Important Players to Watch: LHSAA Semis Day 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day one of the LHSAA Top 28, aka Marsh Madness, is about to tip. This is the best week of the year as various teams play to crown champions in 10 Louisiana classifications. Day one will begin with games from Select Division V, Non-Select Division IV, and Select Division III. We will look at the players who should be highly important in their team pulling off a victory on day one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rapides vs Ayovelles Charter </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2382783' first='Christopher' last='Newton']</strong> - Newton will have to have a big game like he did in the quarterfinals. He will need almost a triple double with a high number of assist to give the Mustangs the best chance to win. In his senior swan song, Newton might be able to do it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560448' first='Jalen' last='Brown'] -</strong> Brown is the best point guard in this Division and one of the best in the state. He has more firepower on his team and in this game he will need to be more of a traditional point than the leading scorer as he has been all season. If his teammates get going early, it will be because he put them in the right position to score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Episcopal of Acadiana vs JS Clark Leadership</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semar Flugence</strong> - Flugence is a guard that can do everything on the floor. He can lead your offense in the half court or the break or he can play off the ball. He is tall and athletic as well which means he can make the small JS Clark guards pay in the paint or shoot over them. Semar will have to do both in a probable high-paced game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132731' first='Caden' last='Arvie']</strong> - The freshman will be part of a high pressure defense that capitalizes on mistakes habitually. When they get the turnovers, Arvie is one who can stretch the floor and get to the rim. If he gets a chance to do both in this game, he will help his team advance to the title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>University Lab vs Dunham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408458' first='Trushaad' last='Bush'] - </strong>Bush is one a dynamic scorer who has the green light inside and out. He has a height and speed advantage over most of the guards that will cover him for Dunham. If he is dialed in from downtown, he will be a hard guard for Dunham to contain. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1455376' first='Mason' last='Lavergne']</strong> - Lavergne will need to be a threat from the perimeter to keep University honest in their defending. When I mean a threat from the perimeter, that also means finding other shooters or cutters within the half court. If he is able to knock down shots and break down the defense to find others, he will help his team be successful. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gibsland-Coleman vs Anacoco</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680588' first='De'avery' last='Durham'] -</strong> Durham is the best guard in Class C. In this game, he is going to have to be at the top of his game. The Anacoco defense will test his ability to get open shots for others and they will contest his outside attempts. Durham will need to display the true patience of a point guard to help his team be successful. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218221' first='Dustin' last='Welch'] -</strong> Welch is an inside and outside force for the Indians on there way to Marsh Madness. He will have a size advantage in either weight or height against anyone who guards him, so he might be best served in the post in this one. With his ability to score inside and out, he will be a matchup nightmare for Gibsland-Coleman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Negreet vs Zwolle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132640' first='Johnathan' last='Holmes'] - </strong>Negreet has lost their previous two meetings to Zwolle. To win the third one, Holmes must dominate in the paint. His 18 and 7 will have to be a double-double of 25 and 15 to keep Zwolle in a slower paced game. Having a game like that will definitely give Negreet a better chance to win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1347266' first='Preston' last='Sanders'] - </strong>Sanders is one of the most explosive players in Louisiana. When he is in transition, get ready for a show. Besides, being dynamic in transition, he can defend the perimeter at a high level. If he is able to turn defense into offense through transition opportunities, it could be a long night for Negreet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will preview day two and look at the key players during the second day of Marsh Madness in Louisiana. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->