Elmer "Lloyd" Matherne
February 15, 2010
Attempt to raise rates denied by insurance dept.
February 18, 2010
Thibodaux senior forward Shavon Coleman took two dribbles toward the 3-point line and stared at the defense.
Central Lafourche defenders swarmed into the paint and cut off Coleman’s driving line, so he swung the ball to the baseline to his teammate Trovon Reed, who buried an open 3-pointer.
The next possession, the situation was the same, except the Trojans guarded the Tigers’ perimeter shooters, leaving the painted area free for Coleman, who drove to the hoop and swooped in for two of his game-high 22 points.
Welcome to the world of District 8-5A boys’ basketball, where opposing coaches are left scratching their heads as to how to contain Thibodaux’s versatile 6-foot-6-inch star, who has led the Tigers to a 10-1 district record this season, putting the team one win away from a district championship.
“He’s so tough to defend,” said Terrebonne coach Byron McPherson earlier in the season. “He’s got the height and the length to give you problems under the basket. But he’s quick enough with good vision to play on the perimeter. He’s a load.”
Thibodaux coach Tony Clark agreed with McPherson’s scouting report and said it’s been a “pleasure” coaching Coleman, whom he describes as a “great kid and a great player.”
“He’s blessed with the ability to play inside and out,” Clark said. “He has great range from the perimeter, but it just so happens that at this level, we use him mostly inside, because he’s the biggest kid on the floor in most games. He’s special.”
Coleman entered his senior season with high expectations following a junior season in which he averaged 29.3 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game, while leading Thibodaux to the second round of the playoffs.
But this season, Coleman has been just as good and has taken on a leadership role for the Tigers.
“I definitely wanted to make my mark on this team in my last year,” Coleman said. “I wanted to elevate my game.”
Clark said his senior has a shy and quiet personality, but he inspires the team with his effort.
“It’s not in his nature to be a really vocal or loud kid,” Clark said. “But he’s definitely one of our leaders. He leads by his actions.”
Those actions have spoken louder than words and he has been on fire when games have counted the most in district play.
Coleman has games of 33, 37 and 40 points in the district season.
The lanky standout nearly topped all of those performances in his last time out and had 36 points in a win against H.L. Bourgeois on Thursday.
“It’s my last year,” Coleman said. “I had to make sure I made my last go-around count.”
Because of his stellar play, Coleman received collegiate interest from several schools around the country.
The Thibodaux standout, who is rated the No. 97 player in America by recruiting Web site Rivals.com, committed to the University of Louisiana-Monroe in December.
Coleman said everything about Monroe made the decision an easy one.
“I love everything,” Coleman said. “It wasn’t a difficult decision for me. Everything about that place I loved.”
Clark said he believes Coleman will be a small forward-type player at the collegiate level.
“I think they will look to use him on the wing,” the coach said. “Take advantage of his athleticism and his quickness. They’ll have to, because he won’t be the biggest kid anymore at the next level.”
Coleman agreed with his coach and said he was told he would play forward with the UL-Monroe.
“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” he said. “For AAU, I’ve guarded, big, small, good and great. It isn’t nothing (sic) to me.”
But in the meantime, Coleman has his eyes on a different prize as he is trying to lead his team deep into the 5A playoffs – a run he hopes to extend into late February.
“We think we’re going to go far,” Coleman said. “We really think we have a chance to make this our year. We want to get to that Dome. We’re not going to let up until we get to the Dome.”
Thibodaux forward Shavon Coleman attempts a reverse layup during the Tigers’ 70-64 win against H.L. Bourgeois on Thursday. Coleman has been the driving force behind Thibodaux’s success this season. * Photo by CASEY GISCLAIR
