SPORTS

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Union defeated previously unbeaten Jena, 24-16. The Farmers are headed back to the Superdome for the fourth straight season. Top seeded Ruston handled business against Mandeville, 28-7. The Bearcats advance to the State Championship for the second straight season.

Championship-caliber teams always seem to have a strong group of players on the bench. And it was unheralded players providing solid depth that helped Ruston secure a second-straight trip to the Nonselect Division I state championship game at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans as the Bearcats defeated Mandeville 28-7 Friday night at L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium.

• The no.1 Ruston Bearcats will face the no.21 Mandeville in the semifinals of the LHSAA football playoffs, with the winner advancing to the state championship. • Ruston's Head Coach Jerrod Baugh credits the team's defense as a key factor in their success, and notes that the offense and special teams have also improved throughout the season.

Fontainebleau senior Matthew Kinzeler took over in the second half as his game-high 28 points powered the Bulldogs’ 68-58 comeback victory over Covington at the Northlake Christian Tournament on Dec. 1. Trailing 51-38 with three minutes left in the third quarter, Fontainebleau unleashed its press. That started an 18-0...

The road to Mandeville's first semifinals appearance since 2015 has been long and winding. When the 21st-seeded Skippers step onto the field at top-seeded Ruston Friday night in the Division I nonselect semifinals, most people will talk about whether junior Nate Sheppard can repeat his six-touchdown performance that led to a 56-50 quarterfinals victory over No. 4 Airline last week.

In boys action Wednesday, defending state champion Ponchatoula remained unbeaten with an easy 78-48 win over Scotlandville. Santa Clara commit Allen Graves led the way, as usual, for the Green Wave. Graves scored 26 points while Jeremiah Lewis added 13 points. Cory Jackson finished with 10 points for the Green Wave.

Ruston High will return to the Caesars Superdome Saturday after defeating Mandeville 28-7 at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium. Below is a notebook from tonight’s game. Dome Opponent: While the Bearcats were dominating the Skippers Friday night, the other Nonselect Division I match-up was being dominated by the elements. Dutchtown and Zachary were suspended due to severe weather with 1:48 to play in the third quarter with Dutchtown leading 28-13. The game will resume Saturday at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing to face the Bearcats next Saturday (Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.).

• Nate Sheppard, a junior running back from Mandeville High School, has been named the Greater New Orleans Amateur Athlete of the Month for November. This is the first time in over 25 years that a Mandeville athlete has received this honor.

Nolan Byers carries a 4.39 GPA, a 32 on the ACT, and college football offers from schools like Southeastern, Nicholls, and Air Force.

There is high school basketball action in Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana today, and info on how to stream these games is available right here. Follow high school basketball this season on the NFHS Network! Keep tabs on your family or alma mater and tune in!. Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana High...

One more kickoff at “The Hoss” this season. Regardless of tonight’s outcome, it will be the final chance to watch this 2023 Ruston High football squad put the pads on and walk up the ramp from the Chick Childress Fieldhouse. And they’ll make that trek with one...

The Lincoln Parish Journal spoke to Joe Halm, Sports Editor of the St. Tammany Farmer, to get some insight into Mandeville High Skippers — this week’s opponent for Ruston in the Nonselect School Division I state semifinals. Halm took over as sports editor in September of 2021 and the St. Tammany Farmer has covered every Skippers game this year.

It was a sluggish start for Slidell in its boys soccer match against Pearl River at a rainy L.V. McGinty Stadium on Nov. 30. But a pair of seniors helped the Tigers put away the Rebels for a 2-0 nondistrict win. Third-year captain Ethan Whittington gave his team a 1-0...

It took Northshore junior Cherie Spencer less than two minutes to reach a special milestone as the Panthers hosted crosstown Salmen on Nov. 28. Spencer drained a 3-pointer to surpass the 1,000-point plateau as the junior poured in 25 points to power Northshore's 68-46 nondistrict victory. "It feels great to...

The Ball Hawk of the Week is brought to you by Archbishop Hannan High School.

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The No. 19 Pearl River men's basketball team kept it close throughout but couldn't complete its come-from-behind effort against rival Gulf Coast Tuesday night inside Marvin R. White Coliseum, falling 85-79. "We've just got to keep growing," head coach Chris Oney said. "Our scouting report was perfect, but we didn't follow it. We have to fix a few things. The most disappointing thing is giving up 85 points on your home floor. They just wanted it more.

Area Prep Basketball Report for Wednesday, Nov. 29. It went down the last second, to the last shot. Archbishop Hannan had the last shot. Cecilia Travers took a pass around the half court line, drove to the right baseline and buried a 10-footer as time expired to give the Hawks a thrilling 42-41 win at Dominican.

Rummel and Mandeville have nothing to lose when they go on the road to play semifinals this week. Rummel went 4-6 in the regular season and began the playoffs seeded No. 18. Mandeville went 6-4, seeded No. 21. Both teams were seeded low enough to open the postseason on the road. Suddenly, both schools have a chance to secure a coveted spot in the Caesars Superdome when Rummel visits Catholic-Baton Rouge and Mandeville visits Ruston.

Mandeville is no Cinderella team anymore. Ignore the seed number. Though the Skippers are seeded 21st in the Non-Select Division I playoffs, they are better – make that much better – than their seed. That was evident again Friday night in Bossier City. Nate Sheppard was brilliant again,...

Ruston - 28 Join us each Friday night at 10:30 on KPXJ CW 21 for the Johnny's Pizza House Scores & Highlights Show. Count on Alex Anderson, Daniel Brown, and the entire KTBS 3 Sports Team to fan out across the ArkLaTex each week capturing the best highlights on the field. Also, don't miss out on the exclusive coverage on the KTBS 3 Friday Football Fever Facebook page. Keep up with local, regional and national sports headlines on the sports section of ktbs.com, complete with schedules and scores from the ArkLaTex. Be sure and follow the KTBS Sports Twitter feed and download our mobile app to make sure you get the final scores of those key games. Of course the KTBS 3 Storm Team is there to help you prepare for the game with the latest conditions so you know what to wear and bring. Click here for the latest forecast. Finally, don't forget to share your practice, game and fans photos with the world by sending them to pics@ktbs.com and use #3fever on social media.