Doyle's Presleigh Scott (11) takes off on a fast break last season.
Maybe the best way to gauge the impact Presleigh Scott had on the Doyle girls basketball team is to go back to the Lady Tigers’ final game of the season.
Doyle spent most of the season as the No. 1 team in the Class 2A power rankings and entered the postseason as the No. 1 team in the in the Class 2A playoff bracket, but their season ended with a 69-62 loss to Rayville in the quarterfinals.
Scott, who was an honorable mention selection on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 2A All-State team released Sunday, averaged 17.5 points per game. Against Rayville, she finished with 29 in a game in which the Lady Tigers never were able fully get into their patented transition game.
“When we got her, there was no doubt that we wanted to play fast and push the ball because that is what she is good at, and that is what we need to do, and she fits perfectly,” Doyle coach Sam White. “It was obvious when we didn’t get to play the way that we want to, good things did not happen for us. We want to do what works, and that works for us. She is a huge part of that, obviously.
“I am proud of her, and I know the team will be proud of her. She deserves it. She does a wonderful job.”
It’s that Rayville loss that is already serving as motivation for the Lady Tigers heading into next season.
“We still talk about it every day,” Scott said. “We still just are very upset about it, but we keep on telling each other that we’re just going to work harder than we did last year and finish it.”
The Class 2A first team is made up of Jaylyn James of St. Thomas Aquinas, Kyren Whittington of Northlake Christian, Destiny Rice of North Caddo, Sha’Kahia Warmsley of Mansfield and MaKayla Hallmon of Red River.
Rice was the Outstanding Player, while Aaron Agresta of Northlake Christian was the Coach of the Year.
Scott may have grabbed an individual honor, but it’s more about the team for her.
“I feel like it’s exciting and important as an individual, but I feel like it’s better to be together as a team, because that’s who you’re going to be with if you want to go any further (in the playoffs).
“I feel like we just work well together, and we just work well together. We’re all like one big family, and I feel like we all deserve it for each other.”
Another plus for the Lady Tigers is the core group of this past season’s team will be back with the Lady Tigers losing just three players to graduation.
“I’m just hoping since we’re all young, we’re just going to continue to improve and get better and get better as a team and on the court,” Scott said. “We’re just hoping that as the years go by, we’ll just get better.”
LSWA CLASS 2A All-STATE BASKETBALL TEAMS
BOYS
First team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Mylik Wilson Rayville 6-3 Sr. 18.0
JaMarkus Wilson Rayville 6-5 Sr. 15.0
Kaleb Jenkins Country Day 5-10 Sr. 16.8
Jordan Wright Dunham 6-6 Sr. 19.7
Emareyon McDonald Red River 6-1 So. 16.0
Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
JaMichael Wilson Rayville 6-6 Sr. 13.0
Zarious Lewis Lakeview 5-9 Sr. 20.0
Aaron McGhee Avoyelles Charter 6-0 Sr. 15.5
Torell Levias Lake Arthur 6-3 Jr. 16.8
Deshawn Jackson Pickering 6-1 So. 27.6
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: MYLIK WILSON, RAYVILLE
COACH OF THE YEAR: MIKE MCGUIRE, COUNTRY DAY
Honorable mention
Jourdain Dishmond, Menard; Rae’veon Jones, Lake Arthur; Kash Foley, Riverside Academy; Justin Ibieta, Country Day; Javon Ruffin, Newman; Markie Swearington, M.K. King; D’Marcus Hall, Calvary; Jessie Davis, Red River; Drew Heinen, Vinton; Josh Stephens, Rosepine; Kashie Natt, Rayville; Kolbe Chretien, Catholic-New Iberia; David Brevelle, Menard; Jamael Owusu, Avoyelle Charter; Leon Posey IV, Oakdale; Myron Warren, Many; Carlos Stewart, Dunham; Brandon Garrido, Episcopal; Tawasky Johnson, Port Allen.
GIRLS
First team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Jaylyn James S.T. Aquinas 5-9 So. 22.3
Kyren Whittington Northlake Christian 5-9 Jr. 18.0
Destiny Rice North Caddo 5-8 Sr. 27.0
Sha’Kahia Warmsley Mansfield 5-7 Jr. 19.0
MaKayla Hallmon Red River 5-3 Sr. 25.7
Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
T’Kira Fuller Rayville 6-0 Sr. 20.4
Kamaesha St. Andre Oakdale 5-11 Sr. 25.8
Jade Brumfield S.T. Aquinas 5-6 So. 21.1
Kaci Chairs Country Day 5-8 Jr. 26.0
Naomi Lewis Rapides 5-7 Sr. 20.7
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: DESTINY RICE, NORTH CADDO
COACH OF THE YEAR: AARON AGRESTA, NORTHLAKE CHRISTIAN
Honorable mention
Madison Bienvenu, Catholic-New Iberia; Deonna Brister, Lake Arthur; Jalexis Kelly, Rayville; Darlynetta Martin, Rapides; Peyton Hines, Avoyelles Charter; Alexis Pottain, Winnfield; Jalencia Pierre, Amite; Ialiyah Preston, Independence; Natalie Newberry, Northlake Christian; Dalyn Belvin, M.L. King; Presleigh Scott, Doyle; Simone Pierre, M.L. King; Tomyree Thompson, St. Mary’s Academy; Taylor Dewitt, Mansfield, Sr.; Jadah Martin, North Caddo, Sr.; Kaitlyn Antilley, Red River; Natalie Newberry, Northlake Christian; Alesia Jackson, Amite; McKenzie Joseph, Vinton; Amari West, Rayville; Braylah Pierson, Port Allen; Diamond Brister, Lake Arthur; Chardae Dixon, St. Katharine Drexel; Emmia Johnson, St. Katharine Drexel.
