NATCHITOCHES:
Dr. David James
December 27, 1962 – February 3, 2022
A memorial visitation will be held at Blanchard-St. Denis on Friday, February 11, 2022 from 5 pm until 8 pm. A private family service will follow on Saturday with concluding services at Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA.

Billie Rae Grayson Vercher
May 30, 1931 – February 1, 2022
Service: Tuesday, February 8 at 11 am at The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Natchitoches

Mary Masters
October 3, 1946 – January 27, 2022
Service: Tuesday, February 8 at 11 am at Bellwood Baptist Church

H. M. Booker
January 11, 1930 – January 29, 2022
Service: Monday, February 7 at 1 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Joseph Earl LaCour, Sr.
April 4, 1935 – January 30, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 12 at 10 am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

Rendrick R. Duke
Feb 24, 1982 – Jan 31, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Charles Benny Cofield
Nov 7, 1946 – Jan 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Junnie Neal
January 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Ronnie G. Free
November 19, 1946 – February 3, 2022
Service: Tuesday, February 8 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

Melinda Knippers
December 1, 1949 – February 3, 2022
Service: Monday, February 7 at 12 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Zwolle

Thelma Anthony
March 22, 1942 – February 5, 2022
Service: Monday, February 7 at 2 pm at Antioch Baptist Church

WINN:
Conrad Allen Broomfield
December 16, 1942 – January 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Barbara Gayle Alderman
October 5, 1943 – January 7, 2022
Arrangements TBA

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According to a Task Force official, On January 18th, 2022 at approximately 10:40 a.m., Natchitoches Police Department Headquarters received a call in reference to gunfire erupting in the area of Natchitoches Thomas Apartments, located at 500 North Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457. Upon arrival, Natchitoches Police Department Officers observed numerous spent shell casings near the intersection of Trudeau and Howell Street.

Based on information gathered during the initial investigation, Natchitoches Police Department Patrol Officer’s conducted an Investigatory Stop on a vehicle fitting the description of one of the Suspect Vehicles. Further investigation into the Suspect Vehicle by the Natchitoches Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, led to a Search Warrant being executed on the Suspect Vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed multiple Controlled Dangerous Substances including approximately 42 grams of Suspected Methamphetamine, approximately 24 grams of Suspected Marijuana, approximately 26 grams of Suspected Crack Cocaine, approximately 8 grams of Suspected Powder Cocaine, 25 Suspected Counterfeit Xanax pills, approximately 8 grams of Suspected Heroin. The Narcotics recovered from the Suspect Vehicle in the Natchitoches Thomas Apartments shooting prompted an investigation by the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force.

An investigation by the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force led to the execution of a Search Warrant at a residence in the 800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. A search of the residence led to the recovery of Narcotics and Weapons. The items seized from the residence included: a plastic bag containing Suspected Marijuana weighing approximately 11 ounces, a glass jar containing Suspected Marijuana weighing approximately 2 pounds and 7 ounces, a plastic bag containing 52 Suspected Xanax pills, 2 Suspected Tramadol pills, 22 Suspected Gabapenatin pills, 20 empty 3.5 gram Cannabis Flower packages, and 2 Glock Handguns.

​As a result of the investigation conducted by the Natchitoches Police Department Patrol Division, Natchitoches Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, and the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, Mr. Demarcus Berguin of Natchitoches, Louisiana was arrested and charged with the following:

LA RS 40:966, POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE I (MARIJUANA) WITH INTENT

LA RS 40:967, POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II (TRAMADOL)

LA RS 40:969, POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE IV (ALPRAZOLAM)

LA RS 14:95.1, POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON (2 COUNTS)

LA RS 14:95E, FIREARM IN THE PRESENCE OF CDS (2 COUNTS)

The shooting in the Natchitoches Thomas Apartments and the narcotics recovered as a result are still under investigation by the Natchitoches Police Department Criminal Investigations Division and the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force.

The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, Natchitoches Police Department, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with federal law enforcement agencies will continue to work diligently in an effort to reduce gun violence in Natchitoches Parish.

The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, Natchitoches Police Department and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Citizens of Natchitoches for their support. Many times an investigation begins with a simple phone call or tip from a concerned citizen. For this reason the Task Force encourages all citizens to report any crimes in their neighborhoods anonymously by calling 318-357-2248, The Natchitoches Police Department, or the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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According to a Task Force official, on Feb. 4 at approximately 8:45 pm, deputies and officers from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Natchitoches Police Department assigned to a Uniformed Tactical Operation (UTO) made contact with two vehicles in the block of Dean St.

During the investigation, Agents identified three individuals:
1- Elbert Vaughn, 26, of the 1400 block of Grace Ave. Natchitoches, La
2- Ja’Terrion Rainey, 21, of the 200 block of Bayou Dr. Clarence, La
3- Johnny Williams, 19, of the 200 block of Cherie Loop Natchitoches, La

While speaking with the three individuals, Agents confirmed that Rainey was wanted for failure to appear for an attempted second degree murder charge and a second degree battery charge. Agents also discovered that Rainey was on supervised parole through the state of Louisiana. As the investigation continued, Agents located the following items inside the vehicle possessed by Rainey and Williams:

• Glock model 23, 40-caliber bearing serial #RTS223 (confirmed stolen through NPD)
• 1 Pint of suspected Promethazine

The following items were located in a vehicle that Vaughn claimed possession of:

• 33- White oval pills marked M367, which were identified as suspected Hydrocone.
• 1- Glock model 23, 40 caliber handgun – bearing serial#: 3 GUM617
• 4- 40 caliber 15 round capacity magazines
• 1- 40 caliber 50 round capacity Drum Magazine
• 1-5.56×45 caliber 60 round capacity Drum Magazine
• 1- 300 blackout rifle bearing serial #: WA-B04744
• Approx. 38 grams of suspected of suspected high grade marijuana
• $1,641.00 US currency located on Vaughn’s person.

Upon conclusion of the investigation, all three subjects were arrested and charged with the following:

Elbert Vaughn IV

• Possession of CDS I (Marijuana)
• Possession of CDS II (Hydrocodone)
• 2 counts –Possession of a firearm in the presence of CDS

Ja’Terrion Rainey:

• 2 counts FTA for criminal plea (attempted second murder / second degree battery)
• Possession of a stolen firearm
• Parole violation

Johnny Williams was arrested and charged with the following:

• Obstruction of Justice
• FTA (Possession of CDS I )
• Possession of legend drug
• Agg. Assault (warrant through NPSO)

All three subjects were issued a District Court date of 4/4/2022 and placed into the NPDC.

