Louisiana high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (2/25/2024)

Ranked teams now get set to compete at 'Marsh Madness' tournament this week

This week, the girls basketball season in Louisiana culminates with the "Marsh Madness" state tournaments.

All games will be played at the University Center in Hammond, with action tipping off Monday.

Pairings announced for Louisiana girls 'Marsh Madness' state basketball tournaments 

With the state tournament on the horizon, here are the SBLive Louisiana Top 25 girls basketball rankings entering the state tournament.

1. Walker, 35-0 (previous rank: 1) - Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 1

The Lady Cats disposed of No. 8 Haughton and No. 17 Fontainebleau by scores of 71-18 and 77-33, respectively. Kennedi Ard scored 22 points with three rebounds and two steals in the win over Haughton (29-7). Arionna Patterson added 19 points, six rebounds and four steals. Ja'Miya Vann had 10 points, four assists and three steals.

Next: vs. No. 5 Parkway (24-4) at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday.

2. Lafayette Christian, 29-1 (previous rank: 2) - Playoff Standing Division II select No. 1

The Lady Knights continued their quest for a fourth straight state title by downing No. 17 Booker T. Washington-Shreveport and No. 8 Northside. LSU signee Jada Richard scored 21 points in the 60-36 win over district rival Northside. Eve Alexander added 16 points. Taelyn Taylor had 15.

Next: vs. No. 5 Bunkie (22-4) at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday.

3. Huntington, 26-2 (previous rank: 3) - Playoff Standing Division I select No. 1

The Lady Raiders defeated No. 16 Acadiana and No. 8 St. Thomas More. Kyndal Graham scored 18 points in the 72-34 win over Acadiana, according to Roy Lang of The Shreveport/Bossier Advocate. Carley Hamilton added 17. Jamar'i Bell and Jaila Marshall had 11 points apiece.

Next: vs. No. 5 Woodlawn-Baton Rouge (24-9), which upset No. 4 St. Scholastica.

4. Parkway, 24-4 (previous rank: 4) - Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 5

The Lady Panthers defeated No. 28 East St. John, No. 21 Northshore and No. 13 St. Amant. According to Roy Lang, Parkway rallied from behind in the fourth quarter to get past St. Amant, 58-49. The Lady Gators (18-11) upset No. 4 Southside to get a crack at the defending state champions, who were led in the quarterfinals by Chloe Larry's 33 points.

Next: vs. No. 1 Walker (35-0) at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday.

5. John Curtis Christian, 20-4 (previous rank: 5) - Playoff Standing Division I select No. 2

The Lady Pats defeated No. 18 Southwood and No. 10 Lafayette High. Chikae Desdunes scored 20 points in a 66-34 win over Lafayette in a rematch of the 2023 title game (won by the Lady Lions). Imani Daniel had 12 points, Bailey Timmons added 11 and eighth-grader Jayla Albert chipped in eight, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Desdunes, a sophomore, was honored for scoring her 1,500th career point.

Next: vs. No. 3 Liberty Magnet (24-4) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

6. Wossman, 27-4 (previous rank: 6) - Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 1

The Lady Cats defeated No. 16 North Vermilion and No. 8 Brusly. Danaya Ross scored 19 points and Brittany Burton added 14 in the 67-21 quarterfinal win over Brusly (27-9), according to Jake Martin of The Ouachita Citizen. Wossman is going for its third straight state title.

Next: vs. No. 4 Albany (23-7) on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m.

7. Mandeville, 28-5 (previous rank: 7) - Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 3

The Lady Skippers defeated No. 19 East Ascension and No. 6 Zachary in the LGRBasketball Game of the Week. Hannah Benoit scored 17 points with eight rebounds and three steals in the 55-53 win over Zachary (24-8). Alanna Benoit scored 16 of her 25 points in the first half, according to Mike Pervel of nola.com. She also had seven rebounds and six steals to lead Mandeville to its third appearance in the semifinals.

Next: vs. No. 2 Denham Springs (28-4) on Thursday at 8 p.m.

8. Vandebilt Catholic, 21-6 (previous rank: 8) - Playoff Standing Division II select No. 2

The Lady Terriers defeated No. 15 Washington-Marion and No. 7 Teurlings Catholic. Junior Makayla Charles averages a team-high 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomores Journee Johnson (11 pts, three rebounds, two assists) and Tyanna Stewart (seven points, five rebounds) are additional top producers.

Next: vs. No. 3 Madison Prep (24-10) at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

9. Southern Lab, 26-7 (previous rank: 9) - Playoff Standing Division IV select No. 1

The Kittens defeated No. 16 St. Mary's and No. 9 Cedar Creek by a combined score of 120-37. Sophomore guard Asia Patin scored 20 points with nine steals, seven assists, three rebounds and two blocks in the 56-16 win over Cedar Creek.

