The girls basketball playoffs begin today with several local teams fighting to advance to the LHSAA state championships to be held Feb.25 to March 2 at Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria.
In Division IV, No. 16 St. Edmund (10-17) will emtertain rival No. 17 Sacred Heart of Ville Platte (8-16) at 6 p.m. today at Lady Jay gym.
Last season, the Lady Jays cruised to a 55-21 win over St. Frederick in the bi-district before falling to No. 2 Houma Christian (74-40).
In Class 3-A, No. 17 Eunice (16-11) will travel to No. 16 Westlake (16-9) for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off today.
Eunice finished third in District 5-3A behind Northwest and Iota.
The Lady Cats grabbed a first round win over Avoyelles (61-48) last season before falling to district rival Northwest (60-43).
No. 4 Northwest (23-9) will entertain No. 29 Sophie-Wright (18-13) to open the playoffs, while No 8 Iota (21-12) will host district rival No. 25 Crowley (14-13).
No. 15 Pine Prairie (20-11) will entertain No. 18 Richwood (16-13).
In Class 2-A, No. 25 Ville Platte (11-14) visits No. 8 Rayville (21-12).
In Class 1-A, No. 21 Basile (16-15) will visit No. 12 Jonesboro-Hodge (19-9).
Class 5A
Bidistrict
(32) Higgins (17-15) at (1) Sam Houston (27-3)
(17) Ruston (20-12) at (16) Alexandria (22-10)
(24) Fontainebleau (21-13) at (9) Captain Shreve (26-4)
(25) Landry-Walker (21-13) at (8) Ponchatoula (25-6)
(28) New Iberia (17-7) at (5) East Ascension (21-2)
(21) Lafayette (17-10) at (12) Chalmette (24-5)
(20) St. Amant (22-8) at (13) H.L. Bourgeois (22-6)
(29) Hammond (16-15) at (4) LaGrange (26-7)
(30) West Jefferson (21-13) at (3) Ouachita (27-5)
(19) Live Oak (18-8) at (14) Thibodaux (20-9)
(22) Hahnville (20-12) at (11) Northshore (25-8)
(27) Zachary (16-16) at (6) Denham Springs (24-5)
(26) East St. John (21-9) at (7) Natchitoches Central (19-8)
(23) Pineville (15-12) at (10) West Monroe (23-8)
(18) Acadiana (20-13) at (15) Sulphur (21-9)
(31) Destrehan (17-16) at (2) Walker (29-4)
Class 4A
Bidistrict
(32) Livonia (14-20) at (1) Benton (30-3)
(17) Karr (17-13) at (16) Plaquemine (14-12)
(24) J.F. Kennedy (18-15) at (9) Salmen (21-7)
(25) Carencro (10-16) at (8) South Lafourche (21-7)
(28) Breaux Bridge (11-12) at (5) Ellender (20-10)
(21) Woodlawn-Shreve (15-17) at (12) Grant (20-4)
(20) Franklinton (17-16) at (13) Opelousas (20-7)
(29) Buckeye (14-20) at (4) South Terrebonne (23-5)
(30) Northwood-Shreve (14-19) at (3) Minden (29-3)
(19) Huntington (11-16) at (14) West Ouachita (20-11)
(22) B.T. Washington-Shreve (13-16) at (11) Helen Cox (20-8)
(27) Morgan City (12-13) at (6) DeRidder (21-12)
(26) Bossier (11-20) at (7) Neville (22-9)
(23) Leesville (12-17) at (10) Assumption (17-9)
(18) Belle Chasse (21-10) at (15) Cecilia (19-9)
(31) McDonogh 35 (12-17) at (2) Warren Easton (27-5)
Class 3A
Bidistrict
(32) Peabody (7-16) at (1) Loranger (23-2)
(17) Eunice (16-11) at (16) Westlake (16-9)
(24) Madison Parish (16-13) at (9) North Vermilion (18-6)
(25) Crowley (14-13) at (8) Iota (21-12)