Uniformed Tactical Operations are grant funded selective enforcement operations that are supervised by Task Force personnel aimed at the disruption quality of life violations, open air distribution of narcotics, and gun related crimes within the communities of Natchitoches Parish.

The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, Natchitoches Police Department, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with federal law enforcement agencies will continue to work diligently in an effort to reduce the surge in gun violence which has impacted Natchitoches Parish.

The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, Natchitoches Police Department and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Citizens of Natchitoches for their support. Many times an investigation begins with a simple phone call or tip from a concerned citizen. For this reason the Task Force encourages all citizens to report any crimes in their neighborhoods anonymously by calling 318-357-2248, The Natchitoches Police Department, or the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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The body of an unidentified male was recovered from an oxidation pond near Payne Sub-Division in Natchitoches on Wednesday evening according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

An intensive investigation involving Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives, LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Detectives and Natchitoches Police Detectives led to information of the body being in the pond.

On Wednesday evening at approximately 8:30pm, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and a LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Detective traveled to the pond with boats and lighting equipment.

Shortly after arriving on scene, deputies recovered the body of a male.

Natchitoches Parish Asst. Coroner Steven Clanton responded to the scene.

The case is being investigated as a homicide.

The body has been transported to Shreveport for an autopsy to determine positive identification, and the manner and cause of death.

Sheriff Wright stated that detectives are traveling to Shreveport this morning for the autopsy, the investigation is in the early stages.

Due to the sensitivity of our investigation, we are not releasing any further information at this time. Our detectives, along with LaSalle Parish and Natchitoches Police are actively interviewing family and other sources in this case.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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HOUSTON – On a night when Winter Storm Landon iced vast swaths of Texas and the United States, its lengthy arms couldn’t reach Houston Baptist’s Sharp Gymnasium on Thursday.

Northwestern State tied a school record for 3-pointers with 17 as the Demons pulled away late from Houston Baptist in a 97-87 win.

NSU (7-16, 3-3 Southland Conference) won its first true road game of the season by shooting 17-26 (65 percent) from 3-point range and 61 percent overall from the field. HBU shot better than 60 percent for most of the game but finished 55 percent.

“I don’t remember a team shooting like we did tonight, and I know as a shooter that I would have loved to taken the shots that we took tonight,” said NSU coach Mike McConathy. “We got great minutes from so many, and our depth really showed, and I think it wore HBU down late.

“Our second unit came out with spacing, ran the floor and made shots. To shoot 65 percent from 3-point range and 61 percent overall, that’s incredible. I only counted three bad shots in all of those shots.”

Six different Demons made a 3-pointer with five making multiple as NSU started the game 9-10 from deep.

Senior LaTerrance Reed and freshman Carvell Teasett drained four 3-pointers each while sophomore Cedric Garrett and freshman Emareyon McDonald connected on three 3-pointers.

Trailing 79-78 with 5:28 to go, the Demons constructed an 18-3 run to retake the lead and bury the home Huskies.

Reed and Teasett loomed large in the late run as they combined for 13 of those 18 points.

“Magical. This team will be in the history books forever,” said Reed of NSU’s record-tying performance. “It’s a testament to us being ourselves and moving the ball.

“We are a good-shooting team. Coach McConathy preaches that it doesn’t matter who starts, you just have to be ready to play when you come in. We made the most of our minutes tonight.”

NSU’s original 3-point record came in 1993 against UTSA when the Demons made 17-34. The 2022 squad needed eight fewer attempts.

A pair of Reed free throws (7-8 overall) handed NSU the lead for good after a period in which the lead changed hands seven times in the second half.

Teasett scored seven straight points in the run and eventually found an open Garrett, whose 3-pointer nailed the win shut at 92-79.

Reed scored a season-high 21 points, 18 in the second half, to lead four Demons in double figures.

Teasett added 20 points, which is the first game this season in which NSU had multiple 20-point scorers.

Garrett chipped in 13 and Kendal Coleman had 12 points and 13 rebounds, his 10th double double in the last 13 games.

HBU’s Darius Lee dropped 30 points on NSU for the second time in his career, but the Demons silenced him late when the Huskies needed points.

Thursday’s matchup pitted NSU’s bench (54 points) against HBU’s starters (80 points). The Demons held a 54-7 edge in bench points, and the bench bailed out the Demons after poor starts to both halves.

After trailing by double digits in the opening minutes, NSU launched an all-out offensive from the perimeter to build a 48-43 halftime lead.

The Demons made nine of their first 10 3-pointers and finished the half 10-13 (77 percent).

Down 19-7 in the early going, NSU pieced together an 18-6 run to tie the game at 25-25.

The Demons’ second unit authored that comeback with a pair of 3-pointers from McDonald and single treys from Jovan Zelenbaba and Reed, the latter of which tied the scored just under 10 minutes left in the first half.

The bench scored 24 of NSU’s first 33 points anchored by eight from Zelenbaba and seven from Cedric Garrett.

The starters returned and stretched the lead to as many as seven points.

Teasett’s second of consecutive deep balls pushed the Demons edge to 39-32.

The 48 first-half points was the most NSU has scored this season against a Division I opponent.

HBU started on a 19-7 run by making 7-9 from the field and forcing three NSU turnovers.

The Huskies turned 15 NSU turnovers into 25 points, but a late defensive surge allowed NSU to score 22 points off 15 HBU mistakes.

The Huskies’ Zach Iyeyemi scored eight of his 13 first-half points in the early run. He finished with 15 points and was joined by Sam Hofman (14 points), Jade Tse (11) and Brycen Long (10) in double digits.

HBU made quick work of NSU’s five-point halftime lead with a 20-7 run to lead 63-55.

But a Reed 3-pointer sparked a 12-2 NSU run in which Reed scored seven points and vaulted NSU back into the game.

The win is the Demons third straight, and they’ll take it on the road to McNeese (8-15, 2-4 SLC) on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip.

Photo: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

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HOUSTON – Northwestern State was able to check one of their boxes on Thursday evening, but a long scoreless drought and uptick of turnovers cost them the game in a 66-51 game at HBU.

The Lady Demons (9-8, 2-4) with a renewed focus on the rebounding battle after a stretch of tough outcomes, outdueled the Huskies (9-8, 5-1) on the glass 32-23. However, a more than 10-minute scoreless stretch in the middle of the game combined with 22 turnovers on the night gave NSU its first loss this season when winning the rebound war.

“There were a handful of times where we took good shots they just didn’t go in,” head coach Anna Nimz said about the game-defining stretch at the end of the second quarter and into the third. “We’ve been really talking about rebounding and we won that battle today but they (HBU) shot lights out. We played zone, they shot it, we played man they shot it. They did a nice job.”

