Girls Basketball Playoffs: Defending champs Warren Easton, Loranger, Ursuline, Curtis advance to Alexandria

It was a good night overall for area teams in the LHSAA girls basketball state semifinals Thursday evening.

Warren Easton, Loranger, Albany, KIPP-BTW, Curtis, MCA, Dominican, Ursuline, Country Day, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Katherine Drexel, Northlake Christian all advanced to the semifinals in Alexandria with victories.

The No. 2 seed and defending state champion Easton Eagles staved off elimination with a thrilling 60-55 overtime victory over No. 7 Neville in New Orleans.

Neville roared back from a 17-point deficit to force overtime but the Eagles controlled the extra period to advance.

Warren Easton led 13-10 after one quarter and it was 34-17 at halftime. Neville began cutting into the deficit and trailed 40-28 after three quarters before outscoring the Eagles 21-9 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Breanna Sutton came up big for the Eagles (29-5)  with 25 points, including five in the decisive overtime period. Cabria Lewis and Skylar Davis each finished with 14 points. Raven Franklin was brilliant for the Tigers (24-10) with 29 points while JoJo Briggs added 15 points. Mackenzie Donaldson had 12 points and Madison Donaldson finished with 10 points.

Easton advances to take on No. 3 Minden Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. at Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria. Minden defeated No. 6 DeRidder 66-58.

In Class 3A, defending state champion and No. 1 seed Loranger blasted No. 24 Madison Parish 70-37 at home.

The Lady Wolves led 13-9 after one quarter and expanded the lead to 29-12 by halftime. It was 47-28 after three quarters before Loranger outscored Madison Parish 23-9 in the final period for the convincing win.

Jamya Young led Loranger (26-2) with 28 points while Ivy Carr chipped in with 14 points. Adriana Fountain had 16 points while MarKayla Cooper finished with 13 points for Madison Parish (19-14).

Loranger advances to the semifinals in Alexandria to take on No. 4 Northwest Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. Northwest downed fifth seed South Beauregard 47-39.

No. 3 Albany cruised past No. 6 Caldwell Parish 70-36.

In 1A, No. 2 KIPP-B.T. Washington advanced to the semifinals with a 61-50 victory over No. 7 West St. John.

In Division I, third-seeded Mount Carmel Academy fought off No. 6 Scotlandville 60-53 in overtime in Lakeview.

In a back-and-forth contest, the Hornets led 11-5 after one quarter and led the Cubs 18-16 at halftime. Mount Carmel rallied to take a 30-28 lead going to the final quarter before the Hornets outscored the Cubs 17-15 in the final quarter to force overtime.

Miranda Strassel was huge for Mount Carmel (21-9) with 28 points while Jordan Berry added 15 points. Ashanti Lavergne topped Scotlandville (8-21) with 16 points while Autumn Spears had 13 points.

The Cubs advance to the semifinals to take on a familiar foe in District 9-5A rival and No. 2 seed Dominican, who handled No. 7 Byrd 40-24.

Byrd took an 8-6 lead after one quarter and the visiting Yellow Jackets held a 15-14 lead at halftime. The second half belonged to Dominican, who outscored Byrd 14-2 in the third quarter to take a 28-17 lead going to the final quarter and expanded the lead the rest of the way.

Sydney Sherman led Dominican (24-6) with 13 points

Dominican and Mount Carmel Academy will square off Wednesday morning at 11:30 at Rapides Coliseum. The two teams split a pair of district games in the regular season with Dominican winning 38-30 and Mount Carmel winning 32-31.

Top seed and two-time defending state champion John Curtis Christian will face No. 5 St. Joseph’s Academy Thursday at 1:15 p.m. in the other semifinal.

In Division II, defending state champion and fourth seed Ursuline Academy advanced with a 49-36 victory over No. 5 Teurlings Catholic.

The Lions (22-8) took control early, grabbing an 18-7 lead after one quarter and led 35-18 at halftime. It was 43-26 after three quarters.

