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Joey Martin News

Joey Martin is the Sports Editor for the Concordia Sentinel located in Vidalia, LA and he covers most all the sports in and around Concordia Parish, if you see him, please tell him how much you enjoy reading his articles on MissLouSports.Com  

Ferriday High Junior Davonte Scott was so impressed with his visit to
Junior Day at Mississippi State on Feb. 20 that he committed to the
school as an athlete.
“I really like the school and the people were real nice, said Scott,
who had 2,287 all-purpose yards for the Trojans last year and also had
79 tackles and five interceptions, along with 12 pass break-ups.
He also totaled 2,287 all-purpose yards.
Scott was recruited by Mississippi State assistant coach Mark Hudspeth.
Scott said he has not received offers from any other school at this
time.
“I also wanted to get this done before next season so I can concentrate
on the football field,” he said.
Scott played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back at Ferriday
last year and also returned kicks.
Harrison said Scott will see more time at quarterback this season.
“He actually has an accurate arm, but a lot of people don’t know that
because we didn’t need him to throw the ball.”
The elusive Scott stands
“I think they will try him out at defensive back,” Harrison said.
“They’ll do what’s best for them and where he can benefit them the
most. Davonte was impressed with the coaching staff. They are a lot
like our staff, real down-to-earth and they work well together.”
Scott said he will take his first ACT on April 10.

Monterey stayed with No. 11 Shongaloo for three quarters before the
Tigers pulled away in the final quarter, defeating the Wolves 69-49 in
a Class B first round playoff contest at Cotton Valley.
“We controlled the tempo in the first half,” said Monterey head coach
Eric Richard, whose team led 10-7 after one period and trailed 20-14 at
halftime. “We forced them to take the tough shots and walked the ball
up the floor. We trailed by 11 by the end of the third period. They
made up their minds they were going to force the tempo. They were much
more athletic than we were.”
Monterey finished its season at 16-13.
“This team overachieved this year,” Richard said. “This is the first
winning season in several years. Hopefully this group has established a
standard that future teams can improve on.”

Top-seed Vidalia High started slow, but finished with a flurry as the
Vikings dismantled Bogalusa 90-50 Tuesday at Vidalia in a Class 3A
Regional contest.
Vidalia hosts Rayville Friday at 7 p.m.
Rayville defeated Crowley 106-102 Tuesday night in Rayville.
"I think it was a case of nerves early," said Vidalia coach Robert
Sanders after the Viking second-round win. "We got a little rattled,
but we settled down and played our type of ball. Hopefully we can
continue to do so."
Vidalia defeated George Washington Carver 102-38 in the first round
before posting the 40-point win over Bogalusa.
It didn’t look that easy early despite Viking forward Torrey Dixon
taking the opening tip and going down for a dunk as Bogalusa took a 7-3
lead and extend that lead to 12-5 early.
Quartrell Thomas then hit a 3-pointer to pull  the Vikings to within
12-8.
But starting center D.J. Polk picked up his second foul at the 4:10
mark.
A steal by Dixon led to a basket by Thomas to tie the game at 15-15.
A pass from Gary Stewart underneath to Alvin Bell, who was subbing for
Polk, put the Vikings up 17-15.
"Alvin gave us some valuable minutes off the bench," Sanders said of
the junior. "His confidence has been building with each game."
The contest was tied at 18-18 to end the period.
A dunk by Dixon put Vidalia up 21-18 early in the second period.
“When I can get a dunk it gets the crowd into it and gives us the
momentum,” Dixon said.
Vidalia held the Lumberjacks without a basket until the 3:24 mark of
the second period.
Dixon hit a 3-pointer and converted a 3-point play on a dunk with 0.6
seconds remaining in the first half to put Vidalia up 42-29.
Vidalia kept the pressure on as Eric Bell his two straight 3-pointers
in the third period as the Vikings pulled away from the shell-shocked
Lumberjacks by outscoring the visitors 33-4 in the third period.
Sanders unloaded his bench in the final period.
"When we hit our 3-pointers it opens up things inside," Sanders said.
"Everybody concentrates on Gary, Torrey and Quartrell and when the
other guys step up it makes it tougher on the opposition."

