24 eye-catching quarterfinal playoff performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forty teams punched their state-tournament tickets Thursday and Friday with quarterfinal wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standout individual performances from seniors all the way to freshmen helped highlight the great team efforts all over the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at two dozen of the best, including three scouted in-person.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note: This is not intended to be a definitive list or ranking of the weekend's top performances around the state. Just a snapshot of 24 talented student-athletes whose notable performances caught our eye.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbgIaw3cwlo","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=SbgIaw3cwlo </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132725' first='Ahmad' last='Hudson'] — 6-6 F — Ruston (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearcats' high-profile forward looked every bit the part of his billing as one of Louisiana's best freshman basketball players in recent history with his 16 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots to help lead his Bearcats to a 62-55 road upset of top-ranked Zachary. Hudson boasts a great combination of height, build and athleticism, but also good touch and range to his game and — maybe most impressively — a confidence at such a young age to consistently take over huge moments in a hostile setting with the season in the balance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DeRay Vital — 6-10 F/C — Hamilton Christian (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore big man moved extremely smoothly at his size around the lane and baseline on both ends of the court and made a variety of major impacts on a 57-49 road upset of Southern Lab. His game-high seven blocked shots were a disruptive and frustrating force anchoring the defense, and his team-high 12 rebounds — including several on the offensive glass — gave the Warriors additional scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He finished with nine points in the contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59z2bkfwIJI","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=59z2bkfwIJI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313822' first='Javon' last='Vital'] — 5-11 G — Hamilton Christian (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors' even-younger standout Vital, freshman point guard Javon, was the head of the snake with a team-high 16 points that included at least three attacking, go-ahead baskets when the game was in its most pivotal stretches and seven fourth-quarter free throws to help keep Hamilton Christian ahead despite Southern Lab's furious rally attempt. Even during a slow start in terms of scoring, he was active on the glass on his way to seven rebounds on the night. And he was often a menace defensively on the Kittens' lead ball-handlers to snatch three steals and deflect and poke the ball away on other plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMN39hAicoY","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=oMN39hAicoY </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2207009' first='Otis' last='Anderson'] — 6-2 F — New Iberia (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson led his Yellow Jackets with 17 points against district rival Southside — accounting for nearly 40% of his team's scoring and more than half the Sharks' output in the low-scoring battle — to help lead New Iberia back to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408458' first='Trushaad' last='Bush'] — 6-2 F — University Lab (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior forward, one of the Cubs' veterans, scored a game-high 22 points in a 62-54 defeat of Catholic (New Iberia) to help lift the program back to its first state tournament appearance since 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601451' first='Kobe' last='Butler'] — 6-6 F — Archbishop Shaw (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Butler provided another big night inside for Shaw, particularly on defense and on the boards, as he finished with seven points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in a 45-43 survival of St. Michael. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>T.J. Callahan — 6-0 G — Episcopal (Baton Rouge) (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights are heading back to the state tournament after a one-year absence with their senior guard — most recently with Friday's 17-point, 10-rebound, 6-assist effort — among the highlights in the No. 13 seed's run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Da'Shawn Ceaser — 5-8 G — Iowa (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of a pair of Yellow Jackets seniors with high-scoring nights Friday, Ceaser poured in 29 in an 80-55 roll past Franklin Parish back to a second straight state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275304' first='Cooper' last='Coates'] — 6-6 F — University Lab (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Cubs' seniors remaining from its most recent previous state tournament run provided 18 points and seven rebounds to help the team punch its return ticket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560388' first='Christian' last='Creppel'] — 6-5 F — Archbishop Shaw (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior captain provided nine points and eight rebounds to help lead his Eagles back to a second straight state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218216' first='Jayce' last='Depron'] — 6-5 G — Madison Prep (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depron led a balanced Chargers effort with 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in a 66-57 defeat of Archbishop Hannan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kylan Edwards — 6-0 G — Pineville (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels are heading back to the state tournament for the first time since 1990 after a 46-45 defeat of Edna Karr highlighted by the senior wing's 16 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105536' first='Jeremiah' last='Evans'] — 6-10 F/C — Southwood (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Louisiana (Lafayette) signee scored just seven points Friday, but the last three came on arguably the state's highlight of the night with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the 40-39 defeat of in-town rival Captain Shreve. The Cowboys' big man also helped anchor a defensive effort that held the Gators to their second-lowest output of the season with no players reaching double-figures.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Desamonte Gradney — 6-2 G — Iowa (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gradney scored a game-high 32 points in his Yellow JAckets' 80-55 defeat of Franklin Parish to head back to the state tournament as the top seed in Division-II Non-Select action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1480391' first='Allen' last='Graves'] — 6-9 F — Ponchatoula (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Santa Clara signee continued his recent tear with another 37 points and four 3-pointers to rout district rival Slidell, 95-64. The Green Wave have now won seven straight games by at least 20 points, dating back to January, and Graves has scored 35 or more points in both playoff wins thus far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1386535' first='Chad' last='Jones'] — 6-8 F — St. Thomas More (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior forward led his Cougars with 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists in a 59-50 defeat of Alexandria — despite battling foul trouble — to send the program back to a ninth straight state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105540' first='Todd' last='Jones'] — 6-8 F — Isidore Newman (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isidore Newman's star senior forward led its quarterfinal charge with 14 points in 46-25 defeat of Country Day, accounting for more than 30% of his team's scoring and more than half the Cajuns' total.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394530' first='Daijon' last='Leatherman'] — 6-8 F/C — G.W. Carver (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior big man played huge in his Rams' 54-37 defeat of Lafayette Christian with 18 points and 17 rebounds to help punch another state tournament ticket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1434766' first='Jeremiah' last='Lewis'] — 6-3 G — Ponchatoula (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Graves' prolific scoring has not been alone in the Green Wave's run, with Lewis adding the game's second-highest total this time around at 19 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892405' first='Xavier' last='Meyers'] — 6-2 G — Archbishop Shaw (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles' senior guard led his team's tight quarterfinal victory with 16 points to head back to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105548' first='Michael' last='Mouton'] — 6-5 G — St. Thomas More (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior guard filled up the stat sheet right alongside his aforementioned teammate, adding 17 points, five points, three assists and three steals to their Cougars' quarterfinal efforts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1362436' first='Treylan' last='Neal'] — 6-1 G — Carroll (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neal hit a pair of early 3-pointers and scored 10 points in his Bulldogs' hot start en route to a 53-43 defeat of 2023 champion and consistent postseason foe Bossier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218738' first='Jovanni' last='Perez'] — 6-0 G — Crescent City (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perez scored 26 to help lead his Pioneers back to their first state tournament since 2021 with a 73-45 rout of St. Frederick in Division-IV Select.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1408867' first='Jaylen' last='Peters'] — 6-5 F — Liberty Magnet (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior forward helped lift his Patriots past perennial power and district rival Scotlandville — completing a three-game sweep this season — and back to the state tournament with his 17 points and 11 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->