LAKE CHARLES – Seeded second in their divisions, the boys basketball teams from Alexandria Senior High and Peabody tip off in state semifinal playoff contests today hoping to reach Saturday championship games.
The contests are in Burton Coliseum on the south side of Lake Charles, on the third day of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Marsh Madness boys state tournament.
ASH plays at 4:30 today against a surprise team in the Select Division I final four, Edna Karr, which won only seven games last year. Karr, the 11th seed, has navigated three playoff games, notably winning in the second round at sixth-seeded Archbishop Rummel last Tuesday.
Karr beat 14th-seeded Captain Shreve 55-49 last Friday night to reach Lake Charles. Coach Lance Brasher’s Trojans dispatched neighborhood rival Tioga 50-42 in the quarterfinals after dominating 15th seeded Carencro 73-46 in the second round.
Peabody, hoping to capture its 11th state title and 10th under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Charles Smith, has a tough assignment at 8 o’clock against third-seeded Washington-Marion, which is playing in its hometown.
The Warhorses blew out visiting University Lab, the seventh seed, 71-31 last Friday night. The Charging Indians won at home 68-52 over sixth-seeded John F. Kennedy in the quarterfinals.