LHSAA 2nd Round Predictions: 4A
1) Westgate vs. 16) Plaquemine
Plaquemine is one of the hottest teams in 4A right now, and they are riding an 8 game winning streak into this game. However, none of those 8 wins have come over any teams that are still alive in the playoffs. Westgate doesn’t have that type of winning streak, but they have a lot more wins over quality opponents. I’ll take Westgate keeping their back to back Final 4 chances alive for at least one more round.
PHLA Pick: Plaquemine
9) Morgan City vs. 8) Edna Karr
4A might be the most intriguing of any of the classifications, because there isn’t a great team, but there are a lot of really good teams.I think that any of the top 8 teams have a legitimate chance to win a state title, and if any one of those 8 teams won the title I would not be surprised. The reason that I say that is to say this. There is a big drop off in teams between the 8 seed and above and everyone 9 seed and lower. I’ll take Karr at home.
PHLA Pick: Edna Karr
5) Carencro vs. 12) Salmen
Last week, the game involving Salmen was one of only two predictions that I got wrong in 4A. I thought that Cecilia would prevent a bad matchup for Salmen and that Cecilia would be able to get it done. I was wrong. However, I think that Carencro presents a much much worse matchup for Salmen. I will take Carencro in a big win.
PHLA Pick: Carencro
13) Warren Easton vs. 4) Breaux Bridge
This is going to be an interesting matchup between two historically really good teams. This is one of the best, if not the best team that Warren Easton has had in a decade, and you can say the same thing about Breaux Bridge. Both of these teams matchup well, with size and really good guard play. I think the difference that the game is going to come down to is that Easton relies on all senior guards, and Breaux Bridge relies on younger guards. I’ll take the experience in this situation.
PHLA Pick: Warren Easton
3) Woodlawn Shreve vs. 14) Opelousas
This has been a very good first season for Coach Lorenzo Williams at Opelousas, as he has been able to lead them back to a 20 win season, something I didn’t see coming. However, I think that his first season is going to be coming to an end in the 2nd round. I don’t think that the Tigers have anyone who can matchup with Tra’Michael Moton or Jalen Brooks for Woodlawn.
PHLA Pick: Woodlawn Shreve
11) Northside vs. 6) Tioga
This is the 2nd matchup for between Tioga and Northside this season, with Tioga getting the 1 point win the first time around. It is very tough to beat a team twice in a year, especially when the first game was so close. I think this is a really bad matchup for Tioga, as Northside is able to matchup with Tioga’s guards which is their strong suit, but Tioga doesn’t have the size to matchup with Northside’s size at the wing or big. Because of this, I’ll be taking Northside with the upset.
PHLA Pick: Northside
7) DeRidder vs. 23) St. Martinville
St. Martinville was the only other game in the first round that I wasn’t able to predict, and even after seeing the score, I still can’t believe it. Let’s just say I’m still not sold on St. Martinville’s Cinderella story. They don’t have anyone with size that is capable of matching up with 6’7 Louisiana commit RJ Gladney, and I think he will be able to dominate this game.
PHLA Pick: DeRidder
18) McDonogh 35 vs. 2) Bossier
My goodness what a first round for 2019 Bossier guard Jacoby Decker. In their game against Franklington, he went for an astounding 39 points. THe next day he received his first D1 offer from an in state program in Grambling. I don’t see their road to a state championship coming to an end this soon.
PHLA Pick: Bossier