The Huskies had the early edge in rebounding battle, especially in terms of the second-chance points they created. HBU scored six second-chance points in the first quarter that allowed it to stay with NSU who found an offensive groove at the end of the frame.

The Lady Demons hit three of their final four shots of the quarter and combined with some lengthy defensive possessions and stops could have enjoyed an even bigger lead than 15-14 at the quarter’s end.

The late scoring burst carried over into the first five minutes of the second quarter.

JaMiya Braxton started the second with a 3-pointer from the corner which was followed by another shot clock violation stop by the Demon defense. Monette Bolden dumped in a jumper from the elbow on the next trip and NSU was off to a 9-2 run through the first four-plus minutes of the quarter and held a 26-18 lead.

Jordan Todd scored with 5:21 left in the half on a perfect pass from Braxton who drove around the right elbow, as the final points of the half and in more than 10 minutes of game time for the Lady Demons.

HBU finished the half on a 12-0 run as shot after shot missed the mark and the turnovers began to pile up. The Huskies’ run grew into the second half and they were able to turn an eight-point deficit into a 15-point lead by the time Bolden dropped in a jumper at the 5:44 mark of the third quarter.

Although Bolden’s jumper broke the long drought, it came in the middle of back-to-back 3s from the Huskies who shot 40 percent from beyond the arc for the game. In the 26-2 run, HBU was the hottest they were all night going 9-for-15 from the field during the stretch.

Like they did in the first, the Lady Demons found another bump at the end of the third quarter, finishing three of their final four shots of the period, including back-to-back jumpers from either side of the elbow from Bolden that made it a 54-37 game heading into the fourth.

Jiselle Woodson’s step-back 3-pointer on the second possession was the boost for the 8-2 start to the final period that drew the game back down to 11. Again with a chance to bring the deficit back into single digits, a foul on the rebound gave HBU two more points from the free throw line and an HBU steal on the next NSU possession and resulting layup quickly turned it back into a 15-point margin.

NSU outscored HBU 14-12 in the final period, behind the 8-2 start, but the game-high nine turnovers in the period prevented a bigger run, finishing with their second straight 20-plus turnover game, just the fourth this season.

“We had 22 turnovers and I would say not a whole lot of them were forced,” Nimz said. “Just us slinging the ball around and not being focused in on what we’re doing. I’ve got to keep reminding myself that it’s a process as we keep moving forward.

“Our girls are going to bounce back. They didn’t die, they didn’t give up. When you’re trying to turn something around and get something going everybody wants to win but you have to celebrate the small victories. We’ve been talking about rebounds forever and we got that one, so that’s the one I’m going to take from tonight.”

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By Tommy Rush

Everyday we hear sad stories of tragic deaths. One of those stories this week was the death of a young lady named Chelsie Krysts. Miss Krysts in 2019 was crowned Miss USA, a 30 years old who left behind many family members and friends who loved her. New reports indicated that she took her life by jumping from her 60th floor apartment balcony right after leaving an Instagram post expressing that she hoped her death would provide everyone with rest and peace.

I don’t know or claim to know the details of why this young lady felt so hopeless and discouraged. I do know that we live in a world filled with people who feel a sense of hopelessness and despair. I also know that it is very easy to allow these thoughts and feelings to rob us of life and peace if we are not careful. It is never good to allow hopeless thoughts such as“I can’t do anything right,” “Life is meaningless,” It’s always my fault,” or “God could never love me” to settle in our mind.

David, who wrote many of the Psalms, had many difficulties and problems in his life but he shared some words in Psalm 139 that indicate how he lived a life of hope and praise. Beginning with verse 1, he wrote: “O Lord, You have searched me and You know me … You are familiar with all my ways … You created my inner being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful … All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”

God has uniquely made each one of us. There’s a life, there’s a plan, there’s a future that has your name on it and only your name. You are an original designed by God! Focus your mind and heart on the blessing of this truth rather than living each day constantly comparing your life to the lives of others.

If you are struggling with feelings of hopeless and worth today, I Peter 1:18-20 is a great word to fix your mind on, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to your from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, the lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” You are loved! God made you. God loves you. He died for you, and He wants you to know the life He has planned for you!

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NATCHITOCHES – Services have been set for N-Club Hall of Famer Dr. Mixon Bankston.

A four-year track and field letterman for legendary coach Walter Ledet’s track and field juggernaut, Bankston passed away Jan. 27. Bankston’s service is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria.

Friends and family can offer their condolences from 12:30 p.m. until the start of the service.

Bankston, nicknamed Doc during his collegiate career, helped lead the Demons to four straight Gulf States Conference championships while earning three All-GSC honors in the shot put. Bankston established the NSU and GSC record in his signature event in 1955, the last of his three straight conference titles in the shot.

Also in 1955, Bankston won the shot put title at the prestigious Southwestern Relays. In addition to his shot put exploits, Bankston was a two-year letterman on coach Harry Turpin’s Demon football team, playing end and tackle.

Bankston was inducted into the N-Club Hall of Fame in 1990.

Photo: Matt Vines/NSU Sports Information

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1st Grade – A Honor Roll: Revill Dean, McCall Methvin, Eleanor Picou, Eli Thibodaux, and Kiptin Williams; B Honor Roll: Annah Adkins, Thomas Brunson, Xzaven Colwell, Berkeley Hall, Archer Johnson, Vivian Philen, Charlotte Rhodes, Madelyn Wilkerson, and Finley York

2nd Grade – A Honor Roll: Elizabeth Blakenbaker, Roderick Braden, Jack Brewton, Jax Errington, OJ Hall, Hendrix Harrington, Carter Hough, Gavin Key, Jaxson Norsworthy, Sawyer Pleasant, and Noah Scarborough; B Honor Roll: Murphy Allison, Lila Campbell, Anniston Clark, Cohen Gandy, Justin McKnight, Marilyn Mims, and Addison Poskey

3rd Grade – A Honor Roll: Mackenzie Harper, Hudson Harrington, Heath Methvin, Oliver Picou, and Branch Smith B Honor Roll: Addison Albert, Sam Dean, Colie Matthews, Hadley Mayeaux, Aubree Rachal, Annabeth Thornton, Sutton Vandersteen, and Lillian Wilkerson

4th Grade – A Honor Roll: Aaron Blanchard, Lacey Boyd, Holt Cedars, Brooklyn Clark, Corbyn Gandy, Anna Johnson, Weston LeGrande, and Anistyn Rhodes; B Honor Roll: Madden Cameron, Elise Dauzat, Raylee Hale, Jayd Linebaugh, Roan McClung, Lexie Metoyer, Avery Katherine Sheffield, and Paisley Tilley

