Traditional powers, champions Newman and Dunham square off in boys basketball semifinals

Randy Livingston understands championships, having been part of those as a player and as a coach, leading the Greenies to a state championship in 2022 in Division III as a coach.

Livingston, who would go on to play in the NBA, was the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year in 1992 and in 1993 and he was part of three consecutive state championship teams with the Greenies from 1991-1993.

Newman is a strong favorite to win it again in 2023, this time the Select Division III title.

The Greenies continue their quest in the semifinals Tuesday against another traditional power in No. 4 seed Dunham.

Newman (30-6) has won nine straight, defeating No. 17 Green Oaks 71-48 before drilling No. 8 Sophie B. Wright 62-28 in the quarterfinals.

Senior Chris Lockett averages 16.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game for the Greenies. Senior Canin Jefferson averages 15 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals per contest. Junior center Todd Jones is the other double-figure scorer, averaging 10 points, 7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

Dunham whipped No. 13 Ascension Episcopal 63-35 before handling No. 5 M.L. King Charter 63-47 in the quarterfinals.

The game is a revenge contest for the Greenies.

In 2021, the Tigers edged Newman 52-48 in the Division III state championship game. Several players from that game are back for the Greenies this time around.

Dunham also won the Division III state championship in 2018 and in 2020 and reached the title game in 2017 and in 2019.

The Greenies are in search of their 11th state title overall, which would place them alone in third all-time in Louisiana basketball history for the most championships, trailing only Southern Lab and Zwolle.

Dunham is in search of its sixth state championship.

MARSH MADNESS SCHEDULE
Semifinals
Monday
Division V select: No. 1 Avoyelles Charter 54, No. 4 JS Clark 36
Division V select: No. 2 Family Christian 46, No. 3 Rapides 38
Division III select: No. 3 Calvary Baptist 62, No. 10 Catholic-New Iberia 57
Division V nonselect: No. 1 Zwolle 81, Gibsland-Coleman 72
Division V nonselect: No. 2 Anacoco 63, No. 3 Fairview 49

Tuesday
Division III select: No. 1 Newman (30-6) vs. No. 4 Dunham (20-8), 1:15 p.m.
Division IV nonselect: No. 1 East Feliciana (24-7) vs. No. 4 North Central (22-12), 3 p.m.
Division II nonselect: No. 1 Wossman (29-4) vs. No. 4 Bossier (22-10), 4:45 p.m.
Division IV nonselect: No. 2 White Castle (26-9) vs. No. 3 Franklin (20-5), 6:15 p.m.
Division II nonselect: No. 2 Iowa (28-4) vs. No. 2 Carroll (24-11), 8 p.m.

Wednesday
Division IV select: No. 1 Northwood-Lena (27-7) vs. No. 4 St. Martin’s Episcopal (21-9), 1:15 p.m.
Division I select: No. 1 Scotlandville (31-3) vs. No. 4 Huntington (24-8), 3 p.m.
Division III nonselect: No. 1 Port Allen (27-4) vs. No. 4 Patterson (22-4), 4:45 p.m.
Division III nonselect: No. 2 French Settlement (29-4) vs. No. 3 Winnfield (25-4), 6:15 p.m.
Division I select: No. 2 St. Thomas More (32-4) vs. No. 3 Catholic-BR (26-6), 8 p.m.

Thursday
Division IV select: No. 2 Lincoln Prep (23-4) vs. No. 3 Crescent City (22-4), 1:15 p.m.
Division II select: No. 1 Madison Prep (31-2) vs. No. Archbishop Shaw (22-5), 3 p.m.
Division II select: No. 2 Peabody (25-6) vs. No. 6 G.W. Carver (22-10), 4:45 p.m.
Division I nonselect: No. 2 Ruston (29-3) vs. No. 3 Ponchatoula (27-7), 6:15 p.m.
Division I nonselect: No. 1 New Iberia (29-3) vs. No, 4 Walker (29-5), 8 p.m.

Finals
Friday
Division V select–Noon, No. 1 Avoyelles Charter vs. #2 Family Christian
Division III select: 2 p.m.—No. 3 Calvary Baptist vs. TBA
Division IV nonselect: 4 p.m.
Division II nonselect: 6 p.m.
Division V nonselect: 8 p.m.—No. 1 Zwolle vs. No. 2 Anacoco

Saturday
Division IV select: noon
Division II select: 2 p.m.
Division III nonselect: 4 p.m.
Division I select: 6 p.m.
Division I nonselect: 8 p.m.