Sports

By Austin Whatley

The Jena Giants made their first playoff appearance since the 2008-2009 season this past Friday night. After the Giants great season in which they finished with a 21-10 overall record the Giants earned the #7 seed in the class 3A state playoffs.

The Giants were matched up with the #26 Port Allen Pelicans who came in with a 7-20 overall record but played in a difficult district that had every team from that district make the playoffs.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

By Greg Jones

The Lady Tigers were cold from the perimeter in the first half, but all that changed in the second half against Grand Lake to push into the second round of the LHSAA playoffs.

The Lady Tigers were 0 for 8 in the first half from the 3-point line and Grand Lake was able to stay close throughout the game. Grand Lake was a very good shooting team that used lots of pressure to stay close to the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers were able to hold on to a 5-point lead at the break, but the game continued to be back and forth in the third quarter. It was in the fourth quarter that Grand Lake tried to pick up the pace with high-pressure defense. This man-to-man defense didn’t pan out as they planned.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

The Jena Giants boys’ basketball team will play their first round LHSAA playoff game this Thursday or Friday night, Feb. 23 or 24, at home, but because of a situation at LHSAA, they will not know their opponent until Wednesday evening.

A statement placed on the LHSAA website Monday read: “DUE TO A SPORTSMANSHIP HEARING, THE BOYS’ BASKETBALL BRACKETS WILL BE RELEASED SOMETIME WEDNESDAY EVENING.” No further explanation was given but JHS officials confirmed Monday that the hearing does not involve Jena High School or its boys’ basketball program.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

By Greg Jones

The Lady Tigers finished the season 18-8 overall and 5-3 in district play to give them a third place finish in the District 3-1A.

The Lady Tigers finished at No. 12 in the state and will host Grand Lake (No. 21) in the first round of state play-offs. The game will be played in Olla this Thursday night.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

By Austin Whatley

The Jena Lady Giants ended their regular season this past week as they played two home games against Marksville and Bolton to end district play. The Lady Giants came into the week looking to pick up two wins and improve their power rating to try to improve their playoff seed.

On Tuesday the Lady Giants took on the Marksville Lady Tigers. The Lady Giants had defeated Marksville earlier in the season on the road. The Lady Giants started the game on a 6-0 run before giving up an 11-1 run to Marksville to end the 1st quarter. The Lady Giants outscored Marksville 12-9 in the 2nd quarter to go into halftime down by one. Kiara and Keonti Walker led the Lady Giants in the 1st half with 6 points each.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

By Austin Whatley

The Jena Lady Giants came into this week looking to pick up a couple of wins and improve their power rating enough to try to get a home playoff game in the first round. The Lady Giants came into the week ranked #20 in the LHSAA Class 3A power ratings.

If the Lady Giants could pick up wins at home against Peabody and on the road at Avoyelles then they might would jump 4 spots into the top 16 which would give them a chance at a home playoff game in the 1st round of the playoffs.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

By Greg Jones

The LaSalle Tigers picked up a much needed win in district play Tuesday night when they beat Montgomery 56-43 at home.

The Tigers have played hard and competed in every contest this district season, but have come up short at the final buzzer. This time the Tigers took control early and never looked back.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

A quartet of Jena High School football players received high honors last week as they were named to the 2016 Louisiana Football Coaches Association (LFCA) All-State Team. 

Seniors Craig Walker, Parker Fink and junior Jaray Jenkins were selected to the prestigious team during their annual all-state selection meeting held Thursday, January 26, on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge.

By Austin Whatley

came into this past week looking to keep pace with the Winnfield Lady Tigers in the hunt for the District 3-3A championship. It would be an important week for the Lady Giants as they would play Vidalia at home on Tuesday and at Winnfield on Friday.

The Lady Giants came into the week ranked #18 in the weekly LHSAA power ratings. On Tuesday the Lady Giants took on a Vidalia team that had only two wins on the season.

By Greg Jones