Benton sophomore Emily Ward has been named MVP on the All-District 1-4A girls basketball team selected by the district’s coaches. Ward averaged 20.2 points and 14 rebounds per game for the Lady Tigers, who went 18-15 and reached the second round of the playoffs. She also averaged four assists and two steals. In district play,

The Benton girls and boys basketball teams beat Haughton in the 2016 Basketball Jamboree. The score for the girls game was Benton 42, Haughton 21 and the boys score was Benton 36, Haughton 29. Congratulations to both teams!

Jimmy Watson , jwatson@shreveporttimes.com The Southwood girls have a lot of talent returning, led by player-to-watch Jaiylan Brown, while Captain Shreve and Evangel could be in the mix for the title. The District 1-4A title will likely have to go through Bossier and Benton with player-to-watch Emily Ward. 12 Girls to Watch Tiara Young, Evangel

-Russell Hedges Benton 2015-16 record: 26-9 overall; 9-1 District 1-4A, champion Returning All-Parish: Emily Ward, So. (first team) Returning All-District 1-4A: Ward (first team) Outlook: The 5-11 Ward, who averaged 13.1 points and 8.0 rebounds, is the lone returning starter for a team that lost to eventual state runner-up Rayne in the second round of

— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com Elm Grove and Cope are alone at the top of the Bossier Parish middle school girls basketball standings three games into the district season. Elm Grove improved to 3-0 in the eighth-grade district with a 43-21 victory over Rusheon Monday. In the other games, Cope got past Greenacres 27-20 and Haughton

— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com The Elm Grove Lady Eagles and Cope Lady Cougars remain on top of the Bossier Parish middle school girls basketball standings through four games. Elm Grove improved to 4-0 in the eighth-grade district with a 35-23 victory over Greenacres. The Benton Lady Tigers and Haughton Lady Bucs remained a game back