Washington-Marion forward Monte Farmer showed versatility for his size to impact his team in every aspect, while Westlake’s Gabby Guillory expanded her abilities as she led her team back to the state semifinals one more time.

They are the American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Big Schools MVPs.

Farmer

Farmer stands 6-foot-8 but can play any position on the floor and as well as deter opponents on the defensive side. He led the Charging Indians to the District 3-4A championship and a 19-13 record with an eight-game win streak to close out the regular season. The junior forward helped lead W-M to the regional playoffs for a second consecutive season.

“I told him, ‘You have a unique skill set because you can get the ball up the rim and push it,’” W-M head coach Robert Palmer said. “I can put him at the top of the press. I can let him bring the ball down. He can do everything.”

Farmer averaged 17 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, four assists and two steals a game, leading W-M in all five categories.

“He improved in every category,” Palmer said. “I think it was a lot to do with maturity, him getting a little older, but he actually worked pretty hard in the summertime.  It is also being familiar with the guys because they’ve been playing with each other for the last three years.”

In 31 games, he registered 21 double-doubles and three triple-doubles. One of his best was in a 69-48 win over LaGrange on Feb. 11 when he posted 31 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks.

Guillory
Guillory gained more maturity in her final season, even while battling back from an offseason ankle injury, to lead the Rams to the Non-select Division III semifinals for a second consecutive season.

“She is tough,” Westlake head coach Gloria Fontenot said. “She had to battle through all that to come back.

“I felt like Gabby matured a little more and took on more of a leadership role. She was a lot more coachable this year. There were times when we needed her to take over, go get the ball, take over scoring or shut somebody down defensively. Those were things that she could do last year, but this year she knew she needed to do it and it was more of a leadership role.”

The 5-7 senior averaged 17 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 4.8 steals per game for the Rams (20-6). In the No. 6 Rams’ 39-37 win at No. 3 French Settlement, the District 3-3A MVP scored 20 points and had the assist on twin Maddy Guillory’s winning 3-pointer.

“She is fast and very athletic,” Fontenot said. “Once she has the confidence, she can go 100 percent. She still has more
potential that she hasn’t tapped in my opinion.”

Coaches
The coaches are Sulphur’s Adam Coleman and Iowa’s Courtneé Hollins.

Coleman led the Tors to the boys Non-select Division I quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons. The Tors went 30-6, their first 30-win season since 2004, and shared the District 3-5A title with Lafayette.

In her second season at Iowa, Hollins lead Iowa to the girls Non-select Division II semifinals for the first time in program history. Iowa (22-8) won 20-plus games for a second consecutive season.

Big Schools
Boys
First Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
G Ian Malone, Sulphur Sr. 21.8 ppg, 2.7 apg
F Monte Farmer, W-M Jr. 17 ppg, 13 rpg, 5 bpg
G Jeremy Legros, Jennings Sr. 24 ppg (district)
G Juriah Matthews, LCCP Jr. 11 ppg (district)
G Ryan Allen, Westlake Sr. 24.3 ppg (district)
Second Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
G Carson Thibodeaux, Sulphur Sr. 14.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg
G Cohen Charles, Iowa Sr. 13 ppg, 9 rpg (district)
G Kevin Rideau, Westlake Sr. 15 ppg, 7.3 rpg (district)
F Evan Burns, LCCP Jr. 9 ppg, 7.5 rpg (district)
G Carter Malveaux, Sam Houston Sr. 10 ppg, 5 apg (district)
MVP — Monte Farmer, Washington-Marion
COACH OF THE YEAR — Adam Coleman, Sulphur
Girls
First Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
G Maleigha James, Barbe Sr. 10.6 ppg, 3.2 spg
G Mia Colston, Barbe Sr. 11.1 ppg, 2.8 spg
G Aubrey Young, Iowa Fr. 17 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 spg
G Gabby Guillory, Westlake Sr. 17 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg
F Shyann McCummings, Leesville Sr. 22 ppg, 8 rpg (district)
Second Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
G Kimora Celestine, Iowa Jr. 13 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 spg
G Maddy Guillory, Westlake Sr. 12.2 ppg, 4 rpg, 4.6 apg
G Jolie Baumgarten, S. Beau Sr. 11.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3 apg
G Marleigh Alexis, LaGrange Jr. 15 ppg
F Presley Gunter, Sulphur Jr. 9.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.8 bpg
MVP — Gabby Guillory, Westlake
COACH OF THE YEAR — Courtneé Hollins, Iowa