District 6-5A title should be a tough court battle

With the football season nearing its conclusion, the high-school hardwood is about to take center stage when it comes to discussion of area rivalries and district championships.

And if last season is any indication, this year’s fight for the District 6-5A championship should provide excitement to basketball fans in the area.

The battle for the last year’s Bayou District championship was focused in Terrebonne Parish, where the Terrebonne Tigers won the title with a 13-1 district record (24-8 overall). The Tigers beat out Ellender for the district crown, while H.L. Bourgeois finished third.

All three advanced out of the Bi-District round, but were beaten in Regionals.

Thibodaux was the fourth Bayou District squad to reach the playoffs, while Central Lafourche, South Lafourche and South Terrebonne failed to reach the playoffs.

As of press time, Terrebonne coach David Neal and Thibodaux coach Tony Clark could not be contacted.

Central Lafourche

The Trojans are one of two District 6-5A teams entering the season with a new head coach. And according to coach Paul Paille, the biggest change to expect from Central Lafourche basketball is in its intangibles. “The most important thing is discipline and leadership,” said Paille. “That’s what we work on, on the court and off the court. That’s what our focus is on. Everything else will come into play if you have the right discipline and leadership.”

One of the players Paille is counting on to provide that leadership is senior Lucas LeBlanc. “Great leader and great athlete who can shoot,” said Paille of LeBlanc. “He can do everything—shoot, dribble—everything. He is our overall best player.”

Two other key players are Sam Wilke and Mike Nowlan. Paille said Wilke’s strong point is his shooting, while Nowland provides the Trojans with size. “He’s six feet five inches. He’s a big guy with guard skills.”

Rounding out the starting lineup are Armond Henry and Derek Bell.

Overall, Paille said his team’s strong points are its shooting and unselfishness. “We shoot well, and are an unselfish team,” he explained. “We play team basketball.”

Still, Paille said throughout the pre-district schedule, his team has to adjust to his coaching style. “Learning to play together, as a team,” he said of improvements he would like to see. “Since we didn’t get to play this summer, learning how to play at my kind of level, and being coached by me and understanding my philosophy.”

Ellender

The Patriots finished 31-5 a year ago but were beaten by Hahnville in the Regional round of the State Playoffs. That squad returns three starters and eight overall players. “We do bring back a little bit of experience,” said coach Scott Gauthreaux. “We lost a lot of our top reserves from last year’s team, but we’re going to bring in a pretty good nucleus from that team.”

Gauthreaux added that his biggest concern will be waiting for his team to gel. “But I think eventually, by district time, we should be coming together as a team.”

Leading the way for the Patriots is senior, and third-year starter, Walter Jones. “He’s a good defender,” said Gauthreaux. “A full-court defender from baseline to baseline. And he’s a good penetrator and scorer.”

Completing the Patriots’ starting five will be Sterling Jones, Jamal Nixon, Bruce Harding and John Woodside. “Sterling runs the floor well, rebounds well and is a good shooter,” said Gauthreaux. “Jamal Nixon is a very good defender and attacks the goal very well.”

Gauthreaux said his team’s biggest strength is its speed and quickness—two traits he hopes will create turnovers and easy baskets. “We’re not very big, so we need to utilize our speed and quickness on defense, in order to create some easy opportunities on the offensive end,” said Gauthreaux. “We’d like to play an up-tempo style of defense and pressure the basketball everywhere. Make it hard for the other team to run their offense.”

As for improvements, Gauthreaux said the biggest thing will be entering the season with a positive attitude. “We could be more consistent with the attitudes,” he said. “Just our team chemistry. Getting everybody on the same page … once we get to district.”

H.L. Bourgeois

The Braves enter the season coming off of a third-place finish in District 6-5A. In the playoffs, the Braves beat Rummel 60-48, but loss to East St. John 91-58. From that team, they return no starters, and just two seniors.