In preparing for his second round playoff game at Vidalia, Bogalusa
High head boys basketball coach Kenneth Martin heard the same response
from coaches who had played the Vikings earlier in the season.
“They told me Vidalia was the best team they played all year,” Martin
said.
Martin will be telling Rayville head coach Larry Wilson the same thing
after his team lost to the Vikings 90-50 in a Class 3A second round
playoff contest Tuesday in Vidalia.
“I know we just played the state champion,” Martin said. “I don’t see
anybody beating them and I know a lot about 3A. They are a very
complete team and very well coached.”
Of course, Vidalia coach Robert Sanders and Damus Smith will point to
the first quarter of Tuesday’s game with the Lumberjacks to let you
know it’s far from a done deal.
Vidalia trailed Bogalusa 12-5 and looked rather lethargic coming of the
gate.
That wasn’t a problem after the Vikings outscored the Lumberjacks 24-11
in the second period, but it could be down the road.
Or Sanders and Smith only have to point to the 70-67 win over
Avoyelles, who lost to Bogalusa in the first round. Or the loss to
Franklin Parish - one of only four losses on the season, for the
Vikings.
When Vidalia is hitting on all cylinders, it’s hard to argue the fact
there is no better team in Class 3A.
Then again, Crowley could be saying the same thing about Rayville after
losing to the Hornets, 106-102 Tuesday night.
North DeSoto could be saying the same thing about Richwood after
falling to the Rams 91-66. Richwood defeated Vidalia in the finals last
year.
And Northwest could be saying the same thing about Carroll, which
dropped down from Class 4A to 3A this season, after falling to the
Bulldogs, 78-47.
But the Vikings can certainly hang with anybody.
An if Sanders says more than 20 words to his players on the court at a
basketball game, you better mark it down.
And because of the fact, some very uneducated people think Sanders
doesn’t talk enough during a game.The fact is, Sanders has already said
everything he needed to say leading up to the game. And he also gets
his point across in the huddle at time outs.
I daresay Sanders had the toughest coaching job of all this season. He
had a team that came within one game of winning the state title last
year and he returned his entire starting unit.
Sure, he lost some valuable seniors, but he also had some good young
ones ready to step in that have contributed this season.
He  also had some folks close to Gary Stewart telling the 6-4 future
college basketball player to handle the ball more to show the college
scouts what he can do.
He also had some folks close to Torrey Dixon tell the multi-talented
post player to not pass the ball as much because he was getting lost in
Stewart’s shadow.
That’s hard to believe for anyone who has seen Dixon play — he is
definitely the most underrated player in the entire state.
He also had some folks close to Quartrell Thomas telling the talented
guard to score more.
But Stewart, Dixon and Thomas know the meaning of team.
They know as individuals, they would not have accomplished the goals
they set. And they had a person in Sanders who kept them heads level
and their egos at the door.
Sure, you can say I can win with that team, just put them out there.
Sure, you could win a lot of games, but you wouldn’t reach the ultimate
goal of reaching the Cajundome.
It’s obvious the respect the players have for their coach. And how many
high schools have shirts named after their head coach who hasn’t even
won a state  championship?
What you see with Robert Sanders is what you get. What you don’t see is
a lot of things during those practices in the gym with no one around or
those one-on-one sessions to just talk about things.
And now, the Vikings are two games away from playing for their second
state championship.
But, believe me, it hasn’t been as easy as it’s looked.


Rayville High brings its high-scoring offense to Vidalia Friday as the
Hornets and Vikings meet  for the right to participate in the Top 28
Tournament in Lafayette next week.
Tip-off is 7 p.m. at Vidalia High and tickets are $7. Vidalia High
students will be allowed to purchase one ticket Thursday from 8 a.m. to
noon. All other tickets will be sold on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3:30
p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. unil they are sold out. There is a
limit of four tickets per person.
The quarterfinal matches up the No. 1 Vikings against the No. 8 seed
Hornets.
Rayville defeated Northeast 107-81 in the first round and outlasted
Crowley 106-102 Tuesday night.
“I didn’t expect Crowley to score that many points,” said Rayville head
coach Larry Wilson. “We hit a little drought, but our kids responded.
Both teams played well.”
Wilson said he expects another good game at Vidalia.
“They’ve got some talent and they shoot the ball well,” he said, “We’re
going to put some pressure on them and try to wear them down. We like a
fast tempo and getting up and down the floor.”
The Hornets are led by guard Earl Williams and forwards PhaQuinton
Lawson and Jamarus Murphy.
Lawson played quarterback for the Hornet football team and accounted
for more than 4,000 total yards in his career. He signed a football
scholarship with Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Ms.
“We just hope to contain Vidalia,” Wilson said. “To be the No. 1 seed
they have to be doing something well. But the best team doesn’t always
win. Hopefully we can be on that night and they don’t play as well as
they’ve been playing.”
Vidalia head coach Robert Sanders said the Vikings will be working on
their press offense.
“We have to play good defense and not allow them to get in transition,”
Sanders said. “We may have to slow it down a little bit.”
The winner of the Vidalia-Rayville game faces the No.5 Abbeville versus
No. 4 E.D. White in the semifinals in Lafayette. The day of the
semifinal game is to be announched.


