The No. 21-ranked LSU Alexandria softball team plays today at Louisiana Christian in a Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 3 o’clock at Wildcat Field in Pineville, in the league opener for the Red River rivals.

The Generals (7-1) took last week off after opening the season in a pair of tournaments. They have won four straight games.
The Wildcats are 6-2. Their last outing was a 5-0 loss to No. 14 William Carey in the final game of the Generals Showdown on Feb. 8. William Carey topped LSUA 7-4 in that tournament.

The Generals are 6-12 all-time against the Wildcats. They are 2-7 when playing on the road. LSUA has won the last two meetings.

Emma Hunt leads the Wildcats’ offense with an average of .455. She has scored seven runs and stolen eight bases in nine attempts. Hunt has drawn six walks and has an OBP of .571. Mariel Medrano leads LCU in runs batted in with 10. She is hitting .280 with an on-base percentage of .355. The Wildcats are hitting .285 as a team and have hit five homers. They have scored 49 runs and stolen 13 bases.

In the circle, Addison Greak and Morgan Louviere have both posted 2-0 records to start the season. Greak has tossed two complete games, one a shutout. She has an ERA of 0.50 and a WHIP of 0.86. Louviere has an ERA of 1.62 and a WHIP of 0.77 and has thrown one complete game shutout.

LSUA has a team batting average of .404 with 13 home runs and 62 RBI, with 30 steals in 33 tries. The Generals already have had two players, catcher Madi Baker and infielder Julia Kwakernaak, win RRAC Player of the Week honors.

Kwakernaak, a native of the Netherlands, bats .417 with a team-best 4 home runs and 9 RBI and a team-high 1.042 slugging percentage.

Baker, an Australian, is hitting .429 and has driven in a team-best 11 runs in six games, including a walk-off grand slam against Oklahoma Panhandle.

Alyssa Soileau and Haley Primrose are two-way weapons for LSUA, as pitchers and position players. Soileau tops the Generals with a .615 batting average and is 3-3 in the circle with a 1.78 ERA. Primrose is hitting .444 and is the staff ace with a 4-1 record, a 1.63 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP as opponents hit only .217 against her.

More top offensive weapons for today’s visitors include Haley Fontenot, who has  a .500 batting average, team-best 16 runs scored, team-high 11 steals (in 11 attempts), with a homer and 5 RBI; Kaetlyn Dunbar (.458, 1 HR, 8 RBI) and Kilee Moody (.458, 8 RBI).

A former Pineville police officer was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 15, nearly three and a half months since her last arrest.

Lacy Ann Walker – formerly known as Lacy Fields – was arrested around 4:45am on Saturday after allegedly driving at dangerously high speeds. 

Jail records indicate that Walker was subsequently charged with Reckless Operation of a Vehicle – First Offense and Impersonating a Peace Officer. Her bond was set at a total of $1,000. 

Jail records show Walker was charged with reckless operation of a vehicle – first offense, and impersonating a peace officer. Bond was set at a combined $1,000.

Walker was arrested back in October 2024 for domestic abuse battery and aggravated assault with a firearm while serving as a Pineville police officer. 

Sources:

1.      “Franklin D. Roosevelt,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/franklin-roosevelt.

2.      “Dwight D. Eisenhower,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/dwight-eisenhower.

3.      “Ronald Reagan,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/ronald-reagan.

5.      “A New Deal,” Thirteen PBS, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/web12/segment3.html.

As the world continues its shift toward renewable energy and portable technology, National Battery Day, celebrated annually on February 18, reminds us of the indispensable role batteries play in our everyday lives.

From the first voltaic pile invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800 to modern lithium-ion batteries powering everything from electric vehicles to smartphones, battery technology has been at the forefront of innovation. Today, researchers are working to develop more efficient, longer-lasting, and environmentally friendly batteries to support the growing demand for sustainable energy storage.

As industries push for cleaner solutions, advancements in battery storage will be crucial in the fight against climate change. Whether in a simple AA battery or a cutting-edge Tesla Powerwall, today is a day to appreciate the science behind keeping the world charged.

By JIM BUTLER

A legislative panel meets Thursday to consider funding for expanding youthful offender facilities, including $38 million for Renaissance Juvenile Detention.

