"...When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip." ~John Kennedy Toole (A Confederacy of Dunces)

Toole’s beloved character never, for me at least, incited the desire to eat. In fact, his crazy antics and foul lack of personal hygiene would actually encourage quite the opposite response. Nonetheless, I can understand why a proprietor would choose to name their establishment after Ignatius considering his creator’s fame and association with New Orleans. Although they didn’t offer any kind of cheese dip, John and I had the pleasure of dining at Ignatius Eatery (4200 Magazine Street) last night for my 29th cheat. I have held steady to last week’s weigh-in and I am still only down 53 pounds. I seem to be at a standstill lately, but I just have to keep my chin up, continue pressing onward and I know I will eventually reach my goal.

We stepped into the small restaurant and easily found a table at around 6:30 p.m.  The tiny eatery was only half-full and we took a little time to enjoy the décor.  Ignatius has styled itself an eatery and grocery offering local food items like several flavors of Zapp’s Potato Chips, cans of Tony’s, and huge jars of Zataran’s Creole Mustard among others, the only glaring omission being Hubig Pies.  We ordered a couple of Abita’s, which were served to us in brown paper bags to catch the condensation and although the idea was cute, for a moment I felt like an alcoholic who had to hide her habit. My personal paranoias aside, I still enjoyed the local theme of the décor.

After leisurely perusing the menu, John and I narrowed down our selections, none of which were a po-boy.  I realize Ignatius is mainly a sandwich shop, but since we were there for dinner, we thought it appropriate to try out their more formal entrees.  After a short wait, our server brought out some sliced French bread (also served in a brown paper bag) and a carafe of warm water with two small glasses.  I thought it was odd that there was no ice, but someone mentioned that the beverages were served “Camp Street Style.”  I am not sure what that means so feel free to comment and teach me a thing or two!

While we munched on some bread, our server came out with our appetizers: a bowl of Plantation Chicken & Sausage Gumbo and some Grilled Alligator Sausage.  Aside from the temperature (lukewarm), I thought the gumbo was quite tasty.  I had never tried a gumbo made with a golden roux and found it pleasantly nutty and creamy.  The alligator sausage, cut into slices and grilled up till almost crispy, was served with vinaigrette coleslaw and a small dish of Creole mustard for dipping.  The sausage was delightful and I am sure I would come back to order the po-boy version of this appetizer.

For our entrees, John selected the Boudin Stuffed Meatloaf and I chose their Fish Magnolia.  Now, I have never been a fan of meatloaf, but John’s dish was delicious!  It was a house made meatloaf stuffed with Poche’s pork and jalapeño boudin served atop a creamy horseradish sauce.  My dish was tilapia pan sautéed in buerre-blanc and topped with crawfish tails, bell pepper, and tomatoes.  Unfortunately, I found the flavor of the dish to be frightfully bland.  Perhaps the chef was experiencing an “off-day” but the buerre-blanc (literally translated as “white butter”) was completely devoid of butter!  The sauce was the both the flavor and consistency of water.  I hope this isn’t the customary preparation for their most expensive entrée ringing in at $17.95.

At last it was time for dessert and since our server was gushing about the bread pudding, we ordered it.  It came out steaming hot and in a shape I’d never seen before, kind of like a large softball.  Although it tasted nice and had good texture, the sauce was again missing butter.  Perhaps the restaurant mysteriously ran out?  I just can’t comprehend any restaurant “Celebrating Everything NOLA” lacking sauces heavy with butter.  It just seems blasphemous.

I am willing to return and try their po-boys, since every restaurant has its strengths and weaknesses. Ignatius has already been praised as the best lunch place and it is quite possible their po-boys will simply blow me away.  Finally, in keeping with their theme, I think it would be hilarious if they served cheese dip, Lucky Dogs, bologna sandwiches and Hubig Pies on occasion in honor of their namesake.  I’m sure Ignatius would get quite a kick out of it…especially if it was comped.

"...When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip." ~John Kennedy Toole (A Confederacy of Dunces)

Toole’s beloved character never, for me at least, incited the desire to eat. In fact, his crazy antics and foul lack of personal hygiene would actually encourage quite the opposite response. Nonetheless, I can understand why a proprietor would choose to name their establishment after Ignatius considering his creator’s fame and association with New Orleans. Although they didn’t offer any kind of cheese dip, John and I had the pleasure of dining at Ignatius Eatery (4200 Magazine Street) last night for my 29th cheat. I have held steady to last week’s weigh-in and I am still only down 53 pounds. I seem to be at a standstill lately, but I just have to keep my chin up, continue pressing onward and I know I will eventually reach my goal.

We stepped into the small restaurant and easily found a table at around 6:30 p.m.  The tiny eatery was only half-full and we took a little time to enjoy the décor.  Ignatius has styled itself an eatery and grocery offering local food items like several flavors of Zapp’s Potato Chips, cans of Tony’s, and huge jars of Zataran’s Creole Mustard among others, the only glaring omission being Hubig Pies.  We ordered a couple of Abita’s, which were served to us in brown paper bags to catch the condensation and although the idea was cute, for a moment I felt like an alcoholic who had to hide her habit. My personal paranoias aside, I still enjoyed the local theme of the décor.

After leisurely perusing the menu, John and I narrowed down our selections, none of which were a po-boy.  I realize Ignatius is mainly a sandwich shop, but since we were there for dinner, we thought it appropriate to try out their more formal entrees.  After a short wait, our server brought out some sliced French bread (also served in a brown paper bag) and a carafe of warm water with two small glasses.  I thought it was odd that there was no ice, but someone mentioned that the beverages were served “Camp Street Style.”  I am not sure what that means so feel free to comment and teach me a thing or two!

While we munched on some bread, our server came out with our appetizers: a bowl of Plantation Chicken & Sausage Gumbo and some Grilled Alligator Sausage.  Aside from the temperature (lukewarm), I thought the gumbo was quite tasty.  I had never tried a gumbo made with a golden roux and found it pleasantly nutty and creamy.  The alligator sausage, cut into slices and grilled up till almost crispy, was served with vinaigrette coleslaw and a small dish of Creole mustard for dipping.  The sausage was delightful and I am sure I would come back to order the po-boy version of this appetizer.

