This week starts one of the top tournaments in the state as Coach Dexter Washington and the Hamilton Christian family has done it again bringing girls basketball to another level in Lake Charles! 16 of the top teams in the state to compete in a classic bracket style tournament which is sure to be entertaining!
7 Defending State Champions
2 State Runner Ups
12 of 16 teams made it to the Final Four last year of the state tournament
We will be live on site with updated throughout the tournament via our social media and we're excited to be broadcasting the semifinals and championship game on Saturday. We'll be bringing you all some of the biggest matchups of the year but before we get to that we wanted to highlight the teams as well as some of the top players in the event!
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1st Round Matchups
Parkway vs. John Curtis
Thursday 4:00pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
What a game to start the tournament off with as the first game of the event we could look back at it having 7-8 college prospects on the court at one time as both teams are very deep and loaded with talent across the 2024,25 and 26 classifiation. John Curtis and Parkway both have been powerhouses in the last several years when it comes to girls basketball in the state and we're in for a treat here having six players ranked in the top 17 in their class. Some great basketball will be on hand in Lake Charles.
Prediction: This will be my first look at both teams live this season although seeing both teams on film this is another game that could go either way! I do beleive the strength of schedule early for Parkway has to help them as they've played at the Battle on the Hardword versus all the top teams in the north and turned around defeating Wossman at Wossman last week. Because of that I think Parkway is more battle tested early this year and will be able to outlast John Curtis. When this much talent gets on the court we're all winning because this will be some great basketball! Parkway advances to the second round and will play the winner of Vandebilt Catholic and Fairview.
Parkway
Chloe Larry - #3 ranked overall prospect 2024 class (Tennessee Tech Signee)
Dakota Howard - #12 ranked overall prospect 2025 class
Savannah Wilson - #17 ranked overall prosepct 2025 class
Zara Baker - #9 ranked guard in the 2026 class
John Curtis
Imani Daniel - #7 ranked player 2025 class
Chikae Desdunes - #1 ranked player 2026 class
Ke'Sonia Nelson - Top 25 ranked guard 2026 class
Fairview vs. Vandebilt Catholic
Thursday 5:30pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
Fairview and Vandebilt Catholic will be the fastest pace game of the 1st round as Fairview leads the state in possesions and Vandebilt Catholic has no problem playing fast themselves. This game will be a physicall man to man match up and a true battle. I would not want to be an offical in this one as they will have their hands full keeping up with the pace.
Prediction: If you have not seen Fairview play its hard to explain or prepare for the speed of the game they play at rentlessly applying pressure. Can Vandebilt handle the non stop pressure and limit turnovers? Is Fairview able to make enough threes to win the game from behind the arch? Those two major key points that will determine the winner of this game and considering the last time we saw Fairview they made 12 three pointers I've got to give the edge to Fairview in this one as they sqeak by Vandebilt Catholic behind an onslaught of three pointers. Fairview advances and takes on the winner of Parkway and John Curtis in the second round.
Fairview
Reesie Jinks - Honorable Mention guard 2025 (Fastest Pace of Play in the State at PG)
Andi Turner - One of top shooters in the 2029 class (7th grade starter)
Vandebilt Catholic
Gabby Campbell - Top 30 ranked gaurd 2024 class
Makayla Charles - #9 Ranked player 2025 class
Makensie Charles - Honarable Mention 2025 class
Hamilton Christian vs. Scotlandville
Thursday 7:00pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
Hamilton Christian is the tournament host team and they are lead by senior McKenzie Devile who just scored her 2,000th career point and is considered one of the top unsigned guards in the state for class of 2024. We look forward to the match up versus Scotlandville as they are also lead by one of the top unsigned guards in Kamiera McDonald.
Prediction: Both teams made the final four last year and bring back their best player so this will be a great match up and one could argue whomever gets the better end of that matchup will push their team over the hump. When its a close of a call as this one you have to lean towards the home team therefore Hamilton Christian defeats Scotlandville advancing to the second round where they will play the winner of LCA and Oakdale.
Scotlandville
Kamiera McDonald - #12 Ranked guard 2024 class
Mylaia Flowers - Top 30 ranked forward 2024 class
Hamilton Christian
McKenzie Devile - Top 15 guard 2024 class
Kayla Harding - A Top rising prospect 2028 class
Lafayette Christian vs. Oakdale
Thursday 8:30pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
LCA is your defending champions of this tournament as they defeated Fairview in the championship while both teams bring back all but one senior its safe to say LCA is likely your favorite to win this tournament again! They are considered to be one of the top teams in the state regardless of classification! LCA is lead by senior guard and LSU signee Jada Richard who is on pace to score her 3,000th career point this year. What sets the Lady Knights appart from the average team is they several other division I prospetcs on the roster such as Eve Alexander the FAMU signee. First round they will take on Oakdale whom is also one of the seven defending state champions participating in the tournament. Behind head coach Renotta Edwards Oakdale has been a program on the rise the last several years. They also bring back most of their roster from last years state championship run. The draw of LCA will be a tough task but they will certainly not be one to back down from competition.
