The Central Louisiana 6
Central Louisiana (Alexandria, LA and surrounding areas including Pineville, Tioga, Leesville, and Natchitoches, LA) is home to not only one of the most dominant high school programs in the State of Louisiana, but in the country in the Peabody Warhorses.…
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Continue ReadingCentral Louisiana (Alexandria, LA and surrounding areas including Pineville, Tioga, Leesville, and Natchitoches, LA) is home to not only one of the most dominant high school programs in the State of Louisiana, but in the country in the Peabody Warhorses.
The Warhorses have captured 8 state championships, 4 state runner-up finishes, 28 district championships, including a streak of 19 in a row that came to an end in 2014, and has made 20 appearances in the Louisiana Top 28 (The Louisiana Final 4 for each classification).
But Central Louisiana is not just a one-team show. This area is often overlooked in basketball due to football getting most of the attention. This creates a lack of exposure for the local teams and players in this area.
Anyone that follows the basketball landscape in the state knows that this part of the state has been and still is a breeding ground for producing many high level players that have went on to have success at the next level such as Marcus Simmons (Peabody Magnet High School Class of 2007, University of Southern California 2007-2011), Markel Brown (Peabody Magnet High School Class 2010, Oklahoma State University 2010-2014), Christavious Gill (Alexandria Senior High School Class of 2013, University of New Orleans 2013-2017, and Aaron Epps (Tioga High School Class of 2014, LSU 2014-2018) just to name a few.
There are 6 teams in Central Louisiana that have the talent to not only make it to Top 28 in Lake Charles in March 2020, but also be the last team standing in their respective class. I present to you The Central Louisiana 6.
1. Peabody Warhorses (Alexandria, LA)
2018-2019 Record: 34-5
2018-2019 Season Finish: Lost to Wossman (Monroe, LA) 67-71 in the Class 3A State Semi-Finals
Key Players Returning: SR. PG/SG Thomas Miles, SR. SG Melvion Flangan, and SR. SF Marcus Jones
2019-2020 Season Outlook: Coming off another successful season that saw the Warhorses win their 5th straight consecutive district championship and make the 4th straight trip to the Louisiana Top 28, The horses are primed to make another run. Peabody returns to Class 4A for the 2019-2020 season and have a ton of firepower coming with them. The Warhorses lost 3 of their top players from the 2018-2019 campaign in Darius Smith and Kyron Gibson (Graduation) and Zytarious Morlte (Transfer), but return stars in Thomas Miles, Melvion Flangan, and Marcus Jones and key role players in Sr. big man, Andrew Pearson (Sr. C), Guards Dequarious Hicks (Sr. G), and Kaijalon Smith (Sr. G). The 2019-2020 season will be business as usual as the Warhorses will once again be a top contender in the loaded Class 4A.
2. Alexandria Senior High Trojans (ASH, Alexandria, LA)
2018-2019 Record: 20-13
2018-2019 Season Finish: Lost to Ponchatoula (Ponchatoula, LA) 44-50 in the first round of the Class 5A State Playoffs
Key Players Returning: SR. PG/SG Des McQuain, SR. G/F Latrell Holly, and JR. SG Robert Drakes
2019-2020 Season Outlook: The ASH Trojans are looking to rebound back from a disappointing 2018-2019 campaign that saw the Trojans get knocked out in the first round of the state playoffs. A coaching change, followed by the return of a solid roster may be just what the doctor ordered for the Trojans to turn things around. Out, is former head coach Alan Tinsley, who led the Trojans to 8 playoff appearances in 10 seasons and amassed a record of 203-116. In, is Tioga High School Indians former lead man, Lance Brasher, A former Peabody Warhorse and University of Louisiana at Monroe stand-out. Brasher built a consistent winner during his 8 year run with the Indians putting together a record of 176-42 with 8 playoff appearances and 4 district championships. The Trojans have the tools to work with to make a run and compete in Class 5A for a district championship and beyond.
3. Leesville Wampus Cats (Leesville, LA)
2018-2019 Record: 32-4
2018-2019 Season Finish: Lost to Breaux Bridge (Breaux Bridge, LA) 33-56 in the Class 4A State Semi-Finals
Key Players Returning: SR. PG Carlos Sepulvado and SR. G/F Brent Hicks
2019-2020 Season Outlook: The Leesville Wampus Cats, fresh off of a district championship and a trip to the Class 4A State Semi-Finals, are looking to duplicate that same success and more for the 2019-2020 season. Returning for his senior season is Carlos Sepulvado, who was a key contributor on last years squad and is looking to make his final ride in Leesville a successful one. Last years Wampus Cat squad was a senior laden team, so it will not be a easy task to repeat last years run, but with the return of Sepulvado and a good supporting cast, the Wampus Cats will be in the conversation to make a run at the district title and make some noise in the playoffs.
4. Natchitoches Central Chiefs (Natchitoches, LA)
2018-2019 Record: 22-14
2018-2019 Season Finish: Lost to Thibodaux (Thibodaux, LA) 62-67 in the Class 5A State Quaterfinals
Key Players Returning: SR. PG/SG Aydrion Brown and SR. G Devonte Snow
2019-2020 Season Outlook: Coming off yet another trip to the quarterfinal round in the Class 5A State Playoffs, The Natchitoches Central Chiefs are once again locked and loaded to make a deep run in Class 5A this season. The Chiefs have a experienced Senior class returning led by guards Aydrion Brown and Devonte Snow. Mix that in with great coaching and a talented supporting cast, the Chiefs have all the pieces they need to contend for a district championship and a Class 5A State Championship.
5. Tioga Indians (Tioga, LA)
2018-2019 Record: 25-11
2018-2019 Season Finish: Lost to Livonia (Livonia, LA) 40-58 in the first round of the Class 4A State Playoffs
Key Players Returning: SR. G Shemar Nash , SR. G Ezekiel King and SR. G Gabriel Johnson
2019-2020 Season Outlook: The Tioga Indians bring in a new head coach in Antonio Benjamin. Benjamin helped build the Class 2A Avoyelles Charter program from the ground up into a district title contender. Benjamin is taking over a solid roster that is returning a experienced senior class and a proven supporting cast that finished 25-11 with a district runner-up finish. The Tioga Indians will definitely be a problem for opposing teams in Class 4A.
6. Holy Savior Menard Eagles
2018-2019 Record: 19-13
2018-2019 Season Finish: Lost to Riverside Academy (Reserve, LA) 51-67 in the Division III State Playoffs
Key Players Returning: JR. PF/C Jourdain Dishmond, SR. F Jude Hopewell, and SR. G David Brevelle
2019-2020 Season Outlook: As the Menard Eagles roll out an upgraded schedule and return a roster featuring 3 of Central Louisiana’s top prospects in Dishmond, Hopewell, and Brevelle, the Eagles are looking to make the jump from being the hunter to being the hunted. The Eagles are coming off a 3rd straight trip to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. With the return of their “Big 3” and a deep bench, these Eagles have the pieces to take that next step in a loaded Division III.