For our entrees, John selected the Boudin Stuffed Meatloaf and I chose their Fish Magnolia.  Now, I have never been a fan of meatloaf, but John’s dish was delicious!  It was a house made meatloaf stuffed with Poche’s pork and jalapeño boudin served atop a creamy horseradish sauce.  My dish was tilapia pan sautéed in buerre-blanc and topped with crawfish tails, bell pepper, and tomatoes.  Unfortunately, I found the flavor of the dish to be frightfully bland.  Perhaps the chef was experiencing an “off-day” but the buerre-blanc (literally translated as “white butter”) was completely devoid of butter!  The sauce was the both the flavor and consistency of water.  I hope this isn’t the customary preparation for their most expensive entrée ringing in at $17.95.

At last it was time for dessert and since our server was gushing about the bread pudding, we ordered it.  It came out steaming hot and in a shape I’d never seen before, kind of like a large softball.  Although it tasted nice and had good texture, the sauce was again missing butter.  Perhaps the restaurant mysteriously ran out?  I just can’t comprehend any restaurant “Celebrating Everything NOLA” lacking sauces heavy with butter.  It just seems blasphemous.

I am willing to return and try their po-boys, since every restaurant has its strengths and weaknesses. Ignatius has already been praised as the best lunch place and it is quite possible their po-boys will simply blow me away.  Finally, in keeping with their theme, I think it would be hilarious if they served cheese dip, Lucky Dogs, bologna sandwiches and Hubig Pies on occasion in honor of their namesake.  I’m sure Ignatius would get quite a kick out of it…especially if it was comped.

By DANIEL GREEN
Written for the LSWA

For the past 10 years, the Fairview High Lady Panthers have been a state tournament regular, winning five championships in that span, including the past four in a row.

This year, the Fairview boys team also reached the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Top 28 Tournament, reaching the semifinals for the first time in 22 years.

As a result of that success, the Class B all-state team selected by a panel of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association has a Fairview flavor.

Fairview claimed three of the top four awards from the LSWA, including both honors for Coach of the Year as Kyle Jinks led the Lady Panthers to a 42-3 record and a fourth straight Class B title, while Ron Stark

led the Panthers to 31 wins and an appearance in the Class B semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion and former district rival Rapides.

Oak Hill's Jimmy Tilley was runner-up for Coach of the Year for the girls squad, while Hornbeck's Charlie Alexander was second in the boys voting.

Fairview junior Brittany Maddox, who averaged 23.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, reeled in Class B Outstanding Player accolades on the girls' side, while Midland senior Miles Prejean prevented the

Fairview sweep, taking Outstanding Player recognition for the boys, averaging 23.3 points and 10.1 rebounds in leading Midland to the state championship game.

Fairview's dominance on the all-state team doesn't end with the coaches and Maddox. Twins Reagan and Taylor Maricle were first-team honorees on the girls team, while Cody Neal and Colby Marler were selected first- and second-team all-state, respectively.

Reagan Maricle averaged 19.8 points and 6.1 assists per game for the Lady Panthers, although she is known more for her ability on the defensive side of the ball, where she averaged nearly five steals per contest.

Taylor Maricle, who has won the Class B title game Outstanding Player honors for two consecutive years, averaged 17.8 points and six assists per game.

Neal, a senior, averaged 27.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game to lead Fairview to the state semifinals, while Marler was good for 15.5 points and 7.1 assists per outing.

Joining Maddox and the Maricle sisters on the first team were Hornbeck senior Breanna Poston and Zwolle sophomore Rineshia Frazier.

Poston, a three-time all-state choice, averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and 3.8 steals per game for Hornbeck, which set a school record with 39 wins this season. Frazier guided Zwolle back to the finals, averaging 22 points and eight rebounds a game.

Along with Prejean and Neal, the boys first team consists of Jovan Sanders of Centerville, , C.J. Johnson of Rapides and Marvin Frazier of Zwolle.

Sanders averaged almost 29 points per game for Centerville, while Johnson led the Mustangs to their second state title in three years, averaging 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds a night.

Frazier, the District 4-B MVP, guided Zwolle back to the Top 28 by averaging 13 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots per game.

The girls second team consists of Florien’s Elexus Zachary (21.8 ppg), Lacassine’s Devonna Poullard (15 ppg, 9 rpg), Hathaway’s Lindsey Fontenot (11.3 ppg, 4 apg), Weston’s Ashley Butler (17 ppg, 6 rpg) and Oak Hill’s Casey Hebert (13.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg).

Joining Marler on the boys second team were Doyline’s Jesse Gallegos (27.3 ppg, 6.2 apg), Maurepas’s Demetri Gill (25 ppg, 11 rpg), Zwolle’s Breion Beaver (18.8 ppg) and Hornbeck’s Matthew Killian (17 ppg, 6 rpg).

CLASS B
GIRLS
First team
Player school ht. cl. avg.
Brittany Maddox Fairview 5-8 Jr. 23.2
Reagan Maricle Fairview 5-7 Jr. 19.5
Taylor Maricle Fairview 5-7 Jr. 17.8
Breanna Poston Hornbeck 5-10 Sr. 15.0
Rinesha Frazier Zwolle 5-6 So. 22.0
Second team
Player school ht. cl. avg.
Devonna Poullard Lacassine 5-10 Sr. 15.0
Lindsey Fontenot Hathway 5-6 Jr. 12.6
Elexus Zachary Florien 5-10 Sr. 21.8
Ashley Butler Weston 5-9 Jr. 17.3
Casey Hebert Oak Hill 5-11 Sr. 13.5

Outstanding Player: Brittany Maddox, Fairview
Coach of the Year: Kyle Jinks, Fairview

