Country Day Classic field deep, features five state champions

The Country Day Cajuns will host their pre-Christmas tournament in Metairie starting Wednesday.

Cajuns coach Mike McGuire stressed the depth and quality of the field in this week’s Country Day Classic, an annual tradition since 2000.

“We have five state champions from last year competing in the Classic this year – Crescent City, De La Salle, Scotlandville, Landry-Walker and ourselves as the host Country Day. Scotlandville returns to defend their Country Day Classic title. The 2015 Champion Riverside Rebels return, and John Curtis has won it several times before as well,” said McGuire.

Division I Scotlandville (9-2) has beaten two other teams competing this week including St Thomas More 68-49 in the Catholic-Baton Rouge Tournament and Landry Walker on the way to winning the Hamilton Christian Tournament. This week may afford the Hornets a chance to avenge a 75-73 loss to Riverside Academy.

De La Salle, reigning Division II State Champions, have a 6-4 record. The Cavs were CYO Tournament Championship Runners Up to St Paul’s, also competing this week at Country Day. De La Salle defeated the host Cajuns in the Newman Tournament 64-59 and lost to St Aug 50-48 and Karr 57-54 in the Newman Tournament also.

Division III State Champions last year, Country Day are 6-3 so far. The Cajuns defeated Salmen 61-47 while their three losses are to perennial basketball powers in Helen Cox, Riverside and De La Salle

Division V State Champions and Country Day’s former 1A district rival, the Crescent City Pioneers, have a 8-10 record this year with wins over McDonogh 35 (82-67) and Ehret 51-27. Crescent City also earned a split with Bonnabel and notable wins over Newman, 60-57, and West Jefferson, 74-61. The Pioneers have losses to St Thomas More 62-73, and Country Day 49-52.

Landry Walker, the defending Class 5A State Champion with a 7-2 record, have wins over Karr, 90-42, and Helen Cox, 52-50. The Charging Bucs were competitive in their two losses are to Scotlandville, 58-46, and Carencro, 60-54.

Another team to watch and no strangers to this tournament are the St. Thomas More Cougars, Division II state Semifinalist last year. With a record of 6-4 this year, STM managed a runner up finish to Riverside Academy, 69-60, in the Sophie B. Wright Tournament in New Orleans earlier this season. Three of St Thomas More’s losses are to Riverside and Scotlandville. The Lafayette area school will host their own traditional holiday tournament, the Sunkist Shootout, featuring many New Orleans area top teams next week as well.

The Catholic High Bears from Baton Rouge with a 8-2 record are emerging this season as a power. In their own Thanksgiving week tournament, Catholic defeated St Thomas More, 70-58, and Zachary, 51-40, to take the championship. The Bears will host a tournament also next week which will feature De La Salle.

Other top teams competing include the always-talented Riverside Academy Rebels, 8-0 this year, St Paul’s with a 9-1 record, Hahnville (8-2), Karr (5-4), Rummel (8-2), Northshore (9-3), John Curtis (4-7), McDonogh 35 (6-5) and St. Charles Catholic (5-3).

Ja’vonte Smart, 2017 Mr. Louisiana and recent LSU signee, will be participating again this year with Scotlandville. Another top player to watch is Jared Butler, a Alabama commit who will highlight undefeated Riverside.

For local hoops fans and college recruiters alike, Country Day is the place to be this week.