Reconnecting: Plaquemine, White Castle inaugural alumni game held

PLAQUEMINE - Plaquemine Senior High School hosted an inaugural alumni basketball game against White Castle on Saturday at COPAC.

The game was spearheaded by first-year Green Devil head basketball coach Donald Ray Johnson, a 2002 graduate of Plaquemine.

“I just wanted to bring the old guys back and tie in the rivalry,” Johnson said. “A lot of people came from out of state to participate and are really supporting it.”

The game served as a fundraiser for both school’s basketball programs.

“Basketball is important to both of the communities and you get to come back and see all of your old teammates,” Plaquemine athletic director Scott Allen said. “It brings both communities together and hopefully starts a good tradition.”

A total of five games were played Saturday with teams split up according to the era that they played.

Plaquemine head girls track and field coach Peter Villia, a 1998 graduate, participated in the games.

“It gives us a chance to see some guys we played ball with in high school,” Villia said. “A lot of people have moved on with their life and careers but this gives us a chance to come back and support Plaquemine High.”

Villia said he hopes one day the game will expand to include East Iberville and North Iberville.

“This is great for the community,” Dutchtown head coach Patrick Hill said, a 1987 graduate of Shady Grove who started his coaching career at Plaquemine, said. “This is what it is all about. Just to reconnect with some of these guys I haven’t seen in 20 years.”