By: TRACEY JAGNEAUX
Sports Editor
BASILE -- What do you get when you cross a soft spoken, mild-mannered young man having great leadership skills with a body chiseled in the fashion of a teenage Herschel Walker? You get this year’s Evangeline Parish Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Andre Reed, known as “Bubba” to his family and friends, has garnered a couple of high stakes post-season awards for his play in 2017. The junior Basile Bearcat linebacker was not only named as the MVP of the parish, but was also tabbed as the MVP of District 4-1A. Reed was also a first team all-district selection on offense at the running back position.
Reed accomplished the double recognition by helping lead the Bearcats to an overall record of 9-4 and a trip to the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A playoffs. Reed collected 105 tackles on the season including nine tackles for loss. Reed also recorded one sack and two interceptions.
For Reed, playing the sport of football, has always been a passion. “I have always wanted to play football since I can remember,” stated Reed. “I started playing the game when I was five years old and continued playing throughout my junior high years. When I was younger, my uncles were my coaches. When I was seven, our team went to the flag football championship game and when I was in the nine and ten- year old league we went back to the tackle football championships and lost to South Cameron. So, playing football has always been in my blood.”
Although Reed has the talent to play the game, coming into high school he was still green when it came to the knowledge of the game. That has all changed for Reed over the last three seasons, as he has gradually progressed to the gridiron start he is today.
“My freshman year, I learned a lot from the upper classmen,” said Reed. “Last year, I was still learning the process because I was trying to learn the rover position for the first time. This year, because I have learned a lot the past two seasons, I can teach the other players what it means to be a good linebacker.”
“Having more and more knowledge about my position means I can play faster,” Reed continued. “Now, everything just happens. There is no more thinking. I can react a whole lot better than before.”
Despite the success that Basile encountered this past year, there were those outside the program that doubted the Bearcats would get to the quarterfinals, let alone make it to the playoffs, especially after the 1-3 start to the season. But, Reed and his teammates did not buy into the distractions and talk from the fringe.
“We did not have any doubt that we would be where we were at the end of the season,” commented Reed. “When we looked at the schedule at the beginning of the year, we knew that there would be some tough games to start. But, later on in the year we knew we could play with teams and win.”
Reflecting back on the 2017 season, Reed was able to pinpoint games that he felt he was at his best and when he was at his worst.
“If I had to say, I think my worst performance came against Sacred Heart,” said Reed. “I was just off all night. It was bad all around, even on offense. My best game was against Grand Lake. In that game, it took everybody to do their job at each position and because everyone did their job we were able to come out with the win.”
Both Reed and the Bearcats were grateful for the tremendous season, especially being able to reel off eight wins in a row to get them to the quarterfinals. However, Reed knows that he and his comrades on the gridiron have to continue to work hard to reach the next level.
“I know I need to get faster and bigger for sure during the offseason,” stated Reed. “Even though I am playing basketball right now, I still get in the weight room and work out every day. It is going to be about heart for us next year, not about size. We will still be one of the smallest teams around the area, but I think if we continue to play with heart, the sky is the limit.”