The 2016-17 high school boys basketball season begins Monday. Here is a capsule look at Bossier Parish teams. Note: Only returning All-District first- or second-team players are listed.
Airline
2015-16 record: 11-20 overall; 2-10 District 1-5A
Returning All-Parish: K.J. Bilbo, Sr. (second team)
Outlook: Bilbo is a three-year starter and should be one of the top post players in the parish. Other projected starters are sophomore guard T.J. Robinson, junior guard Trent Ivy, senior guard Keith Lehr and senior forward Trace Parker. All are experienced players. Airline will be looking to end a lengthy playoff drought. If the Vikings can get some help off the bench they have a good chance to do that.
Parkway
2015-16 record: 20-11 overall; 10-2 District 1-5A, co-champions
Returning All-Parish: Kamren Davis, So. (first team)
Returning All-District 1-5A: Davis (second team); Terrace Marshall Jr., Jr. (second team)
Outlook: Coach Mike Guess has four returning starters — senior guard Robert McKnight, junior forward Terrace Marshall Jr., junior forward Justin Rogers and sophomore forward Kamren Davis. All-Parish point guard Keondre Wudtee, a three-year starter, is a big loss. Junior Jason Owens or senior Devon Hill will try to fill Wudtee’s shoes. The 6-foot-4 Davis averaged about 10 points and five rebounds last season. The Panthers certainly have the talent to contend for the District 1-5A title again.
Haughton
2015-16 record: 4-22 overall; 1-11 District 1-5A
Outlook: Coach Brian St. Andre has two returning starters — senior guard Brandon Deane and senior forward Dezavian Willis. He also expects senior guard Timmy Black and senior forward Martavius Grant to be in the starting lineup. Two players, including a freshman, were competing for the final starting spot. St. Andre will also have a new assistant in former Southwood head coach Norm Picou, who guided the Cowboys to the 1-5A co-championship last season. All-Parish forward Damien Sears is a key loss. The Bucs have struggled recently, but the potential is there for improvement this season.
Benton
2015-16 record: 10-15 overall; 3-7 District 1-4A
Returning All-Parish: Jessie Little, Sr. (second team)
Returning All-District 1-4A: Little (second team)
Outlook: With every player on last season’s roster back, Coach Tim Cram will definitely be looking for improvement. Returning starters are guard Little, who averaged about 15 points per game, junior guard Jalen Harding (11 ppg), senior guard Jerriyun Lawrence (11 ppg), junior post Cameron Robinson (6 rebounds per game) and senior post Cameron Harris. Sophomore guard Bubba Osby, junior guard Doyle Adams Jr., sophomore post Jontavious Johnson, junior swing Brooks Cram and senior post Nakyius Robinson are also back.
Bossier
2015-16 record: 27-10 overall; 9-1 District 1-4A, champion, Class 4A state champion
Returning All-Parish: Tyrese English, Sr. (first team); Antonio “Rudy” Davis, Sr. (first team); Chris Davenport, Sr. (second team)
Returning All-District: Davis (first team)
Outlook: Coach Jeremiah Williams returns three starters — English, Davis and Davenport. Sophomore guard Jacoby Decker played a key role off the bench last season. Tybren Wimberly and Abarreion Johnson also have some experience. Guard Larry Robinson III, the All-Parish MVP and a first-team Class 4A All-State guard, is a key loss. The 6-foot-4 Davis is a strong presence inside, complementing Williams’ guard-oriented offense. English came into his own in the playoffs last season. His scoring was a big reason Bossier won the title. Williams always expects Bossier to make a deep playoff run. This season should be no exception.
Plain Dealing
2015-16 record: 13-15 overall; 9-5 District 1-1A
Outlook: Coach David Bryant returns three starters — sophomore Dalkeldrick Oliver, sophomore Kaleb McGee and senior Desmond Ford. Three other sophomores — JyMaury King, Domonique Jenkins and Dee Briggs — are projected as potential starters. Bryant’s teams are always in the thick of the District 1-1A race. That shouldn’t change this season.