Vidalia High defeated Franklin Parish 7-2 before losing to LaSalle 13-0
at the Mangham Tournament Saturday.
Vidalia’s game with Mangham on Friday was rained out.
“The guys played hard, but we were just out-matched by LaSalle,” said
Vidalia coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir. “We’re a two-pitcher team right
now. Seth (Thompson) and Trey (Lillie) did a good job against Franklin
Parish. LaSalle has two pitchers who have signed with Northwestern and
they are a senior team.”
Vidalia is without No. 1 pitcher Mason Ozburn, who broke his foot
before the season and will be out a few more weeks.
John Brixey singled twice against Franklin Parish, while Caleb Vines
also singled.
Vidalia scored seven runs in the fourth inning.
“We had the bases loaded and Jamale Davis fouled off nine pitches
before drawing a walk that put us up 3-2,” Hoffpauir said.
Vines had two hits against LaSalle.
Vidalia’s home game with Block Monday was rained out and will be made
up on March 26.
“This has been the worst ever,” Hoffpauir said. “We’re playing three or
four games in two weeks with a two-man pitching staff. But we have to
get games in because if we don’t play 20 games we will automatically be
the final seed in the playoffs if we have enough power points. It’s
just been incredible.”

Bunkie High scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to
defeat Vidalia 4-2 in the District 3-3A opener for both teams in
Vidalia.
The Lady Vikings led 2-1 going into the final Lady Panther at-bat when
Bunkie had a runner on first base with one out.
Three errors on one play allowed Bunkie to take the lead.
“We just don’t know how to win,” said Lady Viking coach Gary Paul
Parhnam. “We have to learn to close games out.”
Kassie Randall doubled and singled for Vidalia, while Kennedy Beard had
two singles.
Eryn Secrest doubled.
Laura Perrilloux did not allow an earned run in getting tagged with the
loss.
Vidalia’s home game with Marksville Monday was rained out and has not
been re-scheduled.
Vidalia travels to Jena for district game Thursday.
The Lady Vikings will be competing in the Mangham Tournament this
weekend.
Vidalia will play Kilbourne on Friday.
On Saturday, Vidalia takes on Rayville and Oak Grove.
The Lady Vikings visit LaSalle in Olla on Monday.

Ferriday junior Chante Poole was named District 2-2A Player of the Year
for the second straight year.
Poole averaged 16.9 points, 5,1 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists,
while shooting 72 percent from the free throw line.
Ferriday head coach Lisa Abron was named Coach of the Year for the
second straight year.
Ferriday senior Jasmine Butler was also named to the first team.
Butler averaged 15.4 points a game, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game.
She shot 81 percent from the free throw line.
Lady Trojan junior T’Keyah Fletcher was named to the second team.
Named as honorable mentions from Ferriday were Deonka Birdon, Keatrice
Brown and Raven Lewis.

Monterey High scored six runs in the first and third innigns on their
way to a 13-2 win over Georgetown in Georgetown Thursday.
Paige Bryan picked up the win for the Lady Wolves.
Ariel Hector doubled and singled, while Ellen Bairnsfather collected
two singles. Taylor Morace doubled.
The Lady Wolves went 0-3 in the Menard Tournament  over the weekend.
Monterey fell to Grace Christian, 3-0.
Bryan, Hector and Karlee Woodruff each singled.
Bolton defeated Monterey, 4-2.
Bryan doubled, while Hector, Jodee Duncan, Bairnsfather each singled.
Monterey fell to Buckeye, 10-0 in its final game.
Bryan and Woodruff both singled.
Monterey plays at Delhi Charter Thursday before competing in the Tioga
Tournament this weekend.
Monterey plays at Avoyelles Charter on Tuesday.
Monterey takes on Harrisonburg in Harrisonburg on March 11.


