Fairview’s Reesie Jinks capped an accolade-filled career with one more state championship, while Kane Broussard completed his metamorphosis to lead Lacassine to its first state championship in 61 years to earn American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Small Schools MVP honors.

Jinks

Jinks led the Panthers to their fifth state championship in six seasons, and won her third consecutive state final MVP and Louisiana Sports Writers Association MVP award.

“Everybody’s game plan is centered around her, and five times it worked,” Fairview head coach Kyle Jinks said, referring to the number of state titles. “She accomplished what she wanted to accomplish this year. She did not want to lose the last game of the year. She is just a great point guard.”

The senior point guard averaged 23 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals per game against a schedule that included 15 teams that made it to the state tournament. In the semifinals, she recorded a double-double of 19 points and 11 assists and scored 32 points to beat Bell City 72-65 in the Class B final.

“If we need her to score, she will put up 30 or 40,” Jinks said. “She makes everybody around her better. She puts them in positions to play their strengths. She finds a way to get them the ball in the right spot.”

Broussard

Lacassine head coach Micah Rasberry described Broussard as a pure shooter as a freshman. After a sophomore slump, Broussard dedicated himself to improving every aspect of his game, Rasberry said.

In his final season, he averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists a game for the 32-1 Cardinals. He finished with more than 2,500 career points.

“His thing going into this year was, ‘I have to get into the lab and I want to be a threat from anywhere,’” Rasberry said. “He started to work on his mid-range jumper and his closeouts when they go flying out to him.

“I think this year challenged him more than any. He was forced out of his comfort zone. I thought he did a good job of spreading the wealth and finding his teammates in those situations where he was struggling to get going.”

A high ankle sprain before the playoffs nearly cut his final season short. He missed the regional round but made an impact at the state tournament. He had seven points and 13 rebounds in the semifinals, then exploded in the Class B state championship game with 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Cardinals’ 77-61 win over Avoyelles Public Charter.

Coaches

Hamilton Christian’s Dexter Washington and Oakdale’s Renotta Edwards are the coaches.

After the Warriors lost in the Non-select Division IV state championship game last year, Edwards helped the team regroup and led them to the program’s first No. 1 seed and second state championship in three seasons. The Warriors (26-5) ended the season on a 15-game win streak and beat Oakdale 48-43 in the Non-select Division III final.

Washington led the Warriors to the state championship that eluded them in their previous six trips to the Marsh Madness state tournament. The Warriors (20-7) won their fourth consecutive District 4-1A championship and beat Southern Lab 61-58 in the Select Division IV state championship game at Burton Coliseum.

Small Schools
Boys
First Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
G D.J. Broussard, Vinton Sr. 17.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg
G Javon Vital, Hamilton So. 15.5 ppg, 9 rpg, 7 apg
G Kane Broussard, Lacassine Sr. 21 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 spg
G Seth Ned, Hamilton Sr. 19.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 5.2 apg
G Hayden Brister, Rosepine Sr. 23.7 ppg, 3.2 apg
Second Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
G Jordan Garcia, Lacassine Sr. 16 ppg, 7 rpg
G Cole Doucet, Starks Jr. 32.1 ppg (district)
G Carter Guillory, Reeves Sr. 18 ppg, 8 rpg (district)
F M.J. Clark, DeQuincy Sr. 26.1 ppg, 15 rpg
F Jaheim Levias, Vinton Sr. 14.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg
MVP — Kane Broussard, Lacassine
COACH OF THE YEAR — Dexter Washington, Hamilton
Christian
Girls
First Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
G Payton Herpin, Bell City Jr. 18.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg
G Reesie Jinks, Fairview Sr. 23 ppg
F Miranda Williams, Merryville Jr.15.3 ppg, 13.3 rpg
G Emani Young, Oakdale Sr. 18 ppg, 8 rpg
G Amaya Shine, Rosepine Sr. 14 ppg, 5.2 spg
Second Team
Pos. Player, School Cl. Statistics
F Madelyn Nolan, Starks Sr. 17 ppg, 11 rpg (district)
G Kelsey Williams, Reeves Sr. 12.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg
G Kaylee Bradley, Oakdale Sr. 13 ppg, 6 rpg
G Avery Cournoyer, Merryville So. 26.7 ppg, 5 spg
G Milah Ballou, Hamilton 8th 19.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg
MVP — Reesie Jinks, Fairview
COACH OF THE YEAR — Renotta Edwards, Oakdale