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Stewart, Sanders top parish team
Playing for a state championship in basketball was the last thing on Gary Stewart's mind last October when he twisted a knee after being hit going for a pass in football practice, suffering a partially torn ACL.
"I was scared I would miss the beginning of basketball season," Stewart said.
But Stewart recovered quickly and even wanted to return to the football field where he played receiver and cornerback for the Vikings.
"Coach "(Dee) Faircloth told me to just sit out the rest of the season and wait on basketball season," Stewart said. "I'm glad he did."
And what a basketball season it was.
Stewart helped lead the Vikings to the Class 3A state championship game as the Vikings reached the finals with a 32-1 record before falling to Richwood in the championship game.
The 6-foot-4 Stewart, who played inside and outside for the Vikings, averaged 16.4 points a game.
Stewart and Vidalia coach Robert Sanders were named 2009 All-Parish Player and Coach of the Year following the season.
Joining Stewart on the 2009 All-Parish team are teammates Torrey Dixon and Quartrell Thomas, Huntington's Tyler Pere´ and Jeremy Randall, Ferriday's Levier Pryor and Carlton Robinson and Monterey's Austin Lipsey.
Robinson led Ferriday with 18 points a game and also grabbed five rebounds a contest.
Pryor averaged 12 points a game, 8.0 rebounds and six assists.
Lipsey, a senior, averaged more than eight points a game and had 80 steals and 55 assists.
Thomas averaged 16.1 points a game and led the Vikings in 3-point shots made.
Dixon averaged 17 points a game.
Pere´ led the Hounds with 19.2 points a game and 12.6 rebounds.
Randall averaged 13.6 points a game.
Vidalia finished 10-0 in district.
"It was a great experience," Stewart said. "We made some mistakes in the final game and I wish we could have won it, but we everybody played hard."
Vidalia went 10-0 in District 3-3A play.
The 6-foot-4 Stewart, who played inside and outside for the Vikings, averaged 16.4 points a game.
"It was a fun season," Stewart said. "We had a lot of team chemistry and the fan support was great. That was one of the main things. Our fans helped us through some tough games."
Vidalia actually had some tough games early, losing its only regular season game to Sicily Island at the start of the season.
"We were kind of down, but we worked through it and played harder," Stewart said. "Everybody stepped up. There was no individual player, it was all a team effort. We had practiced together so much during the summer that we knew what each other was going to do without anyone having to say anything."
Stewart had only two points at halftime in the championship game before finishing with 15. He was 1-of-4 from 3-point land.
"That's motivation for next year and for me to come out even harder," he said.
Stewart, who plans on majoring in business management, needs no motivation in the classroom where he is a 4.0 grade point average.
"My mom pushed me and tells me if I don't make my grades, I'm not playing basketball," Stewart said. "My dad (Gary Stewart) tells me to always have something to fall back on after basketball is over."
Stewart received a letter from LSU head coach Trent Johnson last summer, and has also heard from Baylor and Northwestern State.
"I'm leaving my options open," Stewart said. "I want to sign early and get that part over with so I can enjoy my senior year."
The 6-4, 175-pound Stewart said he plans on working even harder in the weight room and on the court.
"I need to work on my defense," he said. "I am also going to work on my attitude toward the game. When I get in certain situations, I don't need to get frustrated. I need to just keep my head up and playing hard."
Stewart admitted he envisioned playing in the NCAA Tournament one day while watching it the last two months.
"I would be watching thinking maybe one day I would be playing against some of my old teammates," he said.
As for football next season?
"I never really thought about getting hurt," Stewart said. "It made me realize that basketball is my main thing and I need to focus on that. But I still haven't ruled out playing football next season."
Sanders is certainly happy to have Stewart and several of his teammates back for next season.
"Needless to say we didn't expect to go 32-2," Sanders said. "One of our goals was to get to the championship game. "The guys really played level-headed all season, even though they gave us gray hairs at times. They showed up at game time ready to play."
Sanders said it was after the second playoff game, a win over Crowley, that he felt his team could make a real run.
"I had my doubts going into that game and felt better after that one, and even better after beating Port Allen," he said. "There were a lot of people picking Port Allen to beat us. But the guys really came together."
Sanders said the team got a lot of motivation from people saying they were overrated during the season.
"They read a lot of Kenramsey.com bulletin board," he said with a laugh. "That was a lot of motivation for them to go out and play hard."
Sanders said he will try and schedule bigger teams, but that's not always easy to do with those schools so far away.
"We actually tried to play Wossman and Richwood last year but their principals wanted them to play each other to make more money so they turned us down," Sanders said. "We have talked to Tensas Parish about playing in their tournament and they have told us they are going to try and match us up with Madison and Carroll. Franklin Parish said they will cooperate the same way."
Sanders said the toughest part about next season is for his players not to look too far ahead.
"We have to keep focused on what is right in front of us," he said.
Sanders said he is very appreciative of the unbelievable support from the school and community.
"I don't think I have ever seen a crowd any bigger than the one Saturday night," he said. "And these folks have been with us all the way. It makes a special year even more special to see that kind of support." |
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