Local businesses have reported scams involving Ferriday and Vidalia
High Schools.
The Concordia Sentinel received a call asking sponsorship for seat
cushions for Ferriday High.
Ferriday High principal Michelle Bethea said the school is not involved
in selling seat cushions.
Smith Printing in Vidalia reported a call from someone saying they were
selling ads for the school.
Vidalia High principal Rick Brown said unless the letterhead has VHS,
it is not associated with the school and anyone needing verification
can call the school.

It continues to be one of the classiest events of the Miss-Lou.
It’s certainly an event I look forward to each year.
Thursday night, the National Football Foundation Miss-Lou Chapter held
its 29th banquet at the Natchez Eola Hotel.
And for the 27th time I left the banquet feeling good about our
coaches, our youth and uplifted by another positive message.
I say 27 because I missed two. There was no way Mike Grubb was going to
let me cover the event in 1991 when Archie Manning was the guest
speaker so I got stuck with sports desk duty. I’ve only missed one
other since then.
Another class group of young men were awarded and recognized as
Cathedral’s Dylan White won the $2,200 scholarship, Vidalia’s Gary
Stewart the $2,000 award and Ferriday’s Xavier Allen the $1,750
scholarship.
Allen became the first Ferriday nominee to win more than $1,000.
The $1,000 winners were Deacon Newman of Trinity, Cody Dye of
Huntington and Bryce Murray of ACCS.
Premo Stallone won the Distinguished American Award and Trinity head
football coach David King was honored with the Contributions To Amateur
Football Award.
Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen was the featured
speaker and spoke about reaching your potential and goals.
“We have a sign in our lockerroom that says, “Reach Your Potential
Every Day,” Mullen told the crowd. “When I was young I wanted to be
like O.J. Simpson. Make that the younger O.J. Simpson.”
Mullen said being a champion in the classroom is just as important as
being a champion on the field.
“If a guy shuts it off in the classroom, then how am I to know he’s not
going to shut it off when the other team has fourth-and-goal at the
1-yard line with 30 seconds remaining. Being a champion means being a
champion all the time.”
Mullen coached Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow as offensive coordinator
at Florida and No. 1 NFL Draft pick Alex Smith at Utah.
“I had a quarterback who just received a full scholarship to Vanderbilt
who thanked me for my letter of recommendation,” Mullen said. “That
means just as much to me having even the slightest impact on his life
and, who knows, one day he may be responsible for a medical
breakthrough.”
Mullen also took time to poke fun at “That School Up North,” as he
refers to Ole Miss.
Turning to past Miss-Lou Chapter President and avid Ole Miss fan Terry
Estes, Mullen said, “We’ve got a new case for the Egg Bowl Trophy is
you ever want to come up and look at it.”
Mullen was presented a key to the city of  Natchez by Mayor Jake
Middleton.
**The National Federation of State High School Associations Football
Rules Committee is finally getting with the program.
Effective with the 2010 high school football season, any player who
shows signs, symptoms or behaviors associated with a concussion must be
removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by an
appropriate health-care professional.
**And it's not because Canada's hockey team won the gold medal because
I would feel the same way if the United State had won the gold after
losing to Canada earlier. I just don't like the format where if you
lose to a team in a tournament format you can come back and play for a
title against that same team.
When we were kids, if we lost a game in the backyard, we were sitting
on the front porch watching until the next tournament started up.
**And finally, congrats to LSU basketball coach Trent Johnson and the
Tiger basketball team for getting that win against Arkansas (65-54) on
Feb. 24.
You may be thinking I'm being sarcastic, but I am not. There's a big
difference in going without a win in conference to at least getting one
win.
It showed the team still has a lot of pride and fight.
And better days are ahead again with the latest recruiting class.
Johnson is a class act and it's good to see people not breathing down
his throat as would be the case in a lot of other instances.
College basketball is exciting and at least they have a playoff system.
But something has to be done about allowing players to leave after one
year.
This is the reason you have a Cinderella each year because a small
school can keep a group together for four years and that makes a big
difference.
I would love to see a breakdown of the college players selected in the
NBA Draft the past several years and how many in the first two rounds
actually played four years of college basketball.
It's not fair to the colleges, the coaches or the fans.