Black guides his Warriors to a parish tournament and a winning season during his senior campaign

Much like their Lady Warrior counterparts, the Oakdale Warriors picked up valuable senior leadership on their way to accomplishing two of their preseason goals.
Jacob Black, the only senior in the starting lineup, led his team to a RoyOMartin Allen Parish Tournament championship and a winning season.
For his efforts, Black was named as the first Allen Parish Most Valuable Player in boys’ basketball.
“I never expected this,” he said about being MVP. “It just shows you where hard work gets you.”
The parish tournament title was the school’s first in a decade. “That was the highlight of our season,” said Black who was the leading scorer in the parish tournament. “We were really proud of that. Those were the games where we worked the hardest and played the hardest.”
The Warrior season tapered off a bit after winning the parish tournament as the team moved into district play. Also tapering off a bit was Black’s point production. Even though his points dipped, his rebounding totals remained constant as he averaged 11.2 rebounds per game.
“You have to look at every shot like you can get a rebound,” he said. “If you look at it like that, then most of the balls will come to you. While reading it off the basket, you just learn how to do that.”
Even though his team struggled in district play going 4-6, Black’s Warriors garnered their first winning season in at least six years as they finished the year 14-8.
Once the Class 2A playoff brackets were released, Oakdale drew the 24th seed which meant they had to travel to face ninth seeded Franklin.
“In the first quarter, we showed a lot fight, and everybody was trying their hardest,” Black said about the playoff game. “But, in the second quarter, everybody seemed to give up, but we did have a lot of fight in the first quarter.”
Even though the Warrior season ended in Franklin, Black said he is still satisfied with his senior season.
“Overall we had a good season,” Black said. “I felt like it could have gone better. We did have a winning season, and it was out first winning season in a while.”
Black looks to continue his winning ways as a member of the Oakdale track, tennis, and baseball teams this spring. He then looks to carry all the intangibles he learned while wearing the Warrior uniform with him as he majors in construction management at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Before he gets to Monroe, Black looks back at the past basketball season and says, “I feel pretty good about it.”

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