MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 9, 2000

EDGARD – The year 2000 will be a memorable one for most with the Y2K scare that never was and the festivities that ushered in the new millennium.

For West St. John head basketball coach Antoine Edwards, 2000 has beenespecially memorable. In the first seven months of the year, Edwards haswalked off the court in the Lafayette Cajundome a state champion and has coached the West squad in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association’s All-Star game in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at LSU.

And it all came together on one memorable day in March.

On that day, March 17, 2000, Edwards was preparing the Rams for the Class 2A state final against Coushatta when Rayne head basketball coach Louis Handy approached him about coaching the West All-Stars. With his mindfocused on the championship game, Edwards told Handy he would get back to him.

After the Rams put the finishing touches on a 84-71 victory for the team’s first state championship, Edwards still wasn’t ready to commit to coaching in the All-Star game. After things began getting back to normal days after thechampionship, Edwards sat down with West St. John athletic director LauryDupont, who had coached the West squad in the LHSCA All-Star football game the prior year.

“Coach Dupont told me he felt it would be very honorable to coach in the game and I decided to take it.

“It was without a doubt a great honor. It was truly rewarding, to listen to thenames being called, knowing you were getting quality kids. It was a thrill tohave the top kids in the state to coach.”Edwards and assistant coach Norman Booker of Florien had quite a task.

They had to bring a group of players who had never played together into one cohesive team in one week.

“Norman and I put together a game plan for what we were going to do,” Edwards said. “The thing that was important was that the kids came in onSunday. We told them this was All-Star week and they had a chance toshowcase their talents but not to be selfish.”Many in the media predicted an East victory, saying that squad had so much talent and had the size advantage over the West. But Edwards and Bookerdecided to focus on the team’s strength, it’s speed. That strategy paid offin a 77-65 victory for the West.

“We focused on our speed and getting down on the break and playing defense and that was the key to winning the All-Star game,” Edwards said.

The victory capped a season that included a District 9-2A title as well as the state title. As usual, the Rams started shorthanded with many of theirstarters still playing football. But once they came back, the Rams went on toroll to the district title over Newman. Three victories in the playoffs sentthe Rams to the Top 28 tournament in Lafayette for the first time.

“Teamwork and dedication were the keys,” Edwards said. “I have to creditthe kids. They have been together so long. They knew what it was all about.They bound together and played together as a team.”Against McCall in the semifinals, West St. John trailed by as many as 10 inthe second half before rallying to send the game into overtime. There, theRams out-scored McCall 14-4 for a 78-68 victory.

That sent the Rams into the finals against Coushatta, a team making its third straight tournament appearance, including a state title in 1999. Thistime, the Rams withstood a late rally, scoring 18 of the game’s final 23 points for an 84-71 victory.

“I was wishing the clock would tick down faster,” Edwards said of what was going through his mind in the final seconds. “I was proud of the kids and I washappy for West St. John and the community and the coaching staff as well.Night in and night out, this is something you can always take with you.”Edwards will be entering his 21st year as a coach at West St. John when the2000-2001 school year begins, 14 as head basketball coach. He graduatedfrom Second Ward High School where he played basketball and football before receiving a football scholarship to Grambling. At Grambling, he picked up afew coaching pointers from the legendary Eddie Robinson.

“Everything I learned from him was about life and what it means,” Edwards said. “About character and life instruction. He was a strong believer in Godand so am I. God has been good to us here and I thank Him for that.”After graduating from Grambling, Edwards had aspirations of a pro football career. When that didn’t pan out, he accepted a coaching position at WestSt. John and has been with the school since. In that time, Edwards hasconnected with his players, knowing what they have to go through.

“There has to be a line drawn between you and the athletes,” Edwards said.

“But you also have to connect with the kids. You were a kid once and it’s acycle. Being a coach is not just about being a coach. You have to be a fatheror a brother for many of the kids.”Edwards said coaching has definitely changed in the two-plus decades he has been in the profession. Coaches are dealing with a different breed of athlete,one that society has often taken a toll on.

Through all those changes, the Rams have been consistently successful in both football and basketball. Edwards credits that to a coaching staff thathas remained together for over a decade.

“We know each other,” Edwards said. “It’s like one big happy family. Thelongevity of the staff has a lot to do with the success of the program too.”The same could be said of this year’s state championship team. Players likeDonriel Louis, Marlon Jackson, Brian Lumar and Jeremy Lumar had been playing together for years.

“We had some good kids who were able to produce,” Edwards said. “They hadbeen together since they came to high school and that means a lot. Theyknew each other. They knew what each could and could not do and we couldgo from there.”And now that Edwards and West St. John know what it takes, they can’t waitto go back to the tournament again.

“The kids are anxious,” Edwards said. “They are looking forward to gettingthere again and hopefully we can get there again.”

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