Louisiana Playoffs: 5A First Round Preview
The time is finally here! Playoff time, baby! (even if this is the weakest classes and divisions in state history, with the select/non-select split coming into effect this year.) This might be the last year that the LHSAA features all…
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Continue ReadingThe time is finally here! Playoff time, baby! (even if this is the weakest classes and divisions in state history, with the select/non-select split coming into effect this year.) This might be the last year that the LHSAA features all of the top teams in the state, with rumors of the biggest select and non-select schools leaving the LHSAA and creating their own athletic association. But we can put all of that out of our minds for the next three weeks as the best teams in each class and division duke it out until there is only one team remaining to be crowned the state champion. We here at Prep Hoops LA are going to be breaking down every single playoff game and making predictions for each. We are going to be moving on to Class 5A, Louisiana’s biggest and most competitive class
1. East Ascension vs. 32. West Jefferson
East Ascension has been in the hunt for the number one seed all season, and I am glad that they ended up getting it. They purposefully scheduled as hard as they could, and they ended up being rewarded for it. When it comes to 5A, no one is ever safe, but East Ascension has prepared for the playoffs as well as anyone. I think they get the win.
PHLA Pick: East Ascension
16. Slidell vs. 17. Airline
I feel very confident about this pick, even going so far as to predict a final score. I think that Slidell is going to end up getting the win 60-51 at home. Am I confident because this pick because the game was played a day early and I saw the score? No. I’m just that good.
PHLA Pick: Slidell
9. Bonnabel vs. 24. Pineville
I am feeling pretty confident about this pick, going so far as to call it a lock. Bonnabel is going to win this game, and Joseph Thompson is going to put up incredible stats. When it comes to 5A, most teams would have trouble matching up with Thompson, but Pineville’s tallest listed player stands at just 6’2. That 7 inch height difference is going to be a game changer.
PHLA Pick: Bonnabel
8. Ruston vs. 25. Dutchtown
Ruston is somewhat limping into the playoffs, going only 3-3 down the stretch of the regular season. Things like that always make me worried about how the higher ranked team is going to play. I’m not sure if Dutchtown is going to have the talent to pull the upset, but this pick is more about how not confident I am in Ruston than how confident I am in Dutchtown.
PHLA Pick: Dutchtown
5. H.L. Bourgeois vs. 28. East St. John
“Best 2 out of 3?” H.L Bourgeois’ coach, probably. This is going to be the third time these two inter-district teams duke it out, with H.L. Bourgeois only district loss coming to East St. John. I think that H.L. Bourgeois is going to come out very hungry in this game, and the result is going to be more like the 15 point win they got the first time around instead of the 1 point loss most recently. Especially with the suspensions handed down by the LHSAA to players following last Fri.
PHLA Pick: H.L. Bourgeois
12. Acadiana vs. 21. Helen Cox
I am going to be very interested in this game, simply because I want to see by the end of the game who is the best player on the court, between Acadiana’s point guard Myles Hutchinson and Helen Cox’s small forward Isaiah Lewis. Something tells me whoever is better between the two is going to come out the winner. I’m going to go with the senior in Hutchinson and Acadiana.
PHLA Pick: Acadiana
13. Central LaFourche vs. 20. Terrebone
We have our first upset of the playoffs! After having literally every player on their varsity game suspended following a fight during the season finale against East St. John, Central LaFourche elected not to play this game, and as a result, Terrebone advances.
PHLA Pick: Terrebone
4. Chalmette vs. 29. Southwood
One of these teams has a top 10 player in the nation. The other does not. I’ll take Mitchell Robinson
PHLA Pick: Chalmette
3. Natchitoches Central vs. 30. Thibodaux
Want to hear something crazy? This is the lowest playoff seed for Brandon Rachal and the rest of the seniors at Natchitoches Central in their career. They’ve gotten to the state championship game every year so far, and I don’t think that run is going to end in the first round this year.
PHLA Pick: Natchitoches Central
14. Walker vs. 19. Alexandria
Alexandria plays in an admittedly incredibly tough district, and their enrollment makes them one of the smallest 5A schools in the state, but that doesn’t change the fact that they have only beaten two 5A teams all season. I don’t think this will be the week for the 3rd.
PHLA Pick: Walker
11. Comeaux vs. 22. Landry-Walker
Interesting stat, Comeaux has gotten knocked out of the playoffs two years straight by a team from New Orleans. However, I don’t think that will be the case this year, as Comeaux is just to long across the board, and I think their defense is going to swallow up Landry-Walker’s Lamont Berzat.
PHLA Pick: Comeaux
6. Lafayette vs. 27. Covington
As of three weeks ago, Lafayette was one of the final teams in the state with only three losses all season. That number is now up to seven. Only winning two of your final six regular season games always gives me pause, but I don’t think Covington has the talent to pull the upset here. However watch out next round for a possible upset.
PHLA Pick: Lafayette
7. New Iberia vs. 26. East Jefferson
East Jefferson has lost 4 of their last 5, and in those 4 losses, they have lost by an average of over 15 points. And none of those teams can defend like New Iberia is capable of defending. I’m going to be taking NISH with a big win over East Jefferson.
PHLA Pick: New Iberia
10. West Monroe vs. 23. Pontchatoula
West Monroe had a three game stretch in district in which they got wins over Ruston, Alexandria, and Natchitoches Central. That isn’t bad for a team that at one point had lost 6 games straight. West Monroe is beginning to peak at the right time, and I just hope that it is the good West Monroe that shows up and not the bad one.
PHLA Pick: West Monroe
15. Zachary vs. 18. St. Amant
Zachary is a team that at their peak can compete with any team in the state, as shown by their huge upset of Scotlandville in district play. On the other end, St. Amant has lost three of their last four, and seems to be going in the wrong direction.
PHLA Pick: Zachary
2. Ouachita Parish vs. 31. Live Oak
This is going to be a tough matchup for Live Oak, with the biggest player on their team being a 6’3 guard. However they are well coached, and I’m sure that they will have a plan for how to slow down 6’7 Jay Head from Ouachita, but the talent and size gap is just too big.
PHLA Pick: Ouachita Parish