By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Riverside Academy earned the top seed in Class 2A as boys basketball playoff brackets were officially released Monday by the LHSAA, as the Rebels aim to make it three straight state basketball crowns.

RA (25-6) will host No. 32 Springfield (5-14) in the bi-district round. The game is at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Rebels have yet to lose a game this season against a Louisiana opponent, and if that continues they will be playing to — and through — the Top 28 tournament at Lake Charles.

St. James (10-19) joins RA in the Class 2A field, the Wildcats seeded 21st and visiting No. 12 Catholic-New Iberia (21-6) at 7 p.m. Friday. St. James earned a trip to the Top 28 tournament last season, finishing as a semifinalist, and will attempt to repeat that feat.

No. 10 East St. John (22-10) will host its Class 5A first round game against No. 23 Denham Springs (22-8) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Destrehan (18-12) earned the No. 31 seed in Class 5A and will travel to face No. 2 Helen Cox (27-4) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Meanwhile, Hahnville (14-15) earned the 30th seed in 5A, netting it a date with No. 3 Scotlandville (28-4), which will host at 7 p.m. Friday.

West St. John (10-10) netted the 15th seed in Class 1A and is set for a district rematch, as No. 18 Ascension Catholic (16-11) will visit in the first round. That game is at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Rams lost their first eight games before rallying hard in the second half of the season to earn a first round home game.

No. 16 Lutcher (19-7) will host No. 17 Neville (17-10) at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class 4A bracket.