Good playoff news for NISH

The New Iberia Senior High girls’ basketball team got some good news Tuesday with their selection among the top 16 seeds in the Class 5A playoffs.

After battling for the District 4-5A title with Pineville and losing some close game this year, the Lady Jackets found out they will host a first round game in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs that begin Thursday.

NISH (21-12), which finished second in District 5-4A, drew the 14th seed in Class 5A and will play host to East St. John (20-12), the 19th seed, at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Admission to the contest is $5.

Coaches from around the state met in Alexandria Tuesday to determine the seeds for the seven classes.

NISH coach Robert Pinckney said his team was seeded about where he thought they would be, between 11th and 14th, though he would have liked the Lady Jackets to draw a slightly higher seed.

Starting next basketball season, seeds will be determined by a mathematical formula.

New Iberia wasn’t the only Teche Area team to make postseason play.

In Class 3A, the District 7-3A champion Franklin Lady Hornets (20-10) were voted the 12th seed and will play host to Loranger, the 21st seed.

The game will start at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $6

West St. Mary, which finished in third place in District 7-3A and drew a wildcard bid to the playoffs, drew the 30th seed and will travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 3 seed Capitol (22-6) in the first round Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

“I’m happy we got in,” said WSM coach Donald Sanders. “It’s a miracle we played as well as we did considering the injuries that we had all year.

“We’re going to use this game as good experience for the younger players for next year.”

In Class 2A, Jeanerette Senior High (14-16), which finished as the second place team from District 7-2A, drew the 23rd seed and will travel to Hammond to face 10th seed St. Thomas Aquinas.

In Class A, Hanson (15-14), which beat Delcambre 50-38 Monday night in the District 8-A third-place playoff game at Catholic High, drew the 27th seed and will travel to Arcadia (18-10), the sixth seed.

In Class B, Centerville (27-11), which won District 8-B, drew the eighth seed and will play host to Shongaloo (12-11), the 25th seed.

The Ladies’ Top 28 Tournament will be held in Hammond at Southeastern Louisiana University from Feb. 25-March 1.