Honorable mention: Holly Guidry, Bell City; Annaleigh Simmons, Converse; Kristyn
Craig, Converse; Courtney May, Holden; Krista Howard, Choudrant; Thelma Jerro,
Choudrant.
BOYS
First team
Player school ht. cl. avg.
Cody Neal Fairview 6-0 Sr. 27.2
Jovan Sanders Centerville 5-9 Sr. 28.8
C.J. Johnson Rapides 6-3 Sr. 18.9
Marvin Frazier Zwolle 6-8 Jr. 13.0
Miles Prejean Midland 6-1 Sr. 23.3
Second team
Player school ht. cl. avg.
Jesse Gallegos Doyline 5-10 Sr. 27.3
Breion Beaver Zwolle 6-0 Jr. 18.8
Colby Marler Fairview 5-9 Sr. 15.5
Matthew Killian Hornbeck 6-3 So. 17.0
Demetri Gill Maurepas 6-2 Sr. 25.0

Outstanding Player: Miles Prejean, Midland
Coach of the Year: Ron Stark, Fairview

Honorable mention: T.J. Kemp, Centerville; Tremain Woodruff, Rapides; Nate Frye,
Houma Christian; Josh Moore, Doyline; Dariunte Jenkins, Simsboro; Marcellas
Anderson, Simsboro.

Led by Most Valuable Performers Melanie Benit on the track and Keondra Lafrance in the field, Chalmette High’s Lady Owl track and field team captured the championship of the High Flying Owls Invitational last Thursday at Bobby Nuss Stadium.

Even though they won only three of 18 events, the Lady Owls scored 158 points to overwhelm the five other girls’ teams as Archbishop Chapelle finished second to Chalmette with 105 points and were followed by East Jefferson at 82, DeLaSalle 74, Lusher Charter 70 and Archbishop Hannan 38.

East Jefferson claimed the boys’ division - outscored the host Owls 138 to 110 and finished first in 10 events -- winning all three throwing events, capturing both hurdle events, claiming two of the three distance races and taking two of the three relays as well as finishing first in the 100 and topping off all of that with three of its athletes tying for the track MVP.

Chalmette’s Andre’ Dorsey was selected the meet’s boys’ field MVP as the junior athlete won the triple jump with a personal record of 44-2.75 and one of the metro’s top leaps this year, finished second in the high jump (5-8) and placed third in the javelin (141-2).

Following the top two boys’ squads were Lusher Charter 51, Archbishop Hannan 38 and DeLaSalle 23.

Owl first places came from senior distance runner Ben Hauck in the 3200-meter run (11:31.80) and he added a third in the 1600 (5:13.40) as well as sophomore Terry Guiterrez winning the pole vault (7-6).

Chalmette had several other strong double event finishers - David Bienemy finished second in the long jump (20-4) and in the triple jump (43-0.75); Paul Sampson was the runnerup in both the 800-meter run (2:13.95) and 400-meter dash (54.45); Albert Brock finished second in the 300-meter hurdles (45.05) and third in the 110-meter hurdles (17.21) and Chris Duplessis took second in the discus (119-10, PR) and third in the shot put (43-4).

Lafrance won the triple jump (31-2) and the long jump (14-6.50) to claim the girls’ field MVP while her teammate Benit won the 1600-meter run (6:37.99) and the 300-meter hurdles (56.35 seconds) to earn the girls’ track MVP and she finished second in the pole vault (7-6).

Junior Jordan Hartney added a strong performance for the Lady Owls’ cause, winning the javelin in a PR throw of 103-8 and and finishing as the high jump runner-up at 4-8 in her first competition ever in the event as well as running the anchor leg on the third place 4x100-meter foursome (54.94 seconds) of Breyion Williams, Tateyana Smith and Keondra Lafrance and Hartney took fifth in the 100 (14.09).

Senior Carley McInnis won the 100-meter hurdles (19.41 seconds), added a third in the 300 hurdles (58.86) and ran a leg on the second-place 4x200-meter relay team of Vershione Toney, Melanie Fink and Alex Schmaltz with a time of 2:01.16.

Toney lost a photo-finish in the 400-meter dash with a PR time of 1:05.50, losing by just 0.05 hundredths of a second as well as running on the second-place 4x200 relay and third place 4x400 relay (4:50.32).

Melanie Fink finished third in the 800 (2:51.06) and ran on two relay teams while Schmaltz finished fourth in the 800 (2:53.99) and ran on same two relay teams as well.

Williams placed in three jumping events - third in the long jump (13-10), fourth in the triple jump (28-4) and fifth in the high jump (4-2) and ran on the third-place 4x100 relay squad.

Chalmette hosts its third meet of the season on Friday, March 26 with field events starting at 3:30 p.m. at Bobby Nuss Stadium and running events at 6:15 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS | A federal jury on Wednesday rejected allegations that New Orleans police unlawfully arrested two men who were videotaping them along a Carnival parade route in 2007.

Greg Griffith and Noah Learned sued in 2007, arguing the city's police department has a habit of arresting or threatening people who videotape or photograph officers. Several journalists also testified about their encounters with police.

The seven jurors deliberated less than three hours before unanimously concluding that officers Brian Harrison and D'Meecko Hughes had probable cause to arrest Griffith and Learned and did not use excessive force.

The jury did not get to weigh in on the allegation that the department "has a custom or policy of violating a person's First Amendment right to photograph or film police activity."

But city attorney Franz Zibilich said the plaintiffs never proved that claim.

The jury "didn't buy it, and we commend them for that," he said.

Zibilich said Griffith and Learned interfered with officers breaking up a fight. They were charged with crossing a police cordon, but the charges were dismissed about two months later.

Hughes and Harrison, who has left the department, hugged each other and their attorneys after the verdict.

Griffith, now 34 and living in Cambridge, Mass., and Learned, now 29 and living in New Orleans, were seeking money and a court order that could have required the department to change its policies.

Learned was a student at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette when he was arrested. Griffith had come to the city after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to volunteer at a health clinic. They met at Kent State University in Ohio, where they co-founded a "Cop Watch" program to monitor police activity.

Their lawsuit cited 11 other incidents since 2005 in which police allegedly tried to stop people from taping, photographing or observing officers.

