Class 5A Playoff Preview and Predictions

J-Jay Thomas(left) of Scotlandville and Dominick Scelfo(right) of Jesuit will lead their teams tonight

Antonio Landers(Left) of Ouachita and Shavon Coleman(Right) of Thibodaux will lead their teams tonight

Traditional power is back on top of 5A once again as St. Augustine Purple Knights led by senior Elridge Moore and sophomore standouts Javan Felix and Sydie London come in as the top seed followed at 2 by Scotlandville and J-Jay Thomas who is a Stephen F. Austin signee. Coming in as the 3 seed is Ouachita, the defending 5A champ led by coach Casey Jones and Antonio Landers. Sulphur comes in as the 4 seed led by Chip Armelin and Matt LeBato while Hammond rounds out the top 5 with first year coach Brent Grigas. With much of the hype around Scotlandville's amazing season in which they have won the East Baton Rouge Parish tournament, beaten Istrouma twice, Glen Oaks twice, Christian Life, Ouachita, Ellender and Northside, a sleeper team to watch are the Jesuit Blue Jays and 21 seed Southwood. Jesuit comes in as the 6 seed and hosts East St. John, while Southwood travels to 12 seed Central-BR. Southwood will look to the senior scoring of guards Dean Johns and Mike Davis who both can flat out play. Central will counter with PG Josh Veals, Wes Brisoe and Brock Poydras. This 12/21 game should be a great game and I am planning on covering this game tonight I don't think Southwood will win on the road, but I will not be shocked if they do. As for the top seed St. Aug, they have a tough road to the dome as does Scotlandville. St. Aug's path could include Thibodaux on the road led by top 100 player Shavon Coleman, and a possible rematch with district rival Brother Martin or a rematch from last years quarterfinal with West Monroe in which they lost. So, those are a few things to look for as the playoffs begin. Some other players to note are Jesuit's Dominick Scelfo(Cornell) and junior Brady Hadden, Brother Martin's Pat Swilling Jr., West Monroe's Cory Lacy, Hammond's Mark Bridgewater and Dominic McCoy, St. Thomas More's Xavier Blackburn and Will Norman, Westgate's Jacoby Colbert, and Airline's sophomore sensation Josh Hagins.

First Round Playoff Predictions

Top Bracket

1. St. Augustine  over 32. Acadiana
17. Thibodaux over 16. Slidell
9. Brother Martin  over 24. Lafayette
8. West Monroe over25. Ponchatoula
5. Hammond over 28. West Jefferson
21. Southwood over 12. Central-BR
20. Pineville over 13. LaGrange
29. South Lafourche over 4. Sulphur

Bottom Bracket

3. Ouachita  over 30. C.E. Byrd
14. St. Thomas More  over 19. Destrehan
11. Hahnville  over 22. Catholic-BR
6. Jesuit  over 27. East St. John
7. Westgate  over 26. Central Lafourche
10. John Ehret  over 23. Covington
15. Airline over 18. Natchitoches Central
2. Scotlandville over 31. Denham Springs

Class 4A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Trevante Drye(left) and BrianWilliams(center) of Glen Oaks and Ronald McGhee of Istrouma(right)

Markel Brown(left) of Peabody and Jalan West(right) of Bossier will lead their teams tonight

Nick Syrie of Northside will lead his team tonight against Benton

When you mention the best teams in Louisiana traditionally you seem to think about Peabody, Glen Oaks, Washington Marion all have been top teams in Louisiana in the past decade. Throw in another team in Bossier and you have the top 4 seeds in the 4A playoffs. Peabody is 1, Bossier is 2, Washington Marion is 3 and Glen Oaks is 4. Well if you think the top teams in 4A stops there, guess again. There is also Wossman at 5, Northside at 6, Ellender at 7, Istrouma at 8, Salmen at 9 and Cecilia at ten. To the casual fan some may think that Peabody and Glen Oaks are the favorites, they may very well be, but I see two other teams to seriously watch out for. How about 2 seed Bossier as the 4A state champ against last years 4A state champ Salmen with an entirely new starting line-up. That very well could be the title game. Bossier, 34-1 is on a 32 game win streak. Their lone loss, to 1A Christian Life in the opening weekend of the year which is not a bad loss at all. Salmen comes in at 28-6 and has already easily beaten Glen Oaks by 16. You might wonder how is Salmen going to get there as a 9 seed? Well the past 2 years they have won a state title and was a semi-finalist all as a 9 seed and all while Peabody was a 1 seed. The only difference, a 2nd round game with Istrouma looms in the balance at Istrouma which is a hard place to win at. Istrouma has lost the last 2 years to Top 28 participant in each of them years OP Walker by 2 and by 3 at OP Walker so don't think for one second that Istrouma would not love to return the favor of a second round road loss to the defending champ. Now let's look at some of the top players. Markel Brown from Peabody(Oklahoma State), Brian Williams(Oklahoma State) and junior Trevante Drye from Glen Oaks, Jalan West, Devonte Francis from Bossier. Keaven Fontenot from washington-Marion, Nick Syrie(junior) and Tony Montgomery from Northside, Trevon Lewis from Ellender, Jarvis Ray and Jamal Silas of OP Walker, Ronald McGhee and Darius Johnson from Istrouma, Donovan Williams of Cecilia and TJ Price of Salmen. This years talent in 4A is seriously loaded. So, let's sit back and enjoy the ride in 4A, it will be a great on once again.