Money was allocated last year by the Legislature to provide more detention capability, particularly for 17-year-olds awaiting trial or convicted.

Sheriff Mark Wood and his counterparts in seven other area parishes drafted the expansion plan and will oversee it.

Renaissance cleared its first formal hurdle last Thursday when a legislative advisory committee recommended it and three other proposals for this initial funding round.

Working in Renaissance’s favor were such factors as the just-renewed property tax for its maintenance and operation that provides dedicated revenue, as well as the fact it has land available for the addition. 

The revenue from Rapides and the other parishes and payments for housing state-assigned offenders (17 beds held in reserve for such use) will pay operation costs.

As reported initially reported by the Rapides Parish Journal in December, Rapides, Grant, Avoyelles, LaSalle, Vernon, Winn, Catahoula and Concordia will kick in a total of $2.67 million for the proposed operating budget of the expanded facility and the state Office of Juvenile Justice $1.55 million in guaranteed daily bed rate (30% of the beds reserved for OJJ), according to the proposal submitted to the Division of Administration.

Rapides will contribute about $2.2 million of the local funding through Renaissance’s just-renewed property tax.

The expansion of the current facility at Bayou Rapides Road and Vandenburg Drive will add 56 beds.

About $500 million in requests were submitted for funding, several having nothing to do with the juvenile justice system, and underwent screening and scoring by Division of Administration staff and state/local stakeholders.

Once scored on the pre-determined point system, the applications went to the Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission.

Louisiana Illuminator first reported last week’s vote. 

Craig Smith was sworn in on Friday, Feb. 14, as the 2025-2026 President of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana. Sean McGlothlin was sworn in as Region 8 Member of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana Executive Board.

Area Leaders Gather for the 2025 Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s LABI State Legislative Session Outlook Presentation

Approximately 180 area industry, higher education, and government leaders from 16 companies, universities, and organizations gathered at England Airpark’s community center Thursday, February 13 for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s LABI State Legislative Session Outlook Luncheon.

The event, hosted by the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce, a fixture of the area’s business scene since 1914, featured LABI president and CEO Will Green. Green, an NSU alumni, spoke of the challenges facing our state and region and of the progress made and of work still to do. He also spoke of LABI’s legislative priorities in the areas of taxation, education, government efficiency and transparency, workforce development and insurance reform.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is recognized as the state’s chamber of commerce and works closely with local chambers of commerce throughout Louisiana to advocate for a business friendly environment for our state.

Darwin Day, a world-wide commemoration of the birth of the renowned naturalist Charles Darwin in 1809, was celebrated locally at a program held at the Alexandria Museum of Art Thursday, February 13. The theme of the program was “Evolution and Medicine”. Dr. Christof Stumpf, Dr. Chyerl Bardales and Ms. Elizabeth Parks of LSU-A’s Biology Department were joined by Dr. David Holcomb, medical director of Community Healthworx. Each scientist gave a presentation on different aspects of how the practice of Medicine is affected by evolution as microbes evolve to “outwit” our efforts to eradicate them..

Everything from traces of anti-biotics in sewage to bacteria swapping genes and the arrival of drug resistant bacteria show the interplay between the microbial world and the efforts of doctors and scientists to fight disease. The speakers did an excellent job of explaining ofttimes complicated concepts to a general audience.

The Louisiana Christian basketball teams made their western swing a sweep Saturday, following wins over Southwest in Hobbs, N.M. on Thursday with a pair of victories Saturday in Dallas over teams from Paul Quinn.

LCU’s regular season ends at home Thursday with six men’s players and three women set for Senior Night honors in a doubleheader at H.O. West Fieldhouse starting with a 5:30 women’s game, followed by the men scheduled for 7:30.

Firing on all cylinders Saturday afternoon might be an understatement as the men from Pineville won 88-73, climbing back to .500 (13-13) overall and moving to 12-10 in the Red River Athletic Conference.

The Wildcats made more than half their shots for the fourth time (34-of-66, 51.5 percent), topped 20+ assists (24) for the second time, committed less than 10 turnovers (9) for the third time, blocked a season-high seven shots, and boasted a +10 or better (41-29, +12) rebounding margin for the seventh time.

Devin Carter scored 25, topping 20 on the scoreboard for the 10^th time this year, and made five or more three-pointers (5-for-11) for the eighth time, while swiping a team/season-best trio of steals and dishing out four assists.

