JOURNAL SPORTS

HAMMOND — Two-time defending state champion Parkway will face off again with district rival Haughton Thursday evening at 6:15 in the LHSAA’s Marsh Madness girls basketball state tournament Non-Select Division I semifinals, while a third District 1-5A power, Huntington, also takes the court earlier Thursday afternoon at the University Center in the Select Division I semis.

Parkway (28-4) is the top seed and overcame Denham Springs’ slow-paced strategy for a 36-22 quarterfinal win Thursday night.

Haughton (28-5) is the No. 4 seed and booked its first-ever Marsh Madness appearance by blasting visiting Barbe 66-41 in its homecourt quarterfinal.

The Lady Panthers pounded the Lady Bucs 69-42 in the only regular-season meeting.

Huntington (21-10), the fourth seed in the Select category, thrashed No. 12 seeded Lafayette 67-36 to earn its fifth Marsh Madness trip in six seasons. The Lady Raiders meet the No. 1 seed, John Curtis (18-6) in a 2:45 semifinal Thursday afternoon.

Parkway, Haughton and Huntington were among seven 1-5A teams making the LHSAA playoffs. They got first-round byes. Natchitoches Central also advanced to the Non-Select quarterfinals but couldn’t hold a two-point lead going to the fourth quarter at Zachary and was eliminated Thursday.

Zachary, the third seed, plays No. 2 Walker in Thursday’s other Non-Select semifinal. The championship game is set for 8 Saturday night.

In the Select bracket, second-seeded Edna Karr and No. 3 Woodlawn-Baton Rouge are the other teams standing as possible championship game foes for Huntington. That final is slated for 4 on Saturday afternoon.