Standouts from the State Semifinals
For the past week, Lake Charles has been the hotbed for boys basketball in Louisiana. The state’s twelve classifications and divisions have battled during the semifinals week to see who will play for the state championship. During those contest, many of the top players in the state have shown off their talents in Burton Coliseum Complex. These players might have been on the losing end during the semifinals; however, their performances were noteworthy. Here on PHLA, we will review a few of those semifinal performances from many sought after players in Louisiana.
Albert South / 6’5” Senior / Tensas High – This was Albert’s last game at Tensas and his semifinals performance did not disappoint. During his 25-plus point effort, he took defenders off the dribble and made jump shots in the lane over defenders. On the boards, he showed he displayed the ability to attack the glass relentlessly. South has a quick first jump. That quick burst from the floor, coupled with his long arms, makes him very hard to deal with. He is not the most polished offensively, but his motor was unmatched. Even though his team came out on the short end, Albert South’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. He kept his team in striking distance and gave them a chance to win at the end.
Kendrick Dandy / 6’3” Senior / McDonogh #35 – Kendrick Dandy came into the semifinals against Woodlawn having helped his team to two upset victories and a home win. His 30 point semifinal performance was almost more impressive that those accomplishments. Dandy scored at all three levels and did it with ease during this game. He might not be a pure shooter; however, when he got hot, he could not be stopped. Coupled with his scoring were the nine rebounds that he garnered on both ends. The Woodlawn (Shreveport) defense had not answer for him and he, and his team, almost took full advantage.
Jessie Davis / 6’7” Junior / Red River – His freshman teammate might have a had more notoriety coming into their semifinal game with Rayville but Jessie Davis made his presence known during their four point loss. His Shawn Kemp-like 20 and 10 game cancelled out the scoring of the Rayville bigs. Davis practically had his way underneath scoring and rebounding which gave Rayville fits. Davis does not wow you with a lot of post moves. He is a player that plays hard and out works his opponents during games. His double-double performance, if it is a sign of the future, may propel Red River into being Rayville’s primary competition for a 2A title next season. Davis and his crew definitely made a good showing against them this past week.
Jared Butler / 6’3” Senior / Riverside Academy – Even though Butler and his Riverside team were on the losing end of last second free throws by Episcopal, his scoring performance was nothing short of flawless. Butler had no problem scoring from deep as his jumper was working. During the game, he made several shots that probably would have sent another team packing for the evening. Unfortunately for he and his teammates, Episcopal did not pack it in and fought them to the very end. However, a person watching the game can tell why he is going to Alabama. He plays all facets well. He rebounds very well for a guard, his shot is pure, and he makes great open floor decisions. If his team had not faltered in the semifinals, Butler would have probably been the most outstanding player of the division.