Future Cajuns Gladney, Williams take top honors
DeRidder Dragon Randy Gladney (42) dunks the ball during the Sunday Players Showdown at Lake Charles Boston Gym in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Thursday, November 30, 2017. (Dennis Babineax/Special to the American Press)
Barbe’s Brandi Williams runs the Buc offense against Sulphur at Sulphur High School in Sulphur, Louisiana on Friday, February 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Lake Charles American Press, Kirk Meche)
A pair of future Ragin’ Cajuns headline the American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Large Schools basketball team, with DeRidder’s Randy Gladney taking the Most Outstanding Player on the boys team and Barbe’s Brandi Williams repeating as the Most Outstanding Player on the girls team.
Both Coach of the Year winners are also repeat winners, with Washington-Marion’s Albert Hartwell winning the boys honor and South Beauregard’s Chris Greene taking the girls award.
Gladney, a 6-foot-7 senior forward led the Dragons to a share of the District 3-4A title, averaging 16.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.6 steals per game.
Williams led the Bucs to a third consecutive undefeated District 3-5A title, averaging 16 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
Both Gladney and Williams have signed to play at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Hartwell coached W-M to a perfect record in District 4-3A. Greene led South Beauregard, the 2017 state champion, to a return trip to the state tournament. The Lady K’s reached the semifinal round after winning the District 4-3A championship.
Joining Gladney on the boys first team are junior guard Raymond Guillory of Lake Charles College Prep (17.8 ppg), senior guard Bailey Hardy of St. Louis (17.0 ppg) and the W-M duo of senior forward Michael Thomas (16.3 ppg) and senior guard Jaylin Walker (19.1 ppg).
Comprising the second team are senior guard Dre Bagley of DeRidder (17.0 ppg), junior guard Troy Ford of Jennings (16.8 ppg), junior guard Colby Wilson of Iota (26 ppg), senior forward Micah Blackwell of South Beauregard (17 ppg) and senior center Christian Trahan (16 ppg) of Sulphur.
Joining Williams on the girls first team are senior guard Ashlyn Derouen of South Beauregard (18 ppg), junior guard Domonique Davis of DeRidder (20 ppg), junior guard Kyla Hamilton of Sam Houston (16 ppg) and senior forward Divine Tanks of Barbe (12.3 ppg).
On the second team are sophomore guard Nadailyn Carrier of LaGrange (16 ppg), Madaline Gatte of Iota (16 ppg), Alyx Hardy of St. Louis (13.2 ppg), Claralee Richard of Sulphur (13 ppg), and freshman forward Jeriah Warren of LaGrange (12 ppg).