SHREVEPORT, La. – The Centenary basketball teams have a busy final home weekend of the season to celebrate two Ladies and four Gents seniors.
The Ladies (6-15, 4-8 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) begin the weekend against Colorado College Friday night, February 8, at 5:30 p.m. The Gents (10-11, 7-5 SCAC) need a win against the Tigers to clinch a spot in the 2019 SCAC Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, February 9, against Johnson & Wales (2-17, 1-12 SCAC), the Ladies will celebrate the careers of Savanah Doty and Jasmine Morris. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Gents will celebrate student assistant coach John Curtis Creed, as well as Kaharri Carter, Mitchell Tarantolo, and Treylan Matthews shortly before the 6 p.m. tip-off against the Wildcats (16-6, 9-4 SCAC).
Final Home Game for Two Record-Breaking Seniors
It will be bittersweet for Ladies fans when they celebrate the final home games for Savanah Doty and Jasmine Morris.
Already having easily broken the Centenary NCAA Division III record, Doty enters the weekend with 193 career three-pointers made – just four off the overall school record.
She also ranks tied for eighth in career three-point percentage.
"Savanah will go down as one of the best all-around players in Centenary Ladies history. Not only a tremendous shooter, she is also one of the best perimeter defenders in the SCAC," said head coach Jason Schmitz. "A player who has come back from multiple injuries and who nearly had her senior season taken away from her, she has come back stronger each time. As a leader, she has embraced new expectations this season and I couldn't be happier with how she has handled all the changes. She is a tremendous young woman and I'm blessed to have been able to coach her this past season."
However, she has shown to be one of the most prolific at recording blocks as a guard in the country. Routinely leading the SCAC among guards in rejections, she became only the third player in Ladies Basketball history to record more than 100 blocks. Last season, the two-time All-Conference performer finished 87th overall and second among guards in the country in blocked shots.
However, Doty also excels off the court. A psychology major with a minor in Spanish, she has appeared on the SCAC Scholar's List each of the first three seasons while also making the Dean's List. At Centenary, she is also busy as a member of the Maroon Jackets, the Psi Chi Psychology Honor's Society, a SAAC committee representative, and a new student mentor at orientation.
With Ladies Basketball, her favorite memory is scoring 20 points, along with classmate Jasmine Morris, in her first collegiate game – setting the tone for the rest of their careers as a dynamic duo.
Following graduation, she plans to pursue a master's degree in child development psychology.
Jasmine Morris, who comes into the weekend second in the Centenary career annals with more than 1,300 points, became the faster player to 1,000 points in Ladies Basketball history last season. Coming into the weekend, the three-time All-Conference performer ranks first in the Centenary career and fourth in the SCAC career record books with 511 made free throws.
"Jasmine has her name all over the Centenary Ladies Basketball record book. A 'bucket getter' in the truest sense of the term, she will go down as one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the program," explained Coach Schmitz. "Her game has continued to evolve through the demands of multiple coaching changes and injuries throughout her career. This season, she has not only embraced the change but has been finishing her senior season stronger than she started. Jasmine's ability to handle adversity will allow her to succeed in whatever she does and I'm happy to have had the chance to coach her this past season."
Majoring in chemistry with a minor in biology, she is a member of the Black Student Union, the chemistry club, a SOAR staff member, and a SAAC representative.
Her favorite memory with Ladies Basketball is going into overtime with Trinity her freshman season. "I loved being able to compete with the number one team in the conference and was able to play an amazing game with my best friend," said Morris.
After graduation, Morris plans to attend PA school to become a physician's assistant.
Four Gents Play/Coach in their Final Game in the Dome
Four Gents seniors will play or coach in their final games in the Gold Dome on Saturday.
John Curtis Creed has served as a student assistant coach all four seasons with the Gents. At Centenary, he is a history major and has served as a Student Ambassador and in the Community Leadership Center and as a member of Kappa Sigma – Being named the most improved brother in 2017.