5th Grade – A Honor Roll: Macie Cameron, Aaron Campbell, Sydney Culotta, Kollyns Duhon, Emiry Jeane, Amelia Picou, Sophia Pleasant, and Ady Rhodes; B Honor Roll: Thomas Hardee, Tate Hebert, Elijah Huynh, Andrew Johnson, and Brenley Metoyer

6th Grade – A Honor Roll: Lilly Boyd, Chloe Methvin, Jacob Thibodaux, Fisher York, and Jackson York; B Honor Roll: Winn Cedars, Beau Clark, Emme Errington, Avery Evans, Brooklyn Evans, Caitlynn Hernandez, Carter Jackson, Caroline Johnson, Ava Knapp, Madelyn Melder, Wyatt Nelson, Tripp Philen, Gannon Sheffield, Tenley Thornton, Merritt Vandersteen, and Blanchard Williams

7th Grade – A Honor Roll: Camille Armstrong, Halle Campbell, Luc Cross, Kennedy Griffin, Ethel Marie Guidry, Carter Hogg, Abram Nichols, Alayna Rachal, Summer Rushing, Joelee Savell, Molly Smith, John Paul Thibodaux, Alyssa Waters, and Ava Wren; B Honor Roll: Emma Bain, Carter Burks, Cruz Jackson, Malorie LaCaze, Hudson Methvin, Rayanna Norsworthy, Ansley Poskey, and Preston Tilley

8th Grade – A Honor Roll: Ella Hardee, Lila Lewis, Trey Scarborough, Jenna Sklar, Justin Vienne and Grace Wren; B Honor Roll: Cameron Ball, Lainey Bennett, Tyonnah Burton, Jillian Coleman, Jaycie Creamer, Chalin Gandy, Jackson Godfrey, Henry Guillet, Ava Hebert, Tucker Johnson, Mavryk LaCaze, A.J. Lavespere, Matthew Mayeux, Addison Price, Joseph Sklar, Nick Wright, and Cole Yopp

9th Grade – A Honor Roll: Ainsley Armstrong, Cailah Bush, Peter Kautz, Anderson Kelly, Anna Grace Mabile, Georgia Philen, and Destanee Stewart; B Honor Roll: Caden Anthony, Legend Brunson, Luke Johnson, Conor Jordan, Ryan LaCaze, Brianna McConathy, Peyton Mitchell, and Chance Rushing

10th Grade – A Honor Roll: Colton Cross, Ava Errington, Gabby Godfrey, Sophia Hogg, Andrew Kautz, Abigail Rodriguez, Alex Sukerek, and Anna Thibodaux; B Honor Roll: Ben Bienvenu, Ethan Busby, Preston Martinez, Gunner Nash, and Payne Williams

11th Grade – A Honor Roll: Olivia Gillis, Reaves Hogg, Mason McCart, Mason Melder, Trent Middendorf, Adam Parker, and Clary Smiley; B Honor Roll: Caroline Godfrey, Hunter LaGrange, Meredith Methvin, and Anna Peluso

12th Grade – A Honor Roll: Camille Ball, Cameron Bienvenu, Kelsee Bienvenu, Emma Broadway, Gracie Chasteen, Kadence Creamer, Graeme Fidelak, John Henry Ingrish, Anna Kate Jackson, Matthew Johnson, William Mayeux, Sheridan Pesnell, Abigail Ramian, Lily Anna Sklar, Emma Stewart, and Cal Sukerek; B Honor Roll: Kylie Bennett, Sophia Brossett, Will deVargas, Abigail Guillet, Emma Haecker, Daniel Johnson, and Hunter Willis

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Jimmy Ott from 104.5ESPN.COM and Betrivers.com joins Billy West Live and talks Joe Burrow and the upcoming Super Bowl

Jimmy Ott joins Billy West Live and discusses the recent mobile sports betting that has been activated in Louisiana. Jimmy also provides his insight into the recent proliferation of mobile sports betting.

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Father Rudy Hines and son Blake Hines wouldn’t trade anything for their experience as Northwestern State student-athletes, and the Hines family wants to help others create their own NSU experiences.

The family has started the Hines Family Track Scholarship to benefit a track student-athlete that’s also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“I wouldn’t have been able to go to college without an athletics scholarship – it was a blessing from God,” said Rudy Hines. “We were in a better financial position once Blake went to NSU, and we feel like it’s our responsibility to give back to a school that’s been so good to us.

“(NSU football coach) A.L. Williams gave me an opportunity, and (NSU track coach Leon Johnson) gave my son Blake his opportunity, and our experience here as student-athletes couldn’t have gone any better.”

Rudy Hines played receiver from 1975-78 and ran track for one season under coach Jerry Dyes.

Son Blake followed in his father’s track footsteps and competed as a 400 meters runner and an intermediate distance hurdler from 1999-2005.

Rudy Hines was also honored by NSU’s Hall of Distinction, which recognizes business leaders who have made significant contributions to the college of business.

“Rudy and Velma bleed NSU purple, and have for a long time, so their desire to establish a scholarship which will perpetually impact the NSU track and field program and one of its student-athletes makes perfect sense,” said NSU director of athletics Greg Burke. “The fact that they are establishing the scholarship in honor of their son, who has followed in their footsteps as a die-hard Demon fan, makes this announcement even more special.”

The endowed scholarship is established as part of NSU’s ‘Perpetually Purple’ program, which aims to grow the Demons Unlimited Foundation endowment from the current level of nearly $2.6 million to more than $5 million.

The ‘Perpetually Purple’ program has grown to nearly 90 endowed scholarships that allow NSU to provide a sustainable source of scholarship funding that’s separate from efforts to supplement the annual athletics program budget with donations, corporate partnerships and special fund-raising events.

“The ‘Perpetually Purple’ endowment program continues to grow and solidify the athletic department’s ability to offer the full complement of scholarships in all sports per NCAA guidelines,” Burke added.

A minimum commitment of $10,000 is required to create an endowment fund, but that fund can start from any initial outright gift.

Endowments can be established with an outright gift such as cash, a stock transfer or property sale, a life insurance policy, or can be included as a provision in a will or bequest.

Arrangements can be made to fund an endowment over an extended period of time.

