The Lakeview Gators left no doubt in their state semifinal boys basketball state playoff game Friday night while the Natchitoches Central Chiefs came up a few points short in theirs.
Lakeview, the second seed in Non-Select Division IV, routed No. 10 Northeast 84-40 Friday night at The Swamp.
Natchitoches Central, seeded third in Non-Select Division I, was outlasted at The Teepee Friday night 56-48 by sixth-seeded Central (Baton Rouge), which reached last year’s state championship game.
Lakeview (29-4) will play a familiar foe, East Iberville (26-7), Tuesday at 2:45 in Lake Charles at the LHSAA’s Marsh Madness event in Burton Coliseum.
East Iberville shocked the Gators on their homecourt last year in the quarterfinals by hitting a buzzer-beating shot for a 47-46 upset.
This is the fifth time in 12 seasons Lakeview has made the state semifinals under coach Brian Williams.
The Chiefs led 22-21 at halftime but foul trouble became an issue for NCHS and Central took the upper hand late in the third period.
NCHS finished with a 28-5 record, missing the state semifinals for the first time in four seasons. Central improved to 24-7.
