Few girls basketball programs in Louisiana have the playoff tradition that Natchitoches Central has earned over the years.
Tonight at 6, the NCHS Lady Chiefs begin another state playoff journey when they host New Iberia in a 6 p.m. first-round LHSAA playoff game.
NCHS is the sixth seed with a 27-4 record. NISH visits as the No. 27 seed in the Division I Non-Select bracket.
Wednesday afternoon in New Orleans, a determined, underdog St. Mary’s squad nearly pulled a major upset in the first round of the Division IV Select tournament, but the Lady Tigers fell in overtime.
The No. 24 seeded visitors stayed close to their ninth-seeded hosts and forced overtime, but were one shot short in a 51-49 defeat to Louise McGehee of New Orleans. Ava Hebert scored 29 for SMHS (7-23), which overcame losing its first nine games and with only six players was one possession of toppling a strong Lady Hawks (11-7) team.
In Division IV Non-Select, the always powerful Lakeview Lady Gators are the No. 1 seed and earned a first-round bye. They will play at home Monday night in a bi-district (second round) contest, trying to make it back to Marsh Madness in Lake Charles once again.