Chukwuemeke Nwaoshai had a Saturday to remember, collecting personal bests in points (13), field goals (6-of-7), and blocks (4) on top of registering his first multi-assist outing (2), while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.

Bryce Weinmunson sank a season-best seven buckets while pouring in 17 points. Jon’Quarius McGhee scored 14 bench points in 19 minutes as he went 5-for-5 overall, 2-of-2 from distance, and made both of his freebies.

LCU WOMEN 77, PAUL QUINN 69:  The Wildcats won their fourth straight row behind a pair of monster afternoons from Princis Goff and Kylei Leblanc.

The Orange and Blue got back to playing bully ball on the glass, posting a +19 rebounding margin of 51-32 as they improved to 10-12 in the RRAC, 10-14 overall. Paul Quinn slipped to 10-15 overall, 9-3 in conference.

LCU came out on fire and never let off the gas, outscoring the Tigers by 13 in the first quarter (23-10) and never looking back.

Goff notched her ninth double-double of 2024-25 and 16th as a Wildcat with 20 points and a season-best 12 rebounds. It was her 15th game of the year with at least 20 points scored as she sank 10-of-10 from the free throw line and logged four assists.

Leblanc also saw the stat sheet using double-double vision, doing so for the fifth time thanks to a personal/game-best 14 boards in addition to 13 points.

Deja Tanks scored 15 points and snagged eight rebounds in just 21 minutes.

In fitting style, senior All-American guard Kashie Natt posted another in a long line of double-doubles Saturday to lead the No. 1-ranked LSUA men’s basketball to a 97-67 Senior Day victory over Texas A&M-San Antonio.

The Generals (25-1) have already clinched the Red River Athletic Conference championship and raised their league record to 22-1. They have won 19 straight games. They also finished their regular season home slate with a perfect 13-0 record. It is the first time the Generals have been undefeated in the regular season at The Fort since 2016-17.

Natt led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds and made four steals and a block. Jakemin Abney contributed 13 points, while both Jordan Decuir and Jason Perry II finished with 11. Bryce Journee completed the double-digit scorers with 10 points.

The Purple and Gold stormed out to a 20-6 lead in just over six minutes of play and never looked back. They reached a 25-point advantage, 34-11, with 8:36 left in the first on a pair of free throws from EJ McQuillan.
 
The Jaguars (5-21, 4-18 RRAC) narrowed their deficit to 15, but the Generals took a 49-26 lead into halftime.

A jumper from Abney midway through the second half pushed the lead to 30, 75-45, for the first time.

LSUA is back in action on Thursday night at LSU Shreveport for the regular season finale. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 after a 5:30 women’s matchup.

LSUA WOMEN 76, TEXAS A&M-TEXARKANA 63:  With their four seniors scoring at least 10 points on Senior Day, the Generals improved to 21-6 overall and 18-5 in the RRAC.

Dannah Martin-Hartwick led the group with 18, while Benedetta Peracchi  posted 14, Amani Gray scored 13 and Jewel Jones added 12.

“They’ve been consistent all year,” coach Billy Perkins said of his seniors. “Very proud of their effort and knocking down shots when we need shots to keep winning games.”

Justice Young recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Young also tied the LSUA single game record for blocks, set earlier this year by Gray against Paul Quinn college, with five.

The Generals posted an 11-3 mark at The Fort this season, tying the school record for most wins at home, previously achieved in 2018-19.

The Purple and Gold also locked up the third seed in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament for the second straight year.

The Generals outshot the Jaguars (21-6, 18-5 RRAC) 53-26 percent in the first quarter and held a 22-13 lead. LSUA weathered a rally before going to halftime ahead 36-29.

LSUA went on a 11-2 run to open the third quarter, extending their lead to 47-31. After a three from the Jaguars, the Generals opened another run, this time scoring seven unanswered points for a 54-34 lead.

The Generals’ lead hovered near 17 for the remainder of the contest.

The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit said complaints started in early February regarding a Boyce man engaged in drug activity in the Cotile Lake Community.

Justin Glenn Bennett, 32, was named as the suspect. RADE said agents were already familiar with Bennett because of prior drug arrests. In the course of their investigation, RADE agents learned that Bennett had active outstanding warrants for his arrest for contempt of court related to prior narcotics-related arrests.

