Exciting times are just around the corner for area girls’ high school basketball programs as the 2026 LHSAA state basketball playoff brackets have been released, which this year include Jonesboro-Hodge, Quitman, and Weston from Jackson Parish and neighboring schools Dodson and Saline.
The “Road to Hammond”, where the 2026 state tournament will be played, begins this Thursday, February 19th, when Jonesboro-Hodge, Weston, and Dodson High Schools all play first-round games, with Weston being the only school to host, while both JHHS and Dodson will travel. On Friday, February 20th, District 1B champion Quitman will play host to Florien in a Regional Round Matchup after both teams received a first-round bye. Saline, who also got a first-round bye, will host Singer in a Class C regional round matchup on Monday, February 23rd.
Thursday, February 19th
#14 Weston (19-11) vs #19 Simsboro (8-16)
Tip Off: 5:30 pm
Admission: $10.00 per person
Having the highest seed among local schools scheduled to play in the first round, the Lady Wolves, under the tutelage of first-year head coach Matt Herring, welcome Simsboro for a rematch of the 56-52 WHS in District 1B play. A perennial playoff team, which has qualified for the postseason every year of the new millennium, Weston, who has won 6 of their last 7, looks to break the string of nine consecutive first-round losses. The winner will move on to play at the #3 seed Fairview in the second round.
#17 JHHS (14-17) at #16 Delhi (15-14)
Tip Off: 6:00 pm
Admission: $10.00 per person
Jonesboro-Hodge will also be in action on Thursday, albeit on the road, when they travel to play Delhi High School for a #16 vs #17 matchup. This marks the second straight season the Lady Tigers have qualified for the playoffs in head coach Shan Jackson’s three years at the helm. After starting the season by losing 10 of their first 12 games, JHHS made a remarkable turnaround by winning 7 of their next 8 and later compiling a very respectable 4-3 mark in the very tough District 1-1A standings. The winner has the daunting task of traveling to #1 seed Midland in the second round
#19 Dodson (12-20) at #14 Gibsland-Coleman (6-15)
Tip Off: 6:00 pm
Admission: $10.00 per person
Under 4th-year head coach Wes Muse, the Lady Panthers are enjoying somewhat of a renaissance season, having won the most games since 2016-17 and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in six years. The winner earns the right to play at #3 seed Pleasant Hill.
Friday, February 20th
#6 Quitman (21-7) vs #11 Florien (18-12)
Tip Off: 6:00 pm
Admission: $10.00 per person
With a 6th straight 20-plus win season, in his 22nd year at Quitman and 18th as the Lady Wolverines head coach, Kyle Leach leads his back-to-back District 1B championship-winning team into the Regional Round matchup against Florien after both teams received first-round byes. Looking to reach the quarterfinals for the second straight year, QHS enters its 13th consecutive postseason as one of the hottest teams in Class B, having won 8 in a row and 11 of its last 12.
Division IV Playoff Bracket
Class B Playoff Bracket
Class C Playoff Bracket
