Girls soccer teams set up regional playoff games
Several metro area teams already have plans for the regional round of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s girls and boys soccer playoffs.
Four girls teams have scheduled their contests for Tuesday. In Division III, third-seeded University (17-1-2) will host No. 14 Opelousas Catholic at 5 p.m., while No. 6 Runnels hosts 11th-ranked Menard at 6 p.m. at Burbank Soccer Complex Field 4.
No. 16 St. Michael the Archangel (7-11-3), of Division II, travels to Houma to take on top-seeded Vandebilt Catholic at 5 p.m. In Division I, No. 14 St. Joseph’s Academy (11-13-1) travels to play No. 3
Dominican at New Orleans’ Pan American Stadium at 7 p.m.
Two Division I teams, No. 10 Dutchtown (15-9) and No. 9 East Ascension (21-4), travel for their regional contests on Wednesday. DHS faces No. 7 C.E. Byrd in Shreveport at 4 p.m., while EAHS plays at No. 8 Mandeville at 6:30 p.m.
Also set to play Wednesday on the road is second-seeded Episcopal (20-3-1), which travels to Monroe to face No. 18 Ouachita Christian at 4 p.m.
Two regional boys contests have already been set for Wednesday. In Division II, No. 11 St. Michael (15-7-3) plays at No. 6 Beau Chene at 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, No. 15 Runnels (11-0) travels to Covington to play No. 2 Northlake Christian in a Division III match set for 7 p.m.
Ruling pending
The LHSAA is expected announce the findings of an investigation involving one
of the state’s top girls basketball teams, Helen Cox, this week.
Cox (23-6), located in Harvey, was ranked fourth in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A poll and features guard Kuaneshia Baker, an LSU signee who is considered to be one of the top prospects in the nation.
LHSAA Executive Director Kenny Henderson confirmed that an investigation was ongoing in a story published by the New Orleans Times-Picayune on Thursday.
The Cougars have a 6-1 record in District 9-4A and are led by Baker, who averages 22.4 points per game.
Trio honored
Three prominent local coaches, former White Castle High coach John Desselles, Dutchtown High’s John Talley and Baton Rouge Magnet High’s Zach Winfield, received Lifetime Achievement awards from the Louisiana Track and Field Coaches Association.
The trio was honored during a luncheon that was part of an LTFCA clinic held in Lafayette.
During a seven-year span in the 1970s, Desselles’ WCHS teams won seven district titles, seven regional titles, won one state title and finished as the state runner-up three times.
Talley has coached track, football and powerlifting at several local schools, including Lee High, Woodlawn and St. Amant along with Dutchtown. Talley is a highly regarded throws coach and has been a clinician for LTFCA workshops and has served as clinic chairman.
Winfield started his career in New Orleans, coaching at St. Augustine and Eleanor McMain before coming to Baton Rouge where he has coached at Scotlandville and BRHS.
He coached Scotlandville to a state indoor track title and has led the Baton Rouge High girls to three straight outdoor titles.
Milestone makers
Ascension Christian’s Troy Davis became the school’s first 1,000-point boys basketball scorer during a recent game against White Castle High.
Davis, who averages 21 points per game, scored his milestone basket on a layup with 23 seconds left in the first quarter. He was honored at halftime of Friday’s game against East Iberville.
n Brandon Watkins, of Denham Springs High, also cracked the 1,000-point barrier this season. Watkins scored his 1,000-point in a game against St. Amant High.
Signees, etc.
Episcopal girls tennis player Lindsey Farrell has committed to Birmingham Southern.
Farrell is a four-year letterwinner and has played No. 1 singles the past four years. She has a 39-5 career singles record and has advanced to both regional and state semifinals.
- Central High safety Logan Metcalfe decommitted from Arkansas-Monticello last week and went on to sign with Division III Louisiana College. Metcalfe was an All-District 4-5A and All-Metro selection last fall.