In a split decision, the West boys and East girls emerged victorious in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association East-West All-Star basketball games in Natchitoches.
The West boys pulled off a 109-102 upset over an East team that included Oklahoma State signees Markel Brown of Peabody (Alexandria) and Brian Williams of Glen Oaks (Baton Rouge), and LSU signee Matt Derenbecker of Country Day.
Brown guided Peabody to an 41-0 record and the Class 4A state championship, while Derenbecker won two consecutive Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year awards.
Yet, there presence wasn’t enough to derail an East squad that featured the game’s Most Valuable Player in Cordarius Johnson of Red River (Coushatta).
Johnson scored 15 points, including 10 in the second half. Teammate Xavier Coleman scored nine of his 15 points in the first half in helping the West to a 52-41 halftime lead.
Brown and East teammate J.J. Thomas of Scotlandville (Baton Rouge) each scored a game-high 19 points.
"It feels good to win the MVP in a game with this many great players," Johnson said.
Liann McCarthy of Ursuline (New Orleans) won MVP honors in the girls game after scoring a game-high 13 points in the East’s 89-59 victory. McCarthy scored 10 first-half points in helping the East to a 56-15 halftime advantage. Brown was one of four double-figure scorers for the East.
Maria Brown of Ouachita (Monroe) and Xzandra David of Neville (Monroe) each scored 12 points. Whitney Bibbins of University (Baton Rouge) added 11 and LSU signee Jeanne Kenney of St. Michael’s (Baton Rouge) contributed 10.
The West’s Darnisha Hamilton of Natchitoches Central (Natchitoches) matched McCarthy with 13 points, Hamilton scored all her points in a four-minute span of the second half.
LSU signee Theresa Plaisance of Vandebilt Catholic (Houma) scored six points in a limited role.
Class 1A all-state team chosen
Derenbecker may have lost in the state All-Star game, but he emerged as the big winner on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A all-state boys team.
Derenbecker earned Outstanding Player recognition, while Kentwood’s Ronneka Robertson received the same honor on the girls team.
The 6-foot-7 Derenbecker averaged 25.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for Country, which lost to Christian Life Academy (Baton Rouge) in the state finals. Derenbecker played guard, forward and some center.
"One big thing about Matt was that he brought an attitude to us, a winning attitude,’’ said Country Day coach Mike McGuire, who was voted Class 1A Coach of the Year.
The same was true of the 5-10 Robertson, a South Alabama signee who averaged 22 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals as a senior. Robertson also played all three position for 23rd-seeded Kentwood, which reached the state semifinals. Robertson started for Kentwood since the sixth grade and made four all-district teams.
"Ronneka brought so much leadership to our team,’’ Kentwood coach Lashana Pollard.
Kandace Mote was named the girls Coach of the Year after leading Oak Grove to a state runner-up finish.
Classes B-C honor all-state performers
Fairview (Grant) dominated both Class B all-state teams in winning three of the four major awards.
Junior Brittany Maddox was named the girls Outstanding Player after having averaged 23.2 points and 8.5 rebounds for the state champions. Kyle Jinks was voted Coach of the Year for guiding his team to a 42-3 record and its fourth consecutive state title.
Ron Starks was selected as the boys Coach of the Year after leading Fairview to the state semifinals. Midland senior Miles Prejean was the chosen as the boys Outstanding Player. Prejean averaged 23.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for the state runners-up.
Plainview (Glemora) led the Class C girls all-state team as Skylar Chenevert earned Outstanding Player accolades and Dustin Howard received Coach of the Year honors in his second season.
Davarius Critton of state-champion Athens was the boys Outstanding Player. Critton, a 6-2 senior, helped Athens to its first Class C state title since 1999 and its fourth overall. Dale Skinner of state runner-up Pleasant Hill was named Coach of the Year. Skinner also is the Pleasant Hill principal.
Making a lucrative thank you
Not only does Deddrick T. Wilmer have fond memories of having played baseball for Glen Oaks (Baton Rouge) and having managed its boys basketball team, but Wilmer showed his appreciation with a $10,000 scholarship endowment.
Wilmer, a 1994 Glen Oaks graduate, made the presentation during a ceremony at the school. Wilmer said the award is meant to recognize his late brother, Quinton, as well as boys basketball coach Harvey Adger. Quinton Wilmer ran track for the Panthers.
"I wanted to do something to honor my brother, but to also honor the work Coach Adger has done," said Deddrick Wilmer, who owns a consulting firm. "Coach has helped shape the lives of so many students at Glen Oaks. He influences more than just basketball players. I’m one example of that."
Wilmer said the endowment is designed to last five years with two Glen Oaks students to receive at least a $1,000 scholarship each year. Those awarded scholarship must be accepted to an accredited college or trade school. Several factors will be judged in the awarding of scholarships, including academics, school activities and community service.
Wilmer is hopeful that additional money can be raised to increase the size and length of the endowment.
Franklin receives national recognition
Former Haynvesville football coach Alton "Red" Franklin has been elected to the National High School Hall of Fame in Indianapolis.
Franklin retired after the 2001 season as the second-winningest football coach in state history and the 15th nationally. In 35 years at the school, he fashioned a record of 367-76-7 with 11 state championships in four different decades.
Franklin returned to Haynesville as a volunteer coach in 2003 to help coach his son, who now serves as head coach. The induction ceremony for the 12-person class will take place in San Diego on July 10.
