MICHAEL KIRAL

FRANKLINTON – Defending Class 2A state champion West St. John pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the Class 2A bi-district playoffs, upending fourth-ranked Pine, 74-72, Friday night.
The Rams (17-9) host Jackson, an 88-82 winner over Redeemer-Seton Friday, in the regional playoffs Friday at 7 p.m.
Pine, the District 8-2A champions, finished at 25-5.

Riverside 43, North Vermilion 37

MAURICE – The 2000-2001 season is turning into a one of firsts for both the Riverside basketball program and in the White family.
John White’s boys’ basketball team won its first ever playoff game in the LHSAA with a 43-37 victory at 13th-ranked North Vermilion Friday night in the Class 2A bi-district playoffs.
Earlier this month, Matt White’s girls’ team had won its first playoff game against Jewel Sumner.
Riverside (17-14) will host its first home playoff game Friday at 7 p.m. against seventh-ranked Christian Life in the regional playoffs. Christian Life defeated Livonia, 64-56, Friday.
North Vermilion finished its season at 21-13.
Riverside tied the game at 25 in the third quarter, then hit four of its six shots and its free throws down the stretch.
Michael Schoen led the way with 13 points. Craig Tearney added another 10. Damian Melancon had eight points and Tim Brignac and Scottey Manson six apiece.

St. James 76, St. Bernard 68

ST. JAMES – St. James overcame a “Major” hurdle in the Class 3A bi-district playoffs Friday night.
The defending Class 3A state champion Wildcats overcame 34 points by St. Bernard’s Drionne Major to take the rematch of last year’s state title game, 76-68.
Seventh-ranked St. James (17-6) advances to play at Redemptorist in the regionals Friday at 7 p.m. Redemptorist defeated Independence, 67-52, Friday.
St. Bernard finished at 18-13.
The game was tied at 50 at the end of the third quarter before St. James broke loose on a 9-0 run to start the final period.
St. James again got balanced scoring with five players in double figures. Derrick Jones led the Wildcats with 19 points. Henry Washington added 18 and LeVar Joseph 13. Justin Aubert contributed 11 points and Stevenson Jones 10.

Lutcher 79, Pointe Coupee Central 70

MORGANZA – Lutcher had five players in double figures as the Bulldogs came away with a 79-70 victory at Pointe Coupee Central Friday night in the Class 3A bi-district playoffs.
The victory was the Bulldogs’ first in a playoff game since 1988. Lutcher (23-12) will now host eighth-ranked Westgate, a 68-62 winner over Benton in overtime Friday in the regionals this week.
Pointe Coupee Central finished at 18-12.
Jeremy Foreman led Lutcher with 20 points. Donnie Francois tossed in another 17. Courtney Long added 15 and Kayne Matherne and Reggie Scott 11 apiece.
Craig Collins had a game-high 24 points for Pointe Coupee Central. Keith Guidry added 13 and Kyle Derozan 11.
Lutcher led 37-30 at halftime before Pointe Coupee Central came back to cut the deficit to 55-53 going into the fourth quarter.

Landry 78, St. Charles Catholic 64

NEW ORLEANS – Landry used a 16-4 second quarter run to pull away to a 78-64 victory over St. Charles Catholic in the Class 3A bi-district playoffs Friday night.
Landry, ranked 11th in the state with a 20-7 record, advances to play Kaplan in the regionals this week.
Kaplan defeated Avoyelles, 61-50, Friday night.
St. Charles Catholic completed its season at 24-12.
St. Charles Catholic had led 22-20 at the end of the first quarter before the Landry run. After Landry took a 36-26 halftime lead, the Comets pulled to within 48-41 at the end of the third quarter.
Gregory Ravy led Landry with 19 points. St. Charles Catholic was led by Daress Nicholas with 25 points.
Mike Mustian tossed in another 12.

Higgins 52, Hahnville 50

BOUTTE – Jason Williams scored a game-high 16 points to lead Higgins to a 52-50 victory at Hahnville Friday night in the Class 5A bi-district playoffs.
Higgins (19-12) advances to play second-ranked Kennedy in the regionals this week. Kennedy defeated Rummel, 59-50, Friday.
Hahnville, the District 7-5A champions, finished at 27-7.
Ryan Alexander added 13 points for Higgins as the Hurricanes rallied from deficits of 29-19 at haftime and 41-36 at the end of the third quarter. Williams scored with 27 seconds left to give Higgins the lead to stay.
Nick Cannon led Hahnville with 14 points. Dawan Landry added 10 points and Harold Comminie nine.

John Ehret 74, Destrehan 49

MARRERO – Kerwin Forges ruined Destrehan head coach Joe Schick’s return to John Ehret with 20 points, leading the Patriots to a 74-49 victory in the Class 5A bi-district playoffs Friday night.
Ehret, the fourth-ranked team in the state with a 31-3 record, advances to the regionals to play Glen Oaks this week. Glen Oaks eliminated Thibodaux, 58-40, Friday.
Destrehan, which finished third in District 7-5A, ended its season at 19-14 after finishing 9-19 last year.
Ehret jumped out to a 16-9 first quarter lead and led 36-22 at the half.
Derek Burditt added 16 points for the Patriots.
Destrehan was led by Lionel Turner with 17 points. Jaszmine Eugene and Travis Wilright had nine points apiece.