Bennett was arrested without incident on Feb. 12 and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center. He was charged with Contempt of Court – Possession of CDS II, Contempt of Court – Felony Theft, and Contempt of Court – Criminal Conspiracy. His bond was set at $350,000.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

Feb. 16

Samuel Joseph Bass, 31, Deville – two counts contempt of court, $3,000 bail;

Charles Curtis Mullins Sr, 40, Alexandria – OWI first offense, open container, display of temporary license plates, $1,200 bail;

Antoine K. Williams, 35, Pineville – two counts contempt of court, $2,000 bail.

Feb. 15

Jacob Joel Belgard, 20, Boyce – OWI first offense, careless operation, $1,100 bail;

James Clifford Brooks, 28, Alexandria – carnal knowledge of a juvenile, $30,000 bail;

Lacy Ann Field, 30, Pineville – impersonating a peace officer, reckless operation, $1,000 bail;

Shehava Neshanarra Fulton, 27, Bunkie – battery of a dating partner first offense, contempt of court, $5,000 bail;

Zackary Robert Gills, 33, Pineville – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Nicole Marie Kimble, 48, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Shelton Ray Morris Jr, 48, Lecompte – three counts simple burglary, aggravated robbery, criminal damage to property, $13,500 bail;

Lonnie Verdell Papayanis, 31, Alexandria – theft, 13 counts contempt of court, $22,000 bail;

Chanston Townley, 21, Oakdale – unauthorized entry into critical infrastructure (burglary), no bail data;

Brandon Joseph Wells, 39, Deville – theft, possession of controlled dangerous substance, $3,000 bail.

Feb. 14

Tyshaela Tashion Davison, 25, Alexandria – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, no driver’s license, three counts contempt of court, probation violation, $41,100 bail;

Delmarco Xavier Franklin, 27, Alexandria – home invasion (simple assault), no bail data;

Demottria Shundra Fuller, 41, Pineville – producing manufacturing distributing with intent, possession of controlled dangerous substance, paraphernalia, parole violations, $27,500 bail;

Daniel Ray Hansen Jr., 18, Pontchatoula – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Timothy Dewayne Logan Jr., 25, Pineville – aggravated assault with firearm, two counts criminal trespass, possession controlled dangerous substance, two counts improper opening of vehicle doors, four counts resisting an officer, four counts hit and run, two counts speeding, two counts driving under suspension/revocation, unattended vehicle, three counts possession of a firearm by convicted felon, three counts illegal carrying of a weapon, five counts contempt of court, parole violations, simple assault, flight from an officer, license plates required, no insurance, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, domestic abuse battery, producing manufacturing dispensing of controlled dangerous substance, unattended vehicle, improper turn, simple obstruction of highway, $315,750 bail;

J’Mari M. Jordan, 17, Alexandria – carrying a firearm on school property, obstruction of justice, $35,000 bail;

Jaquarius Deonte Sewell, 29, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, $300,000 bail;

Sammie Ray Sewell III, 30, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice, intentional littering, no signals, $111,100 bail;

Kerry L. Smith, 57, Alexandria – six counts of simple burglary, probation violation, $60,000 bail;

Samuel Gene Spencer, 22, Houma – five counts attempted second-degree murder, simple escape, criminal mischief, criminal damage to property, simple battery, two counts theft of firearm, two counts aggravated robbery, $681,500 bail;

Micah Stevenson, 25, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, probation violation, $10,000 bail;

April Kelly Strong, 31, Alexandria – theft, simple escape, two counts contempt of court, probation violation, $28,000 bail;

Jamesetta Lasette Vorise, 33, Alexandria – obstruction of justice, contempt of court, $11,000 bail;

Matthew Bayaze Watson Jr, 73, Alexandria – theft legend drug prescription, burglary inhabited dwelling, Louisiana fugitive, $2,000 bail;

Stanley Dewayne White Jr., 22, Pineville – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, illegal carry firearm with drugs, drug paraphernalia, improper display of license plate, $125,600 bail.