Learned said he was disappointed by the verdict but grateful to hear testimony from several witnesses, including the officers, that reinforced people's right to tape police activity.

"Hopefully it will empower people to continue to pursue that activity," he said.

During the trial, several journalists described run-ins they had with New Orleans police officers.

Associated Press Television News videojournalist Rich Matthews described filming an arrest with his crew in the city's French Quarter several weeks after Katrina when an officer shoved him against a car and ordered him to stop taping. A video of the incident showed that when Matthews held up his credentials, the officer grabbed him, leaned him backward over a car, jabbed him in the stomach and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade.

Times-Picayune city editor Gordon Russell said he and a New York Times photographer were driving through the city after Katrina when they encountered a group of officers in the aftermath of an apparent shoot-out. Russell said the officers ordered them out of their car at gunpoint and briefly confiscated his notebook and the photographer's camera.

William Gamble, a student lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the journalists' testimony showed the department's officers routinely violate citizens' First Amendment rights.

"Without your intervention, officers will continue to act on this custom," Gamble, of the Tulane Law Clinic, told jurors during closing arguments.

But Zibilich scoffed at the claim that police target people with cameras, saying a "handful of isolated incidents" doesn't amount to a pattern of behavior.

"There's nothing here to suggest transparency doesn't exist or there was a cover-up," he said.

NEW ORLEANS | Several journalists described run-ins with New Orleans police Tuesday as they testified about allegations that city officers routinely arrest or threaten people who film them.

Greg Griffith and Noah Learned sued in December 2007, claiming police violated their constitutional rights when they were arrested at a Carnival parade that year.

Their lawsuit, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, cites 11 other incidents since 2005 in which people were arrested or allegedly threatened while videotaping, photographing or observing police officers.

The city's lawyers said during opening statements in the case that Griffith, who had a digital camera, and Learned were interfering with officers breaking up a fight along the parade route. Capt. John Thomas of the department's Public Integrity Bureau said Tuesday he is not aware of any complaints by people arrested while videotaping officers.

The men say they were within their rights to film police in public. Both were arrested and charged with crossing a police cordon, but the charges were dismissed about two months later.

Closing arguments were expected Wednesday.

Learned, now 29, was a student at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette at the time and Griffith, now 34, had come to the city after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to volunteer at a health clinic. They met at Kent State University in Ohio, where they co-founded a "Cop Watch" program to monitor police activity.

Journalists testified Tuesday about several other New Orleans incidents. Associated Press Television News videojournalist Rich Matthews said he and his crew were filming an arrest in the city's French Quarter several weeks after Katrina when an officer shoved him against a car and ordered him to stop taping.

A video of the incident showed that when Matthews held up his credentials, the officer grabbed him, leaned him backward over a car, jabbed him in the stomach and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade.

"There was one officer who approached us from behind, shoved me and said, 'Shut those cameras off. Put those cameras away,'" recalled Matthews, who testified from Dallas through a video teleconference.

Franz Zibilich, a lawyer for the city, noted that police officers had endured stressful, dangerous conditions for weeks, and most of the city was still under a mandatory evacuation order.

"He appeared to be very frustrated, true?" Zibilich asked.

"Yes, he was upset," Matthews said.

Jurors also heard from Times-Picayune city editor Gordon Russell, who was driving through New Orleans with a New York Times photographer after Katrina when they encountered a group of officers in the aftermath of an apparent shoot-out.

"We were ordered out of the car at gunpoint and the police confiscated my notebook and the photographer's camera for a time," Russell testified.

Officer D'Meecko Hughes, one of two officers being sued, acknowledged in court Tuesday that citizens have a right to film police activity but said the two men were arrested after they got too close to police.

The suit names Hughes and former officer Brian Harrison, who arrested Griffith and Learned, along with New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley. It seeks an unspecified amount of money and a court order that could require police to change their practices.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

From a Class 5A viewpoint, the 2010 Top 28 will be remembered as the tightest Top 28.

A meager five points separated the four teams who reached the tournament semifinals and finals at the Cajundome this past weekend in Lafayette.

And no one handled the stress and strain better than the Crusaders of Brother Martin who dispensed with Hammond 68-66 and then Scotlandville 55-54 by virtue of a determined, 16-point rally in the second half. Throw in Scotlandville's 60-58 semifinal victory against Jesuit and you have two tourney games decided by one basket and a championship game decided by one point.

Since the (then) Top 20 Tournament began in 1961, only once have the three games on the highest classification been decided by as few as five points.

In 1990, Southwood of Shreveport defeated St. Augustine 81-79 and Cohen edged West Monroe 51-50 in the semis before the Green Hornets slipped past Southwood 71-69 in overtime for the state title.

A third-place finisher from the Catholic League, Brother Martin wound up 29-10 with one victory in five outings against No. 1 seed St. Aug -- but that was the one that propelled Martin to Lafayette. The game-winner against Scotlandville Saturday came courtesy of a basket by junior running back Dante’ Butler, his idea of a two-point conversion.

Martin's six state titles now span 41 seasons, starting with the 36-0 team in 1970, to the 29-5 team of ' 71, to the two-time kingpins of 2004 (28-8) and '05 (39-2), sandwiched around a championship for a 33-5 team keyed by 6-foot-10 center Rick Robey.

Current coach Scott Thompson was ironically born in 1974 and served under coach John Lavie in the subsequent two championship seasons. He took over the helm in 2005.

“We too part in a lot of tough ball games and we learned from them whether we won or lost,“ said Thompson of the season. “We learned what worked. In the playoffs, we wanted to be physical from rim to rim; we wanted to use pressure team defense and we wanted to go to the basket and get to the foul line on offense.”

Martin loses scoring leader Pat Swilling but returns talented junior Schane Rilleux who averaged 14 points at guard.

“We were able to spend a few special moments in the locker room with the coaches and players,” said Thompson. “This was a special run we made. And it (the five playoff victories) took everything we had.”

