Last issue I promised to devote this column strictly to the girls' athletic program here at HLB. I'm proud to announce that I did not break my promise and here it goes--almost everything you ever wanted to know about girls' athletics at HLB, but were afraid to ask...
No major changes have taken place in the female program, except for the usual addition of new faces. HLB was blessed with many fine athletes last year, but unfortunately graduation took its toll. Names Sandra Bergeron, Tammy Doucet, Terri Dubois, Lourean Prince and Ida Richard may bring back some fond memories of spectacular performances.
Fortunately, only one important coaching change has taken place. Coach Jimmy Hebert is still at the helm of the volleyball and track teams, while Coach Adonis Toups commands the basketball and softball squads. The addition of Mrs. Althea Pellegrin as coach of the mixed tennis team was outlined in the last issue.
What are we to look forward to this year? If you base your outlook on the latest results of the volleyball team, then you should be expecting quite a bit. But what names should you be looking for? Watch for Theresa Barber, Lisa Bergeron, Stephanie Boulet, Tina Dupre, Marcella Elliot, Janifer and janine Giroir, Julie Johnson, Gloria La Bauve, Monica Salassi and Marlene Wilson. These are only seniors, there are also several juniors and sophomores that will catch headlines. So watch for them!
Throwing a football 70 yards in practice may sound pretty devastating, but it is even more impressive when you consider the thrower is not a quarterback--but a tight end. Who is this strong armed receiver? He's Cleve Joseph, a 6'2", 190 pound junior who has impressed coaches ever since his arrival at HLB last year.
Cleve, who is presently serving a starting role for Coach Don Schwab's Braves, has been playing football since 8th grade at Evergreen. But football wasn't and hasn't been his only strength. Cleve also enjoys showing his expertise in basketball, for which he was named Most Valuable at Evergreen in 9th grade. He played junior varsity basketball last year and plans to continue playing it this season. Cleve is also a very valuable track competitor, participating in several individual and relay events.
Earlier in the season Cleve made three important receptions. In the crucial East Jefferson contest Cleve made two catches for approximately 30 yards. But those two were overshadowed by his 29-yard catch of a Jesse Myles-thrown pass in the Central Lafourche game.
Cleve, a proud resident of the Johnson Ridge area, enjoys fishing and hunting. He also plans to continue his athletic career in college.
Gonzales was the site of another miracle comeback on Friday night, September 22 for the "Cardiac Kids" from HLB. Their second straight 21-20 victory was over East Ascension this time around in the last non-district football contest of the season.
Jesse Myles again led the Braves with a school record 187 yards rushing on 29 carries for HLB's first two touchdowns. His fellow backfield mate, Jody Lovell, added 62 yards on 13 rushes and the tying touchdown with less than a minute remaining. Myles' third perfect extra point kick of the night with 42 seconds left was the deciding factor.
The Spartans scored the first two touchdowns of the night by the middle of third quarter. HLB bounded right back after Myles plunged in from the two-yard line. The Spartans added another score and were leading 20-7 going into the last stanza.
Myles opened the final quarter with his second scoring run. When defeat looked eminent late in the game, Terry Giroir plucked the ball from Spartan quarterback Tyrone Smith with Timmy Ordoyne leaping on it top the winning touchdown drive, with Lovell doing the honors in the final seconds.
Fumbles once again plagued the HLB Braves on October [sic](actually it was September) 28th at the Homecoming game. The Braves fumbled twice on the 2 yard line of the Trojans.
In the first quarter, a Robert Hughes interception set up a drive to the two yard line of the Trojans, only to fumble the ball away. The second fumble came late in the fourth quarter on a drive that was thought to bring another miracle, as in the past two weeks. The Trojans' only score came on a 23 yard field goal in the third quarter.
Jody Lovell and Jesse Myles combined for 100 yards, while the Brave passing attack mustered up 62 yards.
Paced by the passing and running of Earl Mitchell, HLB speared their cross town rivals, South Terrebonne Gators, in a 8-AAAA contest on Friday night October 6, in the Terrebonne Parish Stadium. The final score was 14-6.
Mitchell score both of the Braves' touchdowns on quarterback keeper within 40 seconds of each other in the first quarter. The first was a 10 yarder to cap a 58 yard drive, while the second was a 8 yarder following a Terry Giroir fumble recovering. Mitchell had 12 total yards rushing for the night.
Jesse Myles, who usually leads the Bourgeois rushing attack as held to 39 yards on 26 carries. Myles' backfield mate, Jodi Lovell, contributed 34 yards on 8 carries William Scott in his first starting role led all Brave runners with 47 yards on 5 rushes.
Lovell shattered the school record on a 65 yard punt in the first quarter.
Mitchell, appearing for the first time in a starting quarterback slot completed 2 of 3 passes for 24 yards. Both receptions were made by Lynn Cole.
The top defensive performers included Lance Bland and Myles who each intercepted a pass.
Friday the 13th of October was indeed a bad luck night for the HLB Braves as they were stunned by a fired-up South Lafourche Tarpon team 12-6 in Terrebonne Parish Stadium.
HLB got things rolling from the very start when on the opening possession, Earl Mitchell and Jesse Myles connected for a 40 yard touchdown pass. This proved to be the Braves' only threat which produced points on the board. South Lafourche added their scores in the first and third stanzas.
Statistics-wise, HLB didn't come out on the short end. They had more first downs, 17-11, and total offensive yardage, 310-273, than the Tarpons.
While South Lafourche had a balanced rushing attack, HLB was again led by Myles with 125 yards on 18 carries. Mitchell and Jody Lovell contributed 62 and 45 yards, respectively.
Leading the HLB defensive team were Wayne Kullman led the squad with twelve tackles and a blocked extra point attempt while Marcel was cited by the coaches for some key defensive plays.
Stephanie Boulet and Jesse Myles, two stellar athletic in volleyball and football, respectively, have been named Terrebonne Parish's Athletes of the Month of for the month of September. The award is presented by the Knights of Columbus organization in Houma.
Stephanie, garnering the honor for the first time, is this season's team captain of the immensely successful girls volleyball squad. Stephanie has aided the team in its current winning streak by producing high percentages on both her serving and spiking marks. The 5'11" senior plans to continue her athletic career in college, possibly at USL.
Jesse, winning this award for the second time, is currently leading District 8-AAAA in rushing for the second straight year. The 6'0" senior tailback had an equally fine month of September by rushing for games. He also paced the district in points scored and total offense, repeating his performance of last season.