Photo: Greg Burke/NSU Photographic Services

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Are pro bass fishermen athletes? This is the same question that’s been asked about another sport. Are NASCAR drivers’ athletes? Well from my perspective, the answer is a resounding “YES,” but there are those who will try to make a case otherwise. To determine if professional bass anglers fall into this category, we must first define athletes. Webster’s definition states: a person who is trained or skilled in exercise, sports or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

Okay, now that we have defined the word “athlete,” let’s look at what anglers go through on a daily basis to determine if they truly fit into this category. A lot of today’s pros will tell you that professional bass fishing is a grind and is considered a young man’s sport. A professional angler hits his prime between the ages of 25 and 45. It’s not to say older anglers (above the age of 45) can’t compete, but their stamina (important by the definition) is not the same level as the younger pros. This is where older anglers may need to take supplements like Nugenix or Maximum Male in order to keep up! Young anglers today are on the water from daylight until dawn. This can make for some very long 10-to-12-hour days on the water. As any pro angler will tell you, that is the difference between being an average angler or a great one….time on the water!

Skilled is another word relevant to the definition. One thing pro angler’s take great pride in is their ability to cast and put a lure in spots that the average angler would never even consider. They can flip or cast a bait into a coffee cup at 25 yards. They can pitch or cast a bait under a boat dock with only a 2-inch clearance. If you want to be impressed, get in the boat with a pro angler and watch the skill level they possess. Just like a NASCAR driver, they also have excellent driving skills and can-do things with a bass boat that many only dreams about. If you get to spend a little time with a pro angler, it won’t take you long to recognize that touring pros are on another level from the average angler. Today’s touring anglers really do define the word “pro.”

The next word that’s part of Webster’s definition of an athlete is “agility.” Believe it or not, anglers today are a fit bunch overall. There are a few potbelly boys on tour, but most are health and fitness enthusiasts. You won’t find many of them eating a McDonald’s sausage biscuit combo for breakfast or two eggs over-easy with a side of bacon. They eat things like power and Nutri-grain bars, oatmeal, or fruit and bran cereal. They drink water and Powerade, or a healthy smoothie. Several anglers are addicted to working out whether it’s in the weight room or running marathons. Today’s anglers are not your grandpa’s professional anglers, these guys can leap small buildings with a single bound! They can hop up on the front deck quicker than Vice President Kamala Harris can deflect a question.

So, “Are professional bass fishermen athletes?” The answer is “yes”…for the most part. When you fish for a living day in and day out and are on the water 10 to 12 hours a day, it takes both strength and stamina. And just like any other sport, it’s also very important to be in great shape mentally. Mental health just might be the toughest and most important part of being a pro angler. The stress, strain, and pressure of trying to find and locate bass on a daily basis can be draining. There’s also the sponsor promotional expectations and obligations required of all pro anglers. They must make appearances and do seminars and radio/internet interviews while also maintaining and updating their social media status. Actually, the tournament itself is sometimes a relief that anglers look forward to the most.

I hope you now have a different level of respect for what it takes to fish at the professional level. It’s a sport that takes a special person or an athlete who can compete with the best anglers on the planet. To hear more about the bass fishing world, tune into Tackle Talk Live every Tuesday at 11:30 on our Facebook page or our YouTube channel. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf

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JOB OPPORTUNITY: ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

POSITION: Animal Control Officer

DESCRIPTION: Enforcement of the Animal Control Ordinance; maintain records and reports regarding impounded animals, animal bites, quarantines, investigations, citations and daily statistics; ability to operate Microsoft Word and Excel; clean and disinfect kennels and cages; provide animals with proper food, water, and medical care; must be available for after hours and weekend work.

EDUCATION: High School diploma or equivalent. Must be a licensed driver.

CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located at 1400 Sabine St. or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches La 71458-0037. Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall, located at 700 Second St., or you can download an application on line at http://www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through February 8, 2022.

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

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Here is a look at the week of Feb. 6-12 at Northwestern State University.

Feb. 6 – Tennis vs. LSU-Alexandria, Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex, 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
Feb. 6 – Cellist Madeline Kabat, Magale Recital Hall, 1 p.m. #
Feb. 6 – NSU Faculty Chamber Players perform Stravinsky’s “Histoire du Soldat,” Magale Recital Hall, 3 p.m. #
Feb. 7 – Celebration of Diversity Concert Series, Magale Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. #
Feb. 8 – Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, Magale Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. #
Feb. 10 – Women’s basketball vs. Houston Baptist, Prather Coliseum, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 – Men’s basketball vs. Houston Baptist, Prather Coliseum, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 11-13 – Softball in Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic, Lady Demon Diamond
Feb. 11 – Lecture recital featuring Rebecca Clarke and Galina Ustvolskaya, Magale Recital Hall, 5:30 p.m. #
Feb. 12 – ACT offered. Check-in at 7:30 a.m. and testing begins at 8 a.m., Kyser Hall.
Feb. 12 – Tennis vs. Texas State, Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex, 11 a.m.,
Feb. 12 – Women’s basketball vs. McNeese, Prather Coliseum, 1 p.m.
Feb. 12 – Men’s basketball vs. McNeese, Prather Coliseum, 3 p.m.

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The Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau accepted the “Louey Award” for Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau/Tourist Commission of the Year (Budget up to $499,000) during the Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) Annual Membership Meeting on Feb. 2 in Alexandria.

The membership meeting and awards dinner was held at the Randolph Riverfront Center. The “Louey Awards” honor and showcase individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the Louisiana tourism industry.

The CVB’s 2021 successes included efforts to collect occupancy taxes from AirBnBs and other short term rentals, strengthening partnerships with local and regional trail organizations, and positive media coverage that resulted in a return of an estimated $192 million in public relations value.

“With a full-time staff of three, this organization continues to prove that with hard work and determination, anything is possible,” said Arlene Gould, Executive Director of the Natchitoches Area CVB. “Natchitoches was fortunate to see only an 8% loss of occupancy taxes in 2020 and to see 2021 occupancy tax collections exceed revenues received in 2019.”

Gould, with NACVB Director of Marketing Kelli West and NACVB Groups and Sales Manager Leanna Coy, was present to receive the award, alongside Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission Chairman David Guillet and Commissioner Mardy Summerlin.

In addition to the awards dinner, the Annual Meeting consisted of a graduation luncheon recognizing 2021 Louisiana Travel Leadership Academy and Certified Travel Specialist (CTS) participants. Coy was recognized as a graduate of the CTS program and received her certificate of completion during the luncheon.

