LSU coach visits local school

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 15, 2006

FERRIDAY &8212; Fans at the Huntington-Central Private game Saturday night were not only treated to some good basketball, but also to an unannounced guest.

LSU women&8217;s basketball head coach Pokey Chatman made a stop for the game to watch the younger brother of her assistant, Christie Sides, play.

&8220;The younger brother of one of our assistants plays for Central Private,&8221; Chatman said.

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&8220;We try to make sure to get out to see him play a few times a year, and he called us earlier today to see if we were coming. We didn&8217;t even know where the game was. But practice got over at 1:30 today, so we hopped in the car and came on up here.&8221;

She said not only did making trips like this give her a chance to bond with her assistants, they also give her the chance to meet the rest of Tiger Nation.

&8220;We&8217;re close, as a program, with all our assistants,&8221; she said.

&8220;We&8217;re like family. The first thought was we could see Josh (Sides, who scored four points in the game) play, and we can also meet more of the LSU family, because it&8217;s a big family.&8221;

With the Lady Tigers currently sporting a 9-1 record, Chatman feels her club will be in good shape come tournament time.

&8220;I think we&8217;re moving in the right direction,&8221; she said. &8220;But we&8217;re playing the No. 5 team in the country (Ohio State) (today), so ask me after that.&8221;