Since 1961, Catholic League membership has accounted for 21 state tourney titles, paced by Martin's six, followed by Jesuit and St. Aug, each with four. Shaw has three (but one was forfeited in 2000); Rummel and De La Salle each have claimed two.

Prior to the inaugural 1961 tourney, De La Salle (1957, ‘58, ‘59), Holy Cross (1942, ‘43, ‘45), Jesuit (1939, ‘44, ‘46, ‘48) and St. Aloysius (1941, ‘47, ‘49, ‘51, ‘52, ‘53) combined for 16 state championships, including nine in succession between 1941 and ‘49.

Realistically, the Crusaders probably deserved this one, if for no other reason than the fact that the 2006 team was denied its bid for a third consecutive title by Hurricane Katrina. That outfit, spearheaded by superb point guard D.J. Augustin, would likely have equaled Jesuit's record of three consecutive tourney titles on the highest class set by the Blue Jays in 1964-‘66.

How have times changed? Well, when Jesuit triumphed for the first time in 1938, the Jays finished with a 12-4 record. And Holy Cross’ title in 1943 was earned with a glittering mark of 9-1.

* * *

The personnel shift across Airline Highway from Reserve Christian to Riverside and the upward shift from Class C to Class 2A did nothing to throttle Riverside which cruised past Jonesboro-Hodge 84-61 for the school’s first state basketball title at the Top 28.

After previously securing seven titles in 11 seasons at Reserve Christian, Coach Tim Byrd’s teams have now claimed six consecutive state championships at two locations. Those eight championship squads have posted a cumulative record of 325-74 during a 12-year span, including a 38-6 finish in his first season at Class 2A Riverside.

After taking two days off to watch his son play golf at Louisiana Tech, Byrd will attend this week’s NCAA opening round at the Superdome to watch his all-time scorer Demond “Tweety” Carter perform for the Baylor Bears. The Rebels plan to celebrate their first title at the school early next week.

Byrd’s team will return standout 6-foot-7 sophomore Ricardo Gathers, but four of the top seven performers graduate, including marksman Cedric Jenkins. Byrd said that Jenkins, a 6-foot-2 guard, has received collegiate interest from a host of schools, including Tulane, Virginia Tech, Baylor and Bradley, among others. Jenkins, a deadly shooter, has a 3.4 grade-point average.

“I still have not met with the players since our last game,” said Byrd. “We will do that next week. There’s still a buzz and extra excitement among the Riverside fans.“

Of the 20 players on the Riverside roster, 15 transferred from Reserve Christian. Following the Rebels’ semifinal victory against Evangel, Byrd addressed the change of schools.

“This is about Riverside now,” he said. “Reserve Christian is in the past. You have to be dead not be excited about this Riverside team.”

The Riverside faithful -- fans, players and students -- are very much alive...and doing quite well.

“I’m going home, back to the place where I belong. And where your love has always been enough for me. I’m not running from, no, I think you got me all wrong. I don’t regret this life I chose for me. But these places and these faces are getting old. So I’m going home, well I’m going home.”

Melodic pop/rock artist Chris Daughtry of “American Idol” fame penned that hit song with spiritual implications which catapulted him to stardom.

Four Louisiana products, including a pair from the New Orleans area who chose to attend college out of state, they are returning home for the NCAA regional in New Orleans Thursday and Saturday at New Orleans Arena in what figures to be a spiritual type of experience for them .

For Reserve’s Tweety Carter, coming home to play in the NCAA tournament is a fitting end to a brilliant career, one in which he was a huge part of helping to rebuilding from the ground up a program that had to start over after being decimated by the pain of one player murdering another.

In 2003, former Baylor player Carlton Dotson shot and killed teammate Patrick Dennehy during an argument. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The Baylor program was found to have numerous improprieties under coach Dave Bliss. Massive sanctions were imposed from 2003 through 2006. In fact, the probation period emanating from NCAA sanctions will finally expire on June 22, 2010, seven years later.

From the ashes of ruin, new Coach Scott Drew rebuilt the Baylor program slowly but surely in brilliant fashion and Carter has been a big part of the process. After winning just 21 games from 2003-2006, Drew’s Bears went 15-16 in the 2006-2007 season with Carter as a freshman. The former Reserve Christian star averaged 8.7 points. By his sophomore year (2008), Carter averaged 9.6 points and the Bears were in the NCAA tournament. In 2009, Baylor reached the N.I.T. after winning 24 games as Carter averaged 10.6 points. Baylor is 25-7 this season.

This season, the 5’11, 185 pound Carter had a breakout season, averaging 15.7 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 39 percent from three-point range and 79 percent from the free throw line. Carter was recently named as a fourth-team All-American by Sporting News, the first Baylor player to receive that honor since 1988. That Carter would be so successful in helping establish Baylor as a winner is no surprise to those who have followed his career since high school.

At Reserve Christian, he led the now defunct program to four state championships in Class C and was named the 2006 Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year. Along with teammate LaceDarius Dunn of Excelsior Christian School in Monroe, Carter is coming home to Louisiana for the NCAA tournament.

“It’s a blessing for Lace and I to get to go back home. I grew up 20 minutes from New Orleans and everyone’s going to be at the game. But we know what we’ve got in front of us. We know everyone’s going to give their best shot, and we’ve got to stay focused,” Carter told The Waco Tribune. “I’m just happy to be back in Louisiana and playing in front of my hometown. It’s a blessing. I played at home once and I am just happy to be back and playing in front of my home crowd.”

A 6‘4, 205 pound senior, Dunn is Carter’s running mate at guard for the Bears. He is Baylor’s top scorer, averaging 19.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Dunn shoots 42.5 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the free throw line. He can score with anyone.

In high school, Dunn led Excelsior Christian to a state championship and was a two-time player of the year in Louisiana. “I’m excited to get back to Louisiana and get some home cooking and see a lot of old friends but we’ve got a lot of goals we haven’t reached. We still have a long way to go,” said Dunn in comments to The Waco Tribune.

