Of turtles and shrimp
February 28, 2017
Ellender ladies roaring to Top 28
March 1, 2017
A controversial Louisiana High School Athletic Association ruling caused one local team to forfeit their place in the boys’ basketball state playoffs.
It also helped two other teams from the area punch tickets into the second round – just two wins away from a berth in the Top 28.
The LHSAA upheld its original ruling last week, which imposed a one-game suspension to every, single player listed in the game book for the regular season finale game between Central Lafourche and East St. John on Feb. 17.
The ruling, which was challenged at a sportsmanship hearing last week in Baton Rouge before being upheld, meant that both the Trojans and Wildcats would be without all of their varsity players for the first round of the Class 5A State Playoffs.
It was sparked after a fight at halftime, which caused the officials to call the game after two quarters. The LHSAA also imposed a two-way forfeit onto both teams, declaring the game a no-contest.
The Wildcats didn’t appeal the LHSAA’s decision. They competed in the playoffs with a junior varsity and freshman-heavy roster. They were beaten by H.L. Bourgeois 79-46 on Friday night, sending the Braves to the second-round without a stiff test.
But the Trojans didn’t play at all, opting to end their season in the brawl. They forfeited their opening-round game, citing a lack of players available to compete in the contest.
That decision moved No. 20 Terrebonne into the second round, as the two locals were scheduled to compete in the opening-round of the bracket.
The Tigers hosted No. 4 Chalmette on Mardi Gras Day with no score available at press-time. The Braves traveled to play No. 21 Helen Cox.
It’s impossible for both the Braves and Tigers to make the Top 28, because the winner of the Chalmette/Terrebonne game will meet the winner of the H.L. Bourgeois/Helen Cox game in the Quarterfinals.
If both locals win in the second round, H.L. Bourgeois would host the Tigers.
Braves coach Andrew Caillouet said earlier this season that he likes how his team matches up with anyone in the state, but he quickly added that anything can happen in the playoffs.
“Class 5A is so loaded with talent that really, anything can happen on any given night,” Caillouet said. “I like our guys, and we play so hard and give so much effort, but in a one-game, 32-minute single elimination setup, you need some good fortune to get where you want to go.”
CLASS 4A
In Class 4A, Ellender is still alive after routing No. 26 Bastrop in the opening round 95-64.
The Patriots used balanced scoring and transition offense to seal the win, which was played before a wild crowd at Ellender’s campus.
The Patriots’ took on No. 10 Carencro on Mardi Gras night. No score was available at press-time on Monday afternoon.
But that game was not expected to be easy.
Louisiana prep basketball experts say Carencro is one of the most underseeded teams in the Class 4A bracket.
During the regular season, they lost 11 times, but all of the defeats were at the hands of some of the best teams in Louisiana.
Along the way, the Rams also got some high-profile wins, including victories over St. Thomas More and Westgate – two of the highest-seeded teams in the state in their respective classifications.
The Patriots victory was the icing atop a huge day for District 7-4A. Assumption and Morgan City also won opening-round matchups, making the district 3-0 in first-round matchups.
DIVISION II
In the Division II State Playoffs, two locals are still alive in the 12-team field.
No. 12 Vandebilt will be on the road in the Regional Round and traveled to take on No. 5 St. Michael on Monday night at 7 p.m. with no score available at press-time.
The winner of that matchup will play No. 4 St. Louis, who had a first-round bye.
On paper, it looks like Vandebilt will be a big-time underdog, because the Terriers struggled throughout the regular season, posting just three wins.
But the Terriers got a shot in the arm right before the end of the regular season when Andrew Robison returned, which sparked new life into Vandebilt’s locker room.
In Robison’s only game, Vandebilt beat Ridgewood 10018, which set the stage for the postseason battle.
On the bottom-half of the Division II bracket, No. 7 E.D. White hosted No. 10 Lusher on Monday. The winner will take on No. 2 St. Thomas More.
Lusher beat E.D. White by 10 during the season.
DIVISION IV
In the Division IV Playoffs, Covenant Christian Academy is one win from the Top 28 after beating Westminster Christian 57-40 on Saturday afternoon in Houma.
The Lions will take on No. 2 Lafayette Christian later this week for a spot in Lake Charles.
On the top of the bracket, No. 4 Houma Christian hosted No. 13 St. Frederick on Monday night with no score available at press-time.
If successful, the Christian Warriors will take on either St. Mary’s or Vermilion Catholic in the second round for a chance to go to the Top 28.
Check HoumaTimes.com throughout the week for updates on how local teams do.
Next week, we will be in Lake Charles covering the area games, assuming someone from Lafourche or Terrebonne makes it to the State Semifinals.
The Central Lafourche boys’ basketball team was expected to be a force in the Class 5A State Playoffs. But they opted not to compete in the field after a LHSAA ruling ordered a one-game suspension to key players.
The Terrebonne boys’ basketball team is in the second-round of the playoffs. They hosted Chalmette on Mardi Gras night in Houma.
