Several Tri-parish teams reach playoffs

The 10-game grind is over.

The playoffs are now here, the road to the Dome is officially under way.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association released its 2011 playoff brackets Sunday afternoon.

The Tri-parish area was well represented among the postseason teams with five locals advancing to the playoffs among three separate classes.

“That’s one of your team goals always, to make the playoffs,” Vandebilt Catholic coach Laury Dupont said. “And this year we accomplished that goal. It’s a good feeling. And we’re excited about playing.”

Dupont’s Terriers advanced to the playoffs in Class 4A, being ranked as the No. 29 seed.

The truth is the playoffs probably begun for Vandebilt weeks ago. With injuries having plagued the team’s roster, the Terriers needed to win their final two games to make the field of 32.

Dupont said he doesn’t know if the team’s do-or-die mentality the past two weeks will help them Friday, but added he’s proud of his team for rallying together to get into the postseason.

“We’ve lost at least 13 ballplayers this year to injury, some for the season and some just for three or four games,” Dupont said. “But we overcame it.”

To make their playoff run memorable, the Terriers will have to overcome a stiff opening round road test, No. 4 Breaux Bridge, who have rolled through the season with a 9-1 record.

Breaux Bridge’s mascot is the Tiger, adequately so, as the team has three LSU commitments on its roster.

“That’ll tell you all you need to know right there,” Dupont said. “They are very talented.”

While Vandebilt will hit the road, South Terrebonne will enjoy the comforts of home. The Gators were rewarded for their 8-2 season and were seeded No. 10 in the Class 4A bracket.

South Terrebonne will host No. 23 Franklinton in the opening round. The Demons earned their way into the postseason with a 5-5 record and a 3-1 mark in district 7-4A.

In Class 3A, the Tri-parish’s only undefeated team will also be home in round one, as Patterson will host Brusly.

But the Lumberjacks weren’t seeded as high as one might expect. Despite winning all of its regular season games in blowout fashion, Patterson (ranked No. 2 in LSWA polls) was given just the No. 15 seed.

They were handed that number because of a weak regular season strength of schedule, which limited the number of power points given to the Jacks.

“It was because of my schedule,” Patterson coach Tommy Minton said. “Our district just wasn’t very strong. We didn’t get very many points from our district.

“But the system is in place and it is what it is.”

Minton said disappointment about the team’s seed ended as soon as he and his coaches saw the bracket. That’s because Minton knows his team needs to be prepared if they hope to get past Brusly.

“We know very little about them right now, but we’ll get prepared and we’ll be ready to play,” Minton said. “It’s that great time of the year. If you win, you keep going. If you lose, you’re done.”

If the Jacks are to get by Brusly, it’d probably set up a second round matchup with arguably their toughest foe in all of 3A, No. 2 St. Charles Catholic.

That game is a matchup many would have liked to see in the Superdome. To Minton, it’s a positive way to spin his team’s No. 15 seed.

“I can assure you they wouldn’t be happy to see us in the second round, either,” the coach said. “That’s just how it works.”

The Lumberjacks may be the only local school hosting a 3A contest, but they aren’t the only Tri-parish team in the field.

E.D. White earned the No. 23 seed and will travel to take on No. 10 Bossier, who earned one of the state’s top seeds with a 9-1 record.

In Class 1A, St. Mary Parish’s second dome hopefuls, Central Catholic will also host an opening round matchup and will take on Varnado.

The Eagles were the No. 9 seed after an 8-2 regular season. Varnado finished the regular season with a 5-5 record.

Several locals alive in volleyball chase

Football playoffs will begin Friday, but volleyball’s state playoffs have already started.

Several locals are still in the hunt for a state title.

In Division I, both local powers H.L. Bourgeois and Terrebonne are among the final 16 teams. The Lady Tigers earned their spot with a first-round bye, thanks to being the state’s No. 7 seed.

The Lady Braves played their way there by winning a thrilling five-set road first round matchup with Slidell (22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 21-25, 15-13).

Terrebonne hosted Mandeville in the second round, while H.L. Bourgeois traveled and faced Mt. Carmel. Both matches were played Monday with scores unavailable as of press time.

In Division II, Morgan City is still alive after a four set win against Edna Karr (26-24, 25-14, 18-25, 25-16). The Tigers traveled and took on the No. 1 seed St. Thomas More on Monday with no score available at press time.

Ellender and South Terrebonne also made the playoffs in Division II, but were beaten in the first round by Lutcher and Broadmoor, respectively.

In Division III, E.D. White, Vandebilt and Berwick are all still in the postseason field.

The Lady Cardinals and Lady Terriers each had opening round byes, while the Lady Panthers won a five-set battle with Haynes Academy (24-26, 25-19, 11-25, 25-22, 15-10).

E.D. White hosted Westlake in the second round, while Vandebilt played a home match with Iowa. Berwick traveled to take on St. Louis.

In Division V, two locals remain, as Houma Christian and Central Catholic had opening round byes.

The Lady Warriors hosted False River in the second round, while the Lady Eagles took on First Baptist Christian.

South Terrebonne quarterback Trevon Smith gets ready to fire a pass during a game this season. Smith and the Gators were rewarded for their solid 2011 season by earning the No. 10 seed in the Class 4A state playoffs. CASEY GISCLAIR