Drew, who has done a tremendous job at Baylor, is very happy for Carter’s opportunity to play at home. “There is nothing more than you want to do than please your players as a head coach and have a chance to play back home for him, you could not write a better script. We are excited about that opportunity. And he promised that the Who Dat nation would be there to support us so we should be in good hands.”

While Carter is coming home, so is senior point guard Ashton Mitchell of Sam Houston State. The former St. Augustine star will lead the 14^th-seeded Bearkats against third-seeded Baylor in a battle of Bears. Both point guards are from New Orleans and will go head-up when the two teams play Thursday at around 1:45 p.m., following the Notre Dame vs. Old Dominion game.

The 5’11, 175 pound Mitchell earned All-Southland Conference honors in leading Sam Houston State to the Southland Conference tournament championship. For Mitchell, coming home has an even more special meaning than it does for Carter. Mitchell is from New Orleans. He was forced away from the city and school he loved by Hurricane Katrina.

His family relocated to Westwood High School in Round Rock, Texas for his senior season, a similar plight incurred by Brother Martin’s D.J. Augustin, who ended up at the University of Texas and Rummel’s Dwight Lewis, who ended up at USC. While at St. Augustine, Mitchell played for Bernard Griffith, who went on to serve as an assistant coach in the NBA with San Antonio and now serves as the head coach at Sarah Reed High School.

Mitchell has been the main force in the Bearkats’ 25-7 season. He averages 12.7 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 42 percent from three-point range and 74 percent from the free throw line.

While Mitchell has played in Hammond against Southeastern Louisiana and at Thibodaux against Nicholls State in the Southland Conference, this will be his first opportunity to play in his hometown since being forced out by Katrina.

“This is something I have dreamed about forever. I’ve got my family and so many friends that I haven’t seen in a long time in New Orleans. It will be the thrill of a lifetime for me,” said Mitchell. “We’re excited about going to New Orleans. It’s good for our fans and for Ashton Mitchell returning home as well,” said Sam Houston coach Bob Marlin.

Top-seeded Kentucky has a home state flavor as well. 6’9, 207 pound senior forward Perry Stevenson of Northside High School in Lafayette returns to south Louisiana with the Wildcats.

The role player, who has seen action in 29 games, will have family and friends watching when the 32-2 Wildcats face 16^th-seeded East Tennessee State (20-14) at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at New Orleans Arena.

With any other program, Stevenson would likely play a prominent role. With any other program, Stevenson would not be part of a #1 seed and #2 national seed with a real chance at winning a national championship. He stayed on board when John Calipari took over as coach at Kentucky and has not regretted it.

Stevenson has played in 29 games, averaging 1.5 points per game while shooting 69 percent from the field (18 of 26). Stevenson was recruited by LSU out of Northside but chose Kentucky.

While these four players are coming home to Louisiana, colleges from Louisiana will be watching from the cheap seats as the state has been shutout of the tournament for the third time in four years.

When Carter was coming out of Reserve Christian, LSU looked at him but the Tigers did not make a serious pitch at getting him until the summer before Carter he committed to Baylor. Arkansas, Ole Miss, Kansas and Texas had been on him for a longer period of time, according to Timmy Byrd, Carter’s coach at Reserve Christian. “I just remember Arkansas, Baylor and Ole Miss being very aggressive in going after him. Tulane and UNO tried hard but Tweety did not seriously consider them,” said Byrd.

Dunn was not a priority for LSU in recruiting. He was offered by Baylor, Mississippi State and Texas.

Stevenson had LSU as an option. John Brady offered him but the Tigers were loaded with the likes of Tyrus Thomas, Glen Davis, Magnum Rolle and Tasmin Mitchell at the time. Chris Johnson came along as well. Stevenson chose Kentucky over LSU, Georgia Tech, Miami, Texas, Texas Tech and Wake Forest. Stevenson was long with athletic ability but was not a scoring threat coming out of Northside.

Mitchell flew below radar among Louisiana schools out of high school.

In 2006, LSU reached the Final Four, led by Davis and Thomas. The Tigers have 20 NCAA tournament appearances to lead all Louisiana schools, including four trips to the Final Four. LSU is 24-23 all-time in the NCAA tournament, the only Louisiana team with a winning record in the event. Louisiana-Lafayette, formerly known as Southwestern Louisiana, is second overall with nine NCAA tournament appearances. The Ragin’ Cajuns last reached the tournament in 2005.

Southern has seven NCAA appearances with their last one coming in 2006. Louisiana-Monroe, formerly known as Northeast Louisiana, has made seven NCAA appearances with their last coming in 1996. Louisiana Tech has reached five NCAA tournaments with their last appearance being 1991.

UNO has four appearances, last reaching the NCAA in 1996 under Tic Price. The Privateers also reached the tournament in 1987 under Benny Dees, posting their only-ever tournament victory over BYU in the opening round. Tim Floyd guided UNO to a pair of NCAA appearances in 1991 and 1993.

Loyola made three NCAA treks, including their last in 1958. Tulane made three NCAA tournament appearances in five years from 1992 through 1995 under Perry Clark.

McNeese State has two tournament appearances with their last coming in 2002. Nicholls State has a pair of NCAA tournament teams, the last being in 1998. Northwestern State has reached two NCAA tournaments, including in 2006.

Southeastern Louisiana has reached one NCAA tournament in 2005 under Billy Kennedy. Centenary and Grambling have not played in the NCAA tournament.

In the 2006 event, Northwestern State and Southern were in the field with Northwestern State pulling off a 64-63 upset over third-seeded Iowa in the opening round of 2006.

When you factor in Georgetown’s Greg Monroe, along with the likes of Augustin (Charlotte Bobcats), Lewis, Carter, Dunn, Mitchell and Stevenson, you begin to understand part of the reason that Louisiana schools will be watching the NCAA tournament this year. In fact, this is the third time in four years that Louisiana has been shutout of March Madness.

“I’m going home, back to the place where I belong.” While Louisiana schools stay home, Carter, Mitchell, Dunn and Stevenson will enjoy Louisiana this week.

