Sports

Jena Mayor LaDawn Edwards knows how special the senior year of high school is. As a 1980 graduate of Jena High School her heart was broken last week when she learned the senior class of 2020 would not be able to return to school this year.

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The two parish high school’s baseball and softball teams had their seasons abruptly ended back on March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic that closed all public schools and activities.

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The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) announced last Thursday they have decided to cancel all high school spring sports, including all championships, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine said in a press release last week the decision was hard to make but the association had to abide by Governor John Bel Edwards executive order regarding the extension of the Stay at Home order and keeping schools closed until April 30.

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LaSalle High Senior Basketball players Kade Hillestad and Kinsey Long were recipients of the Louisiana State High School Athletic Association All-State All-Academic 4.0 Composite Basketball Team Honorees.

Both Hillestad and Long have a 4.0 GPA and played every sport all four years of high school. Only a few dozen other players in the state received this honor as well.

The athletes were scheduled to be honored at the 2020 March Madness Basketball State Championship games on March 14 at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, but the event was canceled due to the response to COVID-19.

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We’re sitting here on the cusp of one of my favorite times of year. Its spring; dogwoods and azaleas are blooming, everything is turning green, except for the yellow dust that falls like a heavy mist from my pine trees. I’ve already had to break out the lawn mower so, yes, it is spring.

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Turkey hunting season began last Saturday, April 4, in Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) wants to remind hunters to use social distancing practices due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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What is one sport where it does not matter if you are not the fastest, the strongest, a boy or girl and no one “sits on the bench?”

Shooting sports is one of the most popular programs in Louisiana 4-H Youth Development. With a spot at the state competition on the line, more than a thousand youth registered for nearly 1,400 events in the Northern Regional 4-H Shooting Sports competition held March 3-8, 2020 in Grand Cane and Shreveport.

After earning herself a national championship title in smallbore rifle last year, Erin Wilkinson of Jena High 4-H, set her sights on the national air rifle competition at the regional competition. For her first year in air rifle, Erin placed 1st overall at the regional competition. Wilkinson’s highlights of the competition include first place in silhouette, second place in NRA 3P, and third place in standing competition to qualify her for the 4-H State Match.

Nine LaSalle Parish high school basketball players were recently selected to their All-District teams for eleven positions and one parish coach was selected as Coach of the Year.

Jena High School Basketball Head Coach Ikey Ray was chosen as the District 3-3A Coach of the Year after leading his Giants to a District Championship and deep into the playoffs.

The Giants also placed six players on the team, including the District 3-3A Most Valuable Player.

Devante Jack was selected as the District’s MVP and was also placed on the district’s First Team.

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