Continued from B1 Continued from B1 Continued from B1 Continued from B1 AMERICAN PRESS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 B3 SPORTS called at the time This is not the first time McNeese has gone down this road. Former head coach Matt Viator hired Lance Guidry, who had a DUI on his record, as defensive coordina- tor. Guidry later became the McNeese head coach for three seasons and is now the defen- sive coordinator at Marshall. Garza essentially replaces Grady Brown, the defensive coordinator who just over two weeks ago left the program for the University of Houston. Brown has since moved on to the Pittsburgh Steelers, forcing McNeese to scramble just days before last season opener at Tarleton State.
It worked out as the Cowboys won in double over- time. leaving also meant the Cowboys needed to find a new defensive play caller. Der- on Wilson called the defense in the first game last week, a 40-37 double-overtime win at Tarleton State. Willie Mack Garza File 2021 McNeese State, safeties 2019 Wyoming, safeties 2019 Texas Commerce, defensive secondary 2018 Dixie State, defensive secondary 2017 Dixie State, defensive secondary 2016 Lamar, cornerbacks 2015 Prairie View line- teams coordinator 2013-14 Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, defensive secondary 2010 Southern Cal, defensive secondary 2009 Tennessee, defensive secondary 2006-08 North Dakota State, defensive secondary 2005 North Dakota State, defensive secondary 2004 Tarleton State, defen- sive secondary 2001-03 Texas Christian, cornerbacks 1997-2000 Western Michi- gan, defensive secondary 1994-96 Texas, graduate assistant coach Source: McNeese State Sports Information GARZA Special to the American Press Cowgirls host UNO after week layoff The McNeese State wom- basketball team returns from an unscheduled layoff to host a struggling New Orleans team. While teams have grown accustomed to playing in front of smaller-than-usual crowds during the coronavirus pan- demic, 1 p.m.
tip-off at Burton Coliseum will be played without any fans due to the lack of water pressure in the facility. It was announced on Mon- day by the Southland Confer- ence that the game sched- uled for today was postponed due to COVID-19 New Orleans 3 p.m. issues with the Cow- boys program. The two-game Texas road trip Monday at Lamar in Beaumont, and Thursday at Incarnate Word in San Antonio was post- poned due to the winter ice storm that paralyzed the Deep South. The Cowgirls (5-9, 5-2 SLC) have won five of their last seven games.
They beat the Privateers 67-61 in the first meeting on Jan. 16 in New Orleans to end an eight-game losing streak to UNO. The Cowgirls are led by Divine Tanks who is averaging 10.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. UNO (4-12, 1-9), which is winless in all nine of its road games, has lost its last five out- ings. The Privateers are led by Dionjhae 11.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.
More changes to Cowgirl Classic The McNeese State wom- softball team will open its season with a pair of games against Arkansas today in the Cowgirls Classic. Louisiana Tech dropped out of the tournament. Baylor has stepped in to be the fourth team in the tournament, but will only play Sunday. Both No. 20 Arkansas and No.
23 Baylor are ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll. McNeese (2-2) will play Arkansas twice today, begin- ning at 2:30 p.m., and once on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The Cow- girls will play Baylor twice on Sunday, at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Baylor and Arkansas will play at 10 a.m.
Sunday. MCNEESE BRIEFS Cowgirls at Of course, lineup is just the starting point, hardly carved in stone. Mainieri is a habitual tinkerer, constantly fiddling with the lineup, particularly in the games leading up the start of the Southeastern Conference schedule. I really like to win the games he said. going to give us the best chance as well as finding out what the best combination is.
When the lights come on and playing for real, that stuff just kind of works itself out. always going to use my gut If a freshman, he said, then so be it. all factors are con- sidered equal I go with the experienced Mainieri said. if the freshman is better, you go with talent. This is not intramurals.
loyal to our players, but most loyal to our team. their responsibility to gain the confidence of the coaches that the guys that can be counted Mainieri has never lost in five games against Air Force, where he was head coach from 1989-94. Current head coach Mike Ka- zlausky, played for Mainieri at the Academy. Projected LSU Lineup Alex Milazzo The best defensive option at the moment. 1B Morgan Best de- fensive 1B Mainieri has had and touted as best hitter out of New Orleans in years.
2B Cade Doughty Came on strong at the plate before the season was halted last year. SS Zach Arnold (So.) or Drew Bianco Bianco moves in from OF. Mainieri calls it a dead heat between the two and both will play this week- end. 3B Will Hellmers Spent most of fall practice on mound, but emerged as viable option at trouble spot. Mainieri says the former boxer has little edge to RF Dylan Crews Probably the most highly touted LSU incom- ing freshman since Alex Bregman (2013-15).