NCAA REGIONAL SCHEDULE—NEW ORLEANS

Thursday, March 18:

SOUTH REGIONAL

11:25 a.m.--#6 Notre Dame (23-11) vs. #11 Old Dominion (26-8)

30 minutes after first game--#3 Baylor (25-7) vs. #14 Sam Houston State (25-7)

EAST REGIONAL

6:15 p.m.—#1 Kentucky (32-2) vs. #16 East Tennessee State (20-14)

30 minutes after first game--#8 Texas (24-9) vs. #9 Wake Forest (19-10)

“I’m going home, back to the place where I belong. And where your love has always been enough for me. I’m not running from, no, I think you got me all wrong. I don’t regret this life I chose for me. But these places and these faces are getting old. So I’m going home, well I’m going home.”

Melodic pop/rock artist Chris Daughtry of “American Idol” fame penned that hit song with spiritual implications which catapulted him to stardom.

Four Louisiana products, including a pair from the New Orleans area who chose to attend college out of state, they are returning home for the NCAA regional in New Orleans Thursday and Saturday at New Orleans Arena in what figures to be a spiritual type of experience for them .

For Reserve’s Tweety Carter, coming home to play in the NCAA tournament is a fitting end to a brilliant career, one in which he was a huge part of helping to rebuilding from the ground up a program that had to start over after being decimated by the pain of one player murdering another.

In 2003, former Baylor player Carlton Dotson shot and killed teammate Patrick Dennehy during an argument. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The Baylor program was found to have numerous improprieties under coach Dave Bliss. Massive sanctions were imposed from 2003 through 2006. In fact, the probation period emanating from NCAA sanctions will finally expire on June 22, 2010, seven years later.

From the ashes of ruin, new Coach Scott Drew rebuilt the Baylor program slowly but surely in brilliant fashion and Carter has been a big part of the process. After winning just 21 games from 2003-2006, Drew’s Bears went 15-16 in the 2006-2007 season with Carter as a freshman. The former Reserve Christian star averaged 8.7 points. By his sophomore year (2008), Carter averaged 9.6 points and the Bears were in the NCAA tournament. In 2009, Baylor reached the N.I.T. after winning 24 games as Carter averaged 10.6 points. Baylor is 25-7 this season.

This season, the 5’11, 185 pound Carter had a breakout season, averaging 15.7 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 39 percent from three-point range and 79 percent from the free throw line. Carter was recently named as a fourth-team All-American by Sporting News, the first Baylor player to receive that honor since 1988. That Carter would be so successful in helping establish Baylor as a winner is no surprise to those who have followed his career since high school.

At Reserve Christian, he led the now defunct program to four state championships in Class C and was named the 2006 Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year. Along with teammate LaceDarius Dunn of Excelsior Christian School in Monroe, Carter is coming home to Louisiana for the NCAA tournament.

“It’s a blessing for Lace and I to get to go back home. I grew up 20 minutes from New Orleans and everyone’s going to be at the game. But we know what we’ve got in front of us. We know everyone’s going to give their best shot, and we’ve got to stay focused,” Carter told The Waco Tribune. “I’m just happy to be back in Louisiana and playing in front of my hometown. It’s a blessing. I played at home once and I am just happy to be back and playing in front of my home crowd.”

A 6‘4, 205 pound senior, Dunn is Carter’s running mate at guard for the Bears. He is Baylor’s top scorer, averaging 19.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Dunn shoots 42.5 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the free throw line. He can score with anyone.

In high school, Dunn led Excelsior Christian to a state championship and was a two-time player of the year in Louisiana. “I’m excited to get back to Louisiana and get some home cooking and see a lot of old friends but we’ve got a lot of goals we haven’t reached. We still have a long way to go,” said Dunn in comments to The Waco Tribune.

Drew, who has done a tremendous job at Baylor, is very happy for Carter’s opportunity to play at home. “There is nothing more than you want to do than please your players as a head coach and have a chance to play back home for him, you could not write a better script. We are excited about that opportunity. And he promised that the Who Dat nation would be there to support us so we should be in good hands.”

While Carter is coming home, so is senior point guard Ashton Mitchell of Sam Houston State. The former St. Augustine star will lead the 14^th-seeded Bearkats against third-seeded Baylor in a battle of Bears. Both point guards are from New Orleans and will go head-up when the two teams play Thursday at around 1:45 p.m., following the Notre Dame vs. Old Dominion game.

The 5’11, 175 pound Mitchell earned All-Southland Conference honors in leading Sam Houston State to the Southland Conference tournament championship. For Mitchell, coming home has an even more special meaning than it does for Carter. Mitchell is from New Orleans. He was forced away from the city and school he loved by Hurricane Katrina.

His family relocated to Westwood High School in Round Rock, Texas for his senior season, a similar plight incurred by Brother Martin’s D.J. Augustin, who ended up at the University of Texas and Rummel’s Dwight Lewis, who ended up at USC. While at St. Augustine, Mitchell played for Bernard Griffith, who went on to serve as an assistant coach in the NBA with San Antonio and now serves as the head coach at Sarah Reed High School.

Mitchell has been the main force in the Bearkats’ 25-7 season. He averages 12.7 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 42 percent from three-point range and 74 percent from the free throw line.

While Mitchell has played in Hammond against Southeastern Louisiana and at Thibodaux against Nicholls State in the Southland Conference, this will be his first opportunity to play in his hometown since being forced out by Katrina.

“This is something I have dreamed about forever. I’ve got my family and so many friends that I haven’t seen in a long time in New Orleans. It will be the thrill of a lifetime for me,” said Mitchell. “We’re excited about going to New Orleans. It’s good for our fans and for Ashton Mitchell returning home as well,” said Sam Houston coach Bob Marlin.

Top-seeded Kentucky has a home state flavor as well. 6’9, 207 pound senior forward Perry Stevenson of Northside High School in Lafayette returns to south Louisiana with the Wildcats.

The role player, who has seen action in 29 games, will have family and friends watching when the 32-2 Wildcats face 16^th-seeded East Tennessee State (20-14) at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at New Orleans Arena.

