Matt Vines
LOGANSPORT – If the boys basketball playoffs started today, Logansport would be the only DeSoto Parish representative with a spot.
The Tigers (8-9) are sitting at No. 22 in the Division IV Non-Select power rankings and would travel for a first-round playoff game.
The other three teams find themselves on the outside of the 28-team bracket. Playoff brackets will officially be announced Monday.
With only North DeSoto with a game left to play (late Thursday night at Haynesville), only a recalibration of power points would put Mansfield, NDHS or Stanley in the postseason.
Mansfield (9-18) is at No. 29 in Division III Non-Select, just 0.10 power points out of the playoff picture.
The Wolverines made a surge with a win against No. 3 Winnfield a couple weeks ago, but Mansfield couldn’t score a victory in their last three games, which included Winnfield, Lakeview and Red River.
Mansfield finished fourth in a tough District 3-2A with a 5-5 mark. A loaded non-district schedule combined with a young team saw the Wolverines start 3-12.
Even if North DeSoto pulled out a road win against Haynesville late Thursday, the Griffins entered their finale in No. 33 in Division II Non-Select and more than 2.5 power points out of the playoff picture.
But North DeSoto (8-11) laid a brick in the foundation of a program that won just two games last year and just nine games combined in the previous three seasons. The eight wins is the most since 2016, when North DeSoto won nine contests.
Stanley (10-22) is also more than 2.5 power points out of the Division V Non-Select playoffs but ended its regular season going 3-3 in its final six games.
Softball Season Underway This Week
Softball season started this week as area DeSoto Parish schools hit the diamond for the first time.
North DeSoto started its campaign for a fourth straight state championship with a 10-0 win against Ruston on Tuesday. The Lady Griffins battled Benton in a game that ended late Thursday.
Mansfield opened its season 1-1 with a loss against Caddo Magnet (17-0) and a 13-11 win against Booker T. Washington on Wednesday.
Logansport tallied a 6-4 win at Airline on Tuesday and will attempt more Bossier Parish wins when they head to Parkway on Tuesday and host Haughton on Thursday.
Stanley kicked off its season with a demolition of Byrd (15-0) and headed to Lakeside in a late Thursday contest.
Baseball season starts this coming week.