Next: vs. No. 4 Sacred Heart-Ville Platte (26-5) on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

10. Rosepine, 29-5 (previous rank: 10) - Playoff Standing Division III non-select No. 1

The Lady Eagles defeated No. 16 North Webster, 79-15, and No. 8 Springfield, 59-44. Rosepine has won 20 games in a row as it prepares to defend its title.

Next: vs. No. 4 Westlake (24-5) on Wednesday at 1 p.m. The two Southwest Louisiana programs have not met this season.

11. Denham Springs, 28-4 (previous rank: 12) - Playoff Standing Division I non-select No. 2

The Lady Jackets defeated No. 15 Slidell and No. 7 Ruston to advance to the state tourney for the first time since 2019. Kennedi Lindsey and Taylor Smith each scored 13 points in the 52-46 win over Ruston. Seniors Raegan White and Olivia Slack are additional players to watch.

Next: vs. No. 3 Mandeville (28-5) on Thursday at 8 p.m.

12. Hicks, 33-3 (previous rank: 13) - Playoff Standing Division V non-select No. 1

The Lady Pirates defeated No. 16 Phoenix and No. 8 Pitkin. Hicks beat Pitkin for the third time, notching a 51-46 win in the quarterfinals. Senior center Shyanne Phillips leads the team with 25 points, 15 rebounds and five assists per game. Additional statistical leaders are senior point guard Reese Stevens (18 ppg, six assists, four rebounds), junior guard Maliah Gordy (12 ppg) and junior forward Destiny Hickman (10 ppg).

Next: vs. No. 4 Midland (26-9) on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.

13. Fairview, 30-7 (previous rank: 14) - Playoff Standing Division V non-select No. 2

The Lady Panthers defeated No. 18 Pleasant Hill and No. 7 Hathaway. The 81-67 quarterfinal win over Hathaway was a rematch of last year's title game won by the Lady Hornets. Fairview only has one senior in forward Ella Reeves. There are four juniors, one sophomore, three freshmen, an eighth-grader and two seventh-graders on the roster.

Next: vs. No. 3 Anacoco (32-5) on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

14. Liberty Magnet, 24-4 (previous rank: 18) - Playoff Standing Division I select No. 2

The Lady Patriots defeated No. 19 Dominican and No. 6 Carencro. 6-foot-3 senior Whitney Hart scored a career-high 37 points with 15 rebounds and five blocked shots in a 67-52 win over No. 6 Carencro in the quarterfinals, according to Robin Fambrough of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Kaysharia Woods added 17 points to send Liberty to the state tournament for the first time since 2021. Hart is averaging 18 points, 12 rebounds and three assists per game.

Next: vs. No. 2 John Curtis Christian (20-4) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

15. Amite, 28-5 (previous rank: 16) - Playoff Standing Division III non-select No. 2

The Lady Warriors defeated No. 18 Marksville and No. 10 Mansfield. Senior guards Hai'ley Brumfield (16 points, six rebounds, five assists) and Miracle Irving (14 points, three assists and two rebounds) lead the team offensively, followed by sophomore Kayla Toefield (eight points, four assists, three rebounds).

Next: Amite meets No. 3 Doyle (30-4) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in a rematch of a 2023 second-round game won by the Lady Warriors, 59-39.

16. South Beauregard, 26-7 (previous rank: 17) - Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 2

The Lady Knights defeated No. 15 Leesville and No. 7 Iowa. South Beauregard defeated district rival Iowa, 34-32, in the quarterfinals. Faith Johnson scored 16 points. Kenzie Hudler added 11. Hudler is one of three seniors on the roster along with Kaelyn Gunter and Emorie Fontenot.

Next: vs. No. 6 Church Point (27-6) on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m.

17. Oakdale, 26-7 (previous rank: 20) - Playoff Standing Division IV non-select No. 2

The Lady Warriors defeated No. 15 Homer and No. 7 East Beauregard. Junior forward Emani Young averages 16 points, five rebounds and two assists per game. Senior guard Akeelah Hobson (14 points, six rebounds, six assists) and junior guard Kaylee Bradley (12 points, four rebounds, two assists) are averaging double-digits. Sophomore forward Jolie West is chipping in six points, five rebounds and three assists.

Next: vs. No. 6 White Castle (22-11) on Monday at 8 p.m. White Castle upset No. 3 Lake Arthur.

