Girls Basketball Semifinals: Doyle returns to title game while Amite, St. Martin’s fall

LHSAA Girls Final Four Playoff Report for Tuesday, March 2

It was a struggle.

Defending Class 2A state champion and top seed Doyle did not play its best but fought off a stiff challenge from No. 5 Avoyelles Public Charter, winning 65-61 at Hammond in the semifinals Monday.

Elise Jones made sure the Lady Tigers were not going to lose, pumping in 31 points. Kylee Savant added 15 points. Jones was 9-of-10 from the free throw line.

Avoyelles Public Charter started fast, jumping out to a 12-point lead before taking a 21-16 lead after one quarter and the Vikings led 37-33 at halftime. Doyle finally took its first lead in the third quarter and tied the game 51-51 going to the fourth quarter.

Leading 63-61 with 1:18 remaining, Presleigh Scott hit a pair of free throws to give the Lady Tigers a two possession lead and the Lady Tigers got stops defensively to preserve the victory.

Scott, playing with foul trouble throughout, finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Peyton Hines had 26 points for Avoyelles Public Charter (26-7).

Doyle (28-4) will play No. 3 Lake Arthur for the 2A championship Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Lady Tigers dismissed No. 2 Amite 71-57 at Hammond.

Lake Arthur led 19-13 after one quarter before opening up a 42-31 lead by halftime. The Lady Warriors rallied to pull within 52-49 going to the fourth quarter but the Lady Tigers outscored Amite 19-8 in the final frame for the win.

Deonna Brister was brilliant for Lake Arthur (29-4), scoring 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field and going 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Kali Hornsby was outstanding as well, going 10-of-16 from the field, scoring 24 points. Katherine Leonards added 11 points.

Jalencia Pierre topped Amite (24-3) with 21 points, Miracle Irving scored 16 points and Hai’ley Brumfield added 14 points.

In Division IV, top seed Ouachita Christian doubled up No. 4 St. Martin’s Episcopal 64-32.

The Eagles were in control from the start, taking a 17-6 lead after one quarter and led 27-13 at halftime. It was 48-23 after three quarters.

Avery Hopkins topped a balanced attack for the Eagles with 15 points, Emery Wirtz had 14 points, and Conleigh Laseter scored 13 points. Kyler Coleman led the Saints (12-7) with 14 points while Sydni Wiltz added nine points.

OCS (28-2) advances to the championship game to face No. 2 Highland Baptist, who defeated No. 3 Cedar Creek 45-39.

The Bears took a 16-4 lead after one quarter and led 27-10 at halftime. It was 33-19 going to the final quarter.

Bri Sensley led Highland Baptist (23-4) with 17 points while Marin Barras scored 15 points Sarah Adams led Cedar Creek (21-4) with 18 points.

At Lake Charles, top seed and defending state champion University Academy (17-3) handled No. 5 St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville 65-28 in the Division V semifinals to advance to the title game to play No. 3 Claiborne Christian (14-8), who downed No. 2 Family Community 42-31.

The championship game is set for Thursday at noon at Southeastern Louisiana. St. Joseph’s finished 12-9 while Family Community finishes 18-7.

In Class B, top-seeded Hathaway defeated No. 13 Bell City 46-34. Hathaway (23-3) advances to the title game Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Hammond against No. 2 and defending state champion Fairview (27-3), who defeated No. 3 Florien 61-45. Florien finishes 24-3.

Today, No. 2 Ursuline Academy (20-6) plays in the semifinals against defending state champion and No. 3 seed Liberty (21-6) at 5 p.m. at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.

Girls Basketball Marsh Madness Schedule
Semifinals
Monday
at University Center, Hammond
Division IV
(2) Highland Baptist 45, (3) Cedar Creek 39
(1) Ouachita Christian 64, (4) St. Martin’s Episcopal 32

Class 2A
(1) Doyle 65, (5) Avoyelles Public Charter 61
(3) Lake Arthur 71 (2) Amite 57

at Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles
Division V
(1) University Academy 65, (5) St. Joseph’s Plaucheville 28
(3) Claiborne Christian 42, (2) Family Community 31

Class B
(1) Hathaway 46, (13) Bell City 34
(2) Fairview 61, (3) Florien 45

Tuesday
at University Center, Hammond
Class 1A
(3) Northwood-Lena vs. (2) Merryville, noon
(4) North Central vs. (1) East Iberville, 2:30 p.m.

Class 3A
(4) Brusly vs. (1) Madison Prep, 5 p.m.
(7) Northwest vs. (3) South Beauregard, 7:30 p.m.

at Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles
Class C
(4) Reeves vs. (1) Gibsland-Coleman, noon
(3) Plainview vs. (2) Hicks, 2:30 p.m.

Division II
(3) Liberty vs. (2) Ursuline Academy, 5 p.m.
(4) St. Thomas More vs. (1) St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday
at University Center, Hammond
Division I
(3) Dominican vs. (2) John Curtis Christian, noon
(4) Scotlandville vs. (1) Mt. Carmel Academy, 2:30 p.m.

Class 5A
(10) West Monroe vs. (6) Captain Shreve, 5 p.m.
(12) Benton vs. (1) Ponchatoula, 7:30 p.m.

at Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles
Division III
(4) St. Charles Catholic vs. (1) Lafayette Christian, noon
(3) St. Thomas Aquinas vs. (2) Episcopal, 2:30 p.m.

Class 4A
(3) Neville vs. (2) Huntington, 5 p.m.
(4) Warren Easton vs. (1) LaGrange, 7:30 p.m.

Finals
at University Center, Hammond
Thursday
Division V: (1) University Academy vs. (3) Claiborne Christian, noon
Division IV: (1) Ouachita Christian vs. (2) Highland Baptist, 2:30 p.m.
Class 1A: Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Class B: (1) Hathaway vs. (2) Fairview, 7:30 p.m.

Friday
Class C: Semifinal winners, noon
Division II: Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.
Class 4A: Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Class 2A: (1) Doyle vs. (3) Lake Arthur, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 6
Division III: Semifinal winners, noon
Division I: Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.
Class 3A: Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Class 5A: Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.