Mikaylah Williams, Parkway girls basketball make history with LHSAA state title
The thousands of basketball fans gathered inside Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center on Saturday night for the state’s premier high school basketball game were treated to a stunning performance by Mikaylah Williams and some history by her Parkway team.
Williams, the LSU signee and nation’s No. 1 college recruit, was lit from the opening tip and would not be denied in her final opportunity to win a state title. She showed why she was coveted nationally after leading Parkway (25-1) to the LHSAA Non-Select Division I title with an 80-57 victory over Ponchatoula.
The win was vindication for Parkway, which lost in double overtime to Ponchatoula in the 2022 title game. It was the first girls basketball state title in Parkway history.
Williams’ 3-pointer from about 30 feet as the first-half buzzer sounded was a dagger in the heart of the Green Wave (26-9). As the ball flushed the net, Williams uncharacteristically raced off the court, behind her bench, under the goal and out of the arena. She led all scorers with 34 points.
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The only girls state title in any sport for Parkway came in 2013 when the Lady Panthers won the LHSAA cross country crown for coach Kent Falting. The last Parkway state title in any sport came in 2018-19 when the wrestling team won it all under former coach Emmett Beggs.
The Lady Panthers didn’t have an easy time making it to Hammond despite their wealth of talent. Four players missed significant playing time this season due to injuries, including senior Aniya Russell who suffered a season-ending knee injury in December. Another Lady Panther had ACL surgery last week and missed the playoffs.
“It was a tough year for us,” Williams said. “Injuries were a concern. Aniya was a strong player for us. She played in the state championship game last year.”
Last year, the Lady Panthers lost 80-79 in double overtime in the Class 5A title game to the Green Wave despite 28 points from Chloe Larry. It was the first time in school history the Lady Panthers advanced to the Final Four in the state’s highest classification.
This season, the LHSAA changed its formatting to divisions, rather than classes, but it didn’t keep the same two teams from working their way to a repeat confrontation in the finale.
The Lady Panthers moved up to Class 5A for the 2011-12 season and had not made the semifinals as a 5A team. They did make the semifinals in 2008 in Class 4A.
Jimmy Watson covers Shreveport-Bossier area sports. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: LHSAA basketball: Parkway wins girls high school state title
