By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Parkway and Huntington cruised to second-round girls basketball playoff wins Monday while Southwood went into overtime to advance to the LHSAA state quarterfinals to be played Thursday.
Parkway (31-2), the No. 2 seed in Class 5A, had little resistance in posting a 72-35 defeat of Zachary on the road.
Junior Mikaylah Williams led the way with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals and 5 assists. Sophomore Chloe Larry scored 16 points with Ty’lissa Henderson (15) and Savannah Wilson (14) also in double figures for the Lady Panthers.
Parkway will host No. 10 Northshore (23-9) on Thursday seeking its second trip to the state semifinals. The Panthers’ only other semifinal appearance came in 2008 when they fell to No. 1 seed Ellender 71-44.
Southwood outscored East St. John 14-4 in overtime to take a 63-53 win on the road in Reserve, on the banks of the Mississippi RIver. Jermesha Frierson scored 12 of her game-high 24 points in the extra period. She also grabbed 12 rebounds and got scoring help from Ma’Shaylen Pratt who added 14, and Minnie Williams with 12.
The Lady Cowboys are 24-10 and the 11th seed and will travel to face No. 3 Lafayette (29-4). The Lions have won 11 straight with their last loss coming in the Hamilton Christian Tournament to Fairview (28-3) 57-55. Other losses include John Curtis, the No. 1 seed in Division I, and to Parkway by six in the West Monroe tournament.
Huntington made North Vermilion its latest victim by a score of 59-35 in the second round of Class 4A. The Lady Raiders (19-6) have won 13 straight with their last loss coming at the hands of Lafayette (69-41) on Dec. 18.
Kalea Dean had a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds in Monday’s win. Ka’Niya Moore tossed in 14 points and Jayla Allen added 10 points.
Huntington, the No. 5 seed, will travel to No. 4 South Lafourche, a 44-41 winner over Opelousas. The Raiders are the defending state runners-up and will be seeking their third straight trip to the semifinals and fifth overall.
