NISH, CHS, five others earn spots in playoffs

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Robert Pinckney was confident that his team was going to the playoffs.

The longtime New Iberia Senior High girls’ basketball coach, 18 years and counting, anticipated that his Yellow Jackets were going to earn a postseason berth but that didn’t mean that took away from the excitement of when the LHSAA pairings were officially released on Monday.

“Its always good to get into the playoffs,” Pinckney said. “You fight all season long. You play a bunch off games and play in a bunch of tournaments, and you are on the road a lot but it is all worth it. The ultimate goal is to get your team in the playoffs and you hope you can make a good run.”

NISH was one of seven Teche Area teams earning berths in the state girls basketball playoffs.

No. 28 NISH (17-7) will travel Thursday to take on defending state champion No. 5 East Ascension (21-2) in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs. Pinckney understands his team’s task is formidable. 

“At this point everyone is good,” Pinckney said. “We are the 28 seed and we knew it’s a tall task in front of us having to play the defending state champion.”

NISH is looking for its first playoff win since a 56-49 win over Ruston in the opening round of the 2017 playoffs and faces a team that ran the table the previous year as a No. 8 seed, including upsetting top seed Barbe in the quarterfinals.

“We are looking at a very athletic team,” Pinckney said. “They like to get out and run. They play good defense and force you to make some bad passes. It is going to be up to us to take care of the ball, get back and stop those transition points that they like to get.”

In addition to NISH, there were three other local teams that earned berths in the non-select (public schools) playoffs with all three playing on the road in the Class 2A bracket.

No. 32 Jeanerette (8-14) will play at No. 1 Doyle (27-4), No. 20 Delcambre (17-11) travels to No. 13 St. Helena College & Career Academy (18-12) and No. 26 Franklin (16-14) heads to No. 7 Amite (22-6). 

The select playoffs will feature a pair of local teams opening up the playoffs at home.

In Division III, No. 7 Catholic High (17-9) earned a first-round bye and will play host to No. 10 St. Mary’s Academy (10-20). 

According to Panthers coach Dave Theriot, being able to secure a home playoff game was significant — especially the advantage the team saw firsthand in last Friday’s District 7-2A title win over Delcambre. 

“It is a big deal for us,” Theriot said. “Last Friday we played a very good Delcambre team and it was the best crowd we’ve ever played in front of here. Even the student section was packed and that played a big role in us winning the game. We definitely need the general public to come out and support us again.”

In Division IV meanwhile, No. 11 Hanson Memorial (13-12) plays host to No. 22 Hamilton Christian (0-21) in the first round while No. 9 Highland Baptist (12-8) heads out to face No. 8 Central Catholic (10-17).

For the second straight year, the girls’ state championships will be held at the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria from Feb. 25 to March 2.