Adding to those losses is the absence of starting point guard Stevie Howard due to grades. Howard will rejoin the team on Jan. 8. “We just need to come together and handle the ball collectively as a team,” said coach Andrew Caillouet. “If we can do that, when (Howard) comes back, it’s just going to make us a better team. So that’s the biggest thing for pre-district.”

Caillouet added that his the pre-district schedule will allow for his team to improve its depth. “We played St. Amant (last Wednesday), and played 10 out of 11 kids.”

Dictating the Braves’ offensive philosophy of getting the ball inside to create easy shots will be the team’s size. The team’s big men are Mark Lewis (6-6, 250 lbs.), Josh Lee (6-5), Kiamni Washington (6-2, 225 lbs.) and Sidney Mitchell (6-2, 270 lbs.). “We probably have the most size of anybody around,” said Caillouet. “I’ve had bigger teams than this before, but it’s probably the most size and most physical team I’ve ever coached.”

Currently, junior Jordan Steib is manning the point guard spot, but will move to shooting guard when Howard returns.

While the inside game is the Braves’ strength, Caillouet said his team also has effective outside shooters. “I think it’s going to start in (the post),” he explained, “but we have some kids who are very capable of shooting the outside jumper. A lot of teams, with our size, are going to end up zoning us. I think we have some kids are going to be so-called zone-busters … who can really fill it up from the three-point line.”

South Lafourche

The Tarpons will count on two returning starters to pace them this season—Brent Adams and Lane Fillinich. “They’re going to have to bring senior leadership for us,” said coach Brian Callais. “They’re some experienced players, so they’re going to bring us some experience on the varsity level.”

Callais said Adams brings athleticism to the court, while Fillinich contributes versatility. “Brent, he’s an athletic person,” the coach said. “He can really jump, and if he can get a little more confidence on the offensive side, he’s going to have to score for us this year.

“Lane, last year, had to play inside for us a lot. We’re hoping we can move him out, as a forward. But it looks like he’s going to have to end up playing both for us. At times he’s going to have to be inside, and, because he can shoot the basketball, hopefully we can get him outside.”

Other players that Callais said will get significant playing time are sophomores Ryan Leday, Brenner Callais and Cyle Fonseca. “(Cyle) had a little bit of experience for us last year, as a sophomore, and he’ll hopefully be our main scorer. He can really shoot the basketball when he’s on.”

He added because of his team’s lack of height, it will be important to use its speed to create turnovers and easy baskets. “We’ve got to find a way to overcome our size,”

South Terrebonne

Despite entering the season with four seniors in its starting lineup, South Terrebonne is starting its season with an inexperienced roster. “Yes, inexperienced,” said coach Greg Cook. “They haven’t had a chance to get out there and really run.”

The four seniors starters are Joshua Nells, Jade Voisen, Dabari Vincent and Derrick Breaux. Rounding out the starting lineup is sophomore Rondale Livas. “Dabari Vincent is a strong rebounder, and a surprisingly good shooter,” said Cook. “I’m looking for good things from Rondale, also. To direct traffic with the team, and get us in the proper positions.”

Cook added that Nells is being counted on as the team’s best defensive player.

Offensively, Cook said his team will play an up-tempo style of basketball because of its lack of height—its tallest player is 6-foot-2-inch freshman Kentrell Boldin. “We like to run,” said Cook. “We want to get out and go. We can play a slowed down game if necessary, but I like to get out and go, and let the kids play.”

To allow its up-tempo style of play to reach its maximum effectiveness, Cook said his team needs to improve its aggressiveness. “I have a good group of kids, and sometimes maybe they’re too good,” said Cook. “I need them to be a little more aggressive. Get after the ball a little more. That and their court awareness (are areas for improvement).”

Other than the four seniors, South Terrebonne will be putting a young team on the court. “I have a few freshman who are going to see some playing time,” explained Cook. “That, along with the good sophomore’s I had last year—we’re going to be pretty good for a couple of years now.”