Close district races abound in basketball
With less than two weeks remaining in the high school basketball regular season, plenty of possibilities remain.
Just ask fourth-ranked Episcopal and The Dunham School, ranked No. 5 before their District 7-2A showdown Friday. The same is true for No. 7 Istrouma, Tara and Belaire in District 6-4A.
And for good measure, don’t forget about second-ranked Christian Life Academy and No. 4 Southern Lab of 7-1A.
Two Class 5A teams, top-ranked Scotlandville (28-2, 7-0) and No. 5 East Ascension (23-6, 7-0), are in the driver’s seat in their respective districts.
Scotlandville created a degree of separation in District 4-5A with its 44-39 win over No. 9 Zachary (20-8, 5-2) last week. East Ascension, winner of 12 straight, has a two-game lead over McKinley (15-11, 5-2) in 5-5A.
How several of the other leagues finish depend on what happens during the next nine days.
Istrouma (21-6, 8-2) is one of three teams with two losses in District 6-4A. The Indians host Tara (17-9, 7-2). (Belaire 14-12, 7-2) takes on Plaquemine (22-7, 6-3) and Tara to close out its district season.
In District 6-3A, fourth-ranked Glen Oaks (19-8, 4-2) has lost two straight and leads Parkview Baptist (14-12, 3-2) and West Feliciana (15-9, 3-2) by a half game. The Panthers take Tuesday off and then play East Feliciana and PBS to end the season.
There have been no nights off in District 7-3A, a league in which virtually every game has been decided by five points or less. Brusly (20-7, 7-1) leads the league and travels to Donaldsonville (15-10, 5-3) before hosting rival Port Allen (20-7, 6-2) hoping to avenge its only league loss to date. E.D. White Catholic (16-7, 4-4) is also in the mix.
And then there’s 7-2A. Dunham (23-6, 10-1) is now in first after ousting Episcopal (24-6, 9-2) on Friday. The Tigers host the league’s No. 3 team. Redemptorist (14-11, 8-3) on Tuesday. Episcopal meets rival University (14-12, 7-4) on Friday.
That game shouldn’t take away from the other Tuesday showdown in 7-1A where Christian Life (19-5, 7-0) hosts No. 4 SLHS (18-10, 6-1).
District 9-1A , East Iberville (13-10, 6-1) hosts third-ranked White Castle (20-7, 8-0) on Friday. Fifth-ranked Pointe Coupee Central (22-6, 12-0) faces No. 7 North Central (20-6, 11-1) also on Friday in 6-1A.
There’s also a key game in District 8-B Tuesday with Madison Prep (28-6, 5-0) hosting Centerville (15-12, 5-1) at Sports Academy. In 8-C, Family Christian (22-10, 8-0) holds a two-and-half game lead.
The major matchups are not limited to boys basketball, either.
On Tuesday, third-ranked Walker (25-3, 7-0) hosts No. 6 Zachary (20-6, 6-1) in District 4-5A action.
Third-ranked St. Michael the Archangel (21-7, 9-0) has clinched at least a share of the District 6-4A title. In District 6-3A, fourth-ranked Baker (20-7, 4-0) has wrapped up the title, while top-ranked St. James (22-5, 8-0) has a two-game lead on Donaldsonville (11-9, 6-2).
In the District 7-2A girls race, fourth-ranked University (25-3, 10-1) beat No. 6 Capitol (19-7, 8-3)on Friday. The Cubs face No. 7 Episcopal (23-6, 9-2) this Friday.
Also notable: Ninth-ranked Southern Lab (15-5, 6-0) has wrapped up the 7-1A title. East Iberville (15-11, 6-2) sits in second place in 9-1A. Hosanna (21-6, 5-0) leads District 8-B.
It seems like every basketball season has its own make or break time. For Baton Rouge teams hoping to make their way toward the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s first combined boys-girls Top 28 tournament set for March 8-10 in Ruston, that time is now.