The Parkway Lady Panthers are scheduled to host the Benton Lady Tigers on Tuesday night in a game that could go a long way toward deciding the District 1-5A championship. Tip-off is scheduled for 6.
The Lady Panthers and Lady Tigers are both 2-0 in district play. Parkway is 10-1 overall and defending Class 5A state champion Benton is 9-4.
According to the Class 5A power rankings on geauxpreps.com, Parkway is No. 3 and Benton is No. 8.
In another battle of teams undefeated in district play, Southwood (15-5, 2-0) is at defending champion Captain Shreve (8-4, 2-0) at 6.
In the other two 1-5A matchups, Airline (10-9, 0-2) visits Natchitoches Central (5-5, 0-2) at 5:30, and Haughton (5-11, 0-2) hosts Byrd (4-6, 0-2) at 6.
In a non-district game, Bossier (2-8) travels to Monroe to play Wossman (2-7) at 5.
Parkway and Benton played two overtime thrillers last season. The Lady Tigers won both 65-62 and 77-76.
Both teams return several players from those teams.
Parkway sophomore Mikaylah Williams has picked up where she left off last season and leads the Lady Panthers in scoring. Senior guard Sh’Diamond McKnight is also having another stellar season. Both were first-team All-Parish selections last season.
Freshman Chloe Larry, the team’s second-leading scorer, has given Parkway even more offensive firepower. Bianca Oliver has also contributed.
Benton senior guard Jada Anderson, a four-year starter and ULM signee, is having another outstanding season.
Riley Grace Stanford, Marissa Schoth, Jada Stewart, Ella Kate Malley, Tate Sellers and Anna Robins have also contributed to the Lady Tigers’ success.
Stanford and Stewart missed last week’s loss to undefeated Huntington and victory over Green Oaks. Despite missing the two starters, Benton led Huntington, the top-ranked team in the 4A power rankings, by one at the half before falling 59-46.
Parkway also lost to Huntington last week. The Lady Panthers trailed by just one at the half before losing 64-52.
Airline will put a six-game winning streak on the line against Natchitoches Central. The Lady Vikings have moved up to No. 20 in the power rankings after a 4-9 start.
The play of Kori Rice, Toria Brocks and Endia Pradier has been key to Airline’s success.
Haughton got off to a slow start under new head coach Jenna Bolin, but the Lady Bucs have won their last three. They’ll be playing a Byrd team looking to halt a four-game slide.
Southwood and Captain Shreve are both riding win streaks. The Lady Cowboys have won three in a row and the Lady Gators have won five straight.
