For the local prep girls basketball teams that qualified for the LHSAA Division V playoffs the “Highway to Hammond”, which is where the LHSAA girls state basketball tournament will be played has more potential potholes and washouts in it than a hunting leases dirt road after a rainstorm.

This year the area is represented by Quitman, Saline and Weston High Schools. Jonesboro-Hodge failed to qualify for postseason play. Despite two (Weston and Saline) winning their respective districts and the other (Quitman) winning over 20 games, all three face serious first round challenges. The good news is that the two Jackson Parish schools get a first round home game.

Weston, who won district 1B and enters the playoffs with the fourth highest total of wins in Division V at 27-6 on the year has the highest seeding among the local schools at #13 in the 28 team bracket. The reward? A home date on Thursday against perennial small school playoff power Pitkin, who compiled a 24-16 overall record and finished fourth in the powerful district 4B which was won by #7 seed Anacoco and 30 win Oak Hill, the #1 seed in “select” school Division V bracket. Game time is set for 6:00pm

Saline won district 2C but finished with an overall record of 14-17 resulting in a #25 seeding in the bracket. The low seeding means the Lady Bobcats will be on the road for their first round road game against #8 Hicks, the third place team in district 4B. who ended the year with a 23-10 record.

Quitman earned a #16 seed after ending the year in second place of district 1B and 21-9 overall setting up a 6:00pm match in the Jonesboro-Hodge High School gymnasium on Thursday with #17 Summerfield who finished the year at 17-15 and second place in district 1C. The contest is a rematch of the tight 35-34 Lady Wolverines victory in the second game of the year.