DHS Lady Wildcats set to play for chance at state title Thursday

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

As the state finals for high school basketball nears, the River Parishes still have seven different teams with a chance to bring home a title.

Through playoff action this week, Lutcher was the only team not to advance in local schools, leaving ESJ, WSJ, SCC, HHS, St. James, Reserve Christian and Destrehan’s Lady Wildcats still in contention.

Of those seven teams, three are scheduled to play host in games this week, though specific game times have not been set. St. Charles, St. James and Reserve Christian are all set to play at home this week for the regionals round. SCC will see district rival Donaldsonville, who tied with the Comets for the 10-2A title this season. Donaldsonville beat St. Helena in the first round to advance while St. Charles is riding their wild card seed and a 20-10 record.

Reserve Christian was scheduled to play Jehovah-Jirah Monday night, but due to publication deadlines, that final was unavailable at press time. St. James will face up against Rapides in their home match, against a Mustang team that narrowly defeated wild card Vidalia last Friday.

For DHS, the Lady Wildcats have made it the farthest of any local team as of yet, qualifying for the Sweet 16 Tournament at Southeastern Louisiana University this week. The Destrehan squad is scheduled to play Southwood this Thursday in the semi-finals for a chance at the championship game set for Saturday night.

West St. John is looking to avenge a loss in the state championships last year, as they work thier way through the brackets this week against Desire Street in an away game. Hahnville and East St. John are also schedule to play away, taking on Ellender and H.L. Bourgeois respectively. If both the Tigers and the Wildcats win, they will meet in the qurterfinals, the final round before the Top 28 tournament which is scheduled for March 6-11 in the Lafayette CajunDome with the championship set for next Saturday.