First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States:
February 9, 2018LAFOURCHE —ACCIDENT— MORE COMMON THAN PEOPLE REALIZE
February 9, 2018
Several local basketball teams are going to make the state playoffs – both on the boys’ and girls’ side of competition.
But where locals will be seeded is very much up for grabs, which will make for some fun, late-season action throughout the Houma-Thibodaux area as the end of the season draws near.
Almost every district championship is still undecided as parity has overtaken area basketball with countless contenders beating up on one another and creating a logjam that will make the final weeks of the season awfully fun.
CLASS 5A
The Bayou District is a steaming hot mess right now on the boys’ side.
And that’s exactly where everyone expected it ^ would be in the preseason.
At press-time on Monday, four teams were separated by just one game in the loss column with Thibodaux serving as the lead dog with a 7-2 district record.
If the playoffs started today, five teams (Central Lafourche, Hahnville, Thibodaux, H.L. Bourgeois and East St. John) would be in the field and one other (Destrehan), would miss out narrowly, currently sitting at No. 32.
“It’s a constant battle. Never a dull moment,” Central Lafourche coach Mark Sanders said. “Every night, you’re put to the test and every night, you’re stretched to the limit and you learn something about your men.”
The Trojans and Tigers are possibly the two hottest teams in the league right now. Thibodaux sits at 7-2 and has a leg up on the competition, sitting with nine (out of 12) district games played. The Tigers had arguably the most impressive week of anyone this season last week, posting four district victories in a five-day stretch, starting with a buzzer beater win over H.L. Bourgeois on Monday, then also beating Destrehan on Tuesday, East St. John on Wednesday and Terrebonne on Friday.
The Trojans arc playing good basketball, as well.
Central Lafourche started district play 0-2, losing to East St. John and H.L. Bourgeois.
But since that time, the Trojans have caught fire, winning five-straight district games and six-straight games total to catapult up the standings. With the wins, the Trojans also got off the playoff bubble.
They sat outside of the top 32 for most of December, but are now flirting with being a Top 16 seed with the recent wins.
H.L. Bourgeois is in the Top 16 comfortably, but the Braves are in a bit of a funk.
They started district 5-0 and seemed poised to run away with the title. But the Braves have since back peddled, losing three-straight games to drop to fourth-place in the league. H.L. Bourgeois is awfully good – one of the top teams in the state. Their three losses have come by a combined 10 points.
On the girls’ side, the drama is over. East St. John will be the 2017-18 district champion. But several others arc expected to be in the postseason, as well.
7-5A boys’ standings (and team’s current power ranking)
Thibodaux-7-2 (No. 9)
C. Lafourche – 5-2 (No. 18)
Hahnville-5-2(No. 17)
H.L. Bourgeois – 5-3 (No. 7)
Destrehan-3-5(No. 33)
East St. John-2-5 (No. 25)
Terrebonne – 0-8 (No. 40)
The boys have two weeks left to go in their regular season. Each team plays 12 district games.
7-5A girls’ standings (and team’s current power ranking)
East St. John – 8-0 (No. 17)
Hahnville-6-l(No. 35)
Thibodaux-6-3 (No. 15)
H.L. Bourgeois – 4-6 (No. 41)
Terrebonne – 2-7 (No. 37) C.
Lafourche – 2-7 (No. 47)
Destrehan -1-5 (No. 46)
CLASS 4A
In Class 4A, the local chase is as thick as can be with three teams still holding the inside track to win the league.
At press-time, Morgan City, Assumption and Ellender were all still undefeated in the league – each team settling themselves up for premier showdown matchups against one another in the coming weeks.
Ellender and Morgan City aren’t giant surprises. Both teams have been perennial v powers in recent years. But Assumption has come out Sm of woodwork in recent
weeks, winning five-straight games and eight out of 10 to climb back into the Top 32 and near the top of the league’s pecking order.
Last week, the Stangs beat both South Terrebonne and South Lafourche – both by double figures. The Mustangs are balanced offensively with several players capable of leading the team in scoring on a given night.
Against the Tarpons, they had 4 in double figures.
“We are right where we want to be,” Assumption coach Derek Szush said before the game Friday.
Near the bottom of the Top 32 are the Tarpons who need wins late in the season to punch their ticket. They have chances for power points with games against South Terrebonne and CCA – wins that could catapult them into the field.
On the girls’ side, the pecking order is all-but set with Ellender sitting with an unblemished record with victories over both rivals South Lafourche and South Terrebonne. The Lady Tarpons will likely finish second after beating South Terrebonne.
District 7-4A boys’ standings
Assumption – 3-0 (No. 29)
Morgan City – 2-0 (No.8)
Ellender – 2-0 (No. 19)
South Lafourche -1-2 (No. 34)
S. Terrebonne -1-2 (No. 37)
E.D. White – 0-2 (No.9 in Division II)
Vandebilt – 0-3 (No. 12 in Division II)
District 7-4A girls’ standings (and team’s current power ranking)
Ellender – 4-0 (No.5)
South Lafourche – 3-1 (No.3)
South Terrebonne – 3-2 (No. 14)
E.D. White – 2-2 (No. 16 in Division II)
Assumption -1-3 (No. 25)
Morgan City – 1-3 (No. 27)
Vandebilt – 1-4 (No.7 in Division II)
The Class 4A district plays just one round of games, so their season will wrap up after six games played.
The high school basketball season is coming down to the wire and several local teams have a chance to play postseason games.
H.L. Bourgeois guard A. J. Rainey is a big reason why the Braves are in contention in Class 5A-a team expected to get a home playoff game.
