By GEORGE MAHL-Sports Editor

RESERVE – Reserve Christian School seniors Frankie Francois and Matt Jackson took one step forward with the basketball futures Monday morning.

The two RCS standouts signed scholarships to play at LSU-Shreveport.

“Shreveport is a nice town,” Jackson told L’Observateur. ” The coaches seem to be great guys.”

Jackson and Francois were a large reason why the Eagles claimed their second consecutive Class B championship.

“I really like it up there because the classes are small. The teachers really get to know you personally,” said Francois.

He added one of the things he’ll miss is his coach, Timmy Byrd.

” I really liked playing for coach Timmy. He is one of the reasons why we have been so successful.”

Byrd said LSUS is getting a no-nonsense player who loves to play hard all the time.

“What you see is what you get in Frankie. He practices just as hard in a scrimmage as he does in a regular game,” Byrd said.

During his senior year, Jackson was one of the top rebounders in the River Parishes, who also could handle the ball well. However, Byrd said one of the things he’ll always remember about Jackson is his toughness.

“I remember we were playing against West St. John and Matt felt sick in the first half. He told me he felt like he was going to vomit and so he ran into the locker room before halftime. At halftime, we found him lying on the ground in the locker room unconscious. We pulled him in the shower and let cold water run on him for a while until he revived himself. Incredibly, he comes back on the bench in the fourth quarter and wants to play. That is the type of person Matt is.”

Francois is impressed by the school’s academic aspect of it.

” They have a great business department. That’s what I want to go into.” Also, Byrd echoed the sentiments of RCS principal Phil Brown and Francois and Jackson’s parents.

” I know that Frankie and Matt are excited about playing and we’re excited for them.”