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LAPLACE — The new year marks a new start for high school basketball teams in St. John the Baptist Parish returning to the court for district competition. The goal for all of these young men and women is to advance to the 2022 LHSAA Marsh Madness for a chance at a state championship title.
The East St. John boys basketball team is 16-3, having most recently won against Denham Springs, Iowa and Anacoco in the Sam Houston tournament. A district game against Thibodaux took place after press time Tuesday, and the next district game against Hahnville takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 7 at the Leon Godchaux gymnasium.
The East St. John girls basketball team is blazing just as bright with a 14-2 record to enter the new year. The Lady Wildcats faced Destrehan during the first district game of the season and emerged victorious, 62-32. This week’s schedule included a district game against Thibodaux on Tuesday evening and an upcoming district game against Hahnville scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, January 7 at Leon Godchaux.
The Riverside Academy boys basketball had a rough first half of the season. The Rebels entered the new year with a 3-11 record after taking losses to Southside, Barbe and Sacred Heart at the St. Thomas More tournament held December 27-30 in Lafayette. The boys will return to the court Wednesday, January 12, with a 7 p.m. road game against Dunham, followed by a district game against Crescent City January 14 inside the Rebels gym.
Meanwhile, the Riverside Academy girls basketball team entered this week with a 3-5 record. The Lady Rebels were narrowly defeated by St. James on December 15. After a few weeks off, their season picks back up next week with a home game against West Jefferson at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 10.
The St. Charles Catholic Boys basketball enters the new year looking to improve a 6-6 season record. The Comets picked up wins against Vermillion Catholic and Pine Prairie and a loss to St. Edmund at the St. Edmund tournament held in Eunice December 27-29. The Comets faced St. Thomas Aquinas after press time Tuesday, and they are prepared to host Central Private at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
The St. Charles Catholic girls basketball team also entered 2022 with a 6-6 record. The Lady Comets improved their record from 3-6 in the second half of December with a trio of wins against Pope John Paul II, Haynes Academy and Covington. After facing Ascension Catholic Tuesday of this week, the girls are preparing to host the first district game of the season against Louise McGehee at 5 p.m. Monday, January 10.
The West St. John boys basketball team entered the week with a 4-4 record, having recently secured a 52-39 victory over Cohen College Prep on December 30. Tuesday’s game against St. John took place after press time, and the next game will be away against South Lafourche at 4 p.m. Friday, January 7.
The Lady Rams on the West St. John girls basketball team have had five losses and a slew of cancelled games thus far in the 2021-2022 season. Their schedule for the first week of January included a Tuesday evening game against John Ehret. The girls will have back-to-back road games against East Jefferson and Vandebilt Catholic the evening of January 7.