By Daniel Green
Written for the LSWA
One player led her team to a repeat championship. The other guided his squad back to the top of the Class C mountain.
Simpson junior Olivia Edwards and senior De’Avery Durham of Gibsland-Coleman were selected as the Most Outstanding Players by a panel of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Edwards won the top honor for a second straight season, leading Simpson (40-4) to its second straight state championship, this time beating district rival Pleasant Hill (84-83 in overtime) in the finals in Hammond. Edwards, the title game’s most valuable player, averaged 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals per game.
Durham, who scored 48 points in the Class C finals against Pleasant Hill, averaged 19 points per game, along with five rebounds and four assists per outing.
Evans coach Stacy Nortman and Saline boss Klint Robinson were honored as Class C Coaches of the Year.
Nortman guided Evans (28-7) to its first appearance in the state semifinals since 1993, while Robinson brought Saline back to the state tournament for the first time in a number of years.
Girls
First Team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Olivia Edwards, Simpson, Jr., 5-6, 18.0 ppg
Jaleigha Hobdy, Calvin, Soph., 5-4,16.0
Bella Hunnicutt, Simpson, So., 5-10, 14.0
Reese Jeane, Evans, Sr., 5-5, 18.0
Kodi Miller, Simpson, Sr., 5-6, 15.0
Second team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Kylie Barrentine, Reeves, Fr., 5-5, 15.0
Dacora Burton, Phoenix, Sr., 5-4, 15.0
Bailey Caskey, Ebarb, Sr., 18.0
Morgan Cheatwood, Saline, Jr., 5-11, 13.0
A’Miya Marshall, Calvin, Jr., 5-8, 14.0
Most Outstanding Player: Olivia Edwards, Simpson
Coach of the Year: Stacy Nortman, Evans
Honorable Mention
Jordan Allen, Gibsland-Coleman; Olivia Bolander, Family Christian; Kaley Coco, St. Joseph-Plaucheville; Chloe Logue, Singer; Aubre Mire, Hackberry; Gabby Trahan, Johnson Bayou; Lillian Young, Plainview.
Boys
First team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
De’Avery Durham, Gibsland-Coleman, Sr., 5-10, 19.0
Eli Ferguson, Saline, Sr., 6-5, 20.0
Javonte Ford, Pleasant Hill, Sr., 6-3, 23.0
Kendan Maricle, Plainview, Sr., 5-11, 20.0
Justin Woodford, Gibsland-Coleman, Jr., 14.0
Second team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., Pts.
Caleb Calhoun, Plainview, Sr., 6-0, 19.0
Landon Coleman, Georgetown, Sr. 6-0, 18.0
Zi Holmes, Pleasant Hill, Jr., 6-0, 20.0
Kohlson Moore, Singer, So., 5-4, 15.0
Mason Ward, Hornbeck, So., 5-7, 12.0
Most Outstanding Player: De’Avery Durham, Gibsland-Coleman
Coach of the Year: Klint Robinson, Saline.
Honorable Mention
Devonte Ancar, Phoenix; Gavon Dailey, Saline; Jakyren Gentry, St. Joseph-Plaucheville; Cameron Gillie, Ebarb; Lane Gray, Hackberry; John Rodriguez, Maurepas; Cooper Ware, Claiborne Christian; Christian Williams, Reeves.