How many girls and boys basketball players from north Louisiana do you think ever has had the ability to say they played on a professional basketball court? While the exact number is not known, it is a safe bet that this past Friday, more got the opportunity on one day than has ever been before.

A dream so wild it wouldn’t even seem imaginable came true for the players of Saline High and Cedar Creek in Ruston this past Friday when they were the featured schools in the “Court of Dreams” promotion sponsored by the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The rare opportunity wasn’t lost on the fans of the two schools either as hundreds made the long trip to New Orleans to descend on the Smoothie Center, home of the NBA Pelicans. 

“The crowd for our games were unbelievable,” said a Smoothie Center spokesman. “By far the biggest of all the “Court of Dreams” promotion that we have had.”

The event was certainly something never to be forgotten as the players, coaches, school administration and fans not only got to enjoy seeing their teams playing in an NBA venue but were also given the opportunity to watch a live NBA game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers. All for the price of $25.00. 

Even if the price of admission didn’t include the NBA game, it still was worth the money. Both games had thrilling finishes and went down to the wire with the difference being two points or less in both  Here is a recap…

Cedar Creek 40 Saline 39 (girls) – Alana Gray scored 7 points in the final quarter to make it close but Cedar Creek made their free throws down the stretch to sneak away with the victory. The loss dropped the Lady Bobcats to 6-16 on the year, while the Lady Cougars won their third straight to improve to 10-8 this season.

For three quarters the contest flowed quickly with Cedar Creek taking a slim 30-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Then suddenly the paced slowed, considerably. Only 14 free throws were taken between the two teams before the final frame but over the final eight minutes, the two teams went to the charity stripe a combined 26 times. Saline made 5 of 10, but Cedar Creek made 7 of the incredible 16 free throws they were awarded, led by Leah Sutherland who canned 6 of 8 to help squelch the rally attempt.

Making four 3-pointers, Alana Gray led Saline with a game high 18 points. Kacidy Sims also came up big for Saline with 9 points followed by four points from Alaya Gray and three from Tyla Malone. Sydney Thomas scored two and Jordan Williams made a free throw to round out the Saline scoring. 

Saline 54 Cedar Creek 52 (boys) – Eli Ferguson and Gavon Dailey scored six points each in the fourth quarter, Maddox Williams chipped in four and Jer’Courtney Loyd made a basket. They were all needed.

Cedar Creek put on a long range bombing exhibition over the final eight minutes, making five from behind the arc. but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 37-29 lead the Bobcats had built up over the first three quarters.

With Saline dominating play in the paint, the Cougars were forced to rely on their outside game. leading to Cedar Creek to compiling an odd stat of making nine 3-pointers and only 8 two point baskets. 

Saline improved to 13-9 on the year with their fourth in a row over a higher classified opponent and sixth win in their last eight games. By dropping their second game to Saline this season, the Cougars fell to 10-5 and saw their five game winning streak snapped. 

Williams continued his 2024 scoring explosion by leading Saline with 17 points followed by 14 from Ferguson, who continues to impress in his breakout freshman season. Dailey scored eight and Trent Ledbetter, Loyd and Connor Roberts all finished with five each.