LHSAA Marsh Madness: Takeaways from Day One of boys basketball state championship games
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Five teams were crowned the state champions in their respective Louisiana High School Athletic Association divisions inside Burton Coliseum on Friday.
Avoyelles Public Charter kicked things off in Division V Select, knocking off Family Christian 52-41 in the early game.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the day one of the LHSAA Marsh Madness state title series:
TOP PERFORMERSTop Shreveport-Bossier area high school performers for March 6-March 10
MOST DIFFICULT TO DEFENDCoaches confidential: Which Louisiana boys basketball team is most difficult to defend?
CALVARY BASKETBALLHere’s how Calvary advanced to LHSAA basketball championship without its coach
No. 1 Zwoelle bullies No. 2 Anacoco in rout for Non-select Division V championship
Anacoco went more than 6 minutes without in the middle portion of the game. It wasn't because the Indians were not making open shots. No. 1 Zwoelle was just that smothering.
The Hawks stretched what was once a three-point lead in the second quarter to a 29-13 lead with a methodical, 15-0 run and went on take the Non-select Division V state championship, 40-25, for their first state title in six years.
Kenneth Montgomery recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, a long with two steals. Preston Sanders scored 13 for the Hawks.
No. 4 Bossier uses defense to shutdown No. 3 Carroll to win Non-select Division II championship
It's not too often high-flying Carroll is held to below 30% shooting.
But that's what Bossier did, limiting the Bulldogs to just 26% from the field (12-of-46) while making the key plays down the stretch to win the Non-selection Division II state championship, 42-33.
The Bearkats shot 37% and outrebounded Carroll, 37 to 28. Senior Tahj Roots led all scorers with 14 points while Lakavin Thomas pitched in 13 points.
No. 4 North Central tandem McKennis Savoie, De'Vion Lavergne too much for No. 3 Franklin
There was a long stretch from the second quarter to deep into the third where all of North Central's points came from either junior forward McKennis Savoie or senior guard De'Vion Lavergne.
Powered by the one of the state's most potent tandems, the Hurricanes packed plenty of punch to take down Franklin, 59-55, to capture the Non-select Division IV state championship.
Lavergne finished with 23 points, earning Most Outstanding Player. Savoie added 17 points, leading North Central to its fourth state title in the last five seasons.
No. 3 Calvary Baptist can't overcome slow start as No. 1 Isidore Newman wins Division III Select championship
Calvary opened 1-for-17 from the field by three minutes into the second quarter. Newman made a few more shots but not enough to put the Cavs completely to bed in the first half. A 3-pointer from sophomore Bubba Strong and layups from from Rondae Hill and Kameron Kennon cut the deficit to 16-11 by halftime.
But the Cavaliers couldn't shake off the slow start as Newman mounted a 14-5 run in the third quarter to pretty much put the game away. The Greenies went on to win, 52-42.
The Cavs shot 28% as Hill could never really get going, shooting 3-for-15. He finished with eight points while Calvary was led by Kameron Kennon and his 15 points.
Point guard Canin Jefferson paced the Greenies with 18 points.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LHSAA Marsh Madness championship games: Biggest takeaways
