All-Ruston Daily Leader Basketball Teams
Ruston senior Jaliyah McWain capped off a successful career for the Lady Bearcats with high honors from across the state. Photo by Josh McDaniel
Jaliyah McWain’s accolade shelf can make room for one more as she’s the All-RDL Girls Basketball MVP after leading the Lady Bearcats to a 24-8 record and a run to the Division I Non-select quarterfinals.
McWain, who recently committed to play basketball at Trinity Valley Community College, averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists as she earned her second- straight District 2- 5A MVP this year. McWain also was named a Class 5A second team All-State selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Choudrant sophomore Reese Brown, named District 2-B MVP at 13.3 points per game, Lincoln Prep senior Asijah Wright (12 ppg), Cedar Creek junior Mallory Smith (11.6 ppg), and Zaccheya Jackson (11.9 ppg) all joined McWain on the first team.
The second-team selections include Creek senior Leah Sutherland, who averaged 7.3 points and a team- best 9.3 rebounds, along with her teammate Caroline James, a sophomore with 8.3 points per game.
The Creek duo is joined by Lincoln Prep eighth grader Jayleen Spann (12 ppg), and Simsboro juniors Kayla Mitchell (7.4 ppg) and Jahkeria Abney ( 10.7 ppg).
The All-RDL Girl’s Basketball Newcomer of the Year is Reese Brown, who took off in her second season for the Lady Aggies as she led the program to its first trip to the playoffs since 2022 and first outright district title since the 2018-19 season.
Cedar Creek head coach Katie Hall has been named the All-RDL Girls Coach of the Year for leading the Lady Cougars to an 18- 12 overall record, 5-1 district record, and a trip to the playoffs, despite losing the team’s three leading scorers and starters from the year before.