(28) Wossman (9-17) at (5) South Beauregard (21-9)
(21) Union Parish (14-15) at (12) Jewel Sumner (19-9)
(20) Sterlington (17-15) at (13) Avoyelles (20-8)
(29) Sophie B. Wright (18-13) at (4) Northwest (23-9)
(30) Jennings (8-21) at (3) Albany (22-12)
(19) West Feliciana (22-12) at (14) Kaplan (21-12)
(22) Brusly (18-15) at (11) Glen Oaks (20-14)
(27) Carroll (14-18) at (6) Caldwell Parish (24-8)
(26) Green Oaks (14-15) at (7) Donaldsonville (21-7)
(23) St. James (10-16) at (10) Washington-Marion (15-15)
(18) Richwood (16-13) at (15) Pine Prairie (20-11)
(31) Bolton (13-16) at (2) Madison Prep (18-13)
Class 2A
Bidistrict
(32) Jeanerette (8-14) at (1) Doyle (27-4)
(17) Avoyelles Charter (13-13) at (16) French Settlement (11-14)
(24) Pine (15-17) at (9) Ferriday (21-5)
(25) Ville Platte (11-14) at (8) Rayville (21-12)
(28) South Plaquemines (12-17) at (5) Lake Arthur (29-2)
(21) Kinder (13-12) at (12) Mangham (24-5)
(20) Delcambre (17-11) at (13) St. Helena (18-12)
(29) Winnfield (8-17) at (4) Mansfield (26-3)
(30) Bunkie (8-16) at (3) Rapides (33-1)
(19) Independence (15-12) at (14) Port Allen (17-12)
(22) D’Arbonne Woods (16-16) at (11) East Beauregard (22-5)
(27) Rosepine (12-17) at (6) Red River (28-6)
(26) Franklin (16-14) at (7) Amite (22-6)
(23) Springfield (13-18) at (10) ML King (17-6)
(18) Livingston Collegiate (10-5) at (15) Oakdale (15-12)
(31) Vidalia (6-19) at (2) North Caddo (28-4)
Class 1A
Bidistrict
(1) East Iberville (30-4) receives a bye
(17) Gueydan (13-19) at (16) Delta Charter (14-17)
(24) Oberlin (11-18) at (9) Haynesville (18-6)
(25) Oak Grove (7-20) at (8) Logansport (17-7)
(28) Varnado (1-22) at (5) North Central (23-7)
(21) Basile (16-15) at (12) Jonesboro-Hodge (19-9)
(20) LaSalle (13-16) at (13) White Castle (14-11)
(29) Plain Dealing (4-17) at (4) Delhi (18-13)
(3) Elton (26-3) receives a bye
(19) Lincoln Prep (12-13) at (14) Merryville (17-12)
(22) Arcadia (10-14) at (11) Block (21-7)
(27) Northwood-Lena (4-18) at (6) Tensas (25-7)
(26) South Cameron (10-22) at (7) West St. John (26-7)
(23) Kentwood (7-17) at (10) Grand Lake (22-9)
(18) Montgomery (14-13) at (15) Homer (16-9)
(2) KIPP B.T. Washington (18-11) receives a bye
Class B
Bidistrict
(1) Stanley (29-5) receives a bye
(17) Quitman (15-13) at (16) Hornbeck (14-19)
(24) Kenner Discovery (6-16) at (9) Zwolle (20-12)
(25) Forest (13-15) at (8) Castor (22-10)
(28) Doyline (8-24) at (5) Hicks (30-8)
(21) Weston (13-21) at (12) Pitkin (20-18)
(20) Bell City (12-16) at (13) Midland (16-17)
(29) Simsboro (3-20) at (4) Florien (32-7)
(3) Fairview (22-10) receives a bye
(19) Elizabeth (12-20) at (14) Glenmora (15-14)
(22) Maurepas (10-16) at (11) Lacassine (19-17)
(27) Negreet (7-24) at (6) Holden (21-10)
(26) Converse (6-20) at (7) Choudrant (24-6)
(23) Mt. Hermon (9-14) at (10) Hathaway (17-12)
(18) Oak Hill (16-18) at (15) Monterey (20-8)
(2) Anacoco (36-2) receives a bye
Class C
Bidistrict
(1) Plainview (34-7) receives a bye
(17) Georgetown (9-22) at (16) Calvin (8-21)
(9) Saline (15-19) receives a bye
(8) Harrisonburg (20-11) receives a bye