Kennedi Jackson led Ursuline with 18 points while Kierston Nelson added nine points. Lizzy Ratcliff topped the Lady Rebels (25-5) with nine points while Leigh Labrie had eight points.

Ursuline advances to Alexandria to take on top seed Lee Magnet Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. Lee handled eighth seed St. Thomas More 72-35.

The Division III semifinals will feature all four teams from the Greater New Orleans area.

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas bounced No. 8 Dunham 55-28.

The Falcons jumped on the Tigers immediately, taking a 19-4 lead after one quarter and led 37-13 at halftime. It was never close.

Jaylyn James led St. Thomas Aquinas (18-10) with 18 points while Lilly Maggio had 10 points for the Falcons. Sophie Moreaux led Dunham (14-16) with 12 points.

St. Thomas Aquinas advances to Alexandria to take on No. 5 Country Day. The Cajuns won at No. 4 Episcopal 47-41.

The Cajuns led 11-6 after one quarter and led 20-16 at halftime. The Knights outscored the Cajuns 13-6 in the third quarter to take a 29-26 lead but Country Day rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring Episcopal 21-12 for the win.

Kaci Chairs led Country Day (16-8) with 18 points. Izzy Besselman led Episcopal (16-9) with 19 points.

Defending state champion and third seed St. Katharine Drexel fought off No. 6 McGehee 46-36, defeating the Hawks for the third time this season.

The Yellow Jackets went on a run late in the first quarter and into the second quarter to establish a double-digit lead and kept the advantage throughout. They led 21-9 at halftime.

Tyra Vaughn led the Yellow Jackets (20-7) with 17 points while Jaida Felix topped the Hawks (15-8) with 20 points.

St. Katharine Drexel returns to Rapides Coliseum to take on No. 2 Northlake Christian Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

The Wolverines advanced with a 40-34 victory over No. 10 St. Mary’s Academy.

Northlake Christian (23-4) led 13-8 after one quarter and led 18-12 at halftime. It was 32-24 after three quarters.

Kyren Whittington led the Wolverines with 14 points while Natalie Newberry finished with 11 points. Tomyree Thompson led the Cougars (11-21) with 19 points.

Class 5A
Quarterfinals
(9) Captain Shreve 61, (1) Sam Houston 48
(5) East Ascension 58, (4) LaGrange 36
(6) Denham Springs 46, (3) Ouachita Parish 40
(2) Walker 62, (7) Natchitoches Central 53 (OT)
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(9) Captain Shreve (28-4) vs. (2) Walker (31-4), 6:15 pm Thurs.
(6) Denham Springs at (5) East Ascension (23-2), 8 p.m. Thurs.

Class 4A
Quarterfinals
(1) Benton 60, (8) South Lafourche 42
(5) Ellender 48, (4) South Terrebonne 41
(3) Minden (31-3) 66, (6) DeRidder 58
(2) Warren Easton 60, (7) Neville 55 (OT)
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(5) Ellender (22-10) at (1) Benton (32-3), 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Rapides Coliseum
(3) Minden (31-3) at (2) Warren Easton (29-5), 8 p.m. Tuesday at Rapides Coliseum

Class 3A
Quarterfinals
(1) Loranger 70, (24) Madison Parish 37
(4) Northwest 47, (5) South Beauregard 39
(3) Albany 70, (6) Caldwell Parish 36
(2) Madison Prep 52, (7) Donaldsonville 45
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(4) Northwest (25-9) vs. (1) Loranger (25-3), 6:15 p.m. Wednesday
(3) Albany (24-12) vs. (2) Madison Prep (21-3), 8 p.m. Wednesday

Class 2A
Quarterfinals
(8) Rayville 69, (1) Doyle 62
(4) Mansfield 64, (5) Lake Arthur 35
(6) Red River 66, (3) Rapides 58
(2) North Caddo 63, (7) Amite 53
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(8) Rayville (23-12) vs. (2) North Caddo (30-4), 3 p.m. Thurs.
(6) Red River (30-6) vs. (4) Mansfield (28-3), 4:45 p.m. Thurs.

