Center in Hammond as Holy Savior Menard played in Marsh Madness, but despite her 14 points and 14 rebounds, the Lady Eagles fell in the state semifinals to Parkview Baptist. (Photo by STEVEN MOODY, GeauxPreps.com)
Three parish girls teams tip off in state semifinal games at Marsh Madness in Hammond today, while five boys squads are in early-round LHSAA basketball playoffs including four playing at home this evening.
One season ended Monday. For the second straight year, the Menard girls team bowed out in the state semifinals, falling to defending state Division III champion Parkview Baptist of Baton Rouge.
The third-seeded Lady Eagles (20-12) fell 65-46, unable to overcome their 19 turnovers and subpar first-half shooting (6 of 26) or second-seeded Parkview Baptist’s fast pace and explosive guards. PBHS (23-10) made just five turnovers and came up with 10 steals.
Carley Meynard scored 14 points and grabbed a game-best 14 rebounds for Menard, while Lauren Smith topped the Lady Eagles with 18 points and snagged 9 rebounds. Guard Addy Bernhard scored 26 points, making 11 of 13 at the free throw line, to pace the winners.
Parkview led 30-20 at halftime and more than doubled it in the third quarter, taking a 54-32 advantage into the final eight minutes by scoring 16 third-period points off Menard turnovers.
Still, Menard earned the respect of Parkview coach Brett Shelton.
“That was a tough team … better than the score indicated,” he told Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate. “Inside I thought they were pretty dominant.”
Today in Hammond, defending Division IV state champion Northwood-Lena plays in a semifinal game as the No. 2 seed at 1 o’clock. In the next semifinal, a Division V contest, No. 1-ranked Oak Hill meets parish rival Plainview, the fifth seed, at 2:45.
Tonight, ASH, Pineville, and Peabody all host second-round games. Rapides opens the playoffs in the Division V bracket at home. Buckeye travels to the New Orleans area for a second-round contest.
All parish schools, public and private, play in the LHSAA’s Select division.
TODAY’S LHSAA BASKETBALL PLAYOFF GAMES
GIRLS MARSH MADNESS
At the University Center, Hammond
Division IV
No. 2 Northwood-Lena (18-12) vs. No. 3 Hamilton Christian, Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Division V
No. 5 Plainview (16-18) vs. No. 1 Oak Hill (27-13), Tuesday, 2:45 p.m.
BOYS (at home sites)
Division V
First round
No. 13 Family Community (5-22) at No. 4 Rapides (21-11), 6 p.m.
Second round
Division I
No. 9 Jesuit (24-6) at No. 8 Alexandria (20-10), 6 p.m.
No. 13 St. Paul’s (22-10) at No. 4 Pineville (22-4), 6 p.m.
Division II
No. 18 Kennedy (19-11) at No. 2 Peabody (28-5), 6 p.m.
No. 9 Buckeye (28-5) at No. 8 Hannan (15-7), 6:30 p.m.