(5) Singer (19-13) receives a bye
(21) Dodson (3-28) at (12) Pleasant Hill (10-19)
(20) Kilbourne (4-18) at (13) Grand Isle (8-8)
(4) Ebarb (25-10) receives a bye
(3) Summerfield (16-10) receives a bye
(19) Hackberry (6-19) at (14) Starks (9-21)
(22) Downsville (2-26) at (11) Epps (12-16)
(6) Reeves (18-14) receives a bye
(7) Gibsland-Coleman (20-13) receives a bye
(10) Johnson Bayou (16-16) receives a bye
(18) Simpson (4-28) at (15) Evans (13-22)
(2) Atlanta (31-11) receives a bye
Division I
Quarterfinals
(8) Evangel Christian (0-19) at (1) John Curtis (26-4)
(5) St. Joseph’s Academy (13-18) at (4) Chapelle (13-15)
(6) Scotlandville (8-20) at (3) Mt. Carmel (20-9)
(7) Byrd (4-25) at (2) Dominican (23-6)
Division II
Bidistrict
(1) Lee (29-2) receives a bye
(17) Hannan (9-17) at (16) St. Scholastica (12-20)
(9) Ben Franklin (17-11) receives a bye
(8) St. Thomas More (24-7) receives a bye
(5) Teurlings Catholic (24-4) receives a bye
(21) Lusher Charter (4-16) at (12) Vandebilt Catholic (14-11)
(20) St. Charles Catholic (5-19) at (13) David Thibodaux (11-14)
(4) Ursuline (20-8) receives a bye
(3) University (21-12) receives a bye
(19) E.D. White Catholic (5-23) at (14) Parkview Baptist (6-14)
(22) Sacred Heart-NO (3-24) at (11) St. Michael (15-14)
(6) Loyola (20-10) receives a bye
(7) Cabrini (19-12) receives a bye
(10) Haynes Academy (19-8) receives a bye
(18) De La Salle (6-20) at (15) Academy of Our Lady (9-16)
(2) St. Louis Catholic (27-6)
Division III
Regional
(1) St. Thomas Aquinas (17-10) receives a bye
(9) Dunham (15-16) at (8) The Church Academy (21-11)
(12) Menard (12-18) at (5) Metairie Park Country Day (15-8)
(13) Notre Dame (4-16) at (4) Episcopal (20-7)
(14) Riverside Academy (6-19) at (3) St. Katharine Drexel (19-7)
(11) Newman (14-12) at (6) McGehee (14-7)
(10) St. Mary’s Academy (10-20) at (7) Catholic-NI (17-9)
(15) Ascension Episcopal (10-13) at (2) Northlake Christian (21-4)
Division IV
Bidistrict
Lafayette Christian (29-5) receives a bye
(17) Sacred Heart-VP (8-16) at (16) St. Edmund (10-17)
(9) Highland Baptist (12-8) receives a bye
(8) Central Catholic (10-17) receives a bye
(5) Ouachita Christian (25-8) receives a bye
(21) Covenant Christian (3-19) at (12) Ascension Christian (10-7)
(20) Ascension Catholic (3-18) at (13) St. Frederick (14-13)
(4) Cedar Creek (29-2) receives a bye
(3) Vermilion Catholic (24-5) receives a bye
(19) Catholic-PC (8-17) at (14) University Academy-Cenla (12-15)
(22) Hamilton Christian (0-21) at (11) Hanson Memorial (13-12)
(6) St. Mary’s-Natchitoches (18-10) receives a bye
(7) Opelousas Catholic (17-6) receives a bye
(10) St. Martin’s Episcopal (14-10) receives a bye
(18) False River Academy (11-21) at (15) St. John (11-16)
(2) Houma Christian (24-5) receives a bye
Division V
Quarterfinals
(1) Claiborne Christian (16-16) receives a bye
(5) Grace Christian (10-20) at (4) Christ Episcopal (6-15)
(6) St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville (2-24) at (3) Family Christian (19-11)
(2) Family Community (14-10) receives a bye