The nonselect select state football championships are this weekend in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The first of the five games is the One-A championship game between Kentwood two-time defending champion Haynesville. LHSAA director Eddie Bonine says they are expecting big crowds…

cut 4 (06) “all day”

Kinder will face Mangham tonight in the Class 2-A championship. In Saturday’s games … parish rivals Lutcher and St. James will play for the Class 3-A title. The 4-A championship game pits Edna Karr against defending champion Neville. And The 5-A championship game will have John Ehret taking on Zachary.

In college basketball last night…ULM fell to Kent State 73-62, Nicholls State was crushed by San Diego State 84-47, and Southern defeated Wyoming 68-58.

Tonight in the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans host the Washington Wizards. The Pels have yet to get on track this season as they are 5-16 and have lost 5 of their last 6. The Wizards have struggled as well, they’re 9-11 and have dropped 7 of their last 10. Tipoff is at 7PM.

Tulane will open the 2016 football season September 1st at Wake Forest. The game was announced when the Demon Deacons released their non-conference schedule Thursday. This will be the fourth consecutive year the Green Wave have started their season on a Thursday night.

Former Cleveland Cavalier and Tulane power forward John “Hot Rod” Williams has died. Williams was arrested in the infamous Tulane points-shaving scandal in 1985. He was eventually acquitted of all charges. He played 13 season in the NBA, most notably with the Cavs from 1986 – 1995. Williams passed away from cancer at his home near Sorrento at the age of 53.