Madison Suire of Hathaway and Avoyelles Charter’s Jalen Brown led their teams to LHSAA basketball championships.
As a result, Suire and Brown were selected as the Outstanding Players on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class B All-State teams.
Suire and Hathaway claimed a Division V nonselect title with a win over traditional power Fairview. Brown helped Avoyelles win a Division V select championship, the school’s first state title.
Suire averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game. Brown had averages of 18 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Florien girls coach Dewain Strother concluded his legendary career by picking up the Class B Coach of the Year honors. He led his Florien squad to another appearance in the state semifinals and ends his 40-year stint with 1,235 wins, the most wins by a girls coach in Louisiana history and second all-time in the nation.
Avoyelles Charter’s Antonio Benjamin was voted boys Coach of the Year. His resume included wins over teams in every LHSAA classification.
2023 LSWA CLASS B ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS
FIRST TEAM
Jalen Brown, Avoyelles Charter
Chase Taylor, Anacoco
Kenneth Montgomery, Zwolle
Kane Broussard, Lacassine
Jamaria Clark, Doyline
SECOND TEAM
Dustin Welch, Anacoco
Aaron Garcia, Lacassine
Zakelveon Gadison, Rapides
Jake Forbes, Holden
Armonii Benjamin, Avoyelles Charter
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: JALEN BROWN, AVOYELLES PUBLIC CHARTER
COACH OF THE YEAR: ANTONIO BENJAMIN, AVOYELLES PUBLIC CHARTER
HONORABLE MENTION: Hayden Doyle, Hicks; Jacob Maxie, Stanley; Jamarion Clark, Castor; Logan Ponder, Quitman; Tucker Johnson, Florien; Braeden Fordham, Pitkin; Kaelip Wright, Simsboro; Parker Batterton, Choudrant; Lawrence Pickney, J.S. Clark; Jacob Vilar, Episcopal of Acadiana.
GIRLS
FIRST TEAM
Madison Suire, Hathaway
Alexis Dyer, Oak Hill
Latoya Holmes, Florien
Lamiyah Sanchez, Hathaway
Reese Stephens, Hicks
SECOND TEAM
JaNasura Richardson, Florien
Paige Mayo, Anacoco
Gracie Miller, Midland
Sydnie Cooley Lacassine
Kacey Breithaupt Holden
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: MADISON SUIRE, HATHAWAY
COACH OF THE YEAR: DEWAIN STROTHER, FLORIEN
HONORABLE MENTION: Cali Deal, Quitman; Bella Henry, Anacoco; Ikeia Brown, Simsboro; McKayla Price, Zwolle; Shyanne Phillips, Hicks; Briley Peterson, Weston; Payton Herpin, Bell City; Taylor Barnaba, J.S. Clark; Kensie Trisler, Harrisonburg; Kate Deshotel, Avoyelles Charter.
Written for the LSWA by Daniel Green