Cournoyer, Thomas play big at small schools
Merryville’s Andrea Cournoyer dribbles the ball in from the top of the arc on Friday in the Class 1A state championship game.
One of the most prolific girls basketball scorers in state history, Merryville senior Andrea Cournoyer, and an up-and-coming sophomore guard, Hamilton Christian Academy’s Michael Thomas, were at the top of their game this season.
Hamilton Christian’s Michael Thomas (23) draws the foul against St. Mary’s Bailey Shelton (0) during the Marsh Madness LHSAA Division IV Semi-final matchup at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Monday, March 5, 2018. (Dennis Babineax/Special to the American Press)
The duo have been selected as this year’s American Press All-Southwest Small School Most Outstanding Play.
Cournoyer led the Panthers to the Class 1A state final two of the last three years and averaged more than 34 points game. The Louisiana-Lafayette signee finished her career with more than 5,400 points.
It marks the third consecutive year that Cournoyer has won the MOP honor.
Thomas helped take a young Warriors team to the Division IV state semifinals for the second consecutive year, averaging 17 points, 8.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Small School Coach of the Year honors went to Singer boys basketball head coach Cary Collins and Lake Arthur girls basketball head coach Vickie Sketoe, her second in a row.
Collins led the Hornets to the semifinals for the first time in 45 years.
Sketoe took the Tigers to the state final for the first time since 1979.
Joining Cournoyer on the first team are speedy Lake Arthur point guard and District 6-2A MVP Jamaya Levy (17 ppg), who led the Tigers to the state final, Fairview senior Maddisen Martin (25.1 ppg), Oakdale junior KaMaesha St. Andre (16.1ppg, 9.4 rpg) and Rosepine senior guard Cheyanne Vander (10.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.8 apg) who led the Eagles to the state semifinals for the first time since 1979.
Other boys first-team honorees are Grand Lake senior Andrew Young (20 ppg), Pitkin sophomore Garrett Edwards (29.2 ppg), Singer senior Cameron Sandifer (27 ppg) and Hathaway junior Trey Blanchard (17.7 ppg).
On the girls second team are Kinder junior Brooklyn Fontenot (14 ppg), Oakdale’s Sanna St. Andre (21.3 ppg), Merryville freshman Maddie Mahfouz (14 ppg), Lacassine senior guard Kassi Thibodeaux (12.2 ppg) and Lake Arthur sophomore forward Diamond Brister (14 ppg).
The boys second team includes Lake Arthur’s Torrel Levias (16 ppg), senior Kevin Anderson (18.6 ppg) of Vinton, Merryville senior Peyton Day (18.8 ppg), Elton senior Derick Finley (20 ppg) and Hamilton Christian sophomore Adrian Brown (17 ppg).