CF Giovanni DiGiacomo: Athletic OF who needs to be more consistent at the plate. Cade Du- gas: Mainieri decided which one will be on the field. Beloso probably best power hitter. Pitching Matchups (2020 Statistics) 1 p.m. Today LSU, RH, Jaden Hill (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.2 IP, 5 BB, 17 SO) vs.
Air Force, LH Stevan Fairburn (0-1, 4.91 ERA, 22 IP, 5 BB, 13 SO). Noon Sunday LSU, RH Landon Marceaux (2-0, 2.70 ERA, 23.1 IP, 7 BB, 22 SO) vs. Air Force, RH John Byrnes (2-1, 5.91 ERA, 10.2 IP, 4 BB, 8 SO). 1 p.m. Monday LSU, RH A.J.
Labas (missed 2020 season) vs. Louisiana Tech, TBA. LSU Special to the American Press LSU will try to keep the momentum going after an unexpected week off when the Tigers host Auburn today at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Thursday game at Ole Miss was postponed, meaning the Tigers (13-6, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) played since beating No. 16 Tennessee last week to extend their win streak to two to remain in contention for the conference regular-season title in third place.
Auburn (11-11, 5-8), which has lost four of its last five, is also rested since its midweek game against Mississippi State was LSU 3 p.m. postponed. we had known we had a bye week, we would have approached it a little Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday preparing for Mis- sissippi State, and then come to find out playing LSU. Then got to get the staff together and quickly drill down on LSU, which are really different Auburn is facing a challeng- ing four-game stretch against potential NCAA-bound teams LSU, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama.
thing been talk- ing to our guys about is our team right now does not have the Pearl said. probably, as far as teams going to the tournament, seventh in the NET in the league. would be out of the tournament right now if it was being played. Based on the math, not good enough. What are we going to do with four teams that are good enough? Can we get to the point where the math would have made us eligible? That will be a tall Auburn has won five of the last six meetings and 12 of the last 18, including last 91- 90 overtime game in Auburn.
Auburn, which is fourth in the SEC in scoring (78.8 ppg), is led by freshman Sharife Cooper (19.6 ppg, 8.6 apg), Allen Flanigan (14.3 ppg) and Jaylin Williams (10.7 ppg). Freshman Cameron Thom- as leads LSU (22.6 ppg) and all Division I freshmen with 14 games of 20 points or more. Trendon Watford (16.2 ppg) follows while Javonte Smart, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, averages 16.1 points and Darius Days (12.4 ppg) with a team-best 7.9 rebounds a game. LSU goes for third straight win Auburn at ESPN Special to the American Press TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Sophom*ore Connor Prielipp pitched five scoreless innings and Alabama beat McNeese State 10-6 Friday in the season opener for both teams.
The Crimson Tide extended their unbeaten streak to 15 games. Prielipp left the game with a 5-0 lead and the Tide broke the game open with a five-run seventh. He was touched for four hits and struck out eight. He is un- scored upon in his 26-inning career. was as McNeese head coach Justin Hill said of Prielipp.
was a tough matchup Season Opener for our Alabama 10 hitters, but McNeese 6 we had our chances and got to take advantage of those or the good ones will make you Prielipp was out- standing for said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. We scored 10 runs, we scored in four different innings, and the five-spot in the seventh inning was huge got some big extra-bases hits and took advantage of some free passes they gave us. It certainly perfect, expect it to Obregon, Jake Dicker- son, Brett Whelton and Julian Gonzales had two hits apiece for the Cowboys who scored three runs in the sixth and eighth innings. Whelton hit and RBI double in the sixth inning. Redshirt sophom*ore pitcher Will Dion (0-1), the first of four McNeese pitchers, took the loss after allowing five runs all earned on seven hits in five innings of work.
thought Will threw the ball Hill said. play well behind him and made mistakes that you make and expect to win. He did give us five innings and encouraging consider- ing we play very Drew Williamson had three hits and three RBIs to lead Al- abama. Sam Praytor had two hits, including a third-inning home run, scored three runs and drove in a pair of runs. Leadoff batter Peyton Wilson scored three runs and hit a solo home run, the first in his career, in the fifth inning.
Prielipp strikes out eight Today 2 p.m. Basketball Girls State Playoffs Bi-district Class 3A Iota 48 4-4): Crajuan Bennett 19, Cur- Church Point 24 tis Class 2A Vinton 52 Franklin 46 Vinton (9-11). Franklin (10-5). Notes: This is first playoff victory since 1982 and first playoff appearance since 04-05. Kinder 64 Welsh 60 Welsh (12-18): Krisly Cormier 22, Ariyon Artis 16, Gilayia Begnaud 11.
