LAKE CHARLES – Six Plainview seniors had their high school basketball careers ended one game earlier than hoped Monday as the Hornets ran into a buzzsaw in the LHSAA’s Class C semifinals at Burton Coliseum in Marsh Madness.

After winning it all last year, bringing home a state title for the first time in 65 years, Plainview lined up against the same opponent they beat, 58-54, to capture the 2024-25 championship. This time, second-seeded Pleasant Hill was not only very good, but also, got some help from adversity that hampered the Hornets from the early stages of Monday’s game.

P-Hill scored the game’s first nine points, led 18-4 after the first quarter. The Hornets battled admirably in the second period, outscoring the Eagles 16-15. But despite Plainview’s efforts to hang in and rally, Pleasant Hill blew it open in the fourth quarter to record a 70-40 victory over the defending champions.

Plainview’s top scorer all year, Kendan Maricle, was the most obvious casualty, turning an ankle early in the game and unable to contribute anything close to normal. Caleb Calhoun stepped up with 21 points for PHS.

The third-seeded Hornets finished with a 23-8 record. Pleasant Hill improved to 37-10.

Calhoun, Maricle and the other five seniors – Alex Mendez, Brian Mendez, Tommy Tarver and Lane Thompson – helped the Hornets win 54 games against only 13 losses in their last two seasons.