Sports

The year 2015 was a year marked with high points and dark valleys. On April 30, my brother, Tom, two years younger than me, lost his battle with a debilitating illness. We buried Tom in DeRidder two days later. Tom and I grew up together with our boyhood years highlighted by time spent with our two first cousins, Doug and Sambo. We were the four boys of Harris Hill; Tom and me on one hill; Doug and Sambo within hollering distance on an adjoining hill.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition

We hear about school-yard bullies, unfortunately, too often. A dominating buffoon can create terror for some youngsters. The same thing can take place in the world of the whitetail deer, and Simsboro’s Dan Durrett saw it happen this past season. Once a “bully buck” was taken out of the herd, Durrett was able to down a ten point followed 10 days later by a big nine point with the combined measurements of the two trophies bumping almost 300 inches of bone. All three bucks were taken from the same stand.

I’m not sure when a special friendship with my hunting club buddy, Mike Brister started. We’ve been in the same club, Two Creeks in Jackson Parish, together for several years and although he has been helpful in getting my stands ready for deer hunting season, a genuine friendship was sealed during this last turkey season. The morning of April 11 dawned cool and clear and I drove to our camp before dawn, planning to hunt alone when Brister drove up, we visited and began formulating plans for the morning. He was going to one spot to listen for a gobble; I was headed for a different spot further down the road, but as we drove away from camp, my old truck died.

The WSHS Cheerleading team marched in the 2015 Christmas Parade. The team stopped in front of the stands to perform stunts for the crowd.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition

It’s called the “rut”. For the uninformed, that means the time of year when usually secretive and wary buck deer, following an urge to breed doe deer, drop their guard and follow receptive does everywhere. A song out of the old Broadman hymnal comes to mind during this time of year. Slightly paraphrased….”Wherever SHE Leads, I’ll Go”.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition

by Glynn Harris

For the past four years, Ronnie Ables, who lives in Calvin, has been after a particular impressive buck that has been hanging around his 130 acre Weyerhaeuser lease near his home in Winn Parish. The buck has earned the name, “Big Brow” because of the impressive brow tines he sports on his headgear.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition

WACO, Texas – Joe Jackson of Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) and George Page of Wiley College (Texas) earned a share of the RRAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week award for the dates of Nov. 16-22. This is the third award of the 2015-16 basketball season. Jackson lifted the Saints to a 114-97 road upset of 12thranked Wayland Baptist University (Texas) on Friday. The junior forward from San Antonio, Texas, led the team with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks on the night. In addition, Jackson was 9-of-14 from the field and picked up a pair of steals. It was Jackson's first official action of the season and OLLU's first non-exhibition game.

The WSHS football season came to a close Friday night as Kaplan dominated 22-7.

“They played real hard,” said Head Coach Andy Pyles. “But we weren’t able to convert when we needed to.”

This was the first year in AAA for the Tigers, and they were the second smallest school in the division.

“In January, we’ll get back to work,” Pyles said.

Coach Pyles noted how proud he is of the team and the job they did this season. He also mentioned the great support from the Winnfield community throughout the season.

“I’m going to miss this group of seniors,” he added.

The WSHS senior football players are: Byron Patterson, Charles Williams, Jay Starks, JT Riser, Terry Brown, Justin Martin, Jamey Pendarvis, Kreston Phelps, Darrien Shepherd, Kerry Fitzgerald, Jahmauri Mosley, Gabriel Valdes, J’Anthony Foster, Charles Russell, Cody Jordan, Parker Brewton, Josh Bartley, Micah Chesney, Christian Bonnette, Steven Wilson, Stephon Wilson and Zach Williams.