With the highest seed comes the highest expectation. That is the case for St. Augustine and Riverside heading into the boys state basketball playoffs which begin Friday night.

With the highest seed comes the highest expectation. That is the case for St. Augustine and Riverside heading into the boys state basketball playoffs which begin Friday night.

In 5A, top-seeded St. Augustine opens at home against 32^nd-seeded Acadiana at 7 p.m. at the Purple Knights gym. At 29-4, Clifford Barthe’s team is a heavy favorite over the 17-15 Wreckin’ Rams.

As a sixