MICHAEL KIRAL

The 2000-01 season was another successful one for boys basketball in the River Parishes. Eight of the nine teams advanced to the state playoffs with Hahnville, St. James and Reserve Christian winning district titles. Riverside won its first playoff game in the LHSAA and Lutcher its first since the 1980s. St. James advanced to the Top 28 Tournament for the second straight year before losing to Rayville in the finals.

Donnie Francois Lutcher Senior Guard Most Valuable Player

What Francois meant to the Bulldogs in 2000-01 can be summed up in one statistic – Lutcher was 21-4 with him and 2-8 without him.Francois guided the Bulldogs on and off the court. He got it done scoring-wise as well, leading the River Parishes with a 19.9 points per game average.Against Pointe Coupee Central in the Class 3A bi-district playoffs, Francois scored 17 points to help the Bulldogs to a 79-70 victory, their first in a playoff game since 1988. He added 19 points in the Bulldogs loss to Westgate in the regionals. “It went pretty good for us,” Francois said of the season. We accomplished a lot but we wanted to go the “big dance.” Francois was the MVP of District 9-3A after helping Lutcher to a second-place finish with a 6-2 record. He was also recently named to the all-Metro team.”Donnie was our leader on and off the floor,” Lutcher head coach Mike McNamara said. “And not just point-wise. He did everything any coach could ask of a player. His ability made the team better. Hes a real unselfish player.”

Lionel Ezidore St. James Coach of the Year

When the 2000-01 season started, few expected St. James to be in the hunt to defend their Class 3A state title. Gone from that team were three all-River Parishes selections, including MVP Corey Webster. Those three players accounted for over 51 points per game.Ezidore would be bringing in a team that had just four seniors and no player over 6-5. Seniors Stevenson Jones and Justin Aubert were the only players returning who averaged over eight points per game last season.But this years version of the Wildcats would show what teamwork was all about. At least five times the team had at least five players in double figures. St. James overcame an early district loss to defend its District 9-3A title. After victories over St. Bernard, Redemptorist and Port Allen in the playoffs, the Wildcats advanced to the Top 28 Tournament for the second straight year. There, St. James overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Minden in the semifinals. A near-flawless performance by Rayville in the championship game ended the Wildcats drive for a second straight title.

Aaron Alexander Hahnville Senior Center

Alexander was a force in the middle for the Tigers in their run to a second straight District 7-5A title. The senior center, making his second straight all-River Parishes appearance, was also named the outstanding player on the all-District 7-5A team.

Alton Alexander St. Charles Catholic Sophomore Forward

Alexander controlled the middle for the Comets, helping them to a berth in the Class 3A playoffs. He got it done on both ends of the court, averaging 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game in being named to the all-District 9-3A second team.

Dwayne Bastain West St. John Senior Center

Bastain wrapped up a standout career with a solid senior season. He averaged a double double in 2000-01, scoring 17.5 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per game. In the regional game against Jackson, Bastain scored a team-high 23 points. He finished the season as a first-team all-District 9-2A selection.

Harold Comminie Hahnville Senior Guard

Comminie was the floor-leader for the Tigers in 2000-01. The reigning District 7-5A MVP had another solid season in helping the Tigers to a second straight district title. This is Comminies second consecutive all-River Parishes appearance.

Louis Gardner East St. John Senior Center

Gardner led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points per game. The senior center finished his career with an honorable-mention all-District 7-5A selection. Gardner is making his second straight appearance on the all-River Parishes team.

Devin Herbert West St. John Junior Guard

Herbert, the quarterback on the football team, also quarterbacked the basketball team this season. The second team all-District 9-2A selection averaged 14 points per game in leading the Rams to the regionals.

Chris Johnson Lutcher Senior Guard

Johnson, a standout in football, stepped right back into it on the basketball court. The senior guard made the all-District 9-3A team after helping the Bulldogs to a 22-13 overall record. He was especially effective on the defensive end, earning defensive MVP honors in the district.

Stevenson Jones St. James Senior Forward

Jones, along with Justin Aubert and Henry Washing-ton, helped provide senior leadership for a young Wildcats team. The senior forward was an all-District 9-3A first team selection. He led all Wildcats scorers in the state championship game with 23 points while pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds.

Scottey Manson Riverside Senior Center

Manson was the main man in the middle for the Rebels in 2000-01. The senior center earned second team all-District 9-2A honors after averaging 12 points per game.

Matt McGee Reserve Christian Senior Center

McGee was one of the big men inside that helped Reserve Christian to a third straight District 12-B title in 2000-01. The senior center was an all-Metro selection and the MVP in District 12-B. He finished his career with an average of 14.3 points and 12 rebounds per game in his senior season.

Daress Nicholas St. Charles Catholic Junior Guard

Nicholas is making his second straight all-River Parishes appearance after averaging 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a junior. He was also a second team all-District 9-3A selection. Nicholas capped the season with a game-high 25-points in the bi-district loss to L.B. Landry.

Craig Tearney Riverside Senior Guard

Tearney capped off an historical career in 2000-01. The four year-starter scored his 1,000-point against Buras in January. Tearney went on to earn first-team all-District 9-2A honors for the second straight season after averaging 14 points per game.Tearney had two more memorable moments this season. He helped the Rebels defeat West St. John for the first time during the regular season, then scored 10 points in Riversides victory against North Vermilion in the bi-district playoffs, the Rebels first postseason victory.

Mark Stewart Destrehan Junior Guard

Stewart was one of the top scorers in the River Parishes, averaging 16.2 points per game. He scored a game-high 29 points, hitting six 3-pointers in the final 13 minutes, to lead Destrehan to a victory over H.L. Bourgeois earlier this season. Stewart also averaged 1.6 assists per game in earning first-team all-District 7-5A honors.

Lionel Turner Destrehan Senior Guard

Turner combined with Stewart to give the Wildcats a potent one-two punch out of the backcourt. The senior guard earned first team all-District 7-5A honors after averaging 15.1 points and 2.3 assists per game. He had a team-high 17 points in the playoff game against John Ehret.

Henry Washington St. James Senior Guard

Washington was the leader in the backcourt for Class 3A state runner-up St. James.The first team all-District 9-3A selection led St. James in scoring during the 2000-01 season, averaging 15.9 points per game. Washingtons halfcourt, buzzer-beating jumper at the end of the first half helped the Wildcats rally from a 14-point deficit against Minden in the semifinals. Washington finished that game with a game-high 22 points and seven assists.MVP: Donnie Francois, Lutcher Coach of the Year: Lionel Ezidore, St. James Aaron Alexander, Hahnville Alton Alexander, SCC Dwayne Bastain, WSJ Harold Comminie, Hahnville Louis Gardner, ESJ Devin Herbert, WSJ Chris Johnson, Lutcher Stevenson Jones, St. James Scottey Manson, Riverside Matt McGee, RCS Daress Nicholas, SCC Mark Stewart, Destrehan Craig Tearney, Riverside Lionel Turner, Destrehan Henry Washington, St. James