By Jerit Roser
Written for LSWA
The storied Richwood boys’ basketball program won its first state championship since 2012 this spring.
And the Rams can add another pair of awards to their record books after coach Terry Martin and junior standout Lavell Lane swept the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s superlatives for the Class 3A boys’ all-state team.
On the girls’ side, the honors went to another pair of state finalists in Academy of Sacred Heart (New Orleans) coach Courtney Ward and Madison Prep sophomore Brooklyn Smith.
Lane earned the season-long recognition after leading the Rams this season with 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks per game.
The junior wing was also the Division-III Non-Select title-game Outstanding Player with his 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block to lead a rout of reigning champion Marksville.
He and Martin led Richwood to a 23-9 record this season and its sixth state championship, the past four (2005, 2009, 2012 and 2025) coming under the longtime coach.
Smith stepped up as a sophomore to help lead Madison Prep to a 20-14 record against a challenging schedule, navigate the ups and downs and make a run to an eighth title game in the past 10 years.
The young guard finished the season with averages of 18 points, five assists and three rebounds, including leading the Lady Chargers’ Division-II Select semifinal defeat of University Lab with 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Ward, in her third season at Sacred Heart, led the program to a 20-7 record, the No. 2 seed in the Division-III Select bracket and the first title game in school history.
The Cardinals had suffered six straight losing seasons prior to Ward’s arrival from his previous tenure at St. Martin’s Episcopal, but have now gone a combined 49-22 under her leadership with at least one playoff win each season.
LSWA CLASS 3A ALL-STATE CHARTS
Boys
First team
Player School Ht Cl Pts
Greg Johnson, Patterson 6-5 So. 20.0
Lavell Lane, Richwood 6-6 Jr. 20.0
Devin Lavalais, Marksville 6-1 So. 18.0
William Nelson, Madison Prep 6-6 Fr. 16.1
Jacorey Washington, Sophie B. Wright 6-2 Sr. 23.7
Second team
Player School Ht Cl Avg
Quinton Dabney, Donaldsonville 6-1 Jr. 17.3
Antron Mason, Bastrop 6-1 Sr. 24.2
Cooper Nelson, Sterlington 5-10 Jr. 27.0
Rashad Stevenson, Thomas Jefferson 6-4 Sr. 19.9
Travone Varner, Richwood 6-2 Sr. 19.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: LAVELL LANE, RICHWOOD
COACH OF THE YEAR:TERRY MARTIN, RICHWOOD
Honorable mention: Daryl Adams, L.B. Landry; Ryan Allen, Westlake; Joseph Bernandez, Kennedy; Evan Burns, Lake Charles College Prep; Zadrien Cooper, Jena; Lebron Deal, Bastrop; Elijah Garner, Madison Prep; Chayson Gray, Abbeville; Ja’Juan Jackson, St. James; Jeremy LeGros, Jennings; Antron Mason II, Bastrop; Juriah Matthews, Lake Charles College Prep; Treylan Neal, Carroll; Jarrison Reese, Church Point; Kevin Rideau, Westlake; Dayne Small, Marksville; Rashad Stevenson, Thomas Jefferson; Grant White, Berwick; Jaden Williams, Carroll.
Girls
First team
Player School Ht Cl Avg
Kennedy Aldridge, University Lab 5-9 So. 18.0
Gabby Guillory, Westlake 5-7 Sr. 17.0
Curtissiyah Jenkins, Amite 5-10 Sr. 17.0
Brooklyn Smith, Madison Prep 5-8 So. 18.
0Kevbrasia Thomas, Booker T. Washington 5-9 Sr. 15.3
Second team
Player School Ht Cl Avg
Ya’Myri Brown, De La Salle 5-9 8th 17.8
Sophie Fletcher, Sterlington 5-5 Sr. 10.4
Anna Richerson, Parkview Baptist 5-9 Jr. 14.0
Leah Varisco, Sacred Heart (N.O.) 5-7 Jr. 15.2
Evie West, Sterlington 6-0 Fr. 14.1
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: BROOKLYN SMITH, MADISON PREP
COACH OF THE YEAR: COURTNEY WARD, SACRED HEART (N.O.)
Honorable mention: Aerial Amos, Northwest; Jolie Baumgarten, South Beauregard; Zya Broden, St. James; Lybi Cross, Buckeye; Azyria Garrison, Berwick; Alyria Greene, Abbeville; Gabby Guillory, Westlake; Auriyon Lambert, Lake Charles College Prep; Taylor Lee, University Lab; Ryli Martin, University Lab; Alana Myles, Bastrop; Kaidence Ponder, Albany; Auri Ray, Madison Prep; Sadie St. Pe, Buckeye; Kylee Savant, Doyle; Kevbrasia Thomas, Booker T. Washington; Allie West, Buckeye; Triniti Williams, Jena; Kayleah Wilson, Bastrop.
