Girls show out in basketball playoffs

Inspire with a smile

February 20, 2019

LSU athletics are humming

February 20, 2019

Full disclosure: our paper goes off to the press at about 3 p.m. on Monday — about three hours before most local girls’ basketball teams took the floor for their 2nd-round playoff games.

But we’re keeping the faith.

We’re confident that by the time this newspaper hits your hands on Wednesday morning, several locals will still be in the field — continuing their pushes toward Alexandria and the Top 28.

At press-time on Monday, seven local teams were still in the hunt for championships and many of the bunch were at home on Monday night for their respective games.

Tomorrow night, the survivors will play in quarterfinal matchups with the Top 28 set for next week in the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria.

CLASS 5A POWERS HOLD SERVE

Two local Class 5A schools punched tickets into the second round.

Cinderella story H.L. Bourgeois, earned the No. 13 seed and beat No. 20 St. Amant 61-53 on Thursday — the continuation of one of the best seasons in the history of Lady Braves’ basketball.

The clock nearly struck midnight for the Lady Braves in the opening-round game. St. Amant led H.L. Bourgeois by 12 points going to the fourth quarter — quieting the large crowd in Gray.

But the Lady Braves pushed back with seniors Nashalie Dominguez and Marianna Charles combining for 39 points — more than 20 of which came in the fourth quarter — to seal the win.

It was the first playoff win in more than a decade for H.L. Bourgeois.

“These kids have been different,” H.L. Bourgeois coach Michael Melancon said earlier this season. “They’re hungry. They’ve come in and have wanted to compete. It’s been a joy to see and a pleasure to be around.”

The Lady Braves traveled and took on No. 4 LaGrange on Monday night.

Also playing a second-round game were the Thibodaux Lady Tigers.

No. 14 Thibodaux is arguably the hottest local team at press-time, owning a 7-game winning streak entering the Class 5A State Playoffs.

On Thursday, they pushed past No. 19 Live Oak 57-46, thanks to the dominant post play of Bren’naisa Adams and timely offense from others on the floor — especially late in the game.

With the win, the Lady Tigers traveled to take on No. 3 Ouachita Parish on Monday night.

CLASS 4A/DIVISION II FEATURES MANY VICTORS

In Class 5A, our local survivors are underdogs.

But in 4A, Houma-Thibodaux is currently running the yard.

At press-time, three local teams (and another who plays in a local district) are still alive — all the higher-seeded team in their second-round matchups.

No. 4 South Terrebonne advanced after smothering No. 29 Buckeye 48-19 on Thursday night — another notch under the belt of one of the most decorated senior classes in school history.

Senior guard Chloe Fleming was masterful in the win, slicing and dicing Buckeye’s defense throughout the game — outscoring the opponent on her own.

Fleming said earlier this season that the team has one goal: winning the last game of the season.

“We want to make it to state,” she said. “We think we can do it.”

With the win, South Terrebonne hosted No. 13 Opelousas on Monday night in Bourg.

Another team with the shared goal of winning a title is a local squad who may be on a collision course with the Lady Gators — cross-town district rival.

No. 5 Ellender entered postseason red-hot, having won their final 9 games of the regular season. On Thursday, they crushed No. 28 Breaux Bridge 71-32 with swarming offense, timely defense and good all-around play.

The Lady Patriots were the higher-seeded team on Monday in their second-round game, but they had to travel the length of the state to play No. 21 Woodlawn-Shreveport — a squad that beat No. 12 Grant 40-34 in the opening-round.

If both Ellender and South Terrebonne win, they’d matchup against one another in the Quarterfinals with a spot in the Top 28 at stake.

South Lafourche knows about Top 28 pressure. They made it to Alexandria last season.

They also earned the No. 8 seed in Class 4A this season and walloped No. 25 Carencro 57-31 on Thursday night.

Freshman guard Ava Pitre led South Lafourche in scoring with 13 of her 15 points coming in a first-half onslaught which put the Lady Tarpons well out in front en route to an easy win.

The Lady Tarpons hosted No. 9 Salmen on Monday night in Galliano.

Also still alive is Vandebilt, which earned the No. 12 seed in Division II. They crushed No. 21 Lusher 44-17 on Thursday, setting the scene for a Monday-night battle with No. 5 Teurlings Catholic.

HOUMA CHRISTIAN HUNGRY IN DIVISION IV

The Houma Christian girls’ basketball team is hungry.

For two-straight seasons, the Christian Warriors have made it to the Division IV State Championship Game and have lost to Lafayette Christian.

They hope the third time is the charm, though others in the bracket are hopeful of ruining both teams’ plans for a rematch.

Houma Christian is the No. 2 seed in Division IV. They earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and hosted No. 15 St. John at Terrebonne High on Monday night.

If the bracket holds true, the Christian Warriors could match up with Lafayette Christian again in the finals — the No. 1 seed in the field.

But Vermilion Catholic also lurks at No. 3 — a squad which pushed the Christian Warriors to overtime in the Top 28 last season.

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