JOURNAL STAFF
The LHSAA released its 2023 boys’ basketball playoff brackets Monday and 13 local teams qualified, with five receiving first-round byes in the five Select and five Non-Select divisions.
Gaining first-round byes were fourth-seeded Bossier (20-10) in Non-Select Division II, No. 4 seed Huntington (22-8), No. 5 seed Southwood (23-7) and No. 6 seed Captain Shreve (24-5) in Select Division I, along with Calvary (22-5) as the No. 3 seed in Select Division III.
Bossier is heading to its 24th consecutive playoff appearance and Huntington is making its 22nd in a row.
The only two locals with home games in the first round are Evangel (21-10), the No. 12 seed in Select Division II and Loyola, the No. 15 seed in Select Division III. Evangel entertains No. 21 St. Louis Catholic (14-15) Friday at 6:30 and the Flyers will host No. 18 Sara Reed (16-13) Friday at 6 p.m.
The Select brackets contain the top 24 teams in the power ratings for each division while the Non-Select divisions are comprised of the 28 highest-rated teams.
Here is a complete list of the local teams’ pairings, with seedings listed before each school’s name.
Non-Select Division I
17-Airline (18-14) at 16-East Ascension (17-14)
28-Parkway (13-17) at 5-Ouachita (20-9)
Non-Select Division II
4-Bossier (20-10), Bye
Select Division I
4-Huntington (22-8), Bye
5-Southwood (23-7), Bye
6-Captain Shreve (24-5), Bye
Select Division II
21-St. Louis Catholic (14-15) at 12-Evangel (21-10)
20-BTW (13-13) at 13-Northside (19-13)
Select Division III
3-Calvary (22-5), Bye
17-Green Oaks (14-14) at 16-Pope John Paul II (19-12)
24-North Caddo (6-14) at 9-Episcopal (18-11)
18-Sara Reed (16-13) at 15-Loyola (18-12)
Select Division IV
23-Magnolia Charter (7-16) at 10-Vermilion Catholic (14-6)