season against Winnfield. He broke a rim with a dunk in the Gators’ quarterfinal victory at home Friday night. The Gators play tonight in the state semifinals. (Journal photo by KEVIN SHANNAHAN)
Lakeview’s Gators and the Natchitoches Central Chiefs are headed to Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles for
the 2024 LHSAA boys basketball Marsh Madness state tournament.
The Gators, the No. 1 seed in Non-Select Division IV, play at 8 p.m. tonight against No. 4 Pickering. The winner reaches Friday’s state championship game, meeting the survivor of No. 2 Ringgold or sixth-seeded Franklin who collide in a 4:30 contest today.
The Chiefs (28-7), seeded fifth in Non-Select Division I, have a Thursday 6:15 p.m. contest against old rival Ruston, the eighth seed. The victor goes into Saturday’s 8 p.m. state final against either No. 3 New Iberia or second-seeded Ponchatoula.
It will be the seventh state semifinal game in 12 seasons for NCHS, which took a quick lead and controlled the action Friday night in a 72-58 quarterfinal win at Denham Springs.
Natchitoches Parish nearly had all three of its boys teams in Lake Charles. St. Mary’s dropped a nailbiter Friday night at home to Lincoln Prep, falling 40-38 in the state quarterfinals.
Lakeview (26-6) has beaten Ferriday (78-72) and Welsh (63-52) to reach Marsh Madness. Coach Brian Williams’ Gators have a balanced offense with four double-digit scorers and a starting five with four seniors.
Pickering is 24-9. It’s the fourth state semifinal appearance for Lakeview in the past five seasons.
LHSAA boys basketball Marsh Madness
Burton Coliseum
Lake Charles
TODAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
NS Div. III – (7) Richwood (21-13) vs. (6) Marksville (20-16), 1 p.m.
Sel. Div. III – (13) Episcopal (22-15) vs. (1) Newman (18-3), 2:45 p.m.
NS Div. IV – (6) Franklin (22-7) vs. (2) Ringgold (25-9), 4:30 p.m.
NS Div. III – (13) Red River (22-14) vs. (8) Donaldsonville (19-10), 6:15 p.m.
NS Div. IV – (4) Pickering (24-9) vs. (1) Lakeview (26-6), 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
Sel. Div. IV – (5) Lincoln Prep (19-8) at (1) Crescent City (23-5), 1 p.m.
Sel. Div. I – (6) Southwood (25-8) vs. (2) Liberty (30-4), 2:45 p.m.
Sel. Div. I – (4) Pineville (24-4) vs. (1) St. Thomas More (28-1), 4:30 p.m.
NS Div. II – (3) Carroll (27-8) vs. (2) Wossman (32-4), 6:15 p.m.
NS Div. II – (4) Brusly (28-1) vs. (1) Iowa (28-4), 8 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
Sel. Div. II – (4) Shaw (25-2) vs. (1) Madison Prep (25-2), 1 p.m.
Sel. Div. II – (3) Carver (22-6) vs. (2) Peabody (26-5), 2:45 p.m.
Sel. Div. IV – (6) Hamilton Christian (16-9) vs. (2) St. Martin’s Episcopal (24-6), 4:30 p.m.
NS Div. I – (8) Ruston (22-9) vs. (5) Natchitoches Central (28-7), 6:15 p.m.
NS Div. I – (3) New Iberia (28-5) vs. (2) Ponchatoula (28-4), 8 p.m.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Finals
Sel. Div. V – noon
Sel. Div. III – 2 p.m.
NS Div. IV – 4 p.m. (Lakeview can reach the state final)
NS Div. V – 6 p.m.
NS Div. II – 8 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Finals
NS Div. III – Noon
Sel. Div. IV – 2 p.m.
Sel. Div. II – 4 p.m.
Sel. Div. I – 6 p.m.
NS Div. I – 8 p.m. (NCHS can reach the final)
