Louisiana boys basketball 'Marsh Madness' Day 2 recap: Red River utilizes big fourth quarter to take out Donaldsonville

Marksville also continues surprising run with semifinal win; Franklin, Lakeview advance in Division IV non-select

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - Division III non-select has been one of the most wildest divisions this postseason. 

It’s so wild that the top four teams bowed out early in the playoffs.

No. 8 seed Donaldsonville made its second trip in the last three years to the state semifinals. No. 13 seed Red River got some big upsets to make their first trip to the state semifinals.

So something had to give in a very tight game on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs outscored the Tigers, 25-11, in the fourth quarter in a 56-45 victory at The Burton Complex.

“The game is (we shot) 38 percent from the free-throw line and at halftime we had given up 13 offensive rebounds. That’s a recipe for disaster,” said Donaldsonville coach Lionel Gilbert. “It shows in the stats that Red River wanted it more than we did.

"We had numbers in transition on the last push and we didn’t capitalize. We missed three layups and then they made three layups; that’s a 6-0 run. That 6-0 run should have been in our favor. This wasn’t our night.”

Isidore Newman's outstanding shooting takes out Episcopal-Baton Rouge in Division III boys select semifinals 

The Tigers shot 30 percent (19-for-62) from the field. including 0-for-15 from the 3-point line. They also shot 38 (7-for-18) percent from the free-throw line.

Donaldsonville (19-11) had a 34-31 lead starting the fourth quarter. But Red River (23-14) started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run. Jomello McDonald, Jayden Wells and Chris Gay scored driving layups, giving the Bulldogs a 37-34 lead.

The Tigers bounced back with driving layups by Tahj Williby and Raiyen Oatis. They look a 41-40 lead and never got the lead back.

Red River went on a 9-0 run to put the game away. Warren Bowman scored a pair of driving layups to give Red River a commanding 49-41 lead.

Collin Stafford set the tone early with a 3-pointer, giving Red River an early 8-4 lead.

Donaldsonville bounced back with consecutive layups by Donald Schonberg, tying the game 8-all.

It was a back-and-forth game throughout the first half. Bowman knocked down a 3-pointer and a driving layup, giving the Bulldogs a 25-23 lead at the half.

The Tigers took charge of the third quarter by outscoring the Bulldogs, 11-6. Oatis scored a pair of layups; then Schonberg and Jaden Allen scored a pair of driving layups giving Donaldsonville a 34-31 lead.

Red River had two players scoring in double figures. Bowman led the Bulldogs with 14 points and four rebounds. McDonald finished with 11 points, 22 rebounds, 4 assists, and three blocks.

Also for the Bulldogs, Wells scored nine points. Stafford scored eight points with three rebounds and two assists.

Oatis led Donaldsonville with 15 points. Schonberg finished with eight points and three rebounds. Quinnton Dabney scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds. Tahj Williby scored seven points and had 10 rebounds.

Red River will take on No. 6 seed Marksville in the Division III non-select state championship game on Saturday afternoon at noon at the Burton Complex.

Division III non-select semifinals

Marksville 60, Richwood 52

In the Division III non-select state semifinals, No. 6 seeded Marksville (21-16) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 60-52 victory over No. 7 seeded Richwood.

The Tigers had four players scoring in double figures. Zachary Schuler led Marksville with 12 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists. Devin Lavalais finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Also for Marksville, Elydrick Murray scored 12 points, six steals and three assists. Bralyn Bazile scored 11 points.

Richwood (21-14) had two players scoring in double figures. Xzander Washington led the Rams with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Lavell Lane finished with 10 points and three assists.

Division IV non-select semifinals

Franklin 63, Ringgold 61

In the Division IV non-Select state semifinals, No. 6 seeded Franklin (23-7) held on and took down No. 2 seed Ringgold.

Franklin had three players scoring in double figures. J'kylon Ceaser led the Hornets with 21 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. Jay’Shaun Johnson finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Jeremiah Gray had 11 points, grabbing four rebounds.

Ringgold (25-10) also had three players scoring in double figures. J’bari Adams led the Redskins with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Also, Jordyn Wilson finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Antravion Kinsey had 10 points, along with three rebounds and two assists.

Division IV non-select semifinals

Lakeview 54, Pickering 26

In the other half of the Division IV non-select state semifinals, top seeded Lakeview (27-6) led from start to finish against No. 4 seeded Pickering (24-10).

Lakeview had two players scoring in double figures. Andre Sowell led the Gators with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Dereon Joseph finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Desire Privitera led Pickering with seven points. Christin Morgan finished with six points and seven rebounds.

Lakeview will take on Franklin in the Division IV non-select state championship game on Friday at 4 p.m. at the Burton Complex.

Red River photo by Matt Vines, Red River Parish Journal 

-- Vashon Jones | @SBLiveLA