LHSAA First Round Predictions: 3A
1) Madison Prep vs. 32) West Feliciana
I’m sure this hasn’t been the picture perfect season that Madison Prep was expecting. Coming into the season, by all accounts this might have been the most talented Madison Prep team that Coach Jeff Jones has had, with 3 D1 seniors graduating this year. However. Josh LeBlanc got hurt, which lead to other players having to step up. Now that he is back, I don’t see them losing the rest of the way.
PHLA Pick: Madison Prep
16) Northwest vs. 17) Green Oaks
This is going to be a matchup between two of the hottest teams in 3A. Northwest is coming into this game riding a 10 game winning streak, and Green Oak’s streak sits at 9 games. I think this is going to be a very close game, so I’m going to go with the team with the home court advantage.
PHLA Pick: Northwest
9) Washington-Marion vs. 24) Marksville
Washington Marion is coming off the best season in school history, and only the school’s second title in their illustrious history. They rely heavily on a pair of seniors in Jaylin Walker and Michael Thomas, and I don’t see those two letting they senior year come to an end in the first round
PHLA Pick: Washingotn Marion
8) Brusly vs. 25) Bolton
Brusly comes into this game going only .500 over their last 6 games, but I think that might be a good thing. They play in what is by far the toughest district in 3A, and I think that their schedule has given them the toughness to prepare for the playoffs. They are battle tested.
PHLA Pick: Brusly
5) Carroll vs. 28) Kipp Renaissance
I will be honest, I was expecting a bit of a step back for Carrol this season. They lost a foundational centerpiece in 6’8 Larry Owens who is now playing for Northwestern St. However, the Bulldogs have kept this thing rolling and are now sitting on a 5 seed in the playoffs. I don’t see KIPP Renaissance being able to stop them
PHLA Pick: Carroll
12) Patterson vs. 21) Glen Oaks
Despite winding up as a 12 seed, Patterson has a resume much more fitting of a top 5 seen in 3A. They only have 5 losses on the year, and have battled in a very tough district. Their achilles heel is their lack of size, but Glen Oaks really doesn’t have the size to be able to beat Patterson up on the glass or in the paint.
PHLA Pick: Patterson
13) Baker vs. 20) North Vermilion
Overall, this has been a pretty disappointing season for Baker. Coming into the year, I was expecting them to be a real contender for the state title in 3A. They have a pair of 6’8’s in the middle of the floor, and a really good guard to go along with it. However, they have never really gotten things to click. I think this will be a perfectly disappointing ending for a perfectly disappointing season.
PHLA Pick: North Vermilion
4) Wossman vs. 29) Port Barre
Much like Carroll, I was expecting a bit of a drop of from last season for Wossman. They also lost a foundational centerpiece in Casey Jones Jr. to Northwestern St. and he was even more of an extension of a coach on the floor. However, Wossman was more set up to compete this year, and Darrell Comanche has really stepped up this season.
PHLA Pick: Wossman
3) Sophie B. Wright vs. 30) Iota
When it comes to the 3A title, Sophie B. Wright might be the best team to pull off a shocking upset and come away with the championship. They have length and athleticism to swallow teams whole on the defensive side of the ball, and the skill to score almost every time down at the other end. They are a threat this year, but will be the favorite next year as they return their three best players.
PHLA Pick: Sophie B. Wright
14) Jena vs. 19) Donaldsonville
This is going to be an interesting matchup, especially for 3A, simply because both of these team are going to be able to throw out 6’8 centers to be able to rebound and protect the rim. I think the difference is that Jena is also able to throw out 6’6 and 6’5 in their front court, and I don’t think Donaldsonville is going to be able to match that.
PHLA Pick: Jena
11) Crowley vs. 22) Jennings
Crowley has been able to put together one of their best season’s in recent memory, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon with Braeden Board being around. He is a 6’5 3/4 tweener that can really score from the outside, and also has a variety of post moves. When he is being aggressive, he is a matchup nightmare, and I just don’t see Jennings having anyone that is capable of shutting him down.
PHLA Pick: Crowley
6) Union Parish vs. 27) Abbeville
Union Parish might be set up as well as anyone to make a run to the final four. They have been playing very well since a loss to Wossman that seems to have really turned the season around for them. They have both the size and the guard play that is necessary to win at the highest level. Abbeville had the potential but because of injuries and discipline problems this year, things have never clicked for them.
PHLA Pick: Union Parish
7) Richwood vs. 26) South Beauregard
Richwood is boiling hot coming into these playoffs, winning their last 6 straight including 3 wins over teams that are in the 3A playoffs. I think they will be adding #4 to that list after tonight.
PHLA Pick: Richwood
10) Lake Charles College Prep vs. 23) Avoyelles
This is going to be the first time that LCCP is playing in the 3A playoffs, as they are coming up from competing in 1A a season ago. They were able to get a first round win before going down to Lincoln Prep. One of the biggest reasons they got that win was because of then freshman 6’4 G Caleb Robinson was able to lead them there, I expect so see much of the same for LCCP again this season.
PHLA Pick: Lake Charles College Prep
15) Mamou vs. 18) Madison
This game is really going to be a coin flip. Both of these teams rely heavily on their seniors to make a big impact. Mamou has had a better year this year than I was expecting after losing a very talented 6’5 and 6’8 combo, but I think that the defense and athleticism of Madison is going to be too much for Mamou to be able to handle down the stretch. I’ll take Madison in a close one.
PHLA Pick: Madison
2) Peabody vs. 31) Sterlington
For Peabody, I don’t see anyone being able to compete with them until the quarterfinals at the earliest. They just have too much size in their frontcourt and firepower in their backcourt. I’ll take Peabody in a blowout.
PHLA Pick: Peabody