Last year, at the beginning of the high school basketball season, the Vernon Parish Journal had a story on the caliber of basketball played in West Central Louisiana from the smallest schools in the state. We detailed the number of state titles won by boys’ and girls’ teams from this corner of the state for years, and 2024 was no different! The Rosepine Lady Eagles made it back-to-back state titles in Division III. The Hicks Lady Pirates were state runner-up to local rival Fairview in Division V. The Anacoco boys lost in the Division V finals for the second year in a row to Sabine Parish rival Zwolle.
The individual awards also came rolling into Vernon Parish. Kelly Norris and Addison Fruge of Rosepine were named by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association to the Class AA All-State First Team. Norris, an LSU-A signee, was also named Outstanding Player in the State for Class AA. Rosepine Head Coach C.T. Kiely was named State Coach of the Year in Class AA. Six of the ten girls on the first and second teams were from West Central Louisiana and North Louisiana. On the boys’ side in class AA, junior A.J. Berry of Pickering was named to the First Team All-State team. Hayden Brister of Rosepine was named to the Honorable Mention squad in AA.
The LSWA girls Class B All-State team included Reese Stephens of Hicks and her teammate, Shyanne Phillips. Stephens was named Outstanding Player in Class B in Louisiana. Bailey Davis of Anacoco was named All-State second team, and Abbilee Dowden of Anacoco was selected to the Honorable Mention team. Dustin Welch of Anacoco made the LSWA Class B All-State First Team while Hayden Doyle of Hicks was named All-State second team.
In Class C, Parker Alexander of Hornbeck was named to the LSWA All-State second team. Beau Austin of Evans was selected Honorable Mention. On the ladies’ side, freshman Olivia Edwards of Simpson and junior Jaida Davis of Hornbeck were named to the Class C All-State second team.
It was another banner basketball year for Vernon Parish and West Central Louisiana. Don’t expect the 2024-2025 season to be any different. Vernon Parish will represent in basketball at the state level!