BY MATT VINES, The DeSoto Parish Journal
STONEWALL – After a tough loss to Stanley in which the Logansport boys basketball team missed a bushel of free throws, the Tigers bounced back in a big way Tuesday to log a 56-51 win against North DeSoto on the road.
Logansport (4-4) evens its record heading into its District 3-1 A schedule, which begins Friday with a trip to Division IV Select reigning champion Northwood-Lena. The Tigers play each district team twice and enters district play ranked No. 31 in the latest Division IV Non-Select power rankings (28 teams make playoffs).
North DeSoto (5-2), who had its best start in more than a decade by winning its first five games, is now on a two-game losing streak after losses to Doyline and Logansport.
The Griffins have two games – Friday at Doyline and Tuesday at home against Converse – before they head into the vaunted District 1-4A to face powerhouse Huntington. Sitting at No. 27, North DeSoto is on the playoff bubble.
Mansfield started off 2024 in a better way as the Wolverines are 2-2 this calendar year. The Wolverines started District 3-2A play with a big 69-40 win against Many after splitting games in the Bossier Tournament. Mansfield edged North Caddo, 69-65, before falling to Loyola, 49-46.
Mansfield (5-13) need a successful district season to move up from its No. 30 slot in the Division III Non-Select power ratings. The Wolverines host Jonesboro-Hodge on Tuesday and Winnfield on Friday.
With Stanley’s win against Logansport on Dec. 29, the Panthers (7-18) snapped an eight-game losing streak.
But Stanley couldn’t carry that momentum forward, dropping contests to Starks (60-58) and starting District 3-B play with a 65-28 loss to powerhouse Zwolle.
The Panthers, who are No. 34 in Division V Non-Select, have a busy week ahead with Pleasant Hill on Monday, Florien on Tuesday and Negreet on Friday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Logansport girls logged the win of the week when they knocked off a 14-win North DeSoto squad in 41-35 fashion.
The Lady Tigers (8-6) start district play tonight when they head to Northwood-Lena. After a 2-4 start, Logansport has won six of its last eight contests.
Stanley is still looking for its first win of the new year after the Panthers dropped its district opener at Zwolle, 62-49.
The Lady Panthers (5-17) host Florien on Tuesday and head to Negreet on Friday.
SOCCER
After a five-match winning streak, the North DeSoto girls have skidded into the new year with an 0-2-1 mark in their last three matches.
The Lady Griffins (12-4-4) dropped contests to West Monroe, 1-0, and Episcopal, 4-0, before tying Parkway, 2-2, in the District II-1 opener.
After Thursday night’s match against Huntington, North DeSoto needs to pull out at least tie against district favorite Caddo Magnet to keep itself in the hunt for a district title.
The North DeSoto boys couldn’t break through in the new year, going 0-2-1 in their last three matches to lengthen their streak to nine matches without a victory.
The Griffins (4-9-2) haven’t been able to build on a 4-2 start.
North DeSoto tied Airline on Jan. 4 before dropping its first two matches of District II-1 play, losing to Parkway, 4-1, and Northwood, 4-0.
WRESTLING
The North DeSoto wrestling team placed third at the Allen Texas Outlaw Tournament this past week, an event which featured squads from all across Texas.
The Griffins tallied 425.5 points.
Spots are still available for the 9th Annual Don Burton Memorial Duals on Feb. 10. The event is hosted at North DeSoto Middle School and is for wrestlers K-8.
Weight classes start at 45 pounds and go up to 175+.