12 eye-catching first-round performances from South La. athletes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana's boys basketball playoffs are off and rolling with several fun matchups and great performances already under this postseason's belt from this weekend's opening round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at 12 standouts from south Louisiana programs — including three scouted in-person and a pair of teammates who helped lead their team to a big road win up north in one of our top first-round games to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note: This is not intended to be a definitive list or ranking of the weekend's top performances in the nearly 100 games around the state. Just a snapshot of a dozen student-athletes whose notable performances caught our eye.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S13yC90rY28","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S13yC90rY28 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jude LaForge — 6-0 G — Jesuit (2024) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior guard took control of his team's second matchup in a week against district rival Holy Cross by using his tight handle, strength and craftiness to work his way into the lane — and often to the line — on his way to flirt with a triple-double in the 73-47 victory. LaForge shot 6-for-9 from the foul line in the first quarter alone and finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and a pair of steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brewer Nitcher — 6-4 F — Jesuit (2025) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The all-district performer provides notable height and length inside to a guard-oriented Jesuit lineup, but also enough outside shooting and ball-handling to fit in well with his teammates in helping constantly keep the floor spaced and the ball moving. Nitcher finished with 11 points, including a corner 3-pointer, plus game-highs of 15 rebounds and at least three blocked shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matthew Trahan — 6-3 F — Catholic (Baton Rouge)</strong> <strong>(2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not the first time the junior post player has been noted on the site, but definitely his best and most pivotal performance we've seen and at the biggest point in the season. Trahan scored eight of his 12 points Friday during a barrage of efficient, high-percentage shots at the rim early in the third quarter to blow open a 52-38 defeat of John Curtis. He also grabbed seven rebounds and got a piece of an early blocked shot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umx6mIsaSjI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umx6mIsaSjI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1347265' first='Jeremiah' last='Lucas'] — 6-2 G — Bonnabel (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talented junior scorer, a newly named district MVP, was mentioned last week as a standout for a Bruins squad to watch for a potential upset — technically, in a 16-vs-17 matchup — on a long road trip. And he poured in 31 points in a 70-58 win at Huntington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105582' first='Chris' last='Hervey'] Jr. — 6-6 F — Bonnabel (2024) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins' senior big man added 11 points and 11 rebounds, including some athletic baskets around the rim and in transition, to the big night from Lucas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1499023' first='Jamal' last='Drewery'] —&nbsp;5-10 G — Scotlandville (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior guard hit three 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 19 points to help lead his Hornets past a pesky Warren Easton, 65-60.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Garrick — 6-2 G/F — Lake Charles College Prep (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The multisport senior standout provided his Blazers 17 points, eight rebounds and five steals to help another of our top first-round games to watch live up to its anticipation, though nearby for Washington-Marion survived and advanced, 45-43.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132628' first='Elijah' last='Gims'] — 6-0 G — Washington-Marion (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior guard led the Chargin' Indians claim their second two-point defeat of Lake Charles College Prep this season with his 19 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1778553' first='Tavorian' last='Hart'] — 5-8 G — Albany (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hornets had their hands full with host South Beauregard in a 56-51 loss, but the junior guard provided one of Louisiana's top scoring performances of the weekend with 28 points in the final contest of his junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218215' first='Aries' last='Lewis'] — 6-6 F — Port Allen (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior forward was the Pelicans' top player noted in last week's games to watch article and lived up to the billing with 24 points, 23 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in No. 21 Port Allen's 60-48 upset of No. 12 Westlake to extend its streak of first-round victories dating back more than a decade.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132627' first='Eli' last='Pichon'] —&nbsp;6-1 G —&nbsp;Brother Martin (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pichon drained a ridiculous six 3-pointers to highlight his game-high 28 points in the Crusaders' 61-42 defeat of Woodlawn (Baton Rouge).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Salvador Simon —&nbsp;6-3 F — Northside (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior wing filled up the stat sheet for his Vikings with 23 points, 23 rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal in an 88-70 defeat of Woodlawn (Shreveport)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->