Newman basketball coach Randy Livingston had “nothing to say” about recruiting allegations that caused the LHSAA to suspend him one calendar year but believed his team “will be there when it counts” at the end of the season, he said Thursday.
A temporary restraining order issued last week in Orleans Parish Civil District Court let Livingston return to coaching. He will continue to coach his alma mater until at least Jan. 18, when a court hearing could determine his coaching future.
The Greenies on Thursday faced a quality team in Trinity (Kentucky) and lost 47-36 in the opening round of the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic at the Alario Center in Westwego.
“They played the game of basketball the way that it’s meant to be played,” Livingston said. “They played defense. They shared it. They made us work for everything. We didn’t play with very much energy. We didn’t play a very smart brand of basketball. It was one of those nights: We got in a rhythm, it quickly evaporated. We just didn’t play well tonight.”
Last month, the LHSAA suspended Livingston from coaching for one calendar year over allegations of recruiting and banned Newman from participating in the boys state playoffs this season. Livingston sued the LHSAA last week and the judge issued the temporary restraining order Dec. 29. The LHSAA will explain at a court hearing Jan. 18 why its ruling should be enforced.
Livingston said his players “are kids” and “stuff is going to affect them,” but he did not think the off-court issues impacted the game against Trinity.
“We just didn’t have it for whatever reason,” said Livingston, who won three state championships as a player at Newman and two more as a coach over the past two seasons.
For Trinity, a Kentucky state champion as recent as 2019, sophomore Jayden Johnson made a 3-pointer that put his team ahead for good at 15-13 in the second quarter. Newman sophomore Tayden Langdon ended the first half with a 3-pointer at the buzzer that made the score 21-18 at halftime.
Trinity senior Trae Vasser scored the first basket after halftime after a steal in the Newman backcourt and drove for a layup. He finished with a game-high 15 points.
Trinity senior Alex Johnson made two baskets during an 8-1 scoring run that put the Shamrocks ahead 31-21 midway through the quarter. Trinity led by 12 points before the period ended.
Newman sophomore Jackson Williams scored a team-high seven points. Randy Livingston Jr., the coach’s son, scored five.
Livingston spoke after the game like a coach who believed his team would be playing for a state championship in March. The Greenies ended the past two seasons as state champions with Livingston as coach.
“We will be there when it counts,” Livingston said. “I truly believe that.”
The coach otherwise had “nothing to say” about the recruiting allegations and LHSAA sanctions.
“That’ll take care of itself on the 18th,” he said.
Friday at the Prep Classic, Newman will face Charlotte (Florida) in a consolation game set for 8:30 p.m. The Greenies will play another consolation game Saturday against either John Curtis or Thayer (Missouri).