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NATCHITOCHES:
Billie Rae Grayson Vercher
May 30, 1931 – February 1, 2022
Service: Tuesday, February 8 at 11 am at The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Natchitoches

Mary Linn Wernet
January 31, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 11 am at Trinity Episcopal Church

Argie V. Scarbrough Colston
January 31, 1931 – February 2, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 11 am at Bellwood Baptist Church

Mary Masters
October 3, 1946 – January 27, 2022
Service: Tuesday, February 8 at 11 am at Bellwood Baptist Church

H. M. Booker
January 11, 1930 – January 29, 2022
Service: Monday, February 7 at 1 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Joseph Earl LaCour, Sr.
April 4, 1935 – January 30, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 12 at 10 am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

Rendrick R. Duke
Feb 24, 1982 – Jan 31, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Annie Wilson
Arrangements TBA

Lonnie Green
May 30, 1952 – Jan 23, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 2 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Charles Benny Cofield
Nov 7, 1946 – Jan 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Junnie Neal
January 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Donald Ray Jackson
January 16, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 11 am at the Greenville Baptist Church in Clarence

Frederick Lawson
Aug 15, 1956 – Jan 26, 2022
Service: Friday, February 4 at 10 am in Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

James Rachal
Arrangements TBA

Irene Johnson
Walk-through visitation/viewing: Friday, February 4 from 3-7 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches, coupled with a private family funeral service on the following day at the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Natchez (formerly called the Bermuda Community). Interment in the church’s cemetery will immediately follow that family celebration.

SABINE:
Dorothy Pugh
January 29, 1951 – January 25, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 10 am at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church (Toro Community)

WINN:
Marlene Vivian Wilson Ford
June 25, 1934 – February 01, 2022
Service: Friday, February 4 at 1 pm in the Southern Funeral Home Chapel

CHARLES KYRON BARTON
July 05, 1949 – February 01, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 4 pm at Southern Funeral Home

Conrad Allen Broomfield
December 16, 1942 – January 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Barbara Gayle Alderman
October 5, 1943 – January 7, 2022
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER:
Martha Sue Raphiel
December 23, 1937 – January 29, 2022
A graveside memorial service will be held in the spring for family and friends. Interment will be at Bethany Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery at Fairview Alpha, Louisiana.

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The City of Natchitoches would like to notify the public, a Town Hall Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 pm at the Cane River Brewing Company “The Brewery” located at 108 Mill Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457.

The purpose of the meeting is for Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. to present detailed information from the State of the City Address and answer any questions from the public.

For more information, please contact (318)352-2772.

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The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will present a concert on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Tickets are $15 and free for Northwestern State, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts students with a current student I.D. University COVID protocols will be in effect. Those attending are asked to wear a mask.  Douglas Bakenhus is music director of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and Juan Pablo Paternina Paez is graduate assistant conductor.

The concert will be highlighted by NSU student Edgardo David Paz, the 2021 NSU Concerto winner and the performance of Florence Price’s “Ethiopia’s Shadow in America.” Paz will be featured on Gershwin’s “Concerto for Piano in F.” Price’s “Ethiopia’s Shadow in America” was discovered, along with several other works, in her summer home in 2009. She passed away in 1953 and probably never heard it. The work was premiered in her home state in 2015 by the University of Arkansas Symphony.

Originally from Honduras, Paz started piano lessons with Sergio Suazo at the age of nine at the Escuela Primaria de Aplicación Musical. In 2012, he graduated from the Escuela de Música Victoriano Lopez with musical performance diploma concentrating in piano. In 2017, he studied with Dr. Ellen Elder at the University of Southern Mississippi. Paz has gained experience by participating in various piano festivals and master classes. He has worked with Misa Ito from Japan, Carl Blake of Oakland, California, and Ezequiel Barrera from Mexico. In the spring of 2019, he started his bachelor’s degree at Northwestern State. Paz is a senior majoring in music business and music performance. He is a student of Dr. Francis Yang.

The program will also include Mozart’s “Symphony No. 38 in D Major,” Verdi’s “Overture to Nabucco” and “Conga del Fuego Nuevo for Orchestra” by Arturo Márquez.

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Campti Community Development Center’s Community would like to congratulate Peyton, a mentor/mentee of the Outreach Mentoring Program, for being selected as Student of the Year at Magnet Elementary School. She has a passion for reading and spends time with mentees by encouraging them to read. You can often find her in a group with mentees taking turns reading. She is also excellent at storytelling by summarizing a novel that she read.

Her passion for reading has afforded her the opportunity to excel academically. She maintains “Honor Roll” status and has received honors for the district. Peyton now has an opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Washington D. C. this summer.

When Chloe’s father enrolled her in the program, he explained that Chloe was having trouble as she had lost her grandmother, a life-long educator.

Her grandmother was the person primarily responsible for encouraging Chloe academically. Chloe was uninterested in learning. As a part of mentorship, a mentor found out that Chloe not only had a love for reading, but she also had another interest that had been hidden under the shell she created. Chloe’s father previously worked in the film industry and introduced her to a new passion for film. Working with a mentor, Chloe and her friends began recording videos and taking pictures as they spent time with their mentor.

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Even in a chaotic period of transition, the Northwestern State football coaching staff was able to find balance in its recruiting efforts.

The Demons signed eight players on Wednesday’s National Signing Day, adding that to the 11-member early signing class from December. The breakdown on either side of the ball was nearly equal.

“When you combine the two signing periods, you see balance,” said head coach Brad Laird, who begins his fifth season at the helm of his alma mater in September. “When you look at the 19 young men we have signed, you have 11 on offense and eight on defense. We feel like all of them have the opportunity to come in, compete and help this football team this fall.”

Northwestern State’s spring signing class comprised four high school signees, three Division I transfers and a junior college transfer.

The Demons added at all three levels of the offense Wednesday, signing receivers T.J. Johnson (Alexandria Senior High), Jaren Mitchell (Northern Colorado) and Hogan Wasson (Colleyville Heritage HS), offensive linemen Rod Chaney (Kilgore College) and Teeshaun Turpin (North Texas) and running back London Williams (Many High School).

Johnson comes up I-49 to Natchitoches after playing for a state championship at NSU’s Turpin Stadium in December 2020. A four-year letterman, Johnson has been a mainstay on the All-CENLA football and basketball teams in his ASH career.

Mitchell set Northern Colorado’s freshman records for catches (48) and yardage (740) in 2019 while Wasson tallied more than 1,100 receiving yards for a Colleyville Heritage team that reached the Texas regional semifinals.

Turpin and Chaney each helped pave the way for explosive rushing attacks at North Texas and Kilgore, respectively. Turpin helped the Mean Green rush for more than 3,000 yards in 2021 and average 230 yards per game on the ground in 2020.

Behind Chaney and his offensive linemates, Kilgore averaged 542.9 yards per game, including 198.6 per game on the ground. Chaney became the third member of Kilgore’s 2021 team to sign with NSU, joining running backs Kennieth Lacy and Garrison Johnson, who signed in December.

A two-year starter at Many, Williams rushed for 1,501 yards for the Tigers’ state title team in 2020 and nearly doubled that, exploding for 2,646 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns as Many again reached the Class 2A state title game this past December.

