Family Christian Flames burn St. Joseph in Division V semifinals

St. Joseph’s dream of a state championship was reduced to ashes by the Family Christian Flames in the Division V semifinal game played on Ash Wednesday.

The Flames burned the Eagles, 61-30, in the Lafayette Cajundome to advance to the Division V state championship against No. 2-ranked Jehovah-Jireh at noon Saturday in the Cajundome.

The parish’s last hope for state title this basketball season is Class 2A 11th-seeded Avoyelles Mustangs, who are on the road to the No. 3 Rayville Hornets tonight in a quarterfinal match. An earlier schedule posted showed Avoyelles hosting tonight's game.

The Mustangs earned the quarterfinal berth with a 73-63 upset victory over No. 6 French Settlement on Tuesday. Rayville advanced by whipping the Red River Bulldogs, 81-60.

Unfortunately, Mardi Gras wasn’t as joyful and carefree for the parish’s third team.

Avoyelles Public Charter, ranked No. 16 in Class 2A, had the unenviable task of meeting the No. 1-ranked Lakeview Gators in the Round 2 game on Tuesday. After the dust cleared, the Gators had chomped the Vikings, 66-20.

LAST WEEK’S GAMES

Last week’s playoff action focused on the two remaining girls teams. Both lost last Friday.

The No. 4 St. Joseph Lady Eagles fell to No. 2 Claiborne Christian Academy, 61-35, in the Division V championship game in the Alario Center in Westwego.

St. Joe defeated No. 1 Family Christian Lady Flames, 54-41, in the semifinals on Feb. 22 to be the first St. Joe team to play for a state title and the first team from Avoyelles Parish to reach the finals in any sport in over 35 years.

In Class 2A quarterfinal action, defending champion Lake Arthur Lady Tigers, seeded 5th in the playoffs, defeated the No. 4 Avoyelles Public Charter Lady Vikings, 62-53.

Lake Arthur was paired against No. 1 Amite in the semifinals in the Hammond University Center Wednesday night, after deadline for this edition. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Rayville-Rosepine contest, also played Wednesday. The Class 2A state title game will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday in the University Center.

In boys playoff action last week, Marksville was bumped from the Class 3A title hunt by Booker T. Washington-N.O., 52-45.

In Class 2A, the Avoyelles Mustangs beat E. Feliciana, 55-49, and Avoyelles Charter defeated West St. Mary, 58-46.

St. Joseph won a close quarterfinal game with Northside Christian, taking a 59-55 decision.