BOYS-BASKETBALL

Meet The Town Talk's All-Cenla high school boys basketball team for 2021

LaMar Gafford
Alexandria Town Talk

The 2021 All-Cenla boys basketball team was selected by Town Talk sports reporter LaMar Gafford along with additional input from the coaches in the area.

MVP

Natchitoches Central Darius Young (12) goes for a layup against Tioga during the Hixson Auto Invitational at Alexandria Senior High.

Darius Young

Natchitoches Central, Sr.

Height; Position: 6-5; Forward

Why chosen: Young became the focal point for the Chiefs offense as he averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds per game for the Class 5A finalists.

UPHOLDING A TRADITION:Darius Young continues Natchitoches Central's tradition of basketball success

Anacoco head coach Randy Carlisle acknowledges the crowd following the Indians' quarterfinal victory over Pitkin on Friday. The win marked the 900th coaching victory for Carlisle.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Randy Carlisle

Anacoco

Why chosen: The veteran coach made the move from Summerfield to Anacoco and nearly led the Indians to the Class B title in his first season. At 36-3, Anacoco had the best team in the area this year as it defeated Class 5A’s Alexandria Senior High and West Monroe for its marquee wins.

CARLISLE TAKES OVER:Veteran coach, former standout take reins of Anacoco basketball program

Menard center Jourdain Dishmond (35) pulls down a rebound against Natchitoches Central Dec. 15.

FIRST TEAM

Jourdain Dishmond

Menard, Sr.

Height; Position: 6-8; Center

Why chosen: Dishmond had a strong senior season by averaging 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds to help lead the Eagles to their first state tournament and to reach personal career milestones of 2,000 points and 1,500 rebounds.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS:Menard's Jourdain Dishmond casting big role as leader of Eagles basketball

ASH forward Mitchell Easley (3) dribbles during the Hixson Auto Invitational.

Mitchell Easley

ASH, Sr.

Height; Position: 6-4; Forward

Why chosen: Consistently scoring in double figures in 28 out of 34 games, the Trojans big man posted 14.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game to help ASH return to the Class 5A quarters where it lost to Walker.

NO CHAMPIONSHIP HANGOVER:ASH boys basketball readies for home tournament, seeks Class 5A repeat

Peabody senior Zytarious Morlte (5) drives down the lane against Tioga Friday, Jan. 15, 2021.

Zytarious Morlte

Peabody, Sr.

Height; Position: 6-3; Guard

Why chosen: Even though the Warhorses missed the playoffs after being forced to forfeit 20 games, Morlte gave a young team some veteran stability after making his debut Dec. 18 — averaging 20.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals.

RELOAD, NOT REBUILD:How Peabody basketball has reshaped its roster after winning Class 4A state championship

Anacoco senior Shaun Riley (42) dribbles in the paint against JS Clark Tuesday in the Class B semifinals.

Shaun Riley

Anacoco, Sr.

Height; Position: 6-6; Forward

Why chosen: Transferring from the St. Louis area, the Northwestern State signee made an immediate impact to help the Indians get to the Class B finals by scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds per game.

BOYS HOOPS SUPER SIX:Meet the Town Talk's boys basketball Super Six for Rapides Parish, Cenla

Northwood's Omarion "Diddy" Layssard throws down a dunk during the Hixson Auto Invitational last season.

SECOND TEAM

Forward: Denzel Baines, Northwood, Sr.

Guard: Robert Drakes, ASH, Sr.

Forward: Ty’Drick Harrell, Marksville, Sr.

Guard: Omarion Layssard, Northwood, So.

Guard: Johnny Nelson, Rapides, Sr.