Miss. School for Deaf takes basketball title

From: Times Picayune, LA - 19 Feb 2003

Joy Hirdes

The Mississippi School for the Deaf defeated the Virginia School for the Deaf 49-37 at the 51st annual Boys Mason-Dixon Basketball League Championship, a three-day tournament held last month and hosted by the Louisiana School for the Deaf in Baton Rouge.

"The tournament was a huge success thanks to my committee," Louisiana School for the Deaf athletic director Pauline Wood said. "The tournament itself was perfect."

The first game of the tournament saw the Louisiana School for the Deaf defeat the Tennessee School for the Deaf 53-29. Miguel Paniagua scored 18 points to lead the War Eagles to the victory.

In game five, the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind defeated the Louisiana School for the Deaf 54-47. Eric Garrison and Antonio Knox combined to score 23 points for the War Eagles. Carolina took the lead with five minutes remaining and never relinquished it.

In game nine, the Georgia School for the Deaf defeated the Louisiana School for the Deaf 40-39 to eliminate LSD from the tournament.

"What a game," wrote Josh Childress of the Louisiana School for the Deaf. "Georgia withstood a furious rally late in the final period to escape with a victory on LSD's home court."

A total of 17 games were played during the tournament. A live webcast of the games broadcast was "a hit," Wood said.

The Alabama School for the Deaf finished third, followed by South Carolina, Florida and Kentucky.

-- The Louisiana School for the Deaf will host the 2004 Girls Mason-Dixon Basketball tournament, which is scheduled for Jan. 22-24 in Baton Rouge.

RUGBY: The Blue Jay Rugby Club defeated Houston's St. Thomas High School 29-0 and 22-0 last Saturday. The Blue Jays also beat West Side High School 17-0.

Chris Washington had three trys and four conversions for 23 points to lead the Blue Jays' scoring attack. Ben Hurley and Will Smith added three trys apiece. Eric Johns and David Jeanfreau each scored a try.

"Brent Toca was outstanding in his performance as hooker," Coach Robert Markel said. "Patrick Beasley and Brendon Batt were outstanding as forwards."

-- The local high school league will kick off its season in March, with Shaw, Brother Martin, East Ascension and Episcopal School of Acadiana participating.

BOWLING: Kenny Fayard (279-268-236-783) lead the scoring during Freddie's Plantation League action at Penny Lanes.

Other scores included Bud Cazaux (209-247-243-749), Gabe Rocques Jr. (254-268-225-738), Ricky Seigfried (266-227-237-730), Jack Thompson (233-234-256-723), Cliff Bigner (257-243-218-718), Jimmie Calcagno (238-233-237-708) and Alex Schubert (224-256-223-703).

-- Phillip St. Angelo rolled a 222, a 203 and a 300 for a 725 series in the Sunday Morning Hangover League at Penny Lanes.

-- At Airline Bowling League at AMF in Kenner, Razor Varnado bowled a 279, 269, 237 for a 785 series. Also, Shannon Duplantis bowled a 300, 259, 192 for a 752 series, Bob Moore bowled a 243, 240, 236 for a 719 series, and Matt Lehmann bowled a 254, 300, 189 for a 743 series.

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Joy Hirdes can be reached at jhirdes@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3807.

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