18. Anacoco, 32-5 (previous rank: 22) - Playoff Standing Division V non-select No. 2

The Lady Indians defeated No. 14 Quitman and No. 6 Castor. Four players are averaging 10 points per game: Junior guard Brooklyn Bryant, senior forward Bailey Davis, senior guard Izzabella Henry and junior forward Joanna Mawae. Senior guard Abby Dowden averages nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

Next: vs. No. 2 Fairview (30-7) on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

19. Midland, 26-9 (previous rank: 23) - Playoff Standing Division V non-select No. 4

The Lady Rebels defeated No. 12 Bell City and No. 13 Negreet. Midland lost in the quarterfinal round each of the previous four seasons. Gracie Miller scored 17 points, Caitlyn Boudreaux had 11 and Tora Savoy and Camri Primeaux added 10 apiece in the 56-29 rout of district rival Bell City. Miller is averaging 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Savoy (9 ppg), Primeaux (8 ppg) and Myra Carlson (8 ppg) are players to watch, along with Makenzi Oliver and Dai'ja-Lee LeBlanc.

Next: vs. No. 1 Hicks (33-3) on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.

20. Church Point, 27-6 (previous rank: NR) - Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 6

The Lady Bears are back in the rankings after defeating No. 17 Livonia, No. 11 Plaquemine and No. 3 Bastrop. Church Point blasted Plaquemine, 63-20, before ousting a Bastrop team that had a 32-2 record. Senior Shaine Parker is averaging 15 points and 13 rebounds per game. Senior Ery'ul Johnson (11 ppg) and senior guard Akirra Hagger (9 ppg) are key contributors for Church Point, which has seven seniors who score at least four points per game.

Next: vs. No. 2 South Beauregard (26-7) on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m.

21. Madison Prep, 24-10 (previous rank: 24) - Playoff Standing Division II select No. 3

The Lady Chargers defeated No. 19 St. Michael and No. 6 Booker T. Washington-New Orleans. Brooklyn Smith scored 14 points in the 64-29 quarterfinal win over BTW-NO. Paige Hawkins and Auri Ray each had 16, and Laila Robinson provided 10 points, according to Charles Salzer of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Madison Prep has played in championship games six of the last eight years.

Next: vs. No. 2 Vandebilt Catholic (21-6) at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

22. Doyle, 30-4 (previous rank: 25) - Playoff Standing Division III non-select No. 3

The Lady Tigers defeated No. 14 Richwood and No. 6 Sterlington. Doyle only has two seniors in Emma Roshto and Kaelyn Contorno. Junior forwards Kylee Savant and Alyson Fletcher can step out and shoot the 3 with ease.

Next: vs. No. 2 Amite (28-5) at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

23. J.S. Clark, 22-6 (previous rank: NR) - Playoff Standing Division V select No. 2

The Lady Bulldogs resurface in the top 25 after defeating No. 7
Avoyelles Public Charter, 62-3. J.S. Clark has no seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, a freshman and three eighth-graders on its roster. Sophomore guard Taylor Barnaba leads the team with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists per game. Sophomore guard Tristanie Albert averages 12 ppg. Junior forward Erianna Ned (9 ppg) and sophomore center Akeelah Williams (8 ppg) are the leading rebounders (six per game).

Next: vs. No. 3 Family Christian (25-11) on Monday at 2:45 p.m.

24. Oak Hill, 27-13 (previous rank: NR) - Playoff Standing Division V select No. 1

The defending champion Lady Rams demolished No. 8 St. Joseph's-Plaucheville, 80-14. Six players are averaging double-figures: Alexis Dyer (16 ppg, eight rebounds), Brilee Dousay (12 ppg, six rebounds, six assists), Krystina Greene (10 ppg, seven rebounds), Jodie Jowers (10 pgg, six rebounds) and Lainey Johnson (10 ppg, three rebounds). Dyer and Greene are the only seniors. The roster includes three juniors, three sophomores, a freshman, three eighth-graders and a seventh-grader.

Next: vs. No. 5 Plainview (16-18) on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m.

25. Albany, 23-7 (previous rank: NR) - Playoff Standing Division II non-select No. 4

The Lady Hornets defeated No. 5 LaGrange and No. 13 Iota. The 57-33 quarterfinal win over LaGrange was the LGRBasketball Game of the Week. Guard Cayden Boudreaux scored 13 points with six assists and was lauded by LGRBasketball for "on time, on target passing." Senior guard Ava Shields averages 14 ppg. Senior forward Emma Rogers (11 ppg) and junior guard Morgan Crain (9 ppg) are top point producers.

Next: vs. No. 1 Wossman (27-4) at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

Photo of Parkway's Chloe Larry (21) by KTAL-TV 

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA