Ellender’s Javine Robinson earns Houma area’s female team coach of the year award

Javine Robinson had the tough challenge of replacing a Houma-area basketball coaching legend before the 2021-22 season.

Robinson took over Ellender’s girls basketball program from former coach Kenneth Dixon, who won five state championships and over 700 career games in 29 seasons. Dixon died from complications of an aneurysm at age 70 on March 1, 2021.

Robinson, a 2009 Ellender graduate, helped the girls basketball team overcome many adversities during the course of the season to win its sixth LHSAA state championship in school history with a 50-44 win over Warren Easton on March 5.

Many players lost their homes and their school campus was destroyed by the Category 4 storm on Aug. 29. Ellender’s students attended classes at Terrebonne in Houma while their campus is being rebuilt.

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Robinson, who was named the Best of Bayou Preps female coach of the year presented by The Courier and Daily Comet, said the team dedicated the championship season to Dixon’s memory. As the No. 6 seed, Ellender (21-11) knocked off the Class 4A's top three seeds in No. 3 Edna Karr, No. 2 Bastrop and No. 1 Warren Easton to win the championship.

“Winning state championships is what Coach Dixon was known for,” Robinson said. “We came out with that same mindset and we’re going to continue Coach Dixon’s legacy. Coach Dixon was a great guy all the way around. He did a lot for the community and our school.”

Reach Chris Singleton at 985-857-2213 or chris.singleton@houmatoday.com and on Twitter @courierchris.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Ellender's Javine Robinson named Houma area female coach of year