LHSAA 1st Round Predictions: 4A
TOP HALF 1) Bossier vs. 32) New Orleans Military and Maritime I will keep this one short and sweet. Bossier is one of the best teams in the state, and has an argument to be made that they are the…
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1) Bossier vs. 32) New Orleans Military and Maritime
I will keep this one short and sweet. Bossier is one of the best teams in the state, and has an argument to be made that they are the best team. New Orleans Military and Maritime isn’t. Give me the Bearkats.
Prediction: Bossier
16) Morgan City vs. 17) Warren Easton
This game, like most 16 vs. 17 matchups in the playoffs, is going to be a really interesting matchup. However, in my mind, it really comes down to which team is peaking at the right time. Morgan City had a stretch earlier this season where they looked really good, and beat some good teams. However, since the start of January, they have a losing record. On the other hand, Warren Easton has gone on a run since the start of 2019, only losing 2 games over that time. It appears Easton has gotten hot at the right time.
Prediction: Warren Easton
9) Franklin Parish vs. 24) Eleanor McMain
You are going to notice when it comes to a lot of the matchups in the playoffs, a lot of it is going to come down to getting hot at the right time. And Franklin Parish is HOT. They have won 13 of their last 14 games. On the other end, McMain has been playing a lot of teams close, but ultimately end up losing. They have lost their last three games by a combined 7 points. I once again expect a close game, but I think Franklin Parish will come out with a win down the stretch.
Prediction: Franklin Parish
8) Lakeshore vs. 25) Woodlawn BR
For me, this is a pretty easy matchup for one reason. Lakeshore has 6’9 Hunter Dean, who is the best big man in the state. He can score in a variety of ways, taking you off the dribble, posting up, or catching backside lobs. However, Woodlawn doesn’t have anyone on their team taller than 6’4. That’s a pretty rough matchup for them.
Prediction: Lakeshore
5) Carencro vs. 28) Pearl River
Pearl River has lost their last 8 games straight, which is not what you want to see heading into the playoffs. However, they do have 2019 G Blake Costello, who can get hot in a hurry and is a good enough scorer to beat you single handedly. However, I think that Carencro’s defense is going to be too good to let that happen. Plus, they should have the best two players in the game in 2021 Joe Charles and 2019 Julian Landor. That is tough for Pearl River to overcome.
Prediction: Carencro
12) Huntington vs. 21) Franklinton
One of the biggest things to look for when looking for an upset in the early rounds of the playoffs, is when the higher seeded team has the best player in the game. And that is just the case here, and I don’t think it’s really close. 2019 F Tylan Pope of Franklinton is going to be by far the best player on the court, and Huntington doesn’t really have anyone on their roster that can matchup with him. For that reason, I think that the demons get the upset on the road.
Prediction: Franklinton
13) Tioga vs. 20) Livonia
This one is a bit of a toss up, but I think that Tioga is going to come away with the win. I think Coach Lance Brasher is one of the better coaches in the state, and when he has the best player in the game in 2019 G Tylan Sanders, I don’t see them losing at home in the 1st round.
Prediction: Tioga
4) Woodlawn Shreve vs. 29) BT Washington
This is going to be the 4th matchup of the year between these two district opponents. So far Woodlawn Shreve has won each game by at least 13 points, with an average margin of victory of almost 16 points per game. I don’t see that changing once the playoffs come around.
Prediction: Woodlawn Shreve
BOTTOM HALF:
3) Breaux Bridge vs. 30) Lutcher
Breaux Bridge is definitely my vote for “surprise team that dominated the regular season” this year. I did not see them getting to 20 wins, let alone 28. This has been a fantastic season for them, and I simply don’t see it coming to an end in the 1st round.
Prediction: Breaux Bridge
14) Assumption vs. 19) Rayne
This is going to be the second matchup of the season between these two teams, as they met earlier in the year at the North Vermilion tournament. Assumption came out with the win the first time around, but both teams are better now than they were then. However, I think that Assumption still comes away with the win here as well. They will have the best player in the game in 2021 G Jaden Tyler, and that is going to be hard to overcome for Rayne.
Prediction: Assumption
11) Ellender vs. 22) Neville
When I’m writing these articles, it gives me a chance to check out some teams that I don’t normally keep an eye out for, in this case Neville. And I’m glad I did, otherwise I would have had no idea that their leading scorer is a Freshman, in Patrick McCraney. He is definitely one to keep an eye on going forward. However, I think that Ellender is still going to have the best freshman in the game, and maybe in the state in 2022 6’8 Dionjahe Thomas. He is going to be surrounded by better talent than McCraney will be as well.
Prediction: Ellender
6) Westgate vs. 27) DeRidder
Ending the season with a 9 point win against Tioga is a really good confidence builder heading into the playoffs for DeRidder. However, they don’t have a win on their schedule nearly as tough as Westgate. I expect this to be a game that is a little tighter than Westgate is hoping for, but in the end, I think that Westgate’s experience edges them out.
Prediction: Westgate
7) Plaquemine vs. 26) Beau Chene
I really like the young pieces that Beau Chene has. 2021 Jayden Lazard and Shelton Celestine are both really good players, as well as 2022 De’vondrake Arvie. All three of those have a chance to play at the next level. The problem this year is that their three best players are sophomores and freshman. I think Plaquemine runs away with this game, but Beau Chene is not a team you want to be playing over the next few years.
Prediction: Plaquemine
10) Salmen vs. 23) Edna Karr
Over the last two season, there has been a trend in the playoffs. A public school out of New Orleans that has talent making a suprise run out of nowhere. Last season it was McDonough 35 as the 18 seed making it to the Final 4. Two years ago, it was Landry-Walker winning the state title as a 22 seed. If any team were to make a run like that this year, it would definitely be Edna Karr. I also think this is as good a matchup for them in the first round as they could have faced.
Prediction: Edna Karr
15) Opelousas vs. 18) Northside
This is going to be the 2nd matchup for these two teams this season, with Opelousas getting the win at the Northwest tournament. I think a big difference for this matchup is that despite the game being at Opelousas, there will be neutral referees. For anyone who has seen the Opelousas referee association in action, you will know that they are notoriously the worst in the state. For that reason, as well as Northside having the best two players in the game, I think that first year head coach Jacob Herbstler is going to get his first career playoff win.
Prediction: Northside
2) Leesville vs. 31) Tara
2019 G Seginald Bryant is as good a player as you are going to find in 4A for Leesville. He has come a long way, and worked his tail off to make himself into a college prospect. I don’t see his career coming to an end in the 1st round.
Prediction: Leesville