The January 30 version of the LHSAA Power Ranking was released today. Little to no movement occurred within each class and division in the Top 10. This means one thing, playoff seeding is starting to settle into place and where you see the team in the power ranking may well be the seed that they get. No team moved up this week, but there was some movement despite some good records since the last report.
Doyline Panther dropped a spot to No. 3 this week despite now being on a 20-game winning streak and finished 3-0 since the last power rankings. They were surpassed by Hathaway from District 7-B. The Panthers might not have enough time recapture the No. 1 slot they once held, but they very much in striking distance of capturing the No. 2 spot. They are only 0.13 power points behind the Jefferson Davis Parish school.
Arcadia is another team that had a good week with capturing the District 1-A lead with a win over Calvary and Lincoln Prep and finished 3-0 since the last ranking. The Hornets slipped a spot to No. 9 this week. The Hornets are at the bottom rung of a race between No. 6 through No. 9 with less than a single power point separating No. 6 Logansport, No. 7 Oak Grove, No. 8 Delhi, and No. 9 Arcadia. Capturing the District 1-A title could also help push them up in the seeding.
Lincoln Prep has the opportunity to better their position which is currently at No. 4. The Panthers dropped from No. 3 with a 2-1 record since January 21. Lincoln Prep is currently 0.42 behind East Iberville, but they are only 0.55 ahead of No. 5 Tensas.
Some teams are almost locks for their position. Division V No. 6 New Living Word is over five power points behind No. 5 and over two points above No. 7 Grace Christian. Summerfield has almost locked up the No. 4 spot in Class C with a mountain to climb to catch No. 3 but are almost a point over No. 5. Division IV No. 4 Calvary is almost in the same position. The Cavaliers are going to want to hold on to that position because a move could be the difference between receiving a first-round bye or a first-round home game.
On the girls’ side of the power ranking, no team moved from their current position.
In class C, the District 1-C Champions Summerfield Lady Rebels are close to being locked into the No. 2 spot. No. 1 Hicks is a little over a power point above the Lady Rebels. Summerfield is over a point and a half over No. 3 Reeves. Look for the Gibsland-Coleman Lady Bulldogs to be the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. They are locked in that position.
In Class A, Haynesville stayed at No. 5 for another week despite going 3-0 with wins over Ringgold, Homer, and Plain Dealing. The Lady Tors have a little less than a power point to catch No. 4 but they need to look in the rearview mirror because No. 6 Delhi is less than a quarter of power point behind. Haynesville is teetering between a first-round bye or first-round home playoff game.
Homer also remained in their same position at No. 9 for the week. Homer could move between No. 8 and No. 11. Fellow district rival, Lincoln Prep Lady Panthers are currently No. 11.
Remember these are the power rankings by the LHSAA are unofficial due to not confirmed, not played, disputed, and canceled games.
Here are some predictions for either home/away/bye. Also, the home/away/bye will be determined by the number of teams that are in the playoffs. Some teams may opt to not participate in the playoffs which means the number of byes may change. Haynesville Lady Tornados and the Doyline Panthers could receive byes if teams do not opt for playoffs. These predictions are based on the current number in the power rankings participating:
Girls
BYE: Class C – Summerfield, Gibsland-Coleman
HOME: Class A – Haynesville, Homer, Lincoln Prep;
AWAY: Class A – Plain Dealing, Arcadia, Ringgold; Class B- Castor, Doyline, Saline, Dodson; Division IV – Calvary
Boys
BYE: Class C- Summerfield; Division V – New Living Word (Only 13 teams in Division V; Automatic Second Round Game)
HOME: Class A – Lincoln Prep, Arcadia, Homer, Plain Dealing; Class B – Doyline; Class C – Gibsland-Coleman; Division IV – Calvary
AWAY: Class A – Ringgold, Haynesville, Magnolia Charter; Class B – Dodson, Castor, Saline
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