Feb. 13

Breanna Nicole Baham, 27, Pineville – theft, contempt of court, $2,500 bail;

Tyrik Demitri Brown, 25, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, improper display of license plate, $3,100 bail;

Linzey Erin Dauzart, 27, Pineville – possession of controlled dangerous substance, possession of marijuana, two counts legend drug possession, paraphernalia, firearm possession by convicted felon, improper window tint, careless operation of a vehicle, safety belt violation, $3,300 bail;

Gregory Allen Franklin Jr., 37, Pineville – attempted second degree murder, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, theft of a motor vehicle, $60,000 bail;

David LaFrance, 17, Alexandria – aggravated battery, criminal conspiracy, carrying weapons on school property, cruelty to juveniles, $95,000 bail;

Teddy Cleveland Green, 32, Pineville – reckless operation of a vehicle, flight from an officer, speeding, no head lights, no driver’s license, improper display of license plate, switched license plate, aggravated obstruction of highway, failure to secure registration, no signals, three counts contributing to delinquency of juveniles, $19,500 bail;

Monica Denise McNeal, 50, Pineville – aggravated second degree battery, obstruction of justice evidence tampering, contempt of court, probation violation, $35,264.50 bail;

Rick Keith Savoy, 58, Hessmer – hit and run driving (no death/serious injury), switched license plate, canceled plate violation, $1,500 bail;

Larry Walker, 19, Alexandria – theft ($1,000-$5,000), no bail data;

Kwivarius Donzell Williams, 34, Pineville – safety belt violation, resisting an officer, three counts contempt of court, $7,600 bail;

Violisha Williams, 27, Pineville – stalking, criminal damage to property, two counts obstruction of justice, $3,000 bail.

Feb. 12

Justin Glenn Bennett, 32, Boyce – three counts contempt of court, $350,000 bail;

Kera Karell Chaney, 40, Alexandria – three counts domestic abuse with child present, criminal damage to property, $30,500 bail;

William James Folse, 48, Pineville – possession of controlled dangerous substance, producing, manufacturing, distributing with intent, illegal firearm with drugs, possession/concealed carry by person convicted of domestic abuse battery, running stop sign, Louisiana fugitive, $4,100 bail;

Jason Michael Foy Jr, 18, Pineville – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, possession of marijuana, contributing to delinquency of juveniles, $16,000 bail;

Toby Deanthony Hall, 35, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, contraband to and from penal institutions, three counts contempt of court, $31,000 bail;

Richard Nelson, 47, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper driving on left, modified exhaust, windshield required, driver’s license not in possession, $1,400 bail;

Gary Randall Peart Jr., 47, Bentley – possession of marijuana, possession of schedule two drugs, $3,000 bail.

Presidents’ Day, observed on the third Monday of February, falls on February 17 in 2025. Originally established to honor George Washington’s birthday (February 22), the holiday has since evolved into a day to recognize all U.S. presidents.

The History of Presidents’ Day

First celebrated as Washington’s Birthday, the holiday was later expanded to honor Abraham Lincoln and all U.S. presidents. Washington, the first U.S. president, played a key role in shaping the young nation, while Lincoln led the country through the Civil War and helped end slavery.

Today, Presidents’ Day serves as a time to reflect on the leadership and contributions of past presidents. It is also marked by historical reenactments, educational programs, and patriotic ceremonies.

Presidents’ Day in Modern Times

Many Americans observe the holiday by visiting presidential landmarks, reading about history, or participating in community events. It is also a popular shopping holiday, with many businesses offering special discounts and sales.

Beyond the commercial aspects, Presidents’ Day serves as a reminder of the responsibilities of leadership and the impact that presidents have had on American history and governance.

Among the many events that the Kent House of Alexandria is hosting multiple events to celebrate and remember local Black stories during Black History Month, a very special one is a showcase of the art of Mary Vinson, whose work is inspired by Clementine Hunter.

“I learned how to do it as a child at age five,” said Vinson. “I started drawing with a stick in the sand. And then everybody went to look at it and they said, ‘Well, this child is drawing really good.’ So, later on in my life, I started drawing on paper, when I could afford it. And then, everybody was saying, ‘This art is really good.’ So, then I decided to put my art into books.”

Kent House’s showcase of Vinson’s work will be the first of its kind. It will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, starting at 1pm. The event is free, and visitors have a chance to meet the artist herself. 

Vinson said she wants to encourage other artists to put their work out there.

