By LAMAR GAFFORD, Journal Sports
Hey y’all…I’m back!
As we turn the calendar to 2024, we are now at the official halfway point of the high school basketball season. For the rest of the 2023-24 season, I will share my thoughts for district play as our 26 Rapides Parish basketball teams – boys and girls – embark on their journey to the state tournament.
In an introduction to some and a reintroduction to many, allow me to bring forth the inaugural edition of the Rapides Parish Hoops Report.
Epps honored with jersey retirement
Tuesday was a night to remember at The Reservation as former Tioga standout Aaron Epps had his jersey retired between its doubleheader against Pineville.
“I honestly didn’t think this would happen,” Epps said. “I just looked up and here we are. It’s a great, great feeling though. I’m glad that I was able to put some kind of spotlight on this school and area, so that’s what I’m definitely thankful for.”
Epps, who played at LSU before professional stints in the NBA G League, France, Italy and Taiwan, rose to prominence as a senior with 22.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 6.7 blocks per game. That season, Tioga reached the quarterfinals for the first time in school history.
Dyer commits to LSUA
Oak Hill senior Alexis Dyer will not have to go too far to continue her high school career after committing to LSU Alexandria Thursday.
This season, Dyer is averaging 17.8 points and 8.9 rebounds, while shooting a career-high 40.5 percent from 3-point range and 70.5 percent from the foul line.
A defending state champion, Dyer’s amazing career has seen her reach milestones of 2,500 points, 1,500 rebounds, 300 assists, 400 steals and 300 blocks.
Best wins of the Christmas break
For the girls, Oak Hill picked up a much-needed win to close the 2023 calendar year after defeating Menard 77-56 in the Alexandria Senior High doubleheader at Pineville on Dec. 30.
Oak Hill separated itself from the Lady Eagles at the start of the second half with a 21-6 run as senior Krystina Greene led the way with 23 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
On the boys side, Peabody earns the honor after defeating Carroll, 64-42, on Dec. 22.
Senior forward Jordan Mathews had a triple-double of 22 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists as the Warhorses held the Bulldogs scoreless in the fourth quarter.
10 games for the next 10 days
Here is this week’s look at the ten most anticipated games for this weekend and next week involving Rapides Parish schools.
Girls
ASH at Northside (girls, Jan. 5): The Lady Trojans are looking to enter district play on a good note with a trip to Northside, which is the No. 8 team in Division II select.
Rosepine at Oak Hill (girls, Jan. 6): Oak Hill dropped the first two games in the season series of defending state champions but will be looking for a signature home win in a Saturday Showdown.
Oak Hill at Hicks (girls, Jan. 9): Oak Hill will barely get any rest before traveling to Hicks to start District 4-B play against a Lady Pirates team that has only lost once.
Tioga at Peabody (girls, Jan. 9): In the district opener for both teams, the Lady Indians will look to mirror what Peabody did last season in making a deep playoff run behind talented seniors.
Ruston at Northwood (girls, Jan. 10): After a 3-8 start, the Lady Gators are putting it all together before hosting a solid Class 5A opponent in Ruston.
Boys
Avoyelles Charter at Pineville (boys, Jan. 5): The Rebels will be out looking for revenge against the defending Division V select champions after losing to Charter 77-71 in Mansura last season.
ASH at Iowa (boys, Jan. 9): The Trojans make the drive down U.S. Highway 165 to take on a Yellow Jacket squad that has defeated Madison Prep, Huntington and Wossman this season.
Rapides at Avoyelles Charter (boys, Jan. 11): Mustang senior Christopher Newton squares off against Viking junior Jalen Brown in a battle of small scoring point guards.
Ruston at Pineville (boys, Jan. 12): The Rebels have another marquee game against a state title participant as they welcome Division I finalist Ruston in the District 2-5A opener.
Buckeye at Marksville (boys, Jan. 12): Buckeye’s great start will be put to the test against a Marksville squad that has scheduled many state championship contenders.
A former sports reporter for The Town Talk in Alexandria and the Natchitoches Times in Natchitoches, LaMar Gafford has covered the sports scene in Central Louisiana for the last 10 years. Along with contributing a weekly basketball column for the Rapides Parish Journal, the eight-time LSWA award winner writes about Cenla sports for his website CenlaPreps.com. You can contact LaMar by e-mail at lamargafford@gmail.com or on Twitter/X @lamargafford.