Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / July 13, 1998

LAPLACE – Randi Donald has had quite a year in her first season of playing organized basketball.

The Gramercy native was an all-star player for the Donaldsonville Tigers Biddy Basketball team which recently finished fifth in the nation. And totop it off, Donald is now heading to Orlando, Florida, to play in the AAU national tournament with the Louisiana Sports 9-10 AAU squad headquartered in Morgan City. Louisiana Sports will be one of the 80 teamsfrom around the country competing in the tournament to be held at Disney World from July 31 to August 7.

Randi, the daughter of Randall and Ira Donald, said she got interested in playing basketball from her dad. Her cousin, Corey Webster, plays footballand basketball at St. James High School and she has traveled to see himplay in tournaments around the country.

Donald, who plays point guard, comes off the bench for the 11-player Louisiana Sports squad. Her role model is also quite a player, ChamiqueHoldsclaw, who was named the Southeastern Conference’s Female Athlete of the Year after helping the Lady Vols to their third-straight national championship.

Louisiana Sports defeated the Kenner B team to qualify for the national tournament. The 80 teams will play pool play in the tournament followedby national championship and NIT-style tournaments. Each team will playat least five games said Randall Donald.

Randi Donald said she is looking forward to playing in the tournament with her goal being winning the championship. She said she is also planning tocontinue playing basketball with quite a first year to duplicate.

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