Russell Hedges
rhedges@bossierpress.com
The Haughton Lady Bucs and the Airline Vikings finished in a tie for second in District 1-5A.
Haughton defeated Airline 54-43 Friday night in the regular-season finale. Both teams finished district play 7-3.
Haughton’s Mattie McCoy (left) and Airline’s Jasmyn Carswell battle for the ball during the Lady Bucs’ victory Friday night in Haughton.
The Lady Bucs and the Lady Vikings had to play again Saturday night because the district’s second-place representative receives a half of a power ratings point. Power ratings determine playoff seedings. The game doesn’t count on the teams’ records.
Four parish teams made the state playoffs — Airline, Haughton, Benton and Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing. All will be on the road for first-round games.
In Class 5A, N. 26 seed Airline is at No. 7 Ponchatoula (23-5) and No. 26 Haughton visits No. 6 Destrehan (27-1). In Class 2A, No. 19 Benton (20-11) visits No. 14 West Ouachita (21-10). In Class 1A, No. 20 Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing travels to Gonzalez to play No. 13 Ascension Catholic (14-13).
Mikayla Barber had two big games for Haughton (23-8, 7-3) against Airline, scoring 24 Saturday 21 Friday.
Brittany Robinett added 14 points and Ebone’ Green 11 in Saturday’s game. Green chipped in with 13 in Friday’s game. Chelcy Swint added 10 and Mattie McCoy nine.
Jasmyn Carswell led Airline (17-12, 7-3) with 20 points Friday and Saturday night.
Madison Rowland scored 14 Saturday and 13 Friday. She hit four 3-pointers in the third quarter of Saturday’s game when it briefly looked like Airline was going to take control. She also had four Friday.
Haughton responded to Airline’s early second-half surge with a 16-2 run to regain the lead.
Saturday’s game was the third in three nights for Airline. The Lady Vikings played district champ Southwood on Thursday after the game was postponed Tuesday because of winter weather.
It was Haughton’s third game in the last four days.
Elsewhere, a young Parkway team closed a tough season with a 60-51 loss at Captain Shreve.
Chelsea Randle led the Lady Panthers with 17 points. Wisdom Watts added 12. Tyiesha Kidd and Lewis scored nine each.
Benton completed the regular season with its 20th win, 47-24 over Northwood at Benton.
Gabby Jackson led the Lady Tigers (20-11, 6-4 District 1-4A) with 17 points. Megan Fream added 13.
The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Falcons 21-0 in the second quarter en route to a 31-7 halftime lead.
