Now that high school football is over locally, sports fans in Vernon Parish can turn their attention to basketball. In fact, to win a state title in Louisiana small school ranks, you must go through Vernon Parish. It would take more pages than we can publish here to detail the rich championship history of high school basketball in Vernon Parish since the late 1970’s.
GIRLS
In recent play, Rosepine lost in the 2022 Class AA semi-finals but rebounded to win the Division III non-select state championship in 2023 as the number one seed in their division. This season the Lady Eagles are 4-1 with wins over Fairview, 4-A Jennings, and 5-A Carencro.
The Hicks Lady Pirates lost in the 2023 Division V non-select quarterfinals after winning state Class C titles in 2022, 2021, 2020, and a Class B state championship in 2019. They’ve started this season 10-0.
Anacoco’s Lady Indians lost in the Class B semi-finals in 2022. They are off to an 8-2 start this season with five wins in a row at the time of this publication.
This year among Class C schools, Simpson is off to a 7-2 start; Evans is 4-5; while Hornbeck is 6-2. Leesville (4-A) has just started playing but are 2-0 with wins over Peabody (4-A) and Pineville (5-A). Pickering (2-A) has just started their season and is currently 1-1.
Pitkin (6-5) in Class B has come alive lately, winning four in a row with three impressive wins at the Family Christian Tournament in Baton Rouge, where they defeated 5-A St. Joseph’s Academy, 3-A Parkview Baptist, and 3-A University Lab.
BOYS
The boys’ side of Vernon Parish roundball is alive and well! In 2023, Anacoco lost in the Division V finals to Zwolle. They lost by two points in the 2022 Class B finals and they lost in the 2021 finals. Anacoco currently sits at 8-3 and they’ve won five out of their last six, including a 36-35 win over 5-A Sam Houston.
The Simpson Broncos won the 2021 state Class C title in overtime but lost in the 2022 quarterfinals. The Broncos are 4-4 early in the 2024 season. The Hicks Pirates are 6-3 with an impressive win over 4-A Tioga. Hornbeck sits at 5-3 while Evans is 7-2.
Rosepine (1-1), Pickering (1-2) and Leesville (1-1) are just getting their football athletes involved. Pitkin (7-3) is off to a quick start with a big win over Fairview.
The road to the LHSAA Marsh Madness leads through Vernon Parish. See the best the parish has to offer when the Annual Vernon Parish Basketball Tournament hits the gym at Rosepine High School on Thursday and Friday, December 21-22.