Sports

Suzy Fontenot (right) presents new Ville Platte High School head football coach Chris Bland (center) with a copy of Sharpened Iron: The Tee Cotton Bowl Story. Pictured on the left is Tee Cotton Bowl co-founder Tim Fontenot. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Suzy Fontenot (right) presents new Ville Platte High School head football coach Chris Bland (center) with a copy of Sharpened Iron: The Tee Cotton Bowl Story. Pictured on the left is Tee Cotton Bowl co-founder Tim Fontenot. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

An oxymoronic hire

By: TONY MARKS Editor Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “oxymoron” as “a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness).” In a broader sense, the word is also defined as “something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements.
Manuel

Manuel

Mulkey needs one more lesson to be among all-timers

There aren’t many names in sports right now, either college or professional, that are generating headlines quite like LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey currently is. The veteran coach and proud owner of four basketball national championship wins is a lot of things.
Breanna Ardoin (left) and Kali Shiver (right) were named Evangeline Parish’s Co-Most Valuable Players in girls’ basketball after helping lead their Sacred Heart Lady Trojan team to a state tournament appearance at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Breanna Ardoin (left) and Kali Shiver (right) were named Evangeline Parish’s Co-Most Valuable Players in girls’ basketball after helping lead their Sacred Heart Lady Trojan team to a state tournament appearance at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

The court’s finest

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor In business, when a leader is walking out of the door a succession plan is put into place. They are, in a nutshell, how an organization plans to continue to thrive with new leadership in place.
Craig Whittington is pictured as he cuts down the net during his team’s run to its first state tournament appearance. (Photo courtesy of Craig Whittington))

Craig Whittington is pictured as he cuts down the net during his team’s run to its first state tournament appearance. (Photo courtesy of Craig Whittington))

Whittington flips culture at SHS, honored as COY

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor The process to get Sacred Heart to where Evangeline Parish Coach of the Year Craig Whittington wanted them to get to wasn’t necessarily an easy one. It was a 180-degree philosophy shift.
Pine Prairie softball second baseman Khaki Olson (7) throws the ball over to first base as she attempts to record an out. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Pine Prairie softball second baseman Khaki Olson (7) throws the ball over to first base as she attempts to record an out. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Lady Panthers are one win from district crown

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor The red-hot Pine Prairie Lady Panthers find themselves one win away from another District 4-3A district championship after beating Mamou 6-0 on Tuesday night.
Sports Headline

Sports Headline

Seven-run frame leads Blue Jays past Sacred Heart

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor A wild seventh inning gave the St. Edmund Blue Jays a crucial 13-8 win over the Sacred Heart Trojans in District 6-1A baseball play.
Mamou’s Keshawn Guillory (front) and Kevin Jason (back) participate in a relay race during the track meet held Tuesday, March 26, at Pine Prairie. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Mamou’s Keshawn Guillory (front) and Kevin Jason (back) participate in a relay race during the track meet held Tuesday, March 26, at Pine Prairie. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

New facility hopes to usher in new era of PPHS success

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor PINE PRAIRIE – Pine Prairie High School is no stranger to athletic success.
Sports Headline

Sports Headline

Panthers, Trojans snap baseball losing streaks

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor With the baseball regular season winding down, one thing is clear. All of our local teams are in the fight, for better or worse. The Sacred Heart Trojans and Pine Prairie Panthers have hit a recent skid but are hoping to turn it around in time for the playoff season.
The 2024 Girl’s Division V State Powerlifting Runner-up Sacred Heart Lady Trojans are pictured with the trophy. The team finished with 37 points behind Cedar Creek with 66 points. Among those pictured are Madeline Fuselier, Karlee Lafleur, Adeline Launey, Eliza LaHaye, Lily Deshotel, Ali Fontenot, Abbie Quibodeaux, Abbie Perrodin, Haley Dupre, Camille Buller, and Blakelee Thibodeaux. (Gazette photo by Angela DeVille)

The 2024 Girl’s Division V State Powerlifting Runner-up Sacred Heart Lady Trojans are pictured with the trophy. The team finished with 37 points behind Cedar Creek with 66 points. Among those pictured are Madeline Fuselier, Karlee Lafleur, Adeline Launey, Eliza LaHaye, Lily Deshotel, Ali Fontenot, Abbie Quibodeaux, Abbie Perrodin, Haley Dupre, Camille Buller, and Blakelee Thibodeaux. (Gazette photo by Angela DeVille)

Lady Trojans are state runners-up

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor LAFAYETTE – The girls are proving their strength once again. The Sacred Heart powerlifting team made a huge impact on the Division V State Powerlifting Tournament held on Wednesday and Thursday at the Cajundome with the girls’ team finishing as the state runner-up.
The BCE softball team is pictured with the state championship trophy. Team members are Adalynn Fontenot, Brylee Fontenot, Emily Fontenot, Kynaddi Ware, Blaiklee Mire, Callie Johnson, Macy Hebert, Laken Fontenot, Ella Ortego, Angel Tezeno, Callie Byrd, Julie Messer, Laikyn O’Conner, Finley Doucet, Avery Kramer, Madison Messer, Jaidyn Santoro, Aniyah George, Ann-Katherine Vidrine, Vayda Maricle, and Macy Hebert. (Photo courtesy of Chuncey Fontenot)

The BCE softball team is pictured with the state championship trophy. Team members are Adalynn Fontenot, Brylee Fontenot, Emily Fontenot, Kynaddi Ware, Blaiklee Mire, Callie Johnson, Macy Hebert, Laken Fontenot, Ella Ortego, Angel Tezeno, Callie Byrd, Julie Messer, Laikyn O’Conner, Finley Doucet, Avery Kramer, Madison Messer, Jaidyn Santoro, Aniyah George, Ann-Katherine Vidrine, Vayda Maricle, and Macy Hebert. (Photo courtesy of Chuncey Fontenot)

BCE softball wins back-to-back titles

By: TONY MARKS Editor For the second year in a row, Bayou Chicot Elementary won the softball junior high state championship. The team clinched the title with a 1-0 win over East Ouachita and a 1-0 win over LaSalle.