Five 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 "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></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 11 Northside at No. 6 Lafayette Christian —  Division-II Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The crosstown and district rematch features a lower seed already with a victory on the higher seed's floor just two and a half weeks ago. The Vikings will make the short trip again Tuesday fresh off a big opening-round victory highlight by <strong>Salvador Simon</strong>'s 23 points and 13 rebounds. Fellow senior wing <strong>Bri'Trevian Lee</strong> is their highest ranked prospect on Prep Hoops Louisiana's most recent link. Senior <strong>Jamarion Ardoin</strong> and junior <strong>A'kai Byers</strong> give the team a veteran guard duo, with freshman <strong>Jaydon Francis</strong> joining as one of the top young players in the area. Leading the higher-seeded Knights team into the playoffs after a first-round bye is Tulane-signed senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105554' first='Kameron' last='Williams']</strong>. But the state's top-ranked prospect is far from alone with fellow ranked seniors such as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1982180' first='Jeremy' last='Bargky']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560394' first='Morgan' last='Collins']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132625' first='Deon' last='Wheeler']</strong>, standout sophomore <strong>Graham Comeaux</strong> and well-known football standouts such as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105583' first='Trae' last='Grogan']</strong>, <strong>Sandy Lewis</strong> and <strong>Jalen Noel </strong>helping highlight a deep rotation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 12 St. Augustine at No. 5 Edna Karr —  Division-I Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the three district rematches featured on this list. The higher-seeded Cougars won both matchups this regular season, but each by single digits — including their home game 10 days ago by just four. District MVP guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277352' first='Keith' last='Jones'] Jr.</strong> leads a group of four all-district selections for Edna Karr's 2024 class, including Grambling State-signed football standout <strong>Tyrone Wilson</strong>, big man <strong>Jyren Brooks</strong> and wing <strong>Jelthroe Moses Jr</strong>. The veteran guard duo of Air Force-signed senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1386539' first='Turner' last='Duncan']</strong> and junior <strong>Cy Merrett</strong> earned district honors to lead this year's Purple Knights, along with college-bound football standouts <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277348' first='Joshua' last='Jackson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105578' first='Hubert' last='Caliste'] Jr.</strong> and senior guards <strong>Brandon Royal</strong> and <strong>Dandrick Green Jr.</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 13 St. Louis Catholic at No. 4 Archbishop Shaw — Division-II Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just a few miles away on the New Orleans West Bank from that Catholic League rematch, former Catholic League member Archbishop Shaw will host visiting St. Louis Catholic from Lake Charles in an intriguing Division-II matchup. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560388' first='Christian' last='Creppel']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892405' first='Xavier' last='Meyers']</strong>, <strong>Aidan LaSalle</strong> and <strong>William Lewis Jr</strong>. are among the leaders for the Eagles, along with junior post player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601451' first='Kobe' last='Butler']</strong> and talented freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132726' first='Allen' last='Shaw III']</strong>. Senior forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2173474' first='Clayton' last='Blackledge']</strong>, <strong>Christian Guillory</strong> and <strong>Evan Ezell</strong>, junior guard <strong>Alex Goodwin</strong> and sophomore guards <strong>Joe Devall</strong> and <strong>Nick Devall </strong>help headline a Saints bunch that won its first-round game by 20. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 15 Catholic (Baton Rouge) at No. 2 Liberty Magnet — Division-I Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last of the district rematches on the list, the higher-seeded Patriots scratched out a 41-39 victory at Catholic early this month behind senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105591' first='Howard' last='Gaskins'] Jr.</strong>'s scoring and junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408250' first='Malek' last='Robinson']</strong>'s defense and facilitation. Forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1408867' first='Jaylen' last='Peters']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560409' first='Marquise' last='McPipe']</strong> join that duo as the headline prospects for Liberty Magnet. The Bears' heavy junior core of <strong>Nico Jones</strong>, <strong>Matthew Trahan</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1347276' first='Tate' last='McCurry']</strong>, <strong>Matthew Hotstream</strong>, <strong>C.J. Washington</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560440' first='Amari' last='Clayton']</strong>, with big key plays by senior <strong>Dylan Gifford</strong>, helped the team control the bulk of a high-profile opening-round defeat of John Curtis and figure to be the top players to watch Tuesday in hostile, albeit nearby territory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 17 Bonnabel at No. 1 St. Thomas More —  Division-II Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins came away from Friday's long trip north with a memorable first-round road victory highlighted by 31 points by junior star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1347265' first='Jeremiah' last='Lucas']</strong> and double-double by athletic senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105582' first='Chris' last='Hervey'] Jr</strong>. As mentioned heading into that matchup, seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278991' first='Aumad' last='Hackett']</strong> and <strong>Nicholas Allen</strong>, junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607436' first='Omar' last='De La Rosa']</strong> and sophomore <strong>Thomas Colette</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1543674' first='Gavin' last='Lucas']</strong> are among other top players to know. The second round poses a shorter trip, but stiffer competition in top-seeded St. Thomas More. The perennial power Cougars are led by a a strong senior group that includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105548' first='Michael' last='Mouton']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1386535' first='Chad' last='Jones']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218185' first='Hays' last='Regard']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105527' first='Anthony' last='Angelle']</strong> among its ranked players and a junior class led by guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2206930' first='Elijah' last='Guidry']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->