First Round Playoff Predictions

Top Bracket


1. Peabody over 32. Woodlawn-SH
16. McDonogh #35 over 17. Franklin
9. Salmen over 24. Morgan City
8. Istrouma over 25. St. Louis
5. Wossman over 28. Belle Chasse
12. DeRidder over 21. Tioga
13. Minden over 20. Huntington
4. Glen Oaks over 29. Haughton

Bottom Bracket

3. Washington Marion over 30. Woodlawn-BR
14. Edna Karr over 19. Vandebilt Catholic
11. East Jefferson over 22. St. Martinville
6. Northside over 27. Benton
26. O.P. Walker over 7. Ellender
23. Helen Cox over Cecilia
15. Neville over 18. Alexandria
2. Bossier over 31. Franklinton

Class 3A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Sophomores Cleveland Thomas(left) of Northwest and Gervaughn McGhee of Redemptorist will lead their teams in the Bi-District rounds tonight

LeDon Carter(left) Richwood doing what he does  & Gary Stewart of Vidalia will lead their teams tonight

Richwood, Plaquemine, E.D. White, Vidalia, Carroll, Rayville, Abbeville. When talking about the 3A playoffs these are the teams that most would consider as the favorites, I think I would have to agree with them. Although, Richwood, the defending champion is a 7 seed, do not count out this team. A brutal schedule, the football team doing well in the playoffs and replacing a couple starters got this team to a rough start, but in traditional fashion the Rams have come alive once again in late February. Even taking second in district to 3 seed Carroll, the Rams are still my favorite to win the title. Led by 6'6" LeDon Carter, 6'5" LaDarrian Williams(Alabama State commit), junior D'Andre Martin and shooter Marceis Davis the Rams will get a shot early on to prove their worth in the playoffs. A possible quarterfinal trip to 2 seed Plaquemine lies ahead if both can get to that round. These two teams are definitely two of the better 3A teams. My other two favorites are top seeded Vidalia, 2009's runner-up who are led by as good a trio of players as there is in Louisiana with Gary Stewart, Quartrell Thomas and Torrey Dixon will have whoever travels to Vidalia very nervous to play in front of that ruthless crowd and student section known as "Sanders' Soldiers"(named after Coach Sanders, the Vidalia Head Coach.) The other team to seriously watch is Abbeville led by 6'7" Keelon Lee. Looking for sleeper picks well I got them too. Watchout for 19 seed Northwest led by sophomore standout Cleveland "Pancake" Thomas and junior Derrell Joubert a sharpshooting point guard. Another team to watch is 13 seed Redemptorist led by another sophomore standout in 6'4" Gervaughn "Gee" McGhee and 6'2" senior Deuce Coon also a football standout. If they can get past a potential 2nd round match with ED White, a top 28 appearance is very likely.

First Round Playoff Predictions

Top Bracket


1. Vidalia over 32. G.W. Carver
16. Bogalusa over 17. Avoyelles
9. Crowley over 24. Baker
8. Rayville over 25. Northeast
5. Abbeville over 28. Patterson
21. Madison over 12 Caldwell
13. Redemptorist over 20. Marksville
4. E.D. White over 29. Kaplan

Bottom Bracket

3. Carroll over 30. W.L. Cohen
19. Northwest over 14. Port Allen

11. Holy Cross over 22. Franklin
6. Green Oaks  over 27. Booker T. Washington
7. Richwood over 26. Loyola Prep
10. Amite over 23. North DeSoto
15. Iowa over 18. Rayne
2. Plaquemine over 31. John McDonogh