"JC is the definition of our Gents Basketball program," said Head Coach Chris Dorsey. "He is a great student, extremely hard working, and dedicated four years to the Gents program. I have been very grateful to have him along my side for the past two years. His work ethic and commitment to Centenary will never be replaced. Thank you for all that you have given to us."
Following graduation, Creed plans to be a graduate assistant coach while working towards his master's degree in history. Institutions he has in mind are New Orleans, Tulane, Millsaps, or Southeastern Louisiana.
With Gents Basketball, his favorite memories is storming the court after knocking off Trinity in the SCAC Tournament Quarterfinals his freshman year and knocking off archrival Texas Lutheran in the Semifinals of the SCAC Tournament last season.
Kaharri Carter, who graduated in December with his degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing, joined the Gents Basketball team prior to the 2017-18 season. He has averaged exactly 10.5 points per game both seasons in Shreveport.
One of the best defenders in the SCAC who has ranked in the top-10 in rebounding both seasons, Carter even received a vote for SCAC Defensive Player of the Year last season.
"Kaharri has been a big piece to our team success over the past two years," said Coach Dorsey. "His ability to defend and rebound was pivotal in our tournament run in the 2017-18 season. He will be remembered for his outgoing personality and fashionable lifestyle, including his AirPods. Kaharri is currently pursuing his MBA at Centenary and is on track to graduate in 2021. I am certain that His achievements in the classroom and on the basketball court will carry over to his personal and professional life after college."
With Gents Basketball, his favorite memory is the Monday Mania event to kick off the Centenary winter sports season in November 2018.
Mitchell Tarantolo has been a solid player for the Gents for four seasons, never failing to get the bench fired up with a big block, jumper, or even his first collegiate three pointer earlier this season.
In a 21-point win against Austin College, Mitchell helped Centenary tie the Gents team record for blocks in a game, as he easily recorded a career high four rejections.
"Mitchell has been a phenomenal teammate for the past two years," said coach Dorsey. "He has worked his tail off every day in practice for the betterment of the team and he's always done exactly what I've asked for him. There's no question that Mitchell will be a great teammate in the workplace and excel in all his future endeavors."
A member of the Kappa Alpha Order here at Centenary, he is majoring in geology with a minor in computer science. He has also received the Austin Sartin Geology award and the Band of Brotherhood Award.
Tarantolo has also appeared on the SCAC Scholar's List following his sophomore and junior seasons. Following graduation, he plans to get a job in the energy or geotechnical field. His favorite memory with Gents Basketball is hitting a stellar 100 percent of his three point shots his senior season.
Our final senior to be recognized is Treylan Matthews. Earlier this season, Matthews became the 34th Gent to reach 1,000 career points. In both his freshman and sophomore seasons, he received Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades.
"Trey has been a pleasure to coach over the past two years," said Coach Dorsey. "His great personality will light up the room and he's a joy to be around. He's sacrificed a lot for the Gents program and will forever been known as one of the best point guards to play during our D3 era. His leadership has grown and I'm excited to follow his success in his life after college. I look forward to a life-long friendship with him."
Matthews is currently in the top-30 in all-time scoring at Centenary, but he has also shown to be one of the best rebounding guards in the SCAC in his career. With about 450 rebounds, Matthews has three double-doubles for his career and missed the first triple-double in Gents Basketball history since Robert Parish by two rebounds and two points – he had 10 assists – in a game his sophomore season.
A geology major, Matthews plans to move back to Houston and work for an oil company upon graduation. His favorite basketball memory is playing in the SCAC Tournament when it came to Shreveport his freshman year.
This Weekend's Special Events
Besides celebrating six seniors and all they have contributed to Centenary athletics, both nights will feature special events.
On Friday, the Kappa Alpha order will be at the Gold Dome from 6-9 p.m., raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
On Saturday, the Ladies and Gents welcome SPAR to the Gold Dome. During halftime of the Ladies game, the Pink Panthers will take on the Lady Navigators in an exhibition. During halftime of the Gents game, the Shreveport Spartans will take on the Shreveport Bombers Orange.