Class 1A
Quarterfinals
(1) East Iberville 48, (9) Haynesville 25
(4) Delhi 76, (12) Jonesboro-Hodge 71
(3) Elton 88, (6) Tensas 87
(2) KIPP-Booker T. Washington 61, (7) West St. John 50
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(4) Delhi (20-13) vs. (1) East Iberville (31-4), 3 p.m. Tues.
(3) Elton vs. (2) KIPP-Booker T. Washington (19-10), 4:45 p.m. Tues.

Class B
Quarterfinals
(9) Zwolle 66, (1) Stanley 62
(5) Hicks 46, (4) Florien 40
(3) Fairview 58, (6) Holden 45
(2) Anacoco 72, (10) Hvs.haway 42
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(9) Zwolle (22-12) vs. (2) Anacoco (37-2), 3 p.m. Wed.
(5) Hicks (32-8) vs. (3) Fairview (23-10), 4:45 p.m. Wed.

Class C
Quarterfinals
(1) Plainview 65, (8) Harrisonburg 50
(4) Ebarb 47, (5) Singer 38
(6) Reeves 68, (14) Starks 57
(2) Atlanta 62, (7) Gibsland-Coleman 48
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(6) Reeves (19-14) vs. (1) Plainview (35-7), 8 p.m. Mon.
(4) Ebarb (26-10) vs. (2) Atlanta (32-11), 6:15 p.m. Mon.

Division I
Quarterfinals
(1) John Curtis Christian 84, (8) Evangel Christian 24
(5) St. Joseph’s Academy 49, (4) Archbishop Chapelle 34
(3) Mount Carmel Academy 60, (6) Scotlandville 53 (OT)
(2) Dominican 40, (7) Byrd 24
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(5) St. Joseph’s Academy (11-16) vs. (1) John Curtis Christian (27-4), Thurs., 1:15 p.m.
(3) Mount Carmel Academy (21-9) vs. (2) Dominican (24-6), Thurs., 11:30 a.m.

Division II
Quarterfinals
(1) Lee Magnet 72, (8) St. Thomas More 35
(4) Ursuline Academy 49, (5) Teurlings Catholic 36
(3) University High 67, (6) Loyola Prep 55
(2) St. Louis Catholic 69, (7) Cabrini 38
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(4) Ursuline Academy (21-8) vs. (1) Lee Magnet (30-2), 1:15 p.m. Tues.
(3) University High (22-12) vs. (2) St. Louis Catholic (20-12), 11:30 a.m. Tues.

Division III Quarterfinals
(1) St. Thomas Aquinas 55, (8) Dunham 28
(5) Country Day 47, (4) Episcopal 41
(3) St. Katharine Drexel 46, (6) McGehee 36
(2) Northlake Christian 40, (10) St. Mary’s Academy 34
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(5) Country Day (16-8) vs. (1) St. Thomas Aquinas (18-10), 1:15 p.m. Wed.
(3) St. Katherine Drexel (20-7) vs. (2) Northlake Christian (22-4), 11:30 a.m. Wed.

Division IV
Quarterfinals
(1) Lafayette Christian 52, (8) Central Catholic 36
(5) Ouachita Christian 48, (4) Cedar Creek 43
(3) Vermilion Catholic 55, (6) St. Mary’s 47
(2) Houma Christian 65, (10) St. Martin’s Episcopal 24
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(5) Ouachita Christian vs. (1) Lafayette Christian, 3 p.m. Mon.
(3) Vermilion Catholic vs. (2) Houma Christian, 4:45 p.m. Mon.

Division V
Quarterfinals
(1) Claiborne Christian bye
(5) Grace Christian 39, (4) Christ Episcopal 33
(3) Family Christian 67, (6) St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville 33
(2) Family Community bye
Semifinal Schedule in Alexandria at Rapides Coliseum
(5) Grace Christian (10-20) vs. (1) Claiborne Christian (16-16), 1:15 p.m. Mon.
(3) Family Christian (10-20) vs. (2) Family Christian (14-10), 11:30 a.m. Mon.