Class 2A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Brian Bridgewater of Episcopal(left) and Dantrell Thomas of Many(right) will look to start the playoffs with a win tonight in the Bidistrict Round

Just like Class C, 2A will have a new champion in 2010 with the 2009 champion Springhill not qualifying this year. There could possibly be a few players and a coach that could win their 6th straight title with the Reserve Christian kids and longtime coach Timmy Byrd now at Riverside Academy. Riverside, led by the nation's #9 ranked sophomore Ricardo Gathers and senior standout Cedric Jenkins, Riverside goes from a not so good team to a powerhouse in less than a year. With Riverside taking the 1 seed, last years state runner-up Many is the 4 seed and 2007 and 2008 champion St. Thomas Aquinas has the 2 seed while Many's district rival Red River is the 3 seed. STA has already beaten Riverside once this year.  With Riverside and STA the favorites, Many, Mamou, Red River, Episcopal, Dunham, Donaldsonville, Pointe Coupee Central and Evangel may all have a say in the race to the Top 28 as well. In what was clearly the toughest district in 2A, the district 9 teams of Episcopal who is led by the nations #1 ranked freshman by HoopScoop.com Brian Bridgewater, Dunham led by senior trio of Dantrail Butler, Jasper Caine and Kyle Planchard, Pointe Coupee Central with DJ Cobb and Idrakery Lewis and Donaldsonville is another team to look at from district 9. Mamou is also a team to watch with 5'8 senior Zach Baty leading his team with a almost 30 ppg average. With these teams as possible sleepers, you also need to look at the front runners. Many will be lead by seniors Dantrell Thomas, Nic Jacobs(LSU football), DJ Palmer and junior Rod Davis. Red River will look to the Cordarius' Johnson and Smith while STA will look at a some younger kids in junior Zay Jackson and sophomore Stephen Wronkowski. 

Cedric Jenkins of Riverside(left) and Cordarius Smith(right) of Red River will lead their teams tonight

First Round Predictions

1. Riverside over 32. Sterlington

17. Ville Platte over 16. Port Barre
9. Anacoco over 24. Lakeview
8. Springfield over 25. South Beauregard
5. Evangel over 28. North Caddo
12. Dunham over 21. Lakeside
20. Welsh over 13. F.A. Douglass
4. Many over 29. Pickering

Bottom Bracket

3. Red River over 30. Calvary Baptist
19. Farmerville over 14. Newman

11. Episcopal-BR over 22. St. Helena Central
6. Mamou over 27. Lusher Charter
7. Donaldsonville over 26. Pope John Paul II
10. Pointe Coupee Central over 23. Rosepine
18. Capitol over 15. Jonesboro-Hodge
2. St. Thomas Aquinas over 31. John Curtis

Class 1A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Langston Galloway(left) and Yondarious Johnson(right) of Plain Dealing are ready to lead their teams tonight

Michael Harrell(left) of Southern Lab and Matt Derenbecker(right) of Country will look to lead their team

In what has become one of the most intense playoffs for the past decade, 1A is once again set up for a matchup between traditional 1A powers in the 2010 playoffs. Last years state champion Country Day is back and perhaps just as good if not better than last years team. Christian Life, the champion from 2006-2008 is another team to watch. They have the most veteran laden squad with 7 seniors. They will have a different look on the sideline though as 1st year coach Carlo Maggio leads the way for the Crusaders following the departure of Todd Foster to become the head coach at Baton Rouge Community College. Other teams to watch are 4 seed North Central,  5 seed Plain Dealing, and 11 seed Arcadia. Some of the top players to look for will includ 4 Division 1 signees in Country Day's Matt Derenbecker(LSU), and Christian Life's trio of Langston Galloway(St. Joe's), Patrick Robinson(Northwestern State) and Kaleb Knight(Grambling state). Other players to watch are Plain Dealing's Yondarious Johnson, Southern Lab's Michael Harrell(Southeastern Louisiana) and Ronald Martin a junior from White Castle.

First Round Playoff Predictions:

 Top Bracket

1. Christian Life over 32. Oberlin
16. Basile over 17. Gueydan
9. East Iberville over 24. Ascension Catholic
8. Southern Lab over 25. Crescent City
5. Plain Dealing over 28. Jackson
12. Grambling over 21. Ecole Classique
13. Block over 20. Northwood-Lena
4. North Central over 29. Vermillion Catholic
Bottom Bracket

3. Central Catholic over 30. Logansport
19. Tensas over 14. Delhi
11. Arcadia over 22. Delcambre
6. Elton over 27. Oak Grove
7. St. Mary over 26. Hamilton Christian
10. White Castle over 23. Haynesville
18. Varnado over 15. St. Martin’s Episcopal
2. Country Day over 31. Catholic P.C.

