine junior Maliki Broussard and Bell City senior Payton Herpin were selected as the Most Outstanding Players in Class B by a panel of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Broussard stepped into the leadership role this season for Lacassine, scoring 25 points, while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out five assists per contest in leading the Cardinals to back-to-back Class B state championships as they downed Zwolle in Burton Coliseum earlier this month.
Herpin, who averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per contest, guided Bell City back to the Class B state championship game for a second year in a row. However, Herpin and her teammates were thwarted once again, this time by Pitkin, 51-50, in Hammond.
The Class B coaches honored on this year’s team were Pitkin Lady Tiger boss Phillip George and Zwolle’s Bradley McLaren.
George won his third Coach of the Year honor in a third classification as he led Pitkin to its first Class B state title since 1995. He had previously won state coach of the year honors at Montgomery (Class 1A) and Plainview (Class C).
McLaren guided his Zwolle squad back to the state tournament and reached the state championship once again, only to fall short to Lacassine.
Girls
First team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Klancie Hebert, Bell City, Jr., 5-6, 12.0
Payton Herpin, Bell City, Sr., 5-10, 21.0
Charley Lentz, Pitkin, Jr., 5-6, 17.0
Pazila’ra Sanders, Zwolle, So., 5-7, 19.0
A.J. Williams, Fairview, Jr., 5-6, 19.0
Second team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Alli Cradeur, Hathaway, Sr., 5-5, 14.0
Anna Leach, Quitman, Jr., 5-6, 16.0
Lylah Maricle, Pitkin, Fr., 5-3, 12.0
Kaiya Miller, Negreet, Sr., 5-7, 16.0
Andee Stanley, Fairview, Sr., 5-6, 16.0
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Payton Herpin, Bell City
COACH OF THE YEAR: Phillip George, Pitkin
Honorable mention
Ava Davis, Anacoco; Blaize Foster, Holden; Ahmari Harris, Glenmora; Lanie Johnson, Oak Hill; Sadie Jones, Choudrant; JaLela Richardson, Florien, Lila Sepulvado, Negreet; Annie Thweatt, Zwolle.
Boys
First team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Maliki Broussard, Lacassine, Jr., 6-1, 25.0
Landon Bussey, Zwolle, Sr., 6-2, 15.0
Brayden Smith, Quitman, Sr. 5-9, 15.0
Landon Tinsley, Anacoco, Fr., 6-6, 16.0
Shy’Heef Willis, Lacassine, Sr., 6-2, 14.0
Second team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Addison Coffman, Hicks, Sr., 6-2, 18.0
Noah Guidry, Hathaway, Fr., 5-10, 20.0
Jermontrice Sudds, Stanley, So., 6-0, 21.0
Caleb Taylor, Anacoco, Jr. 5-11, 14.0
Kash Wisby, Pitkin, Sr., 5-9, 15.0
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Maliki Broussard, Lacassine
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bradley McLaren, Zwolle
Honorable mention
Ace Bowling, Negreet; Ty Goodwin, Oak Hill; De’Marion Hargrave, Zwolle; Aidan Hutchinson, Holden; Brayden Martin, Quitman; Brayden Pye, Choudrant; Ahmad Smith, Simsboro; Haydan Thompson, Castor.