By Paige Nash

The Minden St. Jude Auction will feature loads of great raffle items, one of those will be an official LSU jersey signed by LSU basketball stand-out Angel Reese donated by Under Dawgs Sports Grill. The jersey has been matted and framed along with two photos of Reese.  

“One of the pictures was taken during the National Championship where she is pointing to her ring finger,” said Under Dawgs owner Claudine Thomas.  

Thomas explained that her husband Rick and his friend attended the National Championship game in Dallas last year. “They went to the semi-finals and the finals. Angel Reese was an instrumental part of the team and that is why we just had to buy it.” 

Reese led LSU to win their first National Championship and was named “Most Outstanding Player.” She set the Southeastern Conference single-season record in rebounds and assisted in winning the United States a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. 

Being the only sports bar in the area, Under Dawgs has always donated sports memorabilia to the auction as raffle or board items. Last year, they donated a Dallas Cowboys jersey signed by Dak Prescott and the year before, donated a New Orleans Saint’s jersey signed by Alvin Kamara.  

But Claudine and her husband were supporters of the auction even before they opened a business downtown.  

“We have always supported St. Jude. When I was in Junior Service League in the 1990’s, I answered the phone. I have helped behind the scenes, as well as just supported as a patron buying raffle tickets,” said Thomas. “We have too many people in our area that we know or are acquaintances with that have had to go to St. Jude.” 

Under Dawgs Sports Grill will be open downtown during the weekend of the auction. Watch their Facebook page for information on specials. You may even catch the auction while enjoying a hot meal or drinks on one of their 10 televisions.