Five non-select second-round LHSAA playoff matchups to watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LHSAA boys basketball playoffs continue this week with 80 second-round matchups around the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here were five games from the "non-select" school brackets that caught our attention, due in no small part to the notable talent on the rosters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/02/five-select-second-round-lhsaa-playoff-matchups-to-watch/">Check out more information on top select matchups</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 10 Patterson at No. 7 Richwood —&nbsp; Division-III Non-Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A matchup of a 2023 semifinalist making the long trip north to visit a 2023 quarterfinalist and perennial contender. Senior big man <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892517' first='Demond' last='Davis']</strong>, senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892514' first='Khylin' last='Brooks']</strong> and junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1923297' first='Carlos' last='Brooks'] Jr.</strong> are among the key returning pieces for a Lumberjacks group that made its deepest playoff run last year since 2016 and pushed eventual champion Port Allen to triple-overtime in the semis, but still haven't shook the program's postseason road woes. Like Patterson with Davis, the Rams are led by a talented, physical football prospect inside in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1167550' first='Xzander' last='Washington']</strong>, with the junior guard duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2077393' first='Austin' last='Love']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408124' first='Markari' last='Newton']</strong> among other top players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 11 Walker at No. 6 Southside —&nbsp; Division-I Non-Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another 2023 semifinalist who saw that playoff run end in overtime at the state tournament hits the road in another top matchup to watch as the perennial contender Wildcats visit the Sharks in Youngsville. Senior guard <strong>Clifford "K.J." Smith-Johnson</strong>, junior wing <strong>Troy Sylve</strong> and junior forward <strong>Carleiyon Joseph</strong> lead a still-dangerous Walker team with a much different looking roster that weathered some ups and downs after last year's graduations, but has come on strong with five straight wins. Guards <strong>Noah Brookte</strong>r, <strong>Jayce Bolivar</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560403' first='Quentin' last='Carey']</strong> are among the senior leaders for Southside, with juniors <strong>Jaydon Bolivar</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1347258' first='Jaydon' last='Norbert']</strong> among other top names to know.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 14 White Castle at No. 3 Oakdale — Division-IV Non-Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perennial contender White Castle, another 2023 semifinalist, makes a road trip to 2023 quarterfinalist Oakdale. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892519' first='Javen' last='Deloch']</strong> and junior guard <strong>Shadrack Allen</strong> lead an always-dangerous Bulldogs program, with junior <strong>Damorion Burks</strong> providing a big body inside that can create matchup problems. Multisport seniors <strong>Deekota Johnson</strong>, <strong>Elijah Anderson</strong> and <strong>Charles Shird III</strong> are among the familiar faces and names that have helped lead the Warriors to some of their greatest success in years in both basketball and football and look to push even further this postseason and potentially even follow their girls' historic blueprint from a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 15 Live Oak at No. 2 Ponchatoula —&nbsp; Division-I Non-Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The No. 2-seeded Green Wave, reigning champions in Division I, should be considered heavy favorites to at least return to the state tournament next week and appear more than capable of potentially competing an impressive repeat at the highest level. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1480391' first='Allen' last='Graves']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1434766' first='Jeremiah' last='Lewis']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275273' first='Taj' last='Jackson']</strong> and juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2207012' first='Cory' last='Jackson'] Jr.</strong> and <strong>C.J. Braziel</strong> are among the top players to watch. But the Eagles visit from a relatively short drive across the parish line to pose an interesting second-round challenge from a talented, young program on the rise. Live Oak routed a solid Hahnville on Friday with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132622' first='Clayten' last='Ray']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2473705' first='Hayden' last='Ray']</strong> helping lead the way. <strong>Traven Barnes</strong> joins the elder Ray among notable seniors, while fellow sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1755871' first='Cameron' last='Ivy']</strong>, <strong>M.J. Washington</strong> and <strong>Cayden Jones</strong> and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132755' first='Jordan' last='Magee']</strong> join the younger Ray among the underclassman talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 20 Terrebonne at No. 4 Denham Springs —&nbsp; Division-I Non-Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight round, Terrebonne will visit a higher-seeded District 5-5A host. The Tigers topped No. 13 St. Amant on Friday, 59-50, behind 19 points from junior wing <strong>Rhanige Smith</strong>, 15 from LSU-signed football star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105552' first='Kylan' last='Billiot']</strong> and junior multisport athlete <strong>Kayden Jones</strong>. Denham Springs tips off its playoff action after a first-round bye and will look for its first postseason win since 2018. The Yellow Jackets won 23 of 25 games at one point this season with a talented core that includes seniors <strong>Maison Vorise</strong> and <strong>Brock Smith</strong>, junior <strong>J.K. O'Conner</strong> and sophomores <strong>Da'Jean Golmond</strong> and <strong>Da'Sean Golmond</strong> and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194365' first='Jeremy' last='Williams']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->