LHSAA Quarterfinals Previews: Class 1A & Division IV
March is here! March basketball is the most exciting time of year for most casual and diehard fans alike. That is the same for Louisiana prep teams as we are heading into the quarterfinal round today. We will take a…
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Continue ReadingMarch is here! March basketball is the most exciting time of year for most casual and diehard fans alike. That is the same for Louisiana prep teams as we are heading into the quarterfinal round today. We will take a look at all of the class 1A and division IV matchups taking place tonight, as well as recap the thriller between Delhi and Lincoln Prep from Thursday night.
Class 1A:
1 White Castle vs 8 Kipp Booker T. Washington
White Castle won their first round game by 41 points, and then they followed that up by beating the 16 seed, Montgomery, by 34 points in the second round. The defending state champs will look to follow that up against Booker T. Washington in the quarterfinals with a trip to Lake Charles and the state semifinals on the line. I expect for White Castle’s experience to take over in the second half and for them to pull away in the fourth quarter.
Winner: White Castle
3 Jonesboro Hodge vs 11 East Iberville
East Iberville pulled off the biggest upset of the playoffs so far in class 1A with a 73-60 win on the road at 6 seeded Tensas on Tuesday night. They also have a win over the 1 seed White Castle under their belt from earlier in the year. They definitely will not be intimidated when coming into this one to face Jonesboro Hodge. The 3 seeded Tigers, who are coming off of a 69-58 win over Plain Dealing, will be led by 6’4 jr guard Ladamien Bradford. Bradford can make plays in multiple ways, and his team will need him to do so on Friday night to be successful. This one will be played at a very fast pace, and I think that favors Jonesboro Hodge.
Winner: Jonesboro Hodge
2 North Central vs 7 Logansport
North Central comes in off of a 66-42 win over 18 seeded Homer in the second round. Following a semifinal loss last year, the Hurricanes have been on a mission all year to get back to that spot. With a win on Friday night, they will do just that. Logansport comes in having one if its most successful seasons ever. The Tigers are very athletic, and will rely on 6’0 jr guard Brian Lee and 6’6 so center Kevin McKeever to lead the way. I think North Central’s experience and home court advantage are the difference in this one.
Winner: North Central
Recap: 4 Delhi vs 5 Lincoln Prep
Delhi elected to play on Thursday being their girls team will be playing in the state championship game on Friday. This game was played at a very high level with a pace that few teams can match. In front of a standing room only crowd, Lincoln Prep battled the Bears down to the wire. Delhi called a timeout trailing 59-57 with 11 seconds left to set up an opportunity to win the game. They elected to do what they have done all year, give the ball to 6’6 sr forward Tyler Washington. Washington took ball to the left side of the floor and knocked down a deep 3 ball to give his team a 60-59 lead with 5.1 seconds left. Lincoln Prep elected to give the ball to their electric jr playmaker Chanse Robinson. He took it the length of the floor, but came up just short on a floater in the middle of the lane. Lincoln Prep battled all night long, fighting off the intense pressure from Delhi. The undersized Panthers put up an extraordinary fight against the much bigger Bears from Delhi. Delhi will now await the winner of White Castle and Booker T. Washington.
Division IV:
1 Lafayette Christian vs 9 Ascension Catholic
Lafayette Christian has only played one game to get to this point, and that game was a 100-28 blowout win over 16 seeded Catholic P.C. Ascension Catholic pulled off the slight upset over St Martin’s Episcopal with a 57-51 win in the second round. I think Lafayette Christian wins this one running away with it.
Winner: Lafayette Christian
5 St Mary’s vs 4 Opelousas Catholic
Opelousas Catholic comes in following a huge 91-44 win over Ouachita Christian in the second round. On the other side, St Mary’s also won in convincing fashion in the second round with a 83-49 win over Houma Christian. I think the dynamic duo of 6’7 jr forward Thomas Howell and 5’10 sr guard Parker Bankston for St Mary’s will just be too much for Opelousas Catholic to handle in this one.
Winner: St Mary’s
3 Hamilton Christian vs 6 Vermilion Catholic
I think the home crowd and 6’0 jr guard Michael Thomas for Hamilton Christian are too much to handle in this one. Thomas just announced his commitment to Louisiana-Lafayette earlier this week. Hamilton Christian will pressure the ball all night long and get the win.
Winner: Hamilton Christian
10 Southern Lab vs 2 Central Catholic
Central Catholic comes in off of a 47 point win over Cedar Creek in the second round of the playoffs. Southern Lab pulled off the upset win over 7 seeded St John in the second round. I think Central Catholic will be comfortable and confident at home for this one.
Winner: Central Catholic