“First, you look at the receivers,” Laird said. “We lost some quality receivers last year, and we’ve been trying to replace them. Schematically, the direction we’re going offensively, we wanted to make sure we were able to get some receivers in here. We did, and we will continue to work toward that.

“The four running backs, the ability they have to not just run the football but to catch it as well. They can do a lot of different things. You won’t just see them in the backfield. On the offensive line, we added a couple of key guys, and that position will continue to be a work in progress as we go into spring and summer.”

While defense was a key focal point in NSU’s early signing class, the Demons added two more defenders Wednesday.

Defensive back Jabari Reddock is a transfer from Stony Brook while linebacker Danny Sears continued his family’s Demon legacy, signing with NSU after a standout career at St. Paul’s in Covington.

Reddock had 40 tackles in his Stony Brook career while adding three pass breakups and two sacks. He also played a pivotal role in the Seawolves’ special teams units.

Sears capped a record-setting career at St. Paul’s with a standout senior season that saw him make 139 tackles (14 for loss), 10 sacks, six quarterback hurries and three fumble recoveries. A two-way player, Sears added three rushing touchdowns while establishing the school career record for tackles.

“We have eight guys we’ve signed on defense, and it is about as balanced as you can get from the front end all the way to the back,” Laird said. “We’ve signed three defensive linemen, and when you look at going to a four-man front schematically, we had to fill some holes and we did that. We were able to sign three linebackers and a couple of defensive backs. We needed to add predominantly safeties, and we were able to do that.”

While Sears did not play for a state title in Turpin Stadium in 2020, he joins Williams and Johnson as February signees whose ties to Northwestern State go deeper than a signature on a piece of paper.

Sears’ father, Ken, and his older brother, Kenny, both were Demon lettermen.

“They’re not only good football players, but they’re good storylines for the future,” Laird said. “Many, not too long ago, winning a state championship here in Turpin Stadium. ASH playing for a state championship. Getting London and TJ from around here is huge for us. Then you look at the family connection that Danny Sears has to the university and what his family has meant to this university. It’s great for him to have the opportunity to follow in that legacy.”

Laird credited his coaching staff with pulling together to land a versatile class despite turnover among his assistant coaches.

“Look at what the existing staff was able to do in December, signing guys without coordinators on either side of the ball at that time,” Laird said. “It started with (safeties) coach (Josh) Jones and the job he did as recruiting coordinator and the job the other coaches did and the time they spent on the road. Then you tie in the existing staff with the new staff as we moved into the second recruiting period. It was definitely different.

“A lot changed from the early signing period to this signing period, but you look at the class and you see we’ve added pieces to the puzzle as we continue to move forward.”

2022 Northwestern State Football Signing Class list
Ronnie Caldwell, DB, 5-11, 195, Austin, Texas, Cedar Park HS/Tyler JC
Rod Chaney, OL, 6-6, 330, Houston, Texas, Alief Elsik HS/Kilgore College
Ray Gibson, DL, 6-2, 305, Philadelphia, Mississippi, Neshoba Central HS/East Central CC
Garrison Johnson, RB, 5-11, 212, Manvel, Texas, Manvel HS/Kilgore College
T.J. Johnson, WR, 6-4, 175, Alexandria, Louisiana, Alexandria Senior HS
Kennieth Lacy, RB, 5-9, 185, Kilgore, Texas, Kilgore HS/Kilgore College
JaQuon Lott, DL, 6-4, 315, Lambert, Mississippi, Madison S. Palmer HS/Itawamba CC
Matt Mabry, OL, 6-3, 305, Mendenhall, Mississippi, Mendenhall HS/Jones College
Jaren Mitchell, WR, 5-10, 185, Aubrey, Texas, Hebron HS/Northern Colorado
Tory Morgan, LB, 5-11, 213, New Orleans, Louisiana, Edna Karr HS
Zach Patterson, WR/RS, 5-11, 180, Corinth, Mississippi, Corinth HS/East Mississippi CC
Jabari Reddock, DB, 5-11, 195, Largo, Maryland, Largo HS/Stony Brook
Erick Rogers, WR, 5-11, 190, Shannon, Mississippi, Shannon HS/Copiah-Lincoln CC
Danny Sears, LB, 6-0, 220, Covington, Louisiana, St. Paul’s HS
Christian Thomas, DE, 6-2, 235, Port Arthur, Texas, Memorial HS
Teeshaun Turpin, OL, 6-4, 300, Cleveland, Ohio, Glenville HS/North Texas
Hogan Wasson, WR, 5-10, 175, Colleyville, Texas, Colleyville Heritage HS
Dez Wililams, LB, 6-0, 217, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Cleveland Central HS/Coahoma CC
London Williams, RB, 5-10, 175, Zwolle, Louisiana, Many HS

Photo:  Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

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Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Radio: 95.9FM, Kix Country about 6:45 p.m.
Online: LISTEN LIVE HERE

HOUSTON – Winning can have the power of reinforcing positives that were happening before said winning was taking place.

That’s one way Northwestern State is viewing is pair of home Southland Conference victories this past week as the Demons (6-16, 2-3 SLC) attempt to extend their winning streak on the road Thursday at Houston Baptist (6-12, 2-3 SLC).

The 7 p.m. contest can be streamed on ESPN+ or can be heard on 95.9 FM Kix Country and on nsudemons.com or on the NSU app.

The Demons started league play with road losses at Southeastern, Nicholls and New Orleans, who have a combined SLC record of 11-4.

But NSU could point to plenty of positive trends in those losses, trends that took centerstage in big home wins against Incarnate Word and a 16-win Texas A&M-Corpus Christi squad this past week.

“The main thing is that we’re showing up and playing, we had been doing that, but now we realized that doing these certain things actually impacts games and leads to wins,” said NSU coach Mike McConathy. “(Before last week), we hadn’t found the confidence level to be able to say, ‘Hey, we’re doing some things right and here are those results from it.

“We were doing a lot of things right, but we weren’t having positive results, so they couldn’t visually see or understand it.”

One of those reversing trends includes finishing games in which NSU was in position to win.

The Demons pieced together runs of 27-9 against UIW and 20-8 against the Islanders late in games to pull away to nine- and 14-point wins, respectively.

These late-game finishes came after NSU lost a double-digit second-half lead at Southeastern, were outscored late by UNO twice in losses including having three shots on the final possession to win a Jan. 8 contest, and were outscored 17-6 at Nicholls that broke open a tie game.

For that trend to reverse, NSU needed contributions from a variety of players, not just the headliners.

Junior Robert Chougkaz sunk two 3-pointers, each that handed NSU back the lead, in the second half against UIW.

