District play and the road to Marsh Madness and the state basketball championships are in sight for lots of area girls’ teams and a few boys’ squads. Once again Vernon Parish small schools are among Louisiana’s elite teams. Rosepine’s Lady Eagles are ranked #1 in Division III non-select schools. Look at the Division V non-select schools and you’ll find Hicks #1, Anacoco #3, Pitkin #6, Simpson #7, and Hornbeck #10. One-half of the top ten in that division come from Vernon Parish. There are unofficial rankings from the LHSAA. Vernon Parish boys’ teams are also highly regarded statewide. Pickering is ranked #2 among Division IV non-select schools. Anacoco at #2, Hicks at #6, and Pitkin at #9, are ranked in Division V non-select schools.
LADIES
The best local record belongs to the Hicks Lady Pirates at 22-1. They got off to a good new year with a win over Hathaway 52-34. They opened District play at home against Oak Hill last night. The score was not available at press time. Hicks will travel to Elizabeth Friday for a district 4-B game.
Anacoco’s Lady Indians have posted a 22-3 record with recent wins over 4A Leesville 52-24, and Simpson 58-35. Anacoco opened District 4B play last night against Elizabeth. The score was unavailable at press time. Anacoco travels to Pitkin Friday night for a big early season matchup in the district.
Pitkin’s 18-9 record included a six-game winning streak that ended with a 61-35 loss to 5A Carencro at the Oberlin tournament. They bounced back, beating Washington-Marion 59-42 before falling to Oberlin 68-57. The Pitkin gym should be packed when Anacoco comes to town Friday night, January 12.
Hornbeck’s Lady Hornets had an impressive run at the Airline tournament in Bossier City at the end of 2023, going 3-0 before losing to #1 ranked Arcadia 65-32. They opened the new year with a 10-point win over St. Mary’s but fell in the Anacoco tourney to South Beauregard 48-32. The Lady Hornets will take a 16-8 mark into the district 3-C opener Friday, January 12, at Pleasant Hill.
Simpson’s Lady Broncos are nearing 20 wins and took a nine-point win over Negreet to open the new year. They lost to Anacoco at the Mickey Goins Classic 58-33 but bounced back to beat Plainview 59-38. They opened district play last night at Pleasant Hill. The score was unavailable at press time. Simpson hosts Ebarb Friday, January 12, in a district matchup.
Evans may be 9-15 but recently posted wins over 5A Pineville 61-19 and DeQuincy 86-2. The Lady Eagles lost to Leesville in the Anacoco tourney 56-44 but bounced back with a 49-33 win over Singer. Evans opened district play last night against Ebarb. The score was unavailable at press time. Evans will host Many on Thursday night, January 11.
The Pickering Lady Red Devils have won five of six, including 48-23 at Lake Charles College Prep earlier this week. They hosted Menard in the District 4-AA opener last night. The score was unavailable at press time. Pickering will entertain rival Rosepine Friday, January 12, in district play.
Rosepine’s #1 ranking in Division III is easier to understand when you look at recent wins over 4-A DeRidder 91-23, and 64-48 over 5-A Barbe. They were 16-7 entering district play last night versus Glenmora. The score was unavailable at press time. Rosepine will visit arch-rival Pickering Friday, January 12.
Leesville is 10-8 on the season with a recent loss to South Beauregard, 52-34, and a win over Evans, 56-44.
Faith Training Christian Academy plays in the ACEL’s Southwest Louisiana District and currently stands at 4-4. They play at rival SWLA Monday night.
MEN
The 23-7 mark of the Anacoco Indians is best in Vernon Parish and good for the #2 ranking in Division V non-select schools statewide. They opened the New Year losing to 4-A Leesville 39-36 but got payback, beating the Wampus Cats at the Mickey Goins Classic 56-32 and powering past 3-A South Beauregard 48-30. Anacoco played Elizabeth Tuesday in the District 4-B opener. The score was unavailable at press time. Anacoco visits rival Pitkin Friday night, January 12.
Pickering sports a 14-6 record and a #2 state ranking in Division IV non-select schools. The Red Devils lost to Lake Charles College Prep last week 78-55. The game against Leesville Monday night was cancelled due to weather conditions. District 3-AA play opens for Pickering Friday night against rival Rosepine.
The Hicks Pirates are 17-9 with 5 wins in a row. They opened the new year with a 70-43 win at Hathaway and won two games at the Mickey Goins Classic at Anacoco. Hicks blasted Simpson by 20 points and nudged Hornbeck 45-40. District 4-B play opened last night at Oak Hill. No score was unavailable at press time. Hicks will next play at Elizabeth on Friday, January 12.
Pitkin is 15-10 but recently suffered two close road losses, falling at Glenmora 53-51 and losing at Opelousas Catholic 61-58. Pitkin played at East Beauregard Tuesday. No score was available at press time. They play at Northside Christian Thursday, January 11.
Leesville is 10-8 on the season and recently lost two at the Anacoco tourney: 70-63 to South Beauregard and 56-32 to Anacoco. Their game with Pickering was cancelled due to weather Monday night.
Hornbeck’s Hornets have lost nine of the last ten games and are 9-14 on the year. They lost to St. Mary’s 56-37 to open the New Year, beat Singer-45 at the Anacoco tournament but fell to Hicks by 5. Hornbeck opens district 3-C play Friday night, January 12, against Pleasant Hill. Hornbeck played a non-district game against 3A Westlake last night, but no score was available at press time.
Rosepine sports a 9-8 record but had a solid opening to the new year with wins over 4-A DeRidder 57-42, and DeQuincy 64-52. The game against Merryville Monday night was cancelled due to the weather. The Eagles will open district 4-AA play Friday, January 12, at Pickering.
Simpson’s Broncos split games at the Mickey Goins Classic at Anacoco, beating Northwood/Lena 47-42 before falling to Hicks, 57-37. Simpson had a 10-15 record heading into the district 3-C opener last night at Pleasant Hill. The score was unavailable at press time. The Broncos host Ebarb Friday, January 12.
The Faith Training Christian Academy Patriots are 8-1 in the Southwest District of the ACEL.