Without a doubt the over riding memory of the 2020-21 high school basketball season will most certainly be the problems associated with the COVID-19 virus. Still there have been many highlights, lowlights and interesting facts of note that have occurred in the districts associated with teams in the Jackson Parish Journal Sports Department coverage area. Here a just a few……
District 2-5A: The Ruston boys started the year with a 12-1 record which ranks as one of the best starts in school history. Since, they are 1-3 in district play. West Monroe is the top ranked boys team in the state’s highest classification. Their only two losses have been to a Class 2A (Rayville) and a Class B (Anacoco) school. Go figure.
District 1-2A: While play in most districts are nearing completion, as of this past weekend, the boys division of 1-2A has yet to play a single game due to three of the four schools dealing with COVID issues. As result the combined aggregate rating of the district is one of the worst in the state among boys teams. The JHHS girls started the year 6-1 then lost 4 straight to some of the strongest teams in north Louisiana. Now they are on a four game winning streak. That is what you call a rollercoaster ride!!
District 3-2A: Give the Lakeview girls a seat on the same ride. The Lady Gators won their first six, then lost 3 of 4 and have since won their last six. The Many boys are undefeated at 10-0 after going 10-9 last year. That is the best improvement from one year to the next among north LA schools. All four district boys teams are in the top 11 of the Class 2A state rankings giving the district the distinction of having the highest combined aggregate ranking of any in the state.
District 1-1A: Calvary Baptist have the most wins (19) among boys teams in North LA and in Division IV, which is what “select” schools call Class A. Props also go to the Homer girls. They started the year 2-6 but are 5-0 in district play. On the flip side the Magnolia School of Excellence boys have lost all seven of their games this year and are still searching for their inaugural LHSAA victory having gone a combined 0-21 in the three years of existence. Ironically they are ranked #13 in Class A. Talk about things that make you go hmmmm.
District 2-1A: Delta Charter located in Ferriday has the distinction of having suffered the worst loss in the state this year when Rayville beat them 120-32 for an 88 point margin. From the “talk about a turnaround” files the Delhi boys are 9-9 overall but 9-0 in district play. The Ouachita Christian (OCS) girls coached by former NFL quarterback Stan Humphries, is ranked #1 in Division IV with a 21-2 record this year. The Cedar Creek girls led by Gene VanDenLandenberg, who most likely has the longest last name in LHSAA coaching history, has also been impressive with a 16-3 record especially considering two of the losses have been to OCS. Both Stan and “Van” are the man!
District 1B: This is the district where the highest of highs to the lowest of lows lives. Good stuff first! Defending state champ Doyline is undefeated this year and on a 36 game winning streak over two years. The recent boys contest where they beat Saline 95-87 resulted in one of the highest combined game point totals this year. Now the bad! When the Saline and Dodson girls, who are bottom two teams in the Class B rankings, played last week the winner would earn their first victory of the year. Dodson is still searching and their losing streak has now continued for more than a calendar year.
District 2B: Simsboro is averaging 84.38 points per game (ppg). According to what is listed on MaxPreps.com that is the 6th highest total in the NATION and best in Louisiana by a whopping 13 points per game. Quitman girls are 19-2 and the boys are 15-3 to give the Wolverines the most combined program wins in north LA. Both have had at least ten game winning streaks, also a best mark. The Quitman boys team improved from #19 to #12 in the latest LHSAA rankings representing one of the biggest jumps in one week for a team in the state. All four schools in the district are within roughly 20 miles of each other as the crow flies. When they travel does that even qualify as a road trip?
District 4C: Poor Calvin! Two years ago they were in one of the closest districts relating to miles apart to now being in one of most separated. Can you imagine having to drive roughly 145 miles round trip to play a district game? That is what they face when they go to Harrisonburg and Central – Jonesville. You can also add the 80 mile round trip it takes to go to Georgetown. What makes it worse is those miles are always traveled on those hard seated, “yellow dogs”. Now that is a road trip!!!
Overall records and district standings relating to schools from the Jackson Parish Journal Sports Department coverage area, as well as, current LHSAA state rankings are shown below. Coverage area teams are shown in bold print.
