The Parkway Lady Panthers and Haughton Lady Bucs are both bound for the state tournament and will be facing each other in the non-select Division I semifinals.
In non-select Division I quarterfinal games Thursday night, two-time defending champion and No. 1 seed Parkway defeated No. 8 Denham Springs 36-22 at Parkway and No. 4 Haughton defeated No. 5 Barbe 66-41 at Haughton.
The Lady Panthers (28-4)! and Lady Bucs (28-5) will face off at the Southeastern Louisiana University Center in Hammond next week. That is the site of the state tournament, also known as the LHSAA’s Marsh Madness.
This is the first time Haughton has reached the state tournament in girls basketball. This will be Parkway’s fourth trip in a row.
The Parkway-Denham Springs game was a rematch of last year’s state championship game won by Parkway 57-29. The Lady Panthers also defeated the Lady Jackets 50-18 early this season.
Thursday’s game was tighter than both of those. It was a defensive struggle and baskets were at a premium.
Parkway led 8-7 after the first quarter and 16-11 at the half.
Denham Springs got within two early in the third quarter. Both teams played tough defense, but Parkway allowed just two more points in the quarter and led 22-16 going into the fourth.
The Lady Jackets got within four early in the fourth. The Lady Panthers then took complete control with a 13-0 run over the next five minutes and led 35-18 with just over a minute to play.
Dakota Howard led Parkway with 15 points. Savannah Wilson scored four of her six points in the fourth quarter.
Kenadie Loche scored all five of her points in the fourth quarter, including a big 3-pointer late in the 13-0 run.
Natalia Brown scored four points. Khia Thomas, Zara Baker and Jasmyne Hendrix all scored two.
Prai Nelson led Denham Springs (23-10) with 12 points,
At Haughton, the game was tied at 24 at the half.
The Lady Bucs from Bossier Parish outscored the Lady Bucs from Lake Charles 42-17.
Shaniya Perkins scored 17 of her 29 points in the second half. Skylar Branch scored 11 of her 21. Bella Hammond scored 11 of her 15.
The game remained close through the first part of the third quarter. Barbe led 34-33 with less than four minutes to play.
But Haughton dominated after that. The Lady Bucs closed the quarter with an 11-2 run for a 44-36 lead.
Branch scored 10 in the quarter, including a three-point play after a steal and layup that ignited the crowd. Perkins scored six, including the last four. Hammond had four.
Another bucket by Perkins gave Haughton a double-digit lead with just over seven minutes left in the game. Barbe got within eight, but Branch knocked down a big 3-pointer to put her team up 51-40. Barbe never got any closer.
Perkins scored 11 in the quarter. As usual, her rebounding and ability to block or alter shots were also key. She had two big blocks down the stretch.
Hammond scored five in the fourth, including three free throws. Kamyra Turner made a free throw.
When Barbe went cold from the field in the second half, Branch, Perkins, Hammond or one of their teammates were there to get the rebound. Barbe got few second chances.
Haughton was 11-of-18 from the free throw line in the game. Barbe was 4-of-7
Haughton jumped out to a 6-0 lead but Barbe quickly tied it and led 13-12 after the first quarter. Perkins scored 10 in the quarter.
Haughton led 24-20 late in the half but Barbe scored the final four points to tie it.
Aniya Lavan led Barbe with 15 points. Maleigha James had 10.