It was sophomore Jovan Zelenbaba’s 3-point stroke against TAMU-CC (2-2) that supplied second-half juice.

Sophomore Cedric Garrett dropped 14 points against UIW, and five of his eight points vs. TAMU-CC came from the free-throw line in the closing minutes of a performance in which NSU shot 20-25 as a team.

“It’s not about who starts or finishes games … it’s really about which part of the game each guy excels in most,” McConathy said. “Some guys can come in, and you can figure out what they’ve got early.

“Some guys come in and can give you a shot in the arm off the bench. Guys like (Garrett, Zelenbaba, LaTerrance Reed) can come in the game and make a difference. A guy like freshman Shaun Riley is having an impact after watching for about the first three months of the season. Chougkaz is making shots, but he’s also playing as hard as he possibly can. When he runs, he puts pressure on defenses or is getting back in defensive transition and forcing difficult shots over his 7-foot wingspan.”

Garrett said a team of six newcomers with other returners playing larger-than-normal roles is coming together for the stretch run of the season.

Garrett started the first 18 games of the season, but coming off the bench has breathed life back into his season as he’s averaged more than 10 points in his four games after reaching double figures in two of his previous 11 games before that.

“Coming off the bench allows to build on what the starters have already done, and I keep the hot run going,” Garrett said. “Or if we start a little slow, I can be the fresh legs and come in and make shots.

“I like coming off the bench, and it feels like I have a little more confidence because I’m already warm, have been looking at the game and can see what the opponent is doing. It gives me more insight in what I need to do.”

The Houston native is playing his fifth game this season in his hometown after a trip to a ranked Cougars’ squad and a three-game spree in Katy for the SLC Tip-Off event.

“It’ll be nice to play in front of family and friends, and I have little nieces and nephews that’ll be there,” Garrett said. “I’ve got to show out because they look up to me.”

The Huskies started league play 2-1, including a win at TAMU-CC. But HBU has dropped its last two games (both at home) to UNO and Nicholls in games in which they’ve averaged just 63 points and shot 35 percent.

The contest will feature two of the conference’s best posts in Coleman (15 points, 9.3 rebounds) and HBU’s Darius Lee (15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds).

Coleman has double doubles in five of the seven SLC foes he’s faced, and Lee has scored at least 18 points in six of seven contests against SLC opponents.

NSU has won three of the last four meetings in the series, and the Demons could be poised for one of McConathy’s patented winning streaks in conference play.

The Demons won six straight this past season and had separate streaks of four wins and four out of five in 2019-20.

For that to take place, NSU will have to produce its first true road win of the season as the Demons are 0-11 in true road games (not including 1-3 in neutral site contests).

Despite NSU’s 0-3 start to league play, the Demons are just one game out of second place as six of the league’s eight teams are either 3-2 or 2-3. UNO (5-0) has built an early lead in the league standings.

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Tip-off: 5 p.m.
Radio: 95.9FM, Kix Country 4:45 p.m.
Online: LISTEN LIVE HERE

As Northwestern State heads back out on the road for another pair of Southland Conference games, they have one thing on their mind – rebounding.

Not just rebounding the basketball, which has been an even bigger topic of discussion over the past few weeks, but rebounding from a pair of frustration-filled home losses a week ago.

Fortunately for the Lady Demons (9-6, 2-3), the road has been fairly kind to them this season with five of their nine wins coming away from Prather Coliseum, the most road wins of any team in the conference, men or women.

They take a two-game road winning streak with them into Houston on Thursday for a matchup with HBU (8-8, 4-1) set for a 5 p.m. start. The game can be heard locally in the Natchitoches area on 95.9 FM Kix Country.

Since the start of conference play NSU has only outrebounded one opponent in five games, a 36-35 advantage in the dominant scoring win at New Orleans. On the season NSU has won the rebounding battle three times against Division I opponents, seven overall, but have picked up a pair of road win despite a minus-seven or greater rebounding disparity.

One of the first lines on both ends of the floor in the rebounding battle is 6-foot-3 post Jasmin Dixon, who splits minutes evenly with starter Jordan Todd. While Dixon joked that it was “easier for her to out jump people” due to her height, it was still important for everyone to “find a body” when the ball is in the air.

“The biggest emphasis has been getting a body,” Dixon said. “We all like to turn our heads, find the ball and jump for it but that’s not always going to work out for us, especially when we’re going up against bigger girls.”

It has been the ability to score the basketball that has been the saving grace for the Lady Demons in their two wins against Division I opponents where they haven’t controlled the rebounding battle, something that took a dip this past week against UIW and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

“We had been able to score on the other end so that made it not as big of a black eye,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “When you’re not scoring you have to go rebound. Every loss has had some rebounding issues, and that’s not to say we haven’t had rebounding issues in the games we’ve won either, it’s just that our outside shots may have been falling or our percentages were higher or whatever the case.”

The magic number for the Lady Demons appears to be 40. Not just looking for 40 minutes of solid play in each game, but 40 percent shooting for the game. In their five wins against DI opponents, NSU has shot over 40 percent from the field in all but one game, that being a 39 percent effort at Nicholls. In their seven loses all but one has been below 35 percent. The Lady Demons shot exactly 40 percent in the loss to TAMUCC, recovering from a 3-for-13 start to the game, but the minus-13 rebounding margin and the point deficit were too much to fully overcome.

“I think we forced some shots late in the game against UIW, but collectively I think we’ve moved the ball well, made the extra pass and played selflessly,” Nimz said. “That’s what you want to see as a coach. They created a wide-open shot and the ball’s just not going in. I think they were good shots, the girls worked hard for them, they deserve for a lot of them to go in, but they just haven’t been falling in Prather.”

The Lady Demons play their next game in Prather on Feb. 10 against the same HBU team they will see on Thursday night at Sharp Gym in Houston, just on the other side of town from where Dixon spent her high school days.

“I’m excited about it,” Dixon said about playing back in Houston again. “I haven’t had the chance to get many people here (Natchitoches) because it’s so far away from home so just extremely excited to go home and play.”

The Huskies have won four of their last five games, with their only loss coming at TAMUCC, and have the best 3-point shooting defense with a league-leading 3.94 blocked shots per game as well.

NSU will reach the halfway point of the conference schedule this weekend, and with each passing game the Lady Demons continue to refine the spots of development that just come with time and playing together within a system.

“We have to have a better feel for the game,” Nimz said. “A lot of time we live and die by the quick shot. We have some kids that can really create and do some incredibly athletic things.

“Where some people might see those as rushed shots, they have the skill sets to take them, but it’s more so about reading the game. It’s not the shot we need right now. That’s another area of growth and that just comes with time.”

Photo: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

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