Kinder (14-9): Tanyjah Plumber 27, May 19. Boys District 4-4A W-M 81 Rayne 47 Rayne Lance Smith 18. Washington-Mari- on (22-5, 7-0): Gerard Stewart 12, Jamaar Moore 15, Tyree Brown 12. District 4-3A Iowa 82 Jennings 69 Jennings (9-7, 4-4): Chance Levi 17, Jacorien Pal- frey 14, Lawrence Wilridge 14, Trevor Etienne 11. Iowa (14-7, Deville 16, Landon Langley 16, Devonte Wright 14.
State Scores Boys Benton 63, Airline 55 Brother Martin 49, Holy Cross 43 Central Catholic 51, Vermil- ion Catholic 45 Chalmette 53, Riverdale 20 Country Day 75, Northlake Christian 60 De La Salle 77, Kenner Discovery 38 Delcambre 57, Houma Christian 45 East St. John 68, Thibodaux 57 Eunice 74, LaGrange 53 French Settlement 78, Holden 64 Hahnville 60, Destrehan 45 Hammond 63, Poncha- toula 60 Hannan 63, Easton 53 Hanson Memorial 69, Cov- enant Christian Academy 64 Iowa 82, Jennings 69 Lafayette 38, Acadiana 28 Lusher 68, Ben Franklin 60 Northside 61, Teurlings Catholic 39 Phoenix 58, Grand Isle 41 Saint 72, Fontaineb- leau 69, OT Sam Houston 38, Barbe 29 Slidell 70, Northshore 55 Washington-Marion 81, RHS 47 Westlake 59, South Beau- regard 57 Girls Playoffs Bi-district Class 5A H.L. Bourgeois 46, East St. John 43 St. Amant 66, West Jef- ferson 60 Terrebonne 59, Zachary 53 Class 3A Iota 48, Church Point 24 Northwest 66, Baker 45 Ville Platte 55, St.
James 40 Class 2A Kinder 64, Welsh 60 Vinton 52, Franklin 46 Division IV Regionals Riverside Academy 56, Central Private 18 Late Thursday Basketball Boys District 3-5A Sam Houston 38 Barbe 29 Sam Houston (13-15, 2-3): Tre Thompson 8. Barbe (11-4, 1-2): Jayden Gradney 11. HIGH SCHOOLS offensive rebound by Hadley Lemons. Plumber was fouled with 4 seconds left and made both free throws to seal the win for Kinder. Kinder will travel to play No.
2 Amite in the regional round. The Warriors beat No. 31 West St. Mary 98-11 on Thursday. Kinder twice led by double digits in the first half and 36-26 to start the second half on a 3-pointer by May.
But Welsh went deep in the third quarter with five 3-point- ers, including one at the buzzer by Ariyon Artis from near half court that put the Greyhounds up 47-46. Artis finished with 16 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Krislyn Cormier drove the lane for a bucket and a 49-46 Welsh lead, but Plumber responded with a three-point play to tie the score at 49 with 6:08 left. Grace Oustalet put the Yellow Jackets up for good on a shot in the paint. thought that Welsh did a really great job of chipping back at our Dowies said.
let us relax. Offensively, we kind of had to slow down. had a few turnovers that were critical. We just had to slow down and focus on getting the good looks from the right Cormier led Welsh with 22 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and Gilayia Begnaud finished with 11 points. Kinder raced to a 12-1 lead behind, but Welsh rallied with a 10-0 run to pull within one on a putback by Artis with 17 seconds left in the first quarter.
KINDER Rodrick Anderson American Press The Yellow May shoots a 3-pointer in the first half against Welsh. team in district and is very athletic. We have had some good practices the last couple of days and it showed to- Jennings (9-7, 4-4) led for most of the first half before Iowa closed the second quarter with a 9-2 spurt. Devonte Wright scored the first four points in the run and finished with 14 points, all in the first half. Chance Levi scored eight points in the first quarter and finished with a team-high 18 points.
Jacorien Palfrey and Lawrence Wilridge scored 14 each for the Bulldogs. Trevor Etienne added 11. The win was the second in seven games for Iowa, which opened the season with six consecutive wins, lost two straight, then won six in a row again before hitting the recent rough patch. Melancon said the Jackets can make some noise in the postseason if they play with the proper attitude. will take team ball like we played he said.
not finger- pointing or selfishness. Hope- fully we can win a couple of The loss left Jennings on the bubble for receiving a first- Kirk Meche Special to the American Press round home playoff game. The The Yellow Kendall Marks shoots before Jacorien Palfrey can defend the shot Bulldogs entered the game 15th in the state power ratings. IOWA Friday night in Iowa..