Class B Playoff Preview and Predictions

C.J Johnson(left) of Rapides and Marvin Frazier(right) of Zwolle will look to make another deep run

As the 2010 Class B playoffs begin, familiar Top 28 teams locked up the top 3 seeds again. Coming in as the #1 seed is Rapides High School(39-5) followed by Midland(30-3) at 2 and defending state champion Zwolle(33-9) at 3. The 4th seed Fairview(28-7) led by scoring machine guard Cody Neal. With no clear cut favorite to win the title, I personally believe that the top 4 seeds could very well be the final 4 teams standing. Rapides is led by CJ Johnson who was one of the top players for the Mustangs last year, Fairview has Neal, Zwolle has 6'7" F Marvin Frazier and Midland has Miles Prejean. As good as the top 4 teams are there are others like Centerville with TJ Kemp and Jovan Sanders that can also make a lot of noise as the 5 seed. There are also a handful of other teams outside the top 10 that need be taken seriously one of which includes the 12 seed in Houma Christian coming in at 18-4 and led by freshman Nate Frye but they will have a tough game with 21 seed Maurepas led by possible All-State player Demitri Gill who has averaged over 32 a game in district. So, this years Class B playoffs will be very interesting once again.

Predictions for the Bi-District Round

Top Bracket

1. Rapides over 32. Episcopal of Acadiana
16. Florien  over 17. Bell City
9. Castor over 24. Negreet
8. Gibsland Coleman over 25. Hathaway
5. Centerville over 28. Forest
21. Maurepas over 12 Houma Christian
13. Holden  over 20. Quitman
4. Fairview over 29. Weston

Bottom Bracket

3. Zwolle over 30. Mt. Hermon
19. Summerfield over 14 Pitkin
11. Shongaloo over 22. Monterey
6. Simsboro over 27. Grand Lake
7. Hornbeck over 26. Singer
10. Lacassine over 23. Doyline
18. Hosanna Christian over 15. Glenmora
2. Midland over 31. Simpson

Class C Playoff Preview and Predictions

Well it is that time of the year, time for the 2010 version of the LHSAA boy's basketball playoffs. One thing is for sure in the Class Playoffs and that is that there will be a new champion crowned. With Class C powerhouse Reserve Christian closing down it's high school and the players and coaches going to nearby Riverside Academy, a new champ will be crowned. You may be thinking "that is great news" but not so fast. This year's top seeded Pleasant Hill Eagles come in with a 28-6 record and the entire team back from last year's state semifinalist squad. Last year's state runner-up Athens, well they are 34-4 and the #2 seed. If those teams aren't enough to make you scratch your head, then look at the rest of the top 10 that all have single digit total losses and 20+ win seasons except 6 seed Atlanta who was a semi-finalist in 2009 as well. This year's class C playoffs will be fun to watch. So, with that said let's take look at the Louisiana Basketball Report's Class C Predictions.

Top Bracket
1. Pleasant Hill over 32. Bishop McManus
16. Calvin over 17. Starks
9. Grand Isle over 24. First Baptist
8. Dubach over 25. Cotton Valley
5. Kilbourne over 28. St. Joseph's-Plaucheville
12. Saline over 11. Elizabeth
13. Pelican over 20. Northside Christian
4. Jehovah-Jireh over 29. Phoenix

Bottom Bracket

3. Plainview over 30. Ebarb
14. Reeves over 19. Claiborne Christian
11. Spearsville over 22. Assembly Christian
6. Atlanta over 27. Johnson Bayou
7.Grace Christian over 26. Family Christian
10. Sicily Island over 23. Hicks
18. Epps over 15. Marion
2. Athens over 31. Holy Rosary

