Chris White’s last regular-season game as the head boys basketball coach at Airline won’t go down as one of his favorite memories.
The Vikings lost to the hot-shooting Southwood Cowboys 83-41 in a District 1-5A matchup. But White will have plenty of fond memories to take with him into retirement from his 13 seasons as Airline’s head coach.
“A lot of good memories,” White said. “Too many to mention right now.”
During White’s tenure, Airline has won five district championships. He was also head coach at Bossier from 2003-04 to 2006-07 where he won three district titles and led the Bearkats to the 2005 Class 4A state championship game.
In 17 seasons, White’s teams have racked up 350 wins, an average of 20.6 per season.
White has at least two more games left to coach. The Vikings close the regular season Friday at Benton. They will then likely be on the road in the first round of the playoffs.
All told, the Airline and Louisiana Tech graduate has been a coach and educator for 33 years. Early in his career, he had brief stops at two middle schools before becoming an assistant at Airline and then moving on to Bossier.
Friday’s game was a ‘White Out’ night with fans wearing white in honor the coach.
White said he and his wife will likely move to Ruston to be closer to family members, including one grandchild. He plans to get another job but it won’t be in coaching.
“I’ve done 33 years,” he said. “I’m done with that.”
Southwood’s Daniel Ortiz put on a 3-point shooting exhibition in the first quarter, hitting six. Th Cowboys didn’t let Airline (16-14, 5-8) get back in the game after taking a quick early lead.
Ortiz finished with 31 points. The Cowboys improved to 20-11 and 9-3.
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In another 1-5A game Tuesday, Parkway defeated Haughton 64-52 at Parkway.
Zion Beaver led the Panthers (19-10, 8-5) with 18 points with all of those coming in the second half. He knocked down three 3-pointers.
Bryce Roberts also hit three from behind the arc and scored 15 points. Javoris White added nine and Quincy Jones eight.
Three Haughton players reached double figures— Kentrell Parker (14), Pat Jones (12) and Malachi Burks (10).
Parkway led 36-31 after three quarters and then scored 28 in the fourth. Jones scored 10 in the period.
The Panthers close the regular season Friday at Natchitoches Central (26-2, 12-0), which clinched the district title with a 65-58 victory over Captain Shreve.
Haughton (6-21, 1-12) closes its season at home Friday against Captain Shreve.
Elsewhere, Bossier completed a perfect 8-0 run in District 1-3A with a 75-36 rout of Green Oaks at home.
Cody Deen led the Bearkats (29-3) with 25 points, including three 3-pointers. Tim King scored 15 and D’Ante Bell added nine.
Bossier closes the regular season Friday at Neville. The Bearkats will likely be the No. 1 seed in the Class 3A playoffs.
