After receiving first-round byes and dispatching of second round opponents, Quitman High and Saline High are still alive and now preparing to play highly ranked opponents in the Quarterfinals of the LHSAA Class B and C playoffs. Meanwhile, the season is over for both Jonesboro-Hodge High and Weston High as both young squads lost their second-round games.
#6 Quitman (22-7) at #3 Fairview (26-9)
Thursday, February 26th
Tip Off: 6:00 pm
$10.00 Admission
For only the second time in school history, matching the 2000-21 seasons, Quitman High School has advanced to the LHSAA Quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons.
As the 2001 Lady Wolverine team did, the 2026 version is looking to part in “Marsh Madness” and earn a trip to the LHSAA state tournament that will be played in University Center in Hammond, LA, on March 2-7.
To do so, QHS will have to do something that no team has been able to do but twice in the last 23 years and that is beat Fairview High School in the quarterfinal round.
Over the last two decades, nothing in LHSAA girls basketball competition presents as much of a challenge as attempting to beat Fairview in the playoffs, which has won a state-best 16 state championships overall, including 13 since 2003, while finishing as runner-up four times and reaching the semi-finals four more.
The win-loss record compiled by Fairview head coach Kyle Jenks is mindboggling. In his 28 years at the small school located deep in the woods of Grant Parish, Jenks has 1046 wins and 160 losses. That equates to an incredible average of 37 wins each season for nearly three straight decades.
Twice in the last three years, including this one, Quitman has taken a shot at the legendary dynasty. Twice, the Lady Wolverines have come up short. The first by a score of 81-40 in 2023-24 and 65-24 on this past October.
Still, Quitman head coach Kyle Leach is optimistic about his team’s chances, offering the hope that, despite losing the first time around, already playing the #3-seeded opponent on their home floor earlier in the year and having almost 30 games under their belt is a big benefit for his girls.
“Their gym is an intimidating place to play if you aren’t used to it, as it is dark and old, and you see all those state championship trophies when you first walk in,” said Leach. “Also, when we went down there earlier in the year, we were still trying to find a good rotation and learn to play with each other. We are a much better team than the one they saw before, and I feel confident that if we play like we are capable, we can come away with a win.”
#7 Saline (19-13) at #2 Calvin (26-2)
Thursday, February 26th
Tip Off: 6:00 pm
$10.00 Admission
There will be nothing the two teams don’t know about each other when Saline makes the short trip to Calvin for the LHSAA Class C quarterfinal matchup. After all, the Lady Bobcats and Lady Cougars have already played three times this season, having squared off in the season opener for both teams, again on November 15th, and for a third time on January 19th.
All three times Calvin won, but all three times Saline played close, losing 44-41 to open the year, 48-42 mid-season and 37-35 toward the end in a contest that looked like Saline was going to win. Will the fourth time be the charm for the Lady Bobcats?
Head coach Chris Toms believes so.
“We came up short all three times we played them this year, but we were in every game to the end,” reflected Toms, who led the Lady Bobcats to a district title for the second time during his tenure. “We have gotten better as the season has gone on, and right now we are playing our best defense of the year. I continue to be impressed with the effort and commitment to staying disciplined on that end of the court.”
#7 Saline 27 #10 Singer 11 (Regional Round): The Lady Bobcats only allowed four made baskets all game, including only a three-pointer in the third quarter to register the fewest points allowed all season. At the half, though, the outcome was still in doubt as Singer held an 8-6 lead on the strength of two 3-pointers, and Saline was able to make only two baskets and two free throws. The second half was a different story. Morgan Cheatwood got hot for 9 of her game-high 11 points, and Kasidy Sims scored 6 of the 8 points she registered on the night as Saline won the second half by a commanding 21-3 margin. Lanee Cheatwood finished with four points, and both Jalynn Jiles and Rayaunnah Pearson tallied 2 points each.
#1 Midland 68 #17 JHHS 29 (Regional Round): The top-ranked team in Division IV among “non-select” schools proved worthy of their lofty status right from the start as the Lady Tigers fell behind by an insurmountable 30-6 deficit. Freshman Samone Mallard scored 11 points to lead JHHS in scoring, with Sanaa Tatum posting nine. Nesha Johnson scored 5, and both Jaylenya Jackson and Knori Lard made a basket to round out the scoring for the Lady Tigers.
Despite the one-sided defeat that ended J-H’s season with a 14-18 record, it takes nothing away from the tremendous job third-year coach Shan Jackson did with her youthful squad. After starting the season with a 1-7 record, the young team started coming together to win 7 of 8 in one stretch and finish with a winning record (4-3) in the ultra-tough District 1-1A, which still has two teams alive in the quarterfinal round (#3 Arcadia, #4 Cedar Creek) with both expected to reach the state tournament.
“I am extremely proud of these young ladies. They got better everyday and that’s what we were looking for, and they gave us that,” said Jackson. “We have a young team, so with what is coming from the junior high, I am excited for the future of the Lady Tigers.”
The third-year mentor was also very appreciative of the support the team received from not only the students and school faculty but also the parents of the players and fans as well.
“I want to thank everyone for the unwavering support of these young ladies, and especially the parents and family of the girls who traveled everywhere with them. My coaching staff and I really appreciate them for being there.”
#3 Fairview 65 #14 Weston 21 (Regional Round): Falling behind 36-1 to start the game and trailing 40-7 was too much of a hill to climb for the youthful Lady Wolves, who were forced to play at one of the most intimidating venues in the state against a modern-day dynasty. Rachel Bandy led Weston in scoring with 5 points, while Teegan Hall made 4 and grabbed a team-leading 7 rebounds. Carlynn Waters and Carly Jo Griffin totalled 3 points apiece, and Savannah Saulsberry and Gracie Gray tallied two each. Ada Claire Tidwell and Kate Keiffer also added a free throw as first-year coach Matthew Herring looked to the future after his team got hopelessly behind and allowed many of his young players the needed playoff experience.
Weston sees their 2025-26 campaign come to a close with a respectable 20-12 record after starting the season with a 7-1 mark and winning a first-round playoff game for the first time in 9 years. Despite losing by a one-sided score to end the season, coach Herring was extremely pleased with his girls in his inaugural season as the Lady Wolves coach.
“I told the team after the game that one game doesn’t define a season,” said Herring. “They have remarkably come a long way in one season, and I am proud to be their coach.”