“I want to encourage the people who come to see me that all they gotta do is just start putting theirs on exhibit,” she said. “If they see I do it, they’ll do it too.”

Vinson said she is excited to see everyone and encourages all artists to “just show up!”

“Love Like That”

I don’t know about you, but I think Valentine’s Day comes with too much pressure. We feel pressured to have plans. We feel pressured to buy gifts. We feel pressured to pick out a card that says all the right things without saying too much depending on your “status.” We feel pressured to take our relationship to the next level and post if all over facebook before the clock strikes midnight on the 14th.

There was a day when my husband and I were too broke for all of that. We barely had enough money for diapers much less extra cash for cards or jewelry, so we made a pack not to do anything. If so much as a mint shows up on my pillow, he knows he will never hear the end of it. My husband knows I love him, so I am hoping he does not need a $6 card on Friday for me to prove it.

What I do hope is that my actions speak louder words. Not just my actions toward those closest to me, but to all people – strangers even. We have this amazing banner in our church that says:

Love your neighbor who doesn’t
look like you,
think like you,
love like you,
speak like you,
pray like you,
vote like you.
Love your neighbor.
No exceptions.

That is a tall order to live by, not just one day a year, but every day of every year.

Now I wish I could tell you that is exactly how I am all day every day, but there was only one guy who walked this earth that could say that. But what I will say is this is how I aspire to be. This is certainly how I want to love people. It is what I aim for in my interactions with those I love, with those I struggle to love, and those I don’t know or will ever see again. If I can love like that, most days, most of the time, then my sphere of influence will be a better place. If you will join me in loving others like that in your daily encounters, imagine what a difference we could make in this community we call home.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

Ramonalynn Bethley is the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. If you would like to contact Ramonalynn, you can email her at DrRevRL@fumca.org

Mike McConathy transformed a long-struggling basketball program at Northwestern State, and didn’t take long to do it.

Then the Bossier City native stayed at it for a long time, 23 seasons total with the Demons, 39 in the college ranks – folding in the 16 years he started and steered the Bossier Parish Community College program, and a few years before that coaching at his alma mater, Airline High School.

His place in sports history goes past the great success he sparked at both schools, and his remarkable playing days at Airline and Louisiana Tech. He will probably forever rank as Louisiana’s winningest college basketball coach, shaking hands smiling 682 times from that inaugural season at BPCC through the end of the 2021-22 campaign in Natchitoches.

When NSU athletic director Greg Burke gave McConathy the Demons’ job in March 1999, there was little to build on from the 24-year Division I history of the program – just five winning seasons, no NCAA Tournament appearances, low expectations. At his introduction, McConathy talked about restoring the level of extended success at Northwestern in the late 1940s and 1950s, when his father Johnny and uncles Leslie and George came from Bienville Parish to stack up 20-win seasons like logs outside their farmhouse six miles from the infamous site of Bonnie and Clyde’s demise in 1934. As a little boy, Johnny heard the roar of the gunshots, and never forgot that sound.

With his dad proudly standing nearby years later with about 30 family members, NSU’s new coach almost sounded delusional. It seemed an even steeper climb when he didn’t chase off the players on hand to stock his first roster with transfers, players he coached or watched or heard about from the junior college ranks. He told the players on hand it was their team, not his, and went about finding the best they had to offer.

That 1999-2000 season was all about his first program tenet – “Making Believers.” In what became a recurring pattern, McConathy’s Demons hit their stride about the middle of the Southland Conference race, and soared all the way to the SLC Championship game, just seven points shy of the Big Dance.

They got there the next year, in 2001, and won the first-ever Opening Round game in Dayton. Soon after came two straight Southland regular-season titles, the mind-bending 2006 March Madness stunner over Big Ten Conference champion Iowa, and longstanding status as a Southland and mid-major stalwart.

It’s the long list of on-court accomplishments that will not fade from the record books. But how he went about it, and his profound impact on the people in and around the Demons’ program, stretching not only across campus and through Natchitoches but all around north and central Louisiana, are even bigger reasons that Saturday is a very, very special day at Prather Coliseum.

