The Road to Marsh Madness: Class 5A Edition Part II
The bottom half of the class 5A bracket has some heavy hitters in it just as the top half. While there are some high caliber teams in the bottom half, this section should have some of the best games in…
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Continue ReadingThe bottom half of the class 5A bracket has some heavy hitters in it just as the top half. While there are some high caliber teams in the bottom half, this section should have some of the best games in the classification. In this edition, I will take a look at these contest and make predictions on who I think will make it to the second round.
#30 H.L. Bourgeois vs #3 Walker
Walker will host the Braves of H.L. Bourgeois to begin defense of their state championship. The Braves come in with a versatile and offensive-minded duo in Deondre Buggage (5’9″, 2020) and Damon Watkins (5’11”, 2020). Both of them can score the rock and create havoc on the defensive end with their quick hands. However, they are facing one of the premier point guards the state has to offer in Jalen Cook (6’0″, 2020). He is a one man fast break and press breaker as well as an excellent offensive talent. Coupled with 6’4 sophomore Brian Thomas, they are a hard duo to contain. Bourgeois may hang in early if they can score. They might have a chance to win if they get one, or both, of these guys in serious foul trouble. If not, it will be a long night.
Prediction: Walker
#19 Live Oak vs #14 Slidell
Live Oak, a team that spent a good portion of the season in the top 10, will travel down to Slidell to butt heads with the #14 Slidell Tigers. The Tigers have been on a real tear winning 12 of their last 13 games. Their only lose in that time frame was a loss to Ponchatoula at home. Slidell is a guard heavy team so it will be important that they rebound as well as they can. Live Oak has the height and athleticism of seniors Bryan (6’4″) and Vince Bayonne (6’4″) to battle against the speed and quickness of Slidell. This should be an interesting chess match of contradicting styles. If Live Oak dominates the backboards, they should win the contest. Look for this one to go down to the buzzer.
Prediction: Live Oak
#22 Barbe vs #11 New Iberia
Barbe and New Iberia are almost identical to one another in reference to size. Both teams are guard-oriented and none of their players are any taller than 6’3″ or 6’4″. The last time the Bucs faced New Iberia, they received a 46 point beat down at the hands of the Yellowjackets. This game is in the same gym. Barbe should play better, but I think it will be more of the same.
Prediction: New Iberia
#27 Pineville vs #6 Landry-Walker
Pineville was another team that spent numerous weeks in the class 5A top 10. Then district hit and their two wins in district were enough to keep them in the top 32. They will be facing a Charging Bucs team that has been battle tested all season with the schedule that they played. Torey Cargo (6’4″, 2019) and Sha’don Green (5’11, 2019) can get to the hole or shoot it from deep with the best of them. Pineville is hoping that seniors Anthony Johnson (5’5″) and Dev’ion Miles (6’0″) can have big games. They have been starters or key contributors for their whole career, so the team will need to ride them if they are to have any success. However, Landry-Walker should have too much firepower for them on this night.
Prediction: Landry-Walker
#26 Captain Shreve vs #7 Dutchtown
The Captain Shreve Gators return to the playoffs under new Coach Chris Bush. They have had an excellent three week district period where they went from #37 to #26 on the merit of a solid district performance. Senior point Marvin Young (6’3″) and junior post Kendall Coleman (6’8″) have worn defenses out as of late and will be looking to do the same in this contest. Dutchtown will rely on seniors Gary Smith, Jr. (6’3″) and Nicholas Caldwell (6’7″) to carry them to victory on their home court. If these pairs cancel each other out offensively, shooting might be the deciding factor. I think senior KJ Jones (6’1″) for Shreve will be the difference as the Gators pull the upset on the road.
Prediction: Captain Shreve
#23 Denham Springs vs #10 East Ascension
Needless to say the Spartans of East Ascension have had a different kind of season. They started out slow, picked it up in the middle, changed head coaches, and finished kind of slow. Meanwhile, Denham Springs was up and down all year long. This game will probably come down to simply how will the Yellowjackets defend junior Hobert Grayson IV (6’5″). Grayson is a multi-talented player who can punish teams inside and out. He will have to be kept in check. Denham seniors Micah Banks (6’1″) and Xavier Miles (6’5″) will need to have very productive nights on the offensive end to make this a game that they may steal. In the end, should be just enough Spartan offense to pull this one out.
Prediction: East Ascension
#18 West Monroe vs #15 Covington
Like Captain Shreve, the West Monroe Rebels had some quality wins after the holiday season which caused them to move up in the standings. Coach Hill leaned on senior guard Brandon Jackson (6’0″) during that time and he helped lead his young teammates to a good district showing. However, against Covington, they may possibly see the tallest team they have seen outside of Rayville. Covington may pound it inside on the smallish Rebels. This is a game where freshman Jadais Richard (6’2″) will have to grow up big time for the Rebels to pull this one off. Along with the trek to the Covington-Mandeville area, I do not see the Rebels coming out on top.
Prediction: Covington
#31 Airline vs #2 Ouachita
The Madhouse on Madison has seen many a visiting team meet their demise. If Airline is not to meet that same feat, they will need their seniors to have the game of their lives. TJ Robinson (5’9″), Fred Lemons (5’9″), and De’Quan Randle (6’4″) can each score and defend. They will each need to put up numbers in the high teens to have a chance in this one. Ouachita senior Paul King (5’10”) has been the best point guard under 6’0″ this season and has some legitimate shooters on each wing. The Lions should win this one. If they do not, it will definitely be because of a historical scoring effort from at least two of the three Vikings. I do not see that happening.
Prediction: Ouachita
Class 5A has now been covered. I, and other journalist, will continue to preview everything going on in the LHSAA in our attempt to predict who will be playing in Marsh Madness at the beginning of March.