Westgate, NISH lead area into playoffs

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Westgate High leads the Teche Area in the prep basketball postseason as the Tigers finished with the No. 6 seed in Class 4A when the LHSAA released the basketball brackets Monday afternoon.

New Iberia Senior High finished as the 10th seed in Class 5A, Catholic High was the eighth seed in Division III and Highland Baptist went into the playoffs as the 18th seed in Division IV and will be the only city team on the road in the first round.

Several other Teche Area teams got into the postseason Monday as Franklin Senior High entered the Class 2A playoffs as the ninth seed; West St. Mary went in as the 12th seed in Class 2A; Jeanerette is the 18th seed in Class 2A; Centerville is the 10th seed in Class A; Hanson is the 11th seed in Divison IV and ESA is the sixth seed in Division V.

First round games must be played by Friday but other teams are also opting to play that day.

In Class 5A, NISH (21-12) will play host to District 3-5A rival and 22nd seed Barbe (21-9) in the first round. NISH beat Barbe 83-37 at home when the two teams met Jan. 29.

The winner of that game faces the winner of the 6/27 game between Pineville and Landry-Walker in the second round.

In Class 4A, Westgate (20-9) will face 27th seed DeRidder (15-18) in the first round with the winner facing the winner of the 11/22 game between Ellender and Neville.

In Division III, Catholic High (19-13) will play host to No. 9 seed Notre Dame (11-12) in the second round as both teams had first-round byes.

CHS coach Josh Guilbeau said the game will be played Friday at 7 p.m. at Catholic High. Admission will be $8 for adults and $5 for students.

The two teams played each other on Jan. 24th with CHS taking the 50-40 win. The winner will travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 1 seed Dunham in the quarterfinals.

In Class 2A, Franklin (19-9) will play host to No. 24 seed Oakdale (15-9) in the first round with the winner facing the 8/25 winner between Welsh and Lakeside in the second round.

Also in 2A, West St. Mary (15-8) will play host to 21st seed Capitol (17-13) with the winner facing the winner of the 5/28 game between Lakeview and Bunkie in the second round.

Finally in 2A, Jeanerette (14-14) travels to 15th seed Pickering (18-14) in the first round with the winner facing the winner of the 2/31 game between Red River and St. Helena College and Career Academy in the second round.

In Class A, Centerville (17-9) will play host to 23rd seed Northwood-Lena (6-17) in the first round with the winner facing the winner of the 7/26 game btween Logansport and J.S Clark.

In Division IV, Hanson (11-9) will play host to St. Edmund of Eunice (3-21) in the opening round with the winner facing No. 6 seed Vermilion Catholic, which received a first-round bye.

Highland Baptist (7-18) heads to North Louisiana to face Cedar Creek (10-21) of Shreveport in the first round with the winner traveling to Morgan City to face No. 2 seed Central Catholic in the second round.

Finally in Division V, ESA (16-15) will play host to 11 seed Claiborne Christian from Monroe (1-30) in the first round with the winner heading to Baton Rouge to face Runnels Academy in the quarterfinals.