History and this year’s seedings bode well for the boys basketball teams at Natchitoches Central and Lakeview as they host state playoff quarterfinal games tonight.
The Chiefs, seeded third in Non-Select Division I, play host to No. 7 Central of Baton Rouge at 6:30 in The Teepee.
The Gators, the No. 2 seed in Non-Select Division IV, tip off at 7 against 10th-seeded Northeast at The Swamp.
NCHS is shooting for its third straight move under coach Kolton Sepulvado into Marsh Madness, the state’s final four next week in Lake Charles. The Chiefs have reached the state tournament eight times in the last 13 years.
Lakeview has made that trip eight times in the past 11 years under coach Brian Williams.
Both local teams own 28-4 records.
NCHS faces a sixth-seeded Central team that has a 23-7 mark after playing for the state championship last season.
The Chiefs beat 14th-seeded East Ascension 68-50 Tuesday night, but led by only two starting the fourth quarter before they ran off 10 straight points in a decisive 14-2 burst.
Central blew out 27th-seeded West Ouachita 73-39 in the first round, then handled 11th-seeded South Lafourche 70-60 Tuesday night.
Lakeview will play a Northeast team that is 17-14 overall but has won its last four, including Tuesday’s 56-49 upset at seventh-seeded Midland. The Vikings won 81-57 at home in the first round over 23rd-seeded Tensas.
The Gators are 21-1 at home in the playoffs under Williams, but were upset last year in the quarterfinals on a buzzer-beater from East Iberville.
Lakeview blasted 15th-seeded Haynesville 75-46 Tuesday night after a first-round bye.
The Lakeview game will be broadcast on 97.5 KDBH-FM.
The NCHS contest will air on 100.7 FM KZBL.