Prediction: Oakdale has made a name of themselves to be considered one of the top 25 teams in the state but going up against #1 ranked LCA will be a tall task. LCA's Richard and support cast will be to much for Oakdale to handle and LCA advances to the second round to take on the winner of Hamilton Christian and Scotlandville.
Players to Watch:
Lafayette Christian
Jada Richard - #1 ranked player 2024 class - (LSU Signee)
Eve Alexander - #5 ranked player 2024 class - (FAMU Signee)
Indera Hebert - Top 30 ranked guard 2024 class
Taylen Taylor - Honorable Mention PG 2025
Kaliyah Samuels - #3 ranked player 2026 class
Oakdale
Akeelah Hobson - #18 ranked PG 2024 class
Emani Young - Top 30 ranked guard 2025 class
Huntington vs. Madison Prep
Thursday 4:00pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
Huntington is considered one of the top teams in the state and are loaded at the guard position with the most talented guards across the board than any team in the state. Madison Prep on the other hand has a fresh new look after rebuilding last year adding a great group of freshmen (Smith & Dotson) that are looking to make a name for themselves and what better place to do that than in Lake Charles this week!
Prediction: The old saying goes "guards win games" and the guards at Huntington will be seasoned as they are on a mission this year for a state championship. Madison Prep's young guards will not back down but the Lady Raiders will be to much to handle as Huntington advances to the second round to take on the winner of Oak Hill and Lafayette.
Huntington
Carley Hamilton - #6 ranked player 2025 class Jamar'i Bell - #15 ranked player 2025 class Jaila Marshall - #16 ranked player 2025 class Kyndal Graham - #2 ranked player 2026 class
Madison Prep
Oak Hill vs. Lafayette
Thursday 5:30pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
Both Oak Hill and Lafayette are fresh off of a state championship as both team look to defend the crown one important thing to note is Oak Hill brings back its entire roster and is arguablly even deeper than last year. A lot will fall on the shoulders of Johnson and Paul for Lafayette as the point gaurd/post duo is one of the top in the state!
Prediction: Having seen both teams play live this season Oak Hill plays at a pace of play that does not favor Lafayette. Although on the flip side of that Lafayette is one of Fairivews only losses this year. I belive Oak Hill's overal pace of play and depth will lead to Lafayette coming up a little short but with the presence of Paul inside if Oak Hill does not make seven or eight three point shots this game could easily go the other way! Oak Hill advances to the second round and will play the winner of Huntington and Madison Prep.
Lafayette
Grace Paul - #6 ranked forward/post in the 2024 class
Kira Johnson - #4 ranked palyer 2025 class
Oak Hill
Alexis Dyer - #9 ranked forward 2024 class Jodie Jowers - Honorable Mention 2025 class
Rosepine vs. Ruston
Thursday 7:00pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
Rosepine is one of the seven defending state champions in this years field and they have a roster still in tact from last year! They also love to play fast which may not favor a team like Ruston that's not as deep. Lucklily for Ruston they are lead by one of the top 2024 unsigned guards in the state in Jaliyah McWain averaging over 15 points per game.
Prediction: Ruston will need McWain to have a great game and reach into the 20+ points scored as Rosepine has no porblem putting points on the board. I think Rosepine's three headed monster in Fruge, Norris and Rivera will be to much for Ruston allowing Rosepine to advance to the second round to take on the winner of LaGrange and Wossman.
Rosepine
Addison Fruge - Top 30 ranked gaurd 2024 class
Kelly Norris - Top 30 ranked 2024 Class
Nevaeh Rivera - Honrable mention guard 2024 class
Ruston
Jaliyah McWain - #10 ranked point guard 2024 class Zaccheya Jackson - Honorable Mention guard 2024 class
LaGrange vs. Wossman
Thursday 8:30pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
Coach Holmes and the LaGrange Lady Gators have done it again as you look up they are ranked #3 in the lastes power points poll and looking to fight for another state championship. This week they draw the tall task of taking on two time defending state champions of Wossman! Wossman will start four players that will for sure play college basketball as they are considered one of the top teams in the state regardless of classification.
Prediction: Wossman is a very difficult matchup for the 5-0 LaGrange squad as they will give them a challenge matching them phyically for a while but the depth of Wossman will preval as they advance to the second round to take on the winner of Rosepine and Ruston.
Wossman
Brittany Burton - #6 ranked overall prospect 2024 class (Southeastern Signee)
Da'Naya Ross - #7 ranked overall prospect 2024 class
Ramiah Augurson - #3 ranked overall prospect 2025 class
Anyra Wilson - #2 ranked point guard in the 2025 class
LaGrange
Kylei Leblanc - #5 ranked forward 2024 class
Katelynn Wilson - Honorable mention 2024 class
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