Official Class 5A Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org

Class 5A Final and Official Playoff Brackets From The LHSAA Website

Higher Seed is Home for first round


Top Bracket

1. St. Augustine
32. Acadiana

16. Slidell
17. Thibodaux

9. Brother Martin
24. Lafayette

8. West Monroe
25. Ponchatoula

5. Hammond
28. West Jefferson

12. Central-BR
21. Southwood

13. LaGrange
20. Pineville

4. Sulphur
29. South Lafourche

Bottom Bracket

3. Ouachita
30. C.E. Byrd

14. St. Thomas More
19. Destrehan

11. Hahnville
22. Catholic-BR

6. Jesuit
27. East St. John

7. Westgate
26. Central Lafourche

10. John Ehret
23. Covington

15. Airline
18. Natchitoches Central

2. Scotlandville
31. Denham Springs

Official *Class 4A Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org

Class 4A Official Playoff Brackets from the LHSAA

Higher Seed is Home for first round


Top Bracket

1. Peabody
32. Woodlawn-SH

16. McDonogh #35
17. Franklin

9. Salmen
24. Morgan City

8. Istrouma
25. St. Louis

5. Wossman
28. Belle Chasse

12. DeRidder
21. Tioga

13. Minden
20. Huntington

4. Glen Oaks
29. Haughton

Bottom Bracket

3. Washington Marion
30. Woodlawn-BR

14. Edna Karr
19. Vandebilt Catholic

11. East Jefferson
22. St. Martinville

6. Northside
27. Benton

7. Ellender
26. O.P. Walker

10. Cecilia
23. Helen Cox

15. Neville
18. Alexandria

2. Bossier
31. Franklinton

Official *Class 3A Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org

Class 3A Official Playoff Brackets from the LHSAA

Higher Seed is Home for first round


Top Bracket

1. Vidalia
32. G.W. Carver

16. Bogalusa
17. Avoyelles

9. Crowley
24. Baker

8. Rayville
25. Northeast

5. Abbeville
28. Patterson

12. Caldwell
21. Madison

13. Redemptorist
20. Marksville

4. E.D. White
29. Kaplan

Bottom Bracket

3. Carroll
30. W.L. Cohen

14. Port Allen
19. Northwest

11. Holy Cross
22. Franklin

6. Green Oaks
27. Booker T. Washington

7. Richwood
26. Loyola Prep

10. Amite
23. North DeSoto

15. Iowa
18. Rayne

2. Plaquemine
31. John McDonogh

Official Class 2A Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org


Class 2A Official Playoff Brackets from the LHSAA
Higher Seed is Home for first round

Top Bracket

1. Riverside
32. Sterlington

16. Port Barre
17, Ville Platte

9. Anacoco
24. Lakeview

8. Springfield
25. South Beauregard

5. Evangel
28. North Caddo

12. Dunham
21. Lakeside

13. F.A. Douglass
20. Welsh

4. Many
29. Pickering

Bottom Bracket

3. Red River
30. Calvary Baptist

14. Newman
19. Farmerville

11. Episcopal-BR
22. St. Helena Central

6. Mamou
27. Lusher Charter

7. Donaldsonville
26. Pope John Paul II

10. Pointe Coupee Central
23. Rosepine

15. Jonesboro Hodge
18. Capitol

2. St. Thomas Aquinas
31. John Curtis

Official Class 1A Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org

Class 1A Official Playoff Brackets from the LHSAA

Higher Seed is Home for first round


Top Bracket

1. Christian Life
32. Oberlin

16. Basile
17. Gueydan

9. East Iberville
24. Ascension Catholic

8. Southern Lab
25. Crescent City

5. Plain Dealing
28. Jackson

12. Grambling
21. Ecole Classique

13. Block
20. Northwood-Lena

4. North Central
29. Vermillion Catholic

Bottom Bracket

3. Central Catholic
30. Logansport

14. Delhi
19. Tensas

11. Arcadia
22. Delcambre

6. Elton
27. Oak Grove

7. St. Mary
26. Hamilton Christian

10. White Castle
23. Haynesville

15. St. Martin’s Episcopal
18. Varnado

2. Country Day
31. Catholic P.C.

Official Class B Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org

Class B Official Playoff Brackets from the LHSAA

Higher Seed is Home for first round

Top Bracket

1. Rapides
32. Episcopal of Acadiana

16. Florien
17. Bell City

9. Castor
24. Negreet

8. Gibsland Coleman
25. Hathaway

5. Centerville
28. Forest

12. Houma Christian
21. Maurepas

13. Holden
20. Quitman

4. Fairview
29. Weston

Bottom Bracket

3. Zwolle
30. Mt. Hermon

14. Pitkin
19. Summerfield

11. Shongaloo
22. Monterey

6. Simsboro
27. Grand Lake

7. Hornbeck
26. Singer

10. Lacassine
23. Doyline

15. Glenmora
18. Hosanna Christian

2. Midland
31. Simpson