Ponchatoula, Carver, Shaw, St. Martin’s in boys basketball semifinal action today

With Newman and Crescent City Christian having already advanced to state title games with victories, four other area teams look to accomplish the same feat today.

In Select Division II, No. 4 Archbishop Shaw battles No.1 Madison Prep at 1 p.m.

It is a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which the Chargers won 46-28.

Shaw (25-4) has won 13 straight games. The balanced Eagles are led by Christian Creppel, Xavier Meyers, Kobe Butler, Aidan LaSalle, Allen Shaw and Triston Naquin.

Madison Prep (25-2) is in the state tournament for a 13th straight year. The Chargers have won six straight games. Seniors Jayce DePron, Donnie Haney and Josh Smith, along with Jamari Thigpen lead the way for Madison Prep.

The winner will face the winner of today’s 2:45 p.m. rematch between two-time defending state champion and No. 3 seed Carver and No. 2 seed Peabody.

The Rams (24-9) have won 12 of their last 13 games, falling only to defending Non-Select Division I state champion Ponchatoula. Junior center Daijon Leatherman and senior guard Laurence Nathan lead Carver. Leatherman averages 18.7 points, 17.2 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game while Nathan averages 19.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. Sophomore Chesney Sadler averages 9.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest.

The Warhorses (31-6) are led by senior Jordan Mathews, who averages 16.3 points, 11 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Senior Justin Burns averages 14.7 points and 14.2 rebounds, junior Rashad Mitchell averages 11.3 points and junior Isaiah Jones averages 10.9 points per contest.

Carver edged Peabody 46-44 in last year’s semifinal before beating Madison Prep 34-25 in the title game.

At 4:30 p.m., No. 2 seed St. Martin’s Episcopal battles No. 6 Hamilton Christian (16-9) in the Select Division IV semifinals.

The Saints (24-6) are led by seniors Jophie Laforge and Matt Weaver and Cooper Odom. St. Martin’s is in the semifinals for a second straight season after falling 62-47 to Northwood-Lena in Lake Charles last season.

The winner will take on top seed Crescent City Christian in the title game Saturday at 2 p.m.

In the nightcap this evening, defending Division I state champion and second-seed Ponchatoula ( faces a rematch with No. 3 New Iberia

Ponchatoula defeated New Iberia 63-48 in the state championship game last season.

The Green Wave are led by Santa Clara signee Allen Graves, perhaps the best player in the state.

Graves is averaging over 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks per game. Senior guard Jeremiah Lewis is a force from distance, a deadly 3-point shooter.

Ponchatoula (28-4) has scored 192 points in two playoff games.

The Yellow Jackets (29-6) are led by Wayne Randall-Bashay, who averages 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Otis Anderson averages 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.

LHSAA Boys Prep Basketball Results from Wednesday, March 6

1 p.m.—Select Division IV—(1) Crescent City Christian 62, (5) Lincoln Prep 55

2:45 p.m.—Select Division I—(2) Liberty 53, (6) Southwood, 27

4:30 p.m.—Select Division I—(1) St. Thomas More 58, (4) Pineville 38

6:15 p.m.—Non-Select Division II—(2) Wossman 61, (3) Carroll 52

8 p.m.—Non-Select Division II—(1) Iowa 55, (4) Brusly 51

LHSAA Boys Prep Basketball Schedule for Thursday, March 7

1 p.m.—Select Division II—(1) Madison Prep vs. (4) Archbishop Shaw

2:45 p.m.—Select Division II—(2) Peabody vs. (3) Carver

4:30 p.m.—Select Division IV—(2) St. Martin’s Episcopal vs. (6) Hamilton Christian

6:15 p.m.—Non-Select Division I—(5) Ruston vs. (8) Natchitoches Central

8 p.m.—Non-Select Divisoin I—(2) Ponchatoula vs. (3) New Iberia