Both local teams needed big upsets in road games Thursday night to move to the state semifinals in the LHSAA girls basketball playoffs, but their opponents were just too good.
Natchitoches Central was within 19-17 at halftime playing at top-seeded, defending state champion Zachary in a Non-Select Division I quarterfinal, but the Lady Broncs took command afterward. A 20-5 run in the third quarter broke it open and NCHS could not recover in a 59-33 defeat.
The ninth-seeded Lady Chiefs finished with a 21-9 record. Zachary moves on with a 29-3 mark.
In Ruston, fourth-seeded Cedar Creek was indeed, all that. The Lady Cougars stopped the upset barrage by St. Mary’s 21st seeded Lady Tigers, 51-18, in a Select Division IV game. After road wins over two much higher seeded teams, SMHS can take pride in being the lowest seed in any division or class to reach the state quarterfinals in five years.
The team’s first loss in seven games left the final record at 10-17. Cedar Creek moved on with a 22-8 record after its 11th straight state quarterfinals appearance.
