Russell Hedges
rhedges@bossierpress.com
In the past it’s been pretty easy to pick the favorite in District 1-5A girls basketball.
The Southwood Lady Cowboys have long dominated the district and the state for that matter.
Southwood won its 11th Class 5A state championship last season.
But this season could be different.
Longtime Southwood head coach Steve McDowell, who guided the Lady Cowboys to all 11 of the state titles, retired just before the season started.
He was replaced by former Parkway boys head coach Terry Josting.
Southwood has still been successful under Josting, but the Lady Cowboys haven’t been as dominant as they usually are. Southwood went 13-6 in non-district play.
That means other teams just might have a shot at the title.
Airline’s Kei McCoy (1) and Taylor Gatson (2) play defense during a victory over Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing Friday night at Airline. The Lady Vikings and Lady Lions both begin district play Tuesday night.
Among those are the Haughton Lady Bucs and Airline Lady Vikings. Haughton (16-5) opens District 1-5A play Tuesday at home against Southwood. Airline (10-9) hosts Captain Shreve (1-13).
In another 1-5A opener, the young Parkway Lady Panthers (3-12) host Byrd (7-15).
“I still think Southwood is the class of the district,” Airline coach David Duhon said. “Until someone proves different and dethrones them you’ve got to give them the edge.”
Duhon said he thought before the season that Haughton could be the team to give Southwood the most trouble, and he said he still believes that.
But he also likes the way his team is playing now.
“We’re playing better right now, so we’ll see,” he said.
Elsewhere, the Benton boys and girls teams begin District 1-4A play Tuesday at home against Fair Park.
The Lady Tigers (14-7) have won four in a row and eight of their last nine. Fair Park is 9-9.
The new eight-team district looks wide open with Benton, Huntington (9-4), Loyola (11-9) and Minden (11-6) among the favorites.
The Tigers have struggled in non-district play, going 3-10. Fair Park, which defeated 1-5A favorite Byrd earlier this season, is 9-9.
The Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing boys and girls open District 1-1A play Tuesday at Ringgold.
The Lions (11-5) and Lady Lions (10-10) have dominated the district in recent years, but they will have a bigger challenge this season with the addition of Arcadia, Cedar Creek and Grambling.
Arcadia (14-2), Ringgold (9-5) and Grambling (8-7) will likely be the New Tech boys’ main challengers. For the girls, it will likely be Arcadia (12-5) and Cedar Creek (8-10).
