Marsh Madness: Championship Friday Standouts
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) crowned six champions, on Friday, in six of their twelve classes or divisions. While some games were mismatches on paper, they all ended up being highly competitive. In each game, there was a…
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Continue ReadingThe Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) crowned six champions, on Friday, in six of their twelve classes or divisions. While some games were mismatches on paper, they all ended up being highly competitive. In each game, there was a most outstanding player named. While I will definitely discuss a few of them, I will highlight standouts from each championship game on Friday.
Jaron Davis / 5’9″ / Jehovah-Jireh / 2019
While sophomore Brandon Harton, Jr. (6’2″) won Most Outstanding Player for his performance, senior Jaron Davis probably had the most impactful championship game. His two jobs were to run the show for Jehovah-Jireh and defend Crescent City point guard Byron Joshua (5’11”, 2020). Davis took on both jobs and performed as a true senior would. His stat line scoring was just a meager eight points. However, Davis was responsible for seven assists and eight steals. He put in a yeomen’s work on both ends of the floor. Whether it was playing a pass first game or causing havoc on the defensive end, Davis gave Jehovah-Jireh what it needed. As a result, the Warriors were able to hoist back-to-back championships in Division V. Jaron Davis displayed the qualities that would make him an asset to a team on the next level and showed why he was one of my Friday championship standouts.
Terrence Jones, Jr. / 5’8″ / Lafayette Christian / 2019
Lafayette Christian repeated as Division IV state champions and Terrence Jones, Jr. was a big part of it. Not only was he to defend top 2020 guard Michael Thomas (6’1″, 2020), he was to run the show for the Knights. Jones passed the test on both assignments. During the game, he garnered 13 points, five assists, and six rebounds. His thirteen points were not all in one quarter or anything like that. They were crucial points when Hamilton Christian would make a run. Of his three long distance shots, two of them were to push his team’s lead back up after a Warrior run. Jones also scraped for rebounds when his team needed them. Needless to say, he made plays when they needed to be made. For his performance, Jones, Jr. is definitely a Friday championship standout.
Cameron Bettez / 6’2″ / Simpson High / 2019
Before yesterday’s game, I do not know if Cameron Bettez was a name that was in recruiting circles. However, after his performance Friday, next level schools looking for a shooter might have him on their list. The 6’2″ senior helped Simpson exact revenge on Summerfield and did it in spectacular fashion. His ten boards tied for the team high and showed that he has a nose for the ball even at guard height. Bettez set himself apart, however, with his shooting mechanics. Scoring 25 points seemed effortless to him. He flowed off screens and displayed the ability to organize his feet quickly. His shooting motion was almost flawless. Straight up and straight down like a JJ Redick-type. Bettez even showed range hitting a couple of deep trifectas. Showing off his ability to do those things at a high level when all of the marbles were at stakes proves he might be ready for a bigger stage. This was the very reason he was a Friday championship standout.
Derrick Tezeno / 6’3″ / North Central / 2021
North Central claimed their first state championship under coach Apphia Jordan and Derrick Tezeno was the key reason. From the beginning of the game, he put his stamp on the game scoring. In a low scoring affair with KIPP BTW, Tezeno had over half of the the Hurricane points. While his scoring took a dip in the second half, his defense did not. Most of his twelve rebounds and five blocks came when North Central needed them most. As KIPP was making a run, he recorded one block that turned into a Reginald Stoner (6′, 2022) layup. Tezeno has the ability to defend post players, perimeter players, and do both very well. He was showing his scoring ability from outside and in the paint. Tezeno displayed an all around game that will make him one of the top juniors in next year’s class. On this day, it made him one of my Friday championship standouts.
Mylik Wilson / 6’3″ / Rayville High / 2019
In his final game as a Rayville Hornet, Mylik went out in style. He did not have the best offensive game by far. However, his defensive game was on point as usual. His thirteen rebounds and five steals were part of the reason Rayville held Port Allen to 48 points during the championship game. Often times, on the Rayville press, he was the last line of defense. He made it hard for Port Allen to score on those breaks by deflections and just standing his ground. Eventually, some of those deflections turned into steals or offensive opportunities for others. Bottom line is, Mylik Wilson closed out his career using his total skill set to help his team win a championship. For that reason, he was definitely one of the Friday championship standouts.
Jacoby Decker / 5’9″ / Bossier High / 2019
Even though they did not come out on top, Jacoby Decker showed why he is one of the top guards in the state. With his team mired in a shooting slump, Decker increased his intensity in the second half of the 4A showdown against Breaux Bridge. What happened in the 3rd and 4th quarter was a Bossier team that defended much better than they did in the first half. His play also created opportunities for other players to get into the offense and make wide open shoots that they did not have in the first half. With his combination of mid-range and three point shots allowed Bossier to have a chance to win that they would not have had without him. His play was infectious. Any next level school can see that he is a player worth having on their roster. For his sheer will and determination in the face of adversity, Jacoby is one of my Friday championship standouts.
Six more championships will be decided on Saturday by the LHSAA. Look for more standout players to be highlighted later this weekend. As Marsh Madness concludes here in Louisiana, there will definitely be some players that will make their mark.