LHSAA 'Marsh Madness' boys basketball roundup: Ponchatoula, Catholic-Baton Rouge each claim program's first championship

Bossier, North Central and Newman continue their runs of recent titles

By LaMar Gafford 

Photo of Division I non-select champion Ponchatoula

The LHSAA boys basketball season concluded Friday and Saturday as 10 champions were crowned.

Check the SBLive Louisiana website for recaps on Port Allen, Northwood-Lena, Zwolle and Avoyelles Charter’s title wins.

Ponchatoula 63, New Iberia 48

No matter what happened in the Division I non-select championship game Saturday, a first-time winner was going to be crowned. The Green Wave earned that honor behind junior Allen Graves’ 23 points and 16 rebounds.

Graves also anchored the Ponchatoula defense as the Yellow Jackets shot just 32.7 percent as a team.

New Iberia was led by junior Wayne Randall and his 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Catholic-Baton Rouge 57, Scotlandville 54

It is not often that one beats Scotlandville for a championship at the biggest stage. But Catholic earned its first basketball title in the Division I select championship game by avenging its two previous losses against the Yellow Jackets during the regular season.

Bear senior Connor Green picked up Most Outstanding Player honors with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Scotlandville senior and New Orleans signee Dorian Booker led all scorers with 31 points.

George Washington Carver 34, Madison Prep 25

Many counted out Carver when it lost its trio of Solomon Washington, Dorian Finister and Willie Anderson during the offseason, but it has the last laugh.

Senior Jaylon Hicks scored nine points and earned Most Outstanding Player honors as the Rams won the Division II select championship. Fellow senior Ken’wyion White had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore Daijon Leatherman added seven points, 18 rebounds and four blocks.

Charger sophomore Joshua Smith paced Madison Prep with 10 points.

Bossier 42, Carroll 33

The coaches may change at Bossier, but the expectations remain the same.

The Bearkats won their fourth title in 12 years as first-year coach Justin Collins joined Nick Bohanan and Jeremiah Williams as recent coaches to win titles for them.

Bossier senior Lakavin Thomas had 13 points and nine rebounds to earn Most Outstanding Player of the Division II non-select title game, while Rictavion Johnson paced the Bulldogs with 12 points.

North Central 59, Franklin 55

There is a dynasty brewing at North Central. The Hurricanes picked up their fourth title in five years after defeating Acadiana-area rival Franklin for the Division IV non-select title.

North Central senior Devion Lavergne paced the Canes with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while senior Dailyn Bell scored 16 points and grabbed 12 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting.

Newman 52, Calvary Baptist 42

It was a tale of two halves, but Newman earned its second straight championship. The Greenies won the Division III select championship behind 34 combined points from seniors Christopher Lockett and Canin Jefferson.

Calvary Baptist senior Kameron Kennon led the Cavaliers with 15 points.