Former Baseball: Prejean, Methvin top 5A All-State team – Lafayette High School Had Perfect Season

Bruce Brown, Daily Advertiser, March 29, 2012

As the 2012 LHSAA basketball playoffs drew near, the Scotlandville Hornets were being hailed as a team head-and-shoulders above other contenders for the boys’ Class 5A crown.

Lafayette High’s Lady Lions, meanwhile, were moving toward a likely battle of unbeatens with Southwood among girls’ programs.

When the dust had settled on the State Farm Top 28 at La. Tech’s Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, Scotlandville had emerged as the champion most thought it was and Lafayette reigned supreme with a defeat of Southwood in the finals.

The 2012 Class 5A All-State Team, selected by members of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, reflects those championship caliber performances.

When Lafayette High defeated Southwood 39-32 in the girls’ championship game, it completed a perfect 35-0 season for second-year head coach Cade Methvin while leaving Southwood a disappointed 35-1.

Methvin, the LSWA Coach of the Year, built his senior-laden team around defense and LHS held the Lady Cowboys to 9-of-54 shooting in the title game.

"Early in the year, we were trying to be pretty," Methvin said. "But that’s not what we are. We’re a blue-collar kind of team, and that’s the way we play.

"When our seniors were freshmen, they made it to this level. They found out that no matter how far you go, you have to battle for every possession, every loose ball, because it can make a difference."

Senior forward Adrienne Prejean was one of the big reasons for the first title in school history for the balanced Lions, and she was named the All-State Most Valuable Player after averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds for LHS.

"We didn’t talk about being 35-0," Prejean said. "We focused on each game, on playing 32 minutes of basketball. Winning state is special, because it’s something you can share."

Behind top vote-getter Prejean on the team are Southwood’s Kourtney Pennywell (15.9 ppg.), Emani White of Chapelle (21 ppg., 4.2 rebounds. 2,9 steals), Northshore’s Bre Warren (15.3 ppg., 4.6 rebounds) and Natchitoches Central’s Victoria Rachal (14 ppg., 5 rebounds).

Making the second team are Katrina Littlepage of Slidell (18.8 ppg., 6.6 rebounds), Donlicia James of West Monroe (18.2 ppg., 10.4 rebounds), Halle Washington of Parkway (14.9 ppg., 9.3 rebounds), KaeLyn Boyd of Hahnville (15.7 ppg.) and Lafayette senior Armanee Broussard (9.6 ppg., 4.0 rebounds).

In boys competition, Scotlandville’s 6-foot-4 senior Cleveland Thomas was named 5A’s Most Valuable Player, averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists per game for the Hornets.

The unanimous All-State choice saved one of his best efforts for last, with 21 points and 11 rebounds as Player of the Game recipient in Scotlandville’s 82-48 domination of McKinley in the title game.

The victory helped the Hornets soothe disappointment from losses in the finals in 2010 and 2011, completing a 36-2 campaign.

McKinley coach T.J. Pugh, who guided his Panthers to the finals despite a lowly No. 14 seeding, was chosen LSWA Coach of the Year. His team finished 23-12 in a near-miss postseason run as an underdog.

Joining Thomas on the first team are Josh Hagins of Airline (15.2 ppg., 7.1 rebounds), Ouachita’s Chris Sumbler (16.4 ppg., 4.1 rebounds), Justin Roberson of Natchitoches Central (18 ppg., 10 rebounds) and 6-foot-6 Montel James of Bonnabel, who averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Second-team members include Comeaux’s Hayward Register (20.1 ppg., 5.6 rebounds), Casey Jones of Higgins (18.8 ppg., 8.4 rebounds), Denzel Flemings of Brother Martin (13.3 ppg.), Donald LeBlanc of St. Amant (17.5 ppg.) and McKinley’s Darryl Milburn (18.2 ppg.).

Athletic Network Footnote:
Cade Methvin is a former UL Baseball player and graduate assistant. Click here for his AN profile.