Burnt ROUX: Iota Twins

[cajun4ever]

Small-town team looks to make big-time mark
Posted 2/22/2007


By Christopher Lawlor, USA TODAY
A Louisiana farming community is an apropos location for homegrown talent. Deep in the heart of Acadiana, an area made up of several rural parishes, smallish Iota (pop. 1,500) is thinking big and playing big on the court.
Iota High, No. 17 in USA TODAY's Super 25 girls' basketball rankings, has rattled off 41 consecutive wins this season with an all-junior starting five and a roster made up of locals. The Class 2A public school (fourth smallest of seven classes), has beaten 12 large-class (5A) schools relying on a chemistry that bonded the players "when they were 8 or 9 years old," said coach Stan Baggett, whose twin daughters are starting guards.

After losing in last year's 2A final, the Lady Dogs committed to winning the title in 2007. Iota, which advanced to its third consecutive Louisiana Ladies Top 28 2A tournament next week in Hammond, aims for a perfect season and the program's first championship since 1992 and third overall.

"We've been talking about moments like this since we were like 10 (years old) in Little Dribblers," said 5-6 Caitlyn Baggett, who averages 18.6 points. "Each year we get closer. We want it more and more."

With no starter taller than 5-10, Iota uses speed and a suffocating pressure defense to produce an average margin of victory of 35 points.

"We love up-tempo and shooting the three. All five players on the floor are capable of knocking (three-pointers) down. We've already made 14 threes in a game this season," said Stan Baggett, who is 210-40 in seven years at Iota.

Iota might be a speck on most maps, but the community knows the Lady Dogs could change it. A state title would assure them Louisiana's first undefeated champion since 1990.

"Everyone's pumped," said Ashlyn Baggett, who along with her twin has received more than 50 Division I offers. "This is a chance for the community to win a state title."

That inclusive attitude has spilled onto the court, where Caitlyn, Ashlyn (18.1 points a game), 5-10 Candace LaCombe (11.2 points and 8.5 rebounds a game), Lindsey Miller (8.8 points a game), Angel Simar (7.5 rebounds a game) and lone senior Melissa Short (3.1 points a game) are a cohesive unit.

"There are no jealousies on this team," Caitlyn Baggett said. "That usually destroys teams, but not here."

[DaddyCajun]

Congratulations ladies!!! Any true sports fan, or athlete knows how hard it is to do what these ladies have and will accomplish! It takes a ton of hard work and then some, and lets not forget some luck.

Keep working hard ladies and make ALL of Acadiana proud!!!!!

May have some future Lady Cajuns on this squad!!!

I sure hope so!

DaddyCajun

[NCAA or BUST]

Lets hire Stan Baggett head coach of the Lady Dogs from Iota. First he is a winner and second he can recruit, third it would be UL's only chance of landing the twins.

[VObserver]

Lets hire Stan Baggett head coach of the Lady Dogs from Iota. First he is a winner and second he can recruit, third it would be UL's only chance of landing the twins.

What? No high school coaches; been there, done that [remember Gay Nix?]. What do you base your statement "he can recruit" on? The fact that he MIGHT bring his daughters with him? To the best of my knowledge every girl on Iota's team has lived in the Iota school district for a while. That isn't recruiting. Good coaching combined with good luck, yes, but not recruiting.

[NewsCopy]

 
The final selling point for the Baggetts likely came when their long-time AAU coach Gary Brodhead, formerly the head coach at Teurlings, was hired as an assistant on Donald-Williams' staff.

"That was like the icing on the cake," Ashlyn said. "It was a done deal after that. He's been coaching us since sixth grade, so it's a natural fit for us."

The girls also had McNeese in their blood. Their mother, Cheri, got her masters degree from McNeese. Their father, Stan, ran track there - not to mention other relatives who participated in athletics at McNeese.

The rest of the story

[Zeebart21]

_ _

Iota's Baggett twins quit McNeese's basketball team
March 17, 2009

Iota High head girls basketball coach Stan Baggett confirmed that his twin daughters, Ashlyn and Caitlyn, have quit the McNeese State women's basketball team.

Ashlyn was the team's second-leading scorer at 10.7 points, along with 2.4 rebounds, in 26.4 minutes of play.

Caitlyn averaged 22.4 minutes and was the team's fourth-leading scorer at 8.4 points and 2.7 rebounds a game.

Coach Baggett said no decisions have been made yet on whether or not his daughters will transfer to continue their basketball careers. He said that both currently have 4.0 grade point averages and would finish out the semester academically before making that decision.

[CajunFreak]

_ Iota's Baggett twins quit McNeese's basketball team
March 17, 2009

Iota High head girls basketball coach Stan Baggett confirmed that his twin daughters, Ashlyn and Caitlyn, have quit the McNeese State women's basketball team.

Ashlyn was the team's second-leading scorer at 10.7 points, along with 2.4 rebounds, in 26.4 minutes of play.

Caitlyn averaged 22.4 minutes and was the team's fourth-leading scorer at 8.4 points and 2.7 rebounds a game.

Coach Baggett said no decisions have been made yet on whether or not his daughters will transfer to continue their basketball careers. He said that both currently have 4.0 grade point averages and would finish out the semester academically before making that decision. _

HMMMMMMMMMMM!

What up with that?

Can it be Coach Brodhead may leave soon as well & team up with Coach Bagget.... Nah that would be just wishful thinking......... Coachs with basketball knowledge and two guards that would instantly improve our team! never gonna happen!

[wcd35]

_ HMMMMMMMMMMM!

What up with that? _

Baggett to replace Rogers. You heard it hear first

(that's a joke)

[Zeebart21]

_ HMMMMMMMMMMM!

What up with that? _

Maybe our buddy J-Town or our correspondent from Iota can fill us in????

[J-Town Cajun]

_ Maybe our buddy J-Town or our correspondent from Iota can fill us in???? _

Coming from sources very close to the McNeese program, the problem came more from the Baggett family (Dad and Uncle) and not the twins. I have no clue if they plan on transferring to UL but I do know the twin's grandfather is a professor here at UL. One McNeese alum hinted maybe they will transfer to UL, almost like he knew something. I will say this, if it works, it is because the Dad will come with them to coach. From what I have seen he is a very good coach and the twins are smart players/solid players but I don't think they are going to dominate the Sun Belt. They would start for UL though.

[Zeebart21]

_ Coming from sources very close to the McNeese program, the problem came more from the Baggett family (Dad and Uncle) and not the twins. I have no clue if they plan on transferring to UL but I do know the twin's grandfather is a professor here at UL. One McNeese alum hinted maybe they will transfer to UL, almost like he knew something. I will say this, if it works, it is because the Dad will come with them to coach. From what I have seen he is a very good coach and the twins are smart players/solid players but I don't think they are going to dominate the Sun Belt. They would start for UL though. _

And there you go. Thanks, I knew you could be counted on with the scoop!

[UL_Cajuns]

_ Coming from sources very close to the McNeese program, the problem came more from the Baggett family (Dad and Uncle) and not the twins. I have no clue if they plan on transferring to UL but I do know the twin's grandfather is a professor here at UL. One McNeese alum hinted maybe they will transfer to UL, almost like he knew something. I will say this, if it works, it is because the Dad will come with them to coach. From what I have seen he is a very good coach and the twins are smart players/solid players but I don't think they are going to dominate the Sun Belt. They would start for UL though. _

This would be great.
Hell anything is great compared to what we have now. I was looking at our schedule/results this year, and almost threw up after looking at so many L's.