The Jena Lady Giants basketball team was established on a winning foundation and second year-Head Coach Garrett Hoffpauir is doing all he can to return his ladies to their roots.
Joined by a team of parents of current players, relationships with former Lady Giants who once dominated on the basketball court is being nurtured to help bring back the tradition of wining to the program.
“The Lady Giants enjoyed 23 State Final appearances and 30 district titles over a stretch of five decades,” Hoffpauir said. “To be winning or simply playing for a state title in 23 of 50 years is truly remarkable. The capability to win at that level hasn’t disappeared. The characteristics that made it great still exist in this school and community – it’s been lying dormant. It’s our duty to use our past to wake us up and restore that level of greatness.”
As part of his efforts to return the Lady Giants to greatness, the coach, along with parents, have brought in voices of the past to share with the current black and gold athletes. By learning their stories, they are learning the history of this once prestigious program that was feared all over the state of Louisiana.
Along with having meetings called “Giants Tips for Beyond Tip Off” where former players are brought in to closed meetings with the team to share insights and motivation, a new annual fundraising event was created with its inaugural event held Monday night, October 6.
Entitled “Lady Giants Basketball Legacy Night”, those attending heard from Coach Hoffpauir, former Lady Giants and special guest speaker, former Lady Giants Head Coach Brenda Loe.
Loe shared stories of her days as the coach in Jena, specifically details about her mentor, Hall of Fame Coach Carrice Baker. Baker won more games than any high school girls’ basketball coach in Louisiana history and was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Loe played for Baker as a Lady Giant from 1972-1976 and was All-District three of her four years, along with District MVP and All-State in 1976. During her four years playing at Jena, she help win three state championships and one runner-up title. She continued her playing at LSU and was on the National Runner-Up team.
After returning to Jena to serve as assistant coach under Baker and eventually head coach after Baker’s retirement, Loe guided the Lady Giants to three state runner-up titles and was named Coach of the Year three years. In her decade-plus tenure, she garnered a 138-24 record.
During her speech, she also encouraged the current team of Lady Giants to stay focused on the goals they have set and to work hard every single day. Another important component is to “never lose sight of TEAM.”
Also as part of the special night, the Lady Giants sang two worship songs for the crowd and seniors Sophie Parker, Lily LaCroix and Triniti Williams spoke from their hearts about their ambitions for the 2025-2026 squad.
Last year, the Lady Giants basketball team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished for many years. Their goal is to make it even further this season.
Also speaking at the event was former Lady Giant Shannon Brooks, former manager for Loe Jamie Bradford Lopez and current assistant coach Dustin Robertson.
Prior to the meal and program, a special event occurred inside the Guy Campbell Memorial Gymnasium, where a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the newly restored basketball court with a special time of prayer lead by Phil Crawford.
Hoffpauir noted that with the donations received as part of the Legacy Night, all of the teammembers’ tennis shoes for the upcoming season were paid for.
“But it takes a lot of money to run a successful program,” he said. “We are always welcoming new donors for our program to help us return to greatness.”
For more information about the Lady Giants, the 2 Cents Fan Club, or to donate financially, contact (318) 623-3907.
