Hamilton Christian Tournament: First Round Predictions
Taking place at Hamilton Christian this weekend is one of the major tournaments in the state of Louisiana. The tournament field is going to feature 11 teams Prep Hoops Louisiana has predicted to advance to the Top 28 this season.…
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Continue ReadingTaking place at Hamilton Christian this weekend is one of the major tournaments in the state of Louisiana. The tournament field is going to feature 11 teams Prep Hoops Louisiana has predicted to advance to the Top 28 this season. A single win in this tournament is going to be tough, and could end up having huge power-point implications come playoff time. The winner of this whole thing is going to be on a direct path that ends in a state championship.
With 16 teams total, we will be splitting up the first round from the rest of the tournament to get an in depth look at each game.
*Predicted winner in bold*
First Round
Scotlandville vs. Fair Park
After a successful season for Fair Park last year, which ended in the quarterfinals, I had high hopes for Fair Park heading into this season, and there hasn’t been much disappointment so far boasting a 5-2 record. The only problem is that all those wins have come against weaker opponents, and they don’t have a statement win yet. Expect that trend to continue against an extrememty talented Scotlandville team. Scottlandville gets the win, and don’t be surprised if Javonte Smart has another triple double. However, don’t be surprised for Fair Park to get their first statement win in the consolation bracket against either Carrol or LCA
Carrol vs. Lafayette Christian Academy
Last season, Lafayette Christian was one of the highest scoring teams in the nation at over 81 ppg. Most of the games that the Knights won last season were won on the offensive side, which worked all the way to the Top 28, until being cut down by an extremely aggressive defense in Arcadia. Carrol could end up being the same way, with a tough defense anchored by Northwestern St. commit Larry Owens. However, I think LCA’s fire-power on offense, featuring Galen Alexander, Greg Williams, Caleb Starks, and Terrence Jones, is going to end up being too much for the Bulldogs.
Hamilton Christian vs. Richwood
As tournament hosts, Hamilton Christian is afforded certain advantages. One of these advantages include the ability to schedule their first round game against the only team in the tournament that finished last season with a losing record. Don’t be too impressed with Richwood’s 4-0 start, as they have yet to play anyone with the talent that Hamilton Christian boasts, including a pair of 2017 guards in Camren Hare and Kenan Fontenot.
Landry-Walker vs. Grambling
This is one of the few games in the first round that make me pause. I think that by Christmas time, Landry-Walker is going would be a pretty comfortable favorite taking on Grambling on a neutral court. However Landry-Walker will still be without their three best players, in UNO commit Lamont Berzat, Devonta Jason, and Keytaon Thompson (Miss. St. football commit) who will all still be participating in football as Landry-Walker is still alive in the semi-finals of 5A. Landry-Walker will have their hands full attempting to guard the one-two punch of Tylan Dean and Kaedrick Williams for Grambling. So if there is ever a time for Grambling to pick up an incredibly impressive win over a very tough 5A team, this is it.
Madison Prep vs. Derrider
Derrider has started out the season 6-1, including three wins over 5A teams. However, they simply don’t have the talent to take down the juggernaut that is Madison Prep. Look for Derrider to keep it close, if only because this is Madison Prep’s first game of the season, but by the second half I expect Madison Prep to pull away handily.
Lagrange vs. Ouachita
Ouachita Parish has the ability to win a lot of games this year, due to two major factors. 1) few teams will have the size to match up with the frontcourt that they trot out. 2) They will almost always have the best player in the game, in Jay Head. Both of those could be negated in this matchup against Lagrange. Lagrange has the ability to start a front court duo both at 6’6, and if J’son Brooks continues to build off an impressive summer, Lagrange can pull off the upset. This game is going to be closer than most people expect.
Washington Marion vs. St. Martinville
This will be part one of what could end up being a three part series, as St. Martinville travels to Washington Marion on the 20th of December, as well as a potential playoff matchup. Both of these teams have the potential to go deep into the 4A playoffs, however I think the advantage goes to Washington Marion. St. Martinville might end up having the best player in the game, in 2017 F Tyquan Marshall, however I don’t think he will be able to do enough to overcome the 2017 duo of Christian Edwards and Davantre Vitor.
Wossman vs. Peabody
Boy, you know a tournament is tough when the first round features a repeat of last year’s 3A Top 28 game, which ended in a half-court buzzerbeater for Wossman’s Casey Jones to send them to the state finals. I expect Peabody to have spent all off-season thinking about that shot and that game, and used it as motivation to push themselves harder. As you could see by last season’s game, this matchup is a tossup, but I expect an especially big game out of recent UL commit Cedric Russell, and for Peabody to avenge a heartbreaking loss to end the season.