Sports

Elijah George (2) finds a running lane for his Pine Prairie Panthers as the team played Lake Arthur in a scrimmage Thursday night. He scored a pair of touchdowns in the Panthers’ 14-13 win during the scored portion. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Elijah George (2) finds a running lane for his Pine Prairie Panthers as the team played Lake Arthur in a scrimmage Thursday night. He scored a pair of touchdowns in the Panthers’ 14-13 win during the scored portion. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Starting on the right foot

Rhett Manuel
Monday, August 23, 2021
PINE PRAIRIE -- Head coach Richard Clark will tell you himself it doesn’t mean anything for their win-loss record for the 2021 season. But, when you’ve lost your last 21 varsity football games you take success in any place you can get it.
Sports Headlines

Sports Headlines

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COVID issues overcome football program at VPHS

Rhett Manuel
Monday, August 23, 2021
Ville Platte football recently overcame a quarantine situation within the program. Twenty-six freshman and sophomore players were put into quarantine due to close contact. Those players returned to the program on Thursday, August 19.
Former Ville Platte High basketball standout, Terrian Roy, signs his letter of intent to play for Florida Coastal Prep in Fort Walton Beach. Since then, he has accepted a scholarship to play for Utah State University Eastern in the National Junior College Athletic Association. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Jones)

Former Ville Platte High basketball standout, Terrian Roy, signs his letter of intent to play for Florida Coastal Prep in Fort Walton Beach. Since then, he has accepted a scholarship to play for Utah State University Eastern in the National Junior College Athletic Association. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Jones)

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Continuing to take his shots

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Former Ville Platte High star Terrian Roy has never taken the easy way out in his basketball career. The guard had it drilled in him during his time at Ville Platte High. If you take charges, you get on the floor. Simple as that.
Manuel

Manuel

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Lessons learned so far during Saints preseason

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, August 19, 2021
One preseason game is in the book for the New Orleans Saints on the way to the 2021 NFL season. What did we learn? Well,not much if we’re being frank. I’m of the opinion that you can never take much stock in the preseason action. I’m usually snarky about it and call it “televised football practice.”
The Sacred Heart Trojan defense swarms over Basile High running back Ethan Bazinet (5) before he can gain any positive yardage. The Trojans throttled the Bearcat offense the entire game last season, holding Basile to 18 total yards in a 28-0 win. (Gazette file photo)

The Sacred Heart Trojan defense swarms over Basile High running back Ethan Bazinet (5) before he can gain any positive yardage. The Trojans throttled the Bearcat offense the entire game last season, holding Basile to 18 total yards in a 28-0 win. (Gazette file photo)

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All systems are go

Rhett Manuel
Monday, August 16, 2021
As of now, all systems are go for the 2021-2022 high school athletics seasons. Louisiana High School Athletic Association Executive Director Eddie Bonine and several assistants addressed media across the state on Thursday morning concerning the 2021-2022 athletics seasons for high schools.
Rhett Manuel

Rhett Manuel

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A road less travelled to bigger wins in life

Rhett Manuel
Monday, August 16, 2021
To call it the road less travelled would be inaccurate at best, downright wrong at the worst. Honestly, in my short time here with the Ville Platte Gazette and familiarizing myself with the area, the thing I’ve learned is that it is the more taken road.
Kameron Allen shoots a basket from beyond the arc in a game played at Ville Platte High School. (Photo submitted)

Kameron Allen shoots a basket from beyond the arc in a game played at Ville Platte High School. (Photo submitted)

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From a Panther to a Bengal

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, August 12, 2021
PINE PRAIRIE -- Newly signed LSU-Eunice guard Kameron Allen is a rare breed. Pine Prairie girls basketball coach Renotta Edwards, herself a former high school standout and college basketball player, acknowledges her as one of the best and strongest players she’s ever seen.
Manuel

Manuel

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The Curious Case of Myles Brennan

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Of all the things to decide LSU’s quarterback battle. We thought it might come down to experience. Perhaps comfort in the newly installed offense of new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz. It maybe would even have been decided on the field.
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Manuel

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The day we knew would come is finally here

Rhett Manuel, Sports Editor
Monday, August 9, 2021
We knew the day would come. We tried to prepare for it the best way we knew how. We kicked the can down the road as much as we could. We lied to ourselves. We told ourselves it would last forever. However, that isn’t how sports work.
Dr. Hosea “Joey” Soileau (left) and local physical therapist Andy Poché (right) conduct vision screenings on two high school athletes at the athletic physicals held Thursday, July 29, at Healthworks Rehab in Ville Platte. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Dr. Hosea “Joey” Soileau (left) and local physical therapist Andy Poché (right) conduct vision screenings on two high school athletes at the athletic physicals held Thursday, July 29, at Healthworks Rehab in Ville Platte. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Normal times

News Staff
Thursday, August 5, 2021
With uncertainty hanging in the air due to recent developments, now more than ever people are clinging onto sports for comfort. Area student-athletes in particular have been preparing themselves all summer in anticipation for the 2021-2022 LHSAA fall sports season.
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