JOURNAL SPORTS
Huntington’s defense got the Lady Raiders in control Thursday night and the defending Select Division I state champions captured their third straight state semifinal berth and a sixth trip to Marsh Madness in seven seasons by dispatching visiting Alexandria Senior High.
The 68-45 win in a girls basketball quarterfinal earned Huntington (20-9) a rematch with top-seeded John Curtis (23-1) next Thursday at 2:45 in Hammond at the University Center. The Lady Raiders entered last year’s Marsh Madness as the fourth seed, knocked off Curtis – also the top seed then – 61-59 in the semis and won it all over No. 3 Woodlawn-Baton Rouge 61-51.
ASH (20-12), seeded 12th, didn’t sink a basket from the floor until the second quarter Thursday night.
The Lady Raiders are the only local team to make it to next week. Eighth-seeded Captain Shreve (20-12) was unable to stay with Curtis Thursday night, falling 59-37 in River Ridge.