By Robert Wilson
Levionne Lindsey has been Mr. Consistent for the Northwest Rankin boys basketball team this season and last week he put his Cougars one step closer to a state championship.
The 6-foot-3 senior forward had another one of his consistent games – 16 points, 10 rebounds and 1 blocked shot – to lead Northwest Rankin to a 57-44 victory over Biloxi in the MHSAA Class 6A state quarterfinals Saturday night at Pearl River Community College in Perkinston.
For his outstanding performance, Lindsey has been named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
Biloxi had only lost two games this season – to MAIS Class 6A state champion Madison-Ridgeland Academy and defending MHSAA Class 4A state champion Raymond – before losing to Northwest Rankin and Lindsey was largely responsible for the victory.
“Levionne got to his spots offensively and just made it look easy,” Northwest Rankin coach Joshua Luckett said. “He played under control and was aggressive attacking the basket. Levionne was a monster on the boards.”
Lindsey – a member of the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team – is averaging 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals this season for 25-8 Northwest Rankin, which plays Brandon for the 6A state championship Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
“Levionne puts on solid performances each night,” Luckett said. “Most players with his scoring ability worry about getting the points, but he’s a team first guy. Levionne is a very humble young man.”
Lindsey averaged 16 points per game and led Northwest Rankin to a 22-8 record and the MHSAA Class 6A state quarterfinals last season. He was fourth team All-Metro Jackson. Lindsey scored a career-high 35 points against Provine last year.
“Levionne is a strong kid with a high IQ and an understanding of the game,” Luckett said. “He takes what the defense gives him. Levionne goes as his own pace. He is unselfish and gets his teammates involved, but when he makes his mind up, he can get his own. He’s coachable.”