In a halftime ceremony of NSU’s 3:30 game against Stephen F. Austin, Mike McConathy Court will be dedicated. The name’s been on the floor all season long and the decision was announced as his tenure as coach ended in March 2022. Saturday, it becomes official, and many of his 254 players, coaches and staff members from NSU – and BPCC – will be there to see it happen.

Why? Because the second, and most important part of his core philosophy has shaped their lives: “Championship Basketball with a Purpose.”  The guiding principle was to assure the players grew as people and left with degrees. Over 90 percent departed with diplomas, in a sport where the overall graduation rate among the 350 or so Division I programs has hovered under 40 percent.

They learned much more than basketball and academics in a program whose third core standard was “The MVP of Our Team IS Our Team.” Everybody in the program had value, from student managers and junior varsity players to the most prominent and productive stars like Jalan West, Zeek Woodley, Clifton Lee, and Chris Thompson – all north Louisiana grown, another tenet. Out of state recruits were the exception, not the norm, in McConathy’s tenure.

To further appreciate “Coach Mike’s” approach, consider these names: Colby Koontz, Lanky Wells, Demetress Bell, Trey Gilder, Stephen Kim. Bell and Gilder became pro athletes. Koontz never played a minute. Kim played only a few seconds. And Wells, a tremendous teammate of McConathy’s during their stellar playing days in the mid-‘70s at Louisiana Tech, was the oldest “student manager” you’ve ever seen.

Koontz was a sturdy 6-9 post, a prized recruit whose parents were standout Oklahoma Sooner athletes. A month before his freshman season, he ran into an elbow in practice and sustained a severe concussion. It not only proved to be the end to his playing days, but it challenged the 4.0 student’s career path to becoming a doctor. McConathy nurtured him through treatment, four years of persistence on his academic path at Northwestern, and today Koontz is a physician back home on Oklahoma.

Kim was a graduate assistant athletic trainer from Baylor and a hoops junkie, a gym rat. His idea of fun was putting up more shots after practices than the players did during workouts. In the last game of his final season with the Demons, McConathy let him dress out. Needing a 3-pointer to tie in the final few seconds, he put in Kim – as a decoy, not to shoot, but to set a pick. The shooter missed, but Kim did exactly what he was asked in his one shining moment of playing Division I basketball.

Bell, a Summerfield standout, was Karl Malone’s son. He was a few inches shorter, and several pounds heavier, than the Mailman. “D-Bell” was a solid role player for McConathy in 88 games, and two years in, he shared an interest in giving football a try. He never had pulled on a pad or helmet but his basketball coach blessed the experiment.

Three seasons later, Bell lined up at offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills. He started 35 games in his four NFL seasons – after earning his undergraduate degree at Northwestern. How many coaches would give a prized recruit the blessing to focus on another sport? McConathy knew it was Bell’s best shot to blossom.

Gilder was a talented junior college player, a rail-thin 6-8 swingman from Dallas who was unsure about his immediate future and unsteady on the academic front. McConathy kept a scholarship open long after spring signings, giving Gilder time to sort through his ambitions and get his grades in order, and welcomed him to NSU at the 11^th hour. Two seasons later, Gilder graduated and began a 15-year professional playing career that included brief stays with four NBA teams.

Helping him settle down and chart his path was Wells. The Arkansas native made the Southland Conference All-Decade Team for the 1970s for his 16-point career average for the Bulldogs, then played pro ball in Europe and Mexico before joining the Army and six years later, beginning two decades with the U.S. Postal Service. But he hadn’t finished his degree, and he felt hypocritical as he urged his children through their college years.

McConathy treasured his teammate’s impeccable character. He discovered a new state program that helped long-dormant students return to college, convinced Wells to become a student coach (technically a manager to comply with NCAA rules), and two years later, in 2009, Wells was a Northwestern graduate.

Wells then earned a master’s degree from Grambling and resumed working as a minister before he passed away suddenly in 2017. McConathy gave the eulogy for his friend, who was a magnetic presence on every path he followed.

Wells will be among those in McConathy’s heart Saturday. “From a spiritual end and his strong beliefs in doing the right thing, Lanky is a tremendous influence for our players,” the head coach told legendary Ruston sportswriter Buddy Davis for a 2008 story.

The same can still be said about Mike McConathy – a great coach, but a much greater figure in countless lives inside, and beyond, the game. He’s set a standard that we can only hope will be modeled for generations to come.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com