With any other program, Stevenson would likely play a prominent role. With any other program, Stevenson would not be part of a #1 seed and #2 national seed with a real chance at winning a national championship. He stayed on board when John Calipari took over as coach at Kentucky and has not regretted it.

Stevenson has played in 29 games, averaging 1.5 points per game while shooting 69 percent from the field (18 of 26). Stevenson was recruited by LSU out of Northside but chose Kentucky.

While these four players are coming home to Louisiana, colleges from Louisiana will be watching from the cheap seats as the state has been shutout of the tournament for the third time in four years.

When Carter was coming out of Reserve Christian, LSU looked at him but the Tigers did not make a serious pitch at getting him until the summer before Carter he committed to Baylor. Arkansas, Ole Miss, Kansas and Texas had been on him for a longer period of time, according to Timmy Byrd, Carter’s coach at Reserve Christian. “I just remember Arkansas, Baylor and Ole Miss being very aggressive in going after him. Tulane and UNO tried hard but Tweety did not seriously consider them,” said Byrd.

Dunn was not a priority for LSU in recruiting. He was offered by Baylor, Mississippi State and Texas.

Stevenson had LSU as an option. John Brady offered him but the Tigers were loaded with the likes of Tyrus Thomas, Glen Davis, Magnum Rolle and Tasmin Mitchell at the time. Chris Johnson came along as well. Stevenson chose Kentucky over LSU, Georgia Tech, Miami, Texas, Texas Tech and Wake Forest. Stevenson was long with athletic ability but was not a scoring threat coming out of Northside.

Mitchell flew below radar among Louisiana schools out of high school.

In 2006, LSU reached the Final Four, led by Davis and Thomas. The Tigers have 20 NCAA tournament appearances to lead all Louisiana schools, including four trips to the Final Four. LSU is 24-23 all-time in the NCAA tournament, the only Louisiana team with a winning record in the event. Louisiana-Lafayette, formerly known as Southwestern Louisiana, is second overall with nine NCAA tournament appearances. The Ragin’ Cajuns last reached the tournament in 2005.

Southern has seven NCAA appearances with their last one coming in 2006. Louisiana-Monroe, formerly known as Northeast Louisiana, has made seven NCAA appearances with their last coming in 1996. Louisiana Tech has reached five NCAA tournaments with their last appearance being 1991.

UNO has four appearances, last reaching the NCAA in 1996 under Tic Price. The Privateers also reached the tournament in 1987 under Benny Dees, posting their only-ever tournament victory over BYU in the opening round. Tim Floyd guided UNO to a pair of NCAA appearances in 1991 and 1993.

Loyola made three NCAA treks, including their last in 1958. Tulane made three NCAA tournament appearances in five years from 1992 through 1995 under Perry Clark.

McNeese State has two tournament appearances with their last coming in 2002. Nicholls State has a pair of NCAA tournament teams, the last being in 1998. Northwestern State has reached two NCAA tournaments, including in 2006.

Southeastern Louisiana has reached one NCAA tournament in 2005 under Billy Kennedy. Centenary and Grambling have not played in the NCAA tournament.

In the 2006 event, Northwestern State and Southern were in the field with Northwestern State pulling off a 64-63 upset over third-seeded Iowa in the opening round of 2006.

When you factor in Georgetown’s Greg Monroe, along with the likes of Augustin (Charlotte Bobcats), Lewis, Carter, Dunn, Mitchell and Stevenson, you begin to understand part of the reason that Louisiana schools will be watching the NCAA tournament this year. In fact, this is the third time in four years that Louisiana has been shutout of March Madness.

“I’m going home, back to the place where I belong.” While Louisiana schools stay home, Carter, Mitchell, Dunn and Stevenson will enjoy Louisiana this week.

NCAA REGIONAL SCHEDULE—NEW ORLEANS

Thursday, March 18:

SOUTH REGIONAL

11:25 a.m.--#6 Notre Dame (23-11) vs. #11 Old Dominion (26-8)

30 minutes after first game--#3 Baylor (25-7) vs. #14 Sam Houston State (25-7)

EAST REGIONAL

6:15 p.m.—#1 Kentucky (32-2) vs. #16 East Tennessee State (20-14)

30 minutes after first game--#8 Texas (24-9) vs. #9 Wake Forest (19-10)

LAFAYETTE - The #9 Brother Martin Crusaders capped off a dream season with a come from behind 55-54 win over the second-seeded Scotlandville Hornets to claim the Class 5A championship.  The Crusaders trailed for the majority of the game before Patrick Swilling led a furious rally in the fourth quarter.  Swilling scored 18 points for Brother Martin on his way to being named the game's MVP.  Scotlandville held Swilling in check in the first half, but Swilling turned it on in the final minutes of the game.  Brother Martin also came up with several crucial defensive stops down the stretch to cut into Scotlandville's big lead.  "We've been through a lot this whole season," Swilling said.  "We just kept fighting for each other.  Like coach (Scott Thompson) said: 15 payers, 5 coaches, 1 manager, 1 team."

Scotlandville's JJ Thomas was nearly unstoppable for the Hornets.  Thomas scored a game-high 25 points despite sitting for much of the third quarter with foul trouble.  Thomas also tied a championship record with 19 rebounds.  The Hornets led 21-9 at the end of the first quarter, but were out scored by Brother Martin in every other period, including 22-13 in the final frame.  The Hornets managed to hold Brother Martin to 36% shooting for the game, but couldn't stop the Crusaders in the crucial moments late in the game.
Dante Butler scored 13 points, including the game-winning layup for the Crusaders.  Schane Rillieux also reached double figures with 12 points.     
Levie Wright was the only other Hornets' player to reach double figures with 17 points.  Wright also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double.  The Crusader defense was too much for the Hornets, who committed 22 turnovers.  Brother Martin head coach Scott Thompson was overcome with emotion after his team's thrilling win.  "We're so proud to represent Brother Martin High School.  Our guys had a will to win.  We have to give the other team credit.  Scotlandville is a great team.  We hung in there, we believed in one another and we got the job done.  We got the job done."