The LHSAA awarded the 2012 and 2013 boys and girls state championships to Shreveport Wednesday in a move that surprised many.
The boys Top 28 was previously held at the Cajundome in Lafayette while the girls’ tourney was in Hammond.
“We’re disappointed,” said Cajundome director Greg Davis. “We were hoping that they would continue to bring the championship games to the Cajundome. I believe Shreveport’s bid had a lot to do with the fact that they were offering their facility free of charge.”
By offering bids that included zero costs, Shreveport-Bossier landed 18 votes from the LHSAA executive committee while Lafayette received three and Baton Rouge two.
“The basketball championship is one that our community has wanted to host because we believe we can do a great job,” said Shreveport executive director Mary Ann Tice. “We underwrite events for the community. We get sponsors and in-kind donations. We see this as an investment.”
The University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Fant-Ewing Coliseum, the Lake Charles Civic Center and the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University were the lone bidders and were awarded the regional semifinal sites for the new combined boys-girls basketball tournaments that begin in 2012-2013.
Shreveport was also awarded a two-year bid for wrestling in 2011-2012, unanimously beating out Kenner’s Pontchartrain Center, the tourney’s host since 1999.
Both the basketball and wrestling tournaments will be held at Bossier City’s CenturyTel Center.
New Orleans landed a one-year bid for the 2011 Division I-II state soccer tournament, edging out Pineville’s Louisiana College, 13-12, with LHSAA President Ken Delcambre casting the decisive vote.
The state softball tournament will remain in Sulphur at Frasch Park. Sulphur Parks and Recreation was the lone bidder and had it’s two-year bid extended to four years.
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