BOYS STANDINGS
| District 2-5A | Overall | District |
| #1 – West Monroe | 12-2 | 3-0 |
| #7 – Alexandria Sr. High | 18-6 | 2-0 |
| #20 – Ouachita | 9-8 | 2-0 |
| #13 – Ruston | 14-4 | 2-3 |
| #37 -West Ouachita | 7-8 | 1-3 |
| #51 – Pineville | 5-17 | 0-4 |
February 5 (Friday): Ouachita at Ruston, ASH at West Ouachita
February 9 (Tuesday): Ruston at West Monroe, West Ouachita at Pineville
| District 1-2A | Overall | District |
| #13 – Jonesboro-Hodge | 6-4 | 0-0 |
| #30 – North Caddo | 5-14 | 0-0 |
| #36 – D’Arbonne Woods | 3-10 | 0-0 |
| #49 – Lakeside | 0-5 | 0-0 |
February 5 (Friday): Jonesboro-Hodge at Lakeside
February 9 (Tuesday): D’Arbonne Woods at Jonesboro-Hodge
| District 3-2A | Overall | District |
| #2 – Many | 11-0 | 3-0 |
| #8 -Red River | 8-7 | 1-1 |
| #5 –Winnfield | 10-3 | 1-2 |
| #11 – Lakeview | 13-7 | 0-2 |
February 5 (Friday): Winnfield at Red River
February 9 (Tuesday): Winnfield at Lakeview
| District 1-1A | Overall | District |
| #4 – Calvary Baptist | 19-5 | 4-0 |
| #4 – Arcadia | 9-1 | 3-0 |
| #9 – Homer | 7-9 | 4-2 |
| #17 – Ringgold | 10-12 | 2-2 |
| #23 – Lincoln Prep | 3-9 | 1-1 |
| #25 – Plain Dealing | 1-9 | 0-2 |
| #13 – Magnolia SOE | 0-7 | 0-2 |
| #30 – Haynesville | 0-8 | 0-5 |
February 4 (Thursday): Arcadia at Lincoln Prep
February 5 (Friday): Arcadia at Haynesville, Lincoln Prep at Homer
February 9 (Tuesday): Arcadia at Homer, Haynesville at Lincoln Prep
| District 2-1A | Overall | District |
| #7 – Delhi | 9-9 | 9-0 |
| #6 – Tensas | 7-2 | 7-2 |
| #15 – St. Frederick | 9-6 | 5-2 |
| #10 – Oak Grove | 5-3 | 4-3 |
| #18 – Cedar Creek | 8-9 | 2-6 |
| #18 – Sicily Island | 2-6 | 1-4 |
| #23 – Ouachita Christian | 4-14 | 1-5 |
| #22 – Delta Charter | 2-9 | 0-8 |
February 5 (Friday): Tensas at Cedar Creek,
February 9 (Tuesday): Cedar Creek at Sicily Island
| District 1B | Overall | District |
| #4 – Doyline | 8-0 | 3-0 |
| #10 – Saline | 6-7 | 2-1 |
| #23 –Dodson | 7-8 | 1-2 |
| #27 – Castor | 4-11 | 0-3 |
January 29 (Friday): Doyline at Dodson, Castor at Saline
February 2 (Tuesday): Dodson at Saline
| District 2B | Overall | District |
| #2 – Simsboro | 17-1 | 2-0 |
| #12 – Quitman | 15-3 | 2-0 |
| #16 – Choudrant | 11-8 | 0-2 |
| #24 – Weston | 9-15 | 0-2 |
February 5 (Friday): Quitman at Choudrant, Simsboro at Weston
February 9 (Tuesday): Weston at Quitman, Choudrant at Simsboro
| District 4C | Overall | District |
| #7 – Calvin | 6-5 | 2-0 |
| #13 – Atlanta | 4-7 | 2-1 |
| #19 – Harrisonburg | 2-7 | 0-0 |
| #16 – Georgetown | 4-12 | 1-2 |
| #22 – Central-Jonesville | 2-12 | 0-2 |
February 4 (Thursday): Georgetown at Calvin
February 9 (Tuesday): Calvin at Harrisonburg
GIRLS STANDINGS
| District 2-5A | Overall | District |
| #9 – Ruston | 18-5 | 4-1 |
| #10 – Pineville | 13-5 | 4-2 |
| #20 – West Monroe | 10-5 | 4-2 |
| #11 – Ouachita | 10-5 | 3-2 |
| #40 – ASH | 8-10 | 0-3 |
| #25 – West Ouachita | 7-9 | 0-5 |
February 5 (Friday): Ouachita at Ruston, ASH at West Ouachita
February 9 (Tuesday): Ruston at West Monroe, West Ouachita at Pineville
| District 1-2A | Overall | District |
| #8 – Jonesboro-Hodge | 9-5 | 2-0 |
| #46 – North Caddo | 1-4 | 0-0 |
| #19 – D’Arbonne Woods | 5-11 | 0-1 |
| #44 – Lakeside | 1-6 | 0-1 |
February 5 (Friday): Jonesboro-Hodge at Lakeside
February 9 (Tuesday): D’Arbonne Woods at Jonesboro-Hodge
| District 3-2A | Overall | District |
| #5 – Lakeview | 14-3 | 3-0 |
| #11 – Many | 12-5 | 2-1 |
| #21 – Red River | 5-9 | 1-2 |
| #31 – Winnfield | 7-5 | 0-3 |
February 5 (Friday): Winnfield at Red River
February 9 (Tuesday): Winnfield at Lakeview
| District 1-1A | Overall | Record |
| #5 – Homer | 8-6 | 5-0 |
| #15 – Haynesville | 7-7 | 4-2 |
| #18 – Lincoln Prep | 3-8 | 2-1 |
| #13 – Plain Dealing | 5-7 | 1-2 |
| #23 – Calvary Baptist | 2-4 | 1-3 |
| #19 – Arcadia | 4-8 | 1-3 |
| #25 – Ringgold | 3-14 | 0-3 |
February 4 (Thursday): Arcadia at Lincoln Prep
February 5 (Friday): Arcadia at Haynesville, Lincoln Prep at Homer
February 9 (Tuesday): Arcadia at Homer, Haynesville at Lincoln Prep
| District 2-1A | Overall | District |
| #1 – Ouachita Christian | 21-2 | 5-0 |
| #3 – Cedar Creek | 16-3 | 5-2 |
| #11 – Delhi | 4-8 | 3-2 |
| #9 – Oak Grove | 10-4 | 3-3 |
| #12 – Tensas | 2-4 | 2-4 |
| #17 – Delta Charter | 5-7 | 2-5 |
| #27 – Sicily Island | 0-7 | 0-4 |
| #13 – St. Frederick (season cancelled) | 2-0 | 0-0 |
February 5 (Friday): Tensas at Cedar Creek,
February 9 (Tuesday): Cedar Creek at Sicily Island
| District 1B | Overall | District |
| #23 – Doyline | 7-5 | 3-0 |
| #18 – Castor | 10-7 | 2-1 |
| #28 – Saline | 1-11 | 1-2 |
| #30 – Dodson | 0-12 | 0-3 |
February 5 (Friday): Castor at Dodson, Saline at Doyline
February 9 (Tuesday): Doyline at Dodson, Saline at Castor
| District 2B | Overall | District |
| #6 – Quitman | 19-2 | 2-0 |
| #16 – Simsboro | 7-6 | 1-0 |
| #14 – Choudrant | 10-9 | 0-1 |
| #15 – Weston | 13-11 | 0-2 |
February 5 (Friday): Quitman at Choudrant, Simsboro at Weston
February 9 (Tuesday): Weston at Quitman, Choudrant at Simsboro
| District 4C | Overall | District |
| #11 – Atlanta | 6-7 | 3-0 |
| #10 – Georgetown | 7-5 | 2-1 |
| #21 – Harrisonburg | 2-9 | 0-1 |
| #14 – Central-Jonesville | 6-10 | 0-2 |
| #13 – Calvin | 1-10 | 0-2 |
February 4 (Thursday): Georgetown at Calvin
February 9 (Tuesday): Calvin at Harrisonburg
