RESERVE — The East St. John girls basketball team has had quite a season.

Heading into the final stretch this week with only one game remaining, the Lady Wildcats were 17-8 overall and 9-2 in District 7-5A play. Only a pair of losses to Destrehan marred the team’s district record, and that had the Wildcats with a firm grip on second place.

So it’s hard to believe the LadyCats are not assured of a trip to the playoffs.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association will release the 2016 girls playoff brackets on Monday. As of this week, Riverside, St. Charles Catholic and West St. John are virtually assured spots in the 32-team brackets. East St. John is not.

The Lady Wildcats were at No. 35 in the unofficial LHSAA power rankings, a numerical system determined by a team’s won-loss record and strength of schedule. Only the top 32 teams in each classification make the playoffs. As of Wednesday, East St. John would be out.

But, surprisingly, Wildcats coach Stasha Thomas-James wasn’t worried about the rankings, which come out once a week and did not include her team’s last two victories against Thibodaux and Hahnville.

“We were at 40 last week,” Thomas-James said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll move up a few spots next week. There are some teams ahead of us that could lose this week, too. We should make it. We’ll probably make it right at 32, but we’ll make it.”

It is hard for Thomas-James to have to rely on the losses of other teams, but she said her team’s standing has a lot to do with the schedule the Wildcats played — a slate set by her predecessor.

East St. John played and beat McDonogh 35 four times in pre-district. The Roneagles had a 10-18 record as of last week. In addition, of the seven teams in District 7-5A, only three have winning records.

“I know it’s because our schedule wasn’t that strong,” Thomas-James said. “It’s just hard because we’ve been playing so well.”

The remaining three St. John the Baptist Parish teams should make the Class 2A bracket with little trouble. Three of the four teams played Friday night after press time, but the outcomes should have little impact on the team’s power rankings.

West St. John is the District 12-2A champion and, as of last week, was No. 7 in the power rankings. The Lady Rams were 17-7, 7-0 after defeating St. Charles Catholic 59-35 on Monday.

Riverside was No. 11 in the power rankings and was 14-11, 3-4 in district play.

The Lady Rebels lost Monday to Country Day, 38-27.

The Comets were No. 27 in the power rankings this week and finished with a record of 16-12, 3-5.