Choudrant captures top honors in 2-B

Choudrant and Simsboro once again dictated the District 2-B basketball title race this season, so it’s only fitting the Aggies and Tigers make up the majority of the All-District team.

For the boys team, Choudrant senior Michael Jones was voted as District 2-B MVP after averaging 26.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in district, leading the Aggies to a 23-12 overall record.

“We love supporting him, and he put himself in this position,” Choudrant head coach Ryan Smith said. “Any time a kid works like this and has a great attitude, it’s phenomenal to see. We’re just very grateful and excited he gets to be recognized like this.”

Along with Jones, Choudrant sophomore Carson Carrico ( 10.3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) made first team.

A trio of Tigers joined the Aggies on the first team, with guards Jakaleb Modest (13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 steals), Ahmad Smith ( 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 steals), and Itavus Brown (18.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 steals) all earning a spot.

Simsboro head coach Adam Wodach, voted as the District 2-B Coach of the Year, said his group should be proud of their achievements but need to quickly turn focus to next season.

“It’s about staying humble and being hungry and you can’t be satisfied with anything in life,” Wodach said. “ You can be excited and thankful about the recognition, but you also have to be hungry for the next piece. If we would have been lucky enough to win state this year, our goal would have been to come back and win it again. You have to have that mindset.”

As for being voted as Coach of the Year after leading Simsboro to a 26- 12 record, Wodach passed off credit to those around him in the program.

“I’m really humbled to be recognized by other coaches with that honor. I think it’s really a staff award to me,” Wodach said. “With my assistant coach Gavin Mitchell, we’re not where we are without him. And I had great managers that helped our program function. It’s not just me.”

The second team selections included Choudrant’s Lawson Stevens (7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds), Tucker Batterton (4.8 points, 3.8 assists), and Braden Soto ( 9.5 points, 2 steals), along with Simsboro’s Jalen Outley ( 8.3 points, 5.8 rebounds) and Tristan Deloney (5 points, 5.7 rebounds).

Simsboro’s Justin Prudhomme made honorable mention.

On the girls team, Choudrant sophomore Reese Brown was selected as the District 2-B Girls MVP after leading the Lady Aggies in scoring (13.3 points per game) on their way to their first outright district title since 2018-19.

Brown, who made honorable mention last season, was voted as the clear-cut top player by district coaches. Choudrant head coach Brandy Roberson was thrilled to see her young leader receive recognition.

“The first time I ever saw her play, I knew she could be special,” Roberson said. “And then over the course of the season it was clear she was a key component to our program. She’s just getting confidence in herself, and she works hard. She gets a lot of feedback from the coaches, and she wants all of it. She wants to get better.”

Brown was joined by teammates Brelyn Pyle (12.8 points, 4 steals) and Sadie Jones (5.2 points, 7 rebounds) on first team.

Simsboro juniors Kayla Mitchell ( 7.4 points, 8 rebounds) and Jahkeria Abney ( 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds) rounded out the first team selections for the Lady Tigers.

“All coaches love to see their players recognized and we take pride in that just for the girls to be able to see their hard work pay off,” Simsboro head coach Matt Herring said. “For Kayla and Jahkeria, it’s something they deserved to make first team after leading us to 20 wins.”

Simsboro also had Dakota Powell, a 7th grader, and Brianna Williams, an 8th grader, make second team all-district after each averaged over 3 points per game and 2.5 rebounds.

“Even though they’re both junior high kids, it was great to see Dakota and Brianna make second team,” Herring said. “I was worried coaches might hold the fact they’re junior high against them, but they didn’t and were really impressed with how they helped us this season. I think the future is bright for them.”

Choudrant’s Abby Frazier ( 5.5 points) also made second team.

“Having three on first team is huge for us to get, and I’m really happy for all of them to work as hard as they did to get that,” Roberson said. “Four of our five starters either made first or second team which is really cool for us to get.”

The recognition for Choudrant didn’t stop there, as Roberson was named District 2-B Girl’s Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Aggies to an undefeated district title. Choudrant finished 14- 21 overall – doubling their win total from last season – and made the Division V non-select playoffs.

“It’s an honor considering all the coaches in the district and the number of years they’ve put into coaching and for me to take some time off and come back, it’s a blessing and an honor to receive that,” Roberson said. Piper Jackson (Choudrant), Addison Swift (Choudrant), and Curniya McCallister ( Simsboro) all made honorable mention.

BOYS 2-B ALL-DISTRICT First team

Michael Jones (Choudrant) – MVP Itavus Brown (Simsboro) Jakaleb Modest (Simsboro) Ahmad Smith (Simsboro) Carson Carrico (Choudrant)

Second team

Lawson Stevens (Choudrant) Jalen Outley (Simsboro) Michael Thompson (Forest) Tucker Batterton (Choudrant) Braden Soto (Choudrant) Tristan Deloney (Simsboro)

Honorable mention — Evan Holley (Forest); Justin Prudhomme (Simsboro); Nathan Wolfe (Downsville); Charles Vick (Downsville).

GIRLS 2-B ALL-DISTRICT First team

Reese Brown (Choudrant) – MVP Jahkeria Abney (Simsboro) Brelyn Pyle (Choudrant) Kayla Mitchell (Simsboro) Sadie Jones (Choudrant)

Second Team

Dakota Powell (Simsboro) Abby Frazier (Choudrant) Piper Bennett (Downsville) Latricia Randall (Forest) Brianna Williams (Simsboro)

Honorable mention — Piper Jackson (Choudrant); Maricarmen Garcia (Forest); Curniya McCallister (Simsboro); Addison Swift (Choudrant); Eden Miller (Downsville).