St. Mary’s Lady Tigers posted their first road playoff victory in five seasons with a convincing upset in Morgan City as the LHSAA girls basketball playoffs began Thursday night, while the Natchitoches Central Lady Chiefs rallied in the closing minutes to deny Airline’s comeback and the season ended for Lakeview’s Lady Gators.
The 21st-seeded St. Mary’s team got 33 points from Ava Hebert as the Lady Tigers surprised No. 12 Central Catholic 48-35, pulling away from a tight game after halftime. SMHS (9-16) will play a second-round Select Division IV game Monday night in Eunice against fifth-seeded St. Edmunds.
NCHS played District 1-5A foe Airline for the second time in six nights and the visiting Lady Vikings threw a scare into the Lady Chiefs. Airline trailed by as much as 13 but started a comeback late in the third quarter and ran off 10 unanswered points to jump ahead 49-45 with 2:30 left to play.
But Natchitoches Central cranked up its pressure defense and rebounded aggressively, creating turnovers and converting at the free throw line. The Lady Chiefs took the lead 50-49 with just under a minute left, added a couple of late free throws by Sahniya Washington and survived Airline’s try for a tying 3-pointer just before the final buzzer.
Jordan McDaniel led the winners with 16 points. Jakaila Ware scored 14 and Annalise Newton added 10.
NCHS (20-8), the ninth seed, goes to No. 8 Destrehan Monday night in a second-round Non-Select Division I game. The Lady Chiefs are aiming for a fifth trip to Marsh Madness under 12th-year coach Nikki Jones.
Lakeview (8-19) was beaten by fifth-seeded East Feliciana Thursday night, losing for the first time in six games. The Lady Gators charged down the stretch to qualify for the Non-Select Division IV postseason as the 28th and final seed in the bracket.
