I truly thought Volume 13 of the Shreveport-Bossier Prep Hoops Report was going to be a continuation of the great playoff runs on the girls’ side of things, plus the addition of the area boys’ playoffs. 

Then Tuesday night happened.  While the boys’ playoff brackets were being uploaded earlier in the day, that night the hopes and dreams of the local girls’ teams were smashed like pumpkins in losses around the state. 

So, instead of recapping and highlighting a ton of action, we will change gears. We will still highlight the week that was but shift our focus to the boys’ playoffs on Friday and other basketball important information. 

And then there were two… 

On Monday night, there were eight local teams still alive with the chance to make the quarterfinals of their respective girls’ bracket. When the night ended, only Huntington and Parkway were moving ahead. 

Benton and Haughton each faced one of the top three seeds in Division I Non-Select on the road and couldn’t pull upsets. Wins would have given District 1-5A four quarterfinalists. Instead, two teams from the district made it and will face each other at 6:30 tonight as Natchitoches Central visits Parkway.  This will be their third meeting on the season with Parkway winning the first two convincingly. It will be the last high school home game for the incomparable Mikaylah Williams alongside her very talented teammates, which is reason enough to come watch.

Outside of Huntington and its 30-point win over Acadiana, everyone else from the area struggled.  BTW lost to Division II Select third seed St. Louis Catholic in Lake Charles, while Loyola and Calvary only managed to score in the low 20s in their Division III Select road losses.

While it is not over, all local area hopes lie with Huntington and Parkway.

Boys’ playoff brackets announced  

Thirteen boys’ teams from the area made the 2023 playoffs. There were a couple of surprises in this group along with quite a few mainstays.  We will see what Friday night holds as eight of the teams will tip it off hoping to extend their seasons.  

Division I Non-Select 

Two Bossier schools, Airline and Parkway, will take their fortunes on the road Friday night.  Parkway, who benefitted from the Zachary Broncos’ playoff suspension for their part in a massive fight last week, are the 28th seed and will face perennial 5A power Ouachita at the Madhouse on Madison Friday night in Monroe. While the Panthers have a tough task, if their guards are shooting it well and Ouachita is not, this may turn into a dogfight. 

Airline has a great chance to pull off a victory against a stout but up-and-down East Ascension team. The Vikings are led by the playoff experience of Coach Eddie Hamilton and the shooting of Colby O’glee and Trevon Jackson. If it is a close game, I would bet on the Vikes.

Division II Select 

The Evangel Eagles and BTW Lions, both out of District 1-4A, will play their respective games on Friday. The Lions have the bigger challenge as they will go on the road to face a highly-talented Northside team in Lafayette.  The Lions played well down the stretch of the regular season.  If that carries over, Northside will be in a fight to the end.

The Eagles will host St. Louis Catholic from Lake Charles at 6:30 in their home gym.  St. Louis Catholic is known to travel well, and this may be an occasion where that happens.  Evangel is definitely the more well-rounded and talented team.  However, if the Eagles are not shooting the 3 well, this game can be a lot closer.

The rest of the crew

Magnolia Charter, one of the newer teams in the LHSAA, will make its first playoff appearance and will face Vermilion Catholic on Friday. The winner will play always-powerful Southern Lab in the second round. 

Four teams from District 1-2A made the playoffs in Division III Select.  The 24th seed, North Caddo, will travel to play Episcopal in Baton Rouge. Green Oaks, the 17th seed, will play 16-seeded Pope John Paul II on the road with a chance to play No. 1 Isidore Newman on the line.

Loyola will host Sarah T. Reed at 6 o’clock Friday. The victor will face Country Day in the next round.  Calvary, the third seed, has a bye. 

Division I Select teams Huntington, Southwood, and Captain Shreve all received first-round byes.  Division II Non-Select Bossier will also have Friday off.  The Bearkats await the Opelousas-A.J. Ellender winner. 

This is the most awesome time of year in high school hoops. Good luck to all the area teams competing tonight and Friday. 

Contact Preston at preston9360@gmail.com or Twitter handle @peedee1906