Red Stick Classic at Catholic High starts Friday

The post-Christmas prep basketball tournament schedule continues Friday as several tournaments in the Baton Rouge Area take place this week. A major one is the Red Stick Classic Hosted By Catholic High-Baton Rouge. There are eight teams in the tournament which runs through Monday but no activities can be held on Sunday per a request by the Bishops of Louisiana, including the Sunkist Shootout hosted by St Thomas More in Lafayette.

The Red Stick Classic has a mixed field with a different format this year.

“We are excited about the field this year,” said Catholic High Head Basketball Coach and Classic organizer Mark Cascio. “We have some of our regular teams back to play including us, and we have added Port Allen and John Curtis as well. Due to the LSU National Football Semifinal, we moved away from bracket play for this year only and will return to bracket play next year.”

Port Allen (6-2) will face John Curtis (5-5) to open the event at 2:30 p.m. Friday. Port Allen has wins over St Thomas More (55-51), Country Day (53-38) and Sophie B. Wright (59-55). Curtis, back to full strength after football season, has been tested with a loss to the host Catholic Bears (68-59) and against De La Salle with whom they split a pair of matchups. The Patriots have a win over Country Day (48-40).

The second game of four will have Runnels (8-12) facing Livonia (5-8) with the Wildcats of Livonia losing a big test to Lafayette Christian (43-41) in the False River Tournament.

The third game will feature two teams that southeast Louisiana basketball fans having been keeping an eye on the past few years when the host Catholic High Bears (13-1) take on the De La Salle Cavaliers (11-2). The Bears started the season 10-0 before having a setback to KIPP Booker T. Washington, 54-48, for their only loss. Catholic has also defeated Curtis (68-59) and Country Day (61-42). De La Salle has had a tough schedule, playing in the CYO Tournament and ending up as the runner up to Ponchatoula in the Newman Tournament in a tough 79-78 loss in the final.

St. Michael (7-6) faces Parkview (7-3) in the nightcap. St. Michael has faced U-High and Woodlawn this year in addtiong to hosting their own tournament. Parkview has a win over Class 5A basketball power Denham Springs, 59-48.

The Complete Red Stick Classic Schedule Can be found by clicking here.

Three other tournaments in the Baton Rouge Area over the next few days include the Walker Christmas Classic, the Episcopal-BR Classic, and the long standing EBR-Bob Pettit/Coca-Cola Boys Basketball Tournament at Zachary High.