The Doyline Panthers have been on a rampage in the 2019-20 basketball season. The Panthers are currently 21-2 and on an 18 game winning streak. One of the main keys to success is 6’ 3” senior Decari Markray.
The Panthers are a fast-paced, run and gun team that cause chaos to their opponents. Turn your back for just a minute and the whirlwind offense and defense will have their opponents by 10 points or more before they know it. With the likes of freshman Jamaria Clark raining down threes from the outside and “Flight Squad” member Jordan Fuller and Javeon Nelson bringing the thunder and lightning to the rim. Markray is the eye of the storm that keeps the team together and pulls them in when needed. “I’m a leader,” Markray said. “I want to do the best for my team and now I just think about any way that we can win. If I want to carry the team, then I want everyone to get experience. I’m a team player, but I’m going to do the most to carry my team out.”
Markray has lived in Doyline for most of his life. He moved to the Webster Parish village when he was in third grade. “It’s a small town and you get to know everybody. Everyone knows everybody. You get love from everyone. Everyone comes out and shows support. It’s a great town.”
The village has not seen a state championship since 1967 but has received six state runner-ups since then. Markray has been a part of a team that has been to back to back quarterfinal matchups in Class B playoffs. They have been just a game away from traveling to Lake Charles to compete in the Marsh Madness state tournament. This might be the Panthers year. Doyline is currently ranked No. 2 in Class B power ranking. Doyline held down the No. 1 spot for at least two weeks earlier in the season. They are blazing a trail through this season.
Markray has visited a couple of schools around the area like Northwestern State and LSU-Shreveport. He has found a special interest in Criminal Justice. “I want to go on to college and play sports, but I won’t get a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Maybe becoming a state trooper, lawyer, or detective. I just like criminal justice.”
The 2019 Class B First Team All-State player has already been issuing warrants and capturing the competition. “We started by beating Zwolle who has been in the state finals the past four years,” Markray said. “We never could get them until this year. That’s a good achievement.” After not being to find a game when the last time the Panther beat Zwolle, Doyline won twice against the Hawks this year. “My sophomore year we had them (Zwolle) down 20 and they came back and beat us. Another warrant outstanding is for Simsboro, the defending state champion. “We went down to Choudrant and played Simsboro and lost that game, but it was a learning game. Hopefully, we can get a game back down the road.” Simsboro knocked the Panther from the quarterfinals two years ago en route to their first of back-to-back titles.
Markray believes they have the team that can finish the task. “I believe we’ve put the work in,” Markray said. “I believe we’re ready to get down to Lake Charles this year. We’ve had more people wanting to play and get more aggressive in practice. We’ve put in our work.”
Markray still has one more fugitive to capture and it’s not even basketball related. For the past three years, Decari has finished in the top three in the triple jump competition at the LHSAA State Outdoors Track championship. In 2018, he finished .01 meters short of a state championship. “Every year I’ve finished second or third place,” Markray said. “Hoping this year will be my year in the triple jump. I love that thing.”
Markray and the Panthers are in hot pursuit of the elusive state championship for his home town. “I hope I can make a legacy,” Markray said. His name and the other Panthers will be revered if they can catch the prize that has eluded the Lake Bisteneau village for 53 years.
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