2 weeks Ago
McKinley forward Jamond Jacobs (15) grabs the ball away from Liberty guard Devin Houston (1) in the third quarter of the EBR Boys Basketball Tournament championship at Woodlawn High School on Monday, December 30, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Whenever you get a No. 1 vs.
No. 2 matchup in any sport it’s usually a good thing. In District 4-5A boys basketball, it could happen more than once over the next few weeks.
Coaches Derrick Jones of Catholic High and Brandon White of Liberty don’t hesitate to tell you their thoughts. They think 4-5A is the toughest boys basketball league in Louisiana’s Class 5A ranks. Catholic (26-1) was No.
1 in the Division I select teams power rankings last week, ahead of Liberty at (17-1) at No. 2 as the teams prepare to meet at 7 p.m.
Friday in a 4-5A opener. Of course, Zachary’s Jon McClinton feels the same way. And who could blame him.
The Broncos (21-3) were the LHSAA’s No. 1 Division I nonselect team last week. Yet another 4-5A team, Central (19-2), sits at No.
2. Catholic, Liberty and Zachary have all won recent LHSAA titles too. The rankings and the records are reminiscent of the mid-1990s when the Baton Rouge area fielded its share of top classification powerhouse teams before the select/nonselect era began in the 2000s.
There were packed gymnasiums virtually every night as local teams fought through two rounds of district play in those days. There would typically be an upset or two. At the time, district play meant more.
Your placement on the playoff bracket was determined solely by district finish. The addition of power rankings was a game-changer. Now that power rankings determine playoff seeding, district play is minimized.
The teams, including those in 4-5A, opt to play one round of district games. As we approach the start of a 4-5A and also 5-5A, led by two other teams in the Division I nonselect top five, No. 3 Denham Springs and No.
5 East Ascension, the tension rightfully ramps up. Teams will look to run the district table. Of course, that won’t be easy.
In District 4-5A you start with four teams leading the way in their respective divisions. No one will lose much ground in terms of power ratings, thanks to how successful the teams are. But someone is going to win and the other team will lose in each major matchup.
How does that tweak placement in those power rankings? We’ll see. There’s also the matter of Scotlandville and Woodlawn, who could play the spoiler role in 4-5A. I cannot offer advice to the coaches other than, “Good luck.
” It’s a great playoff primer for all teams. But I do have some words of wisdom for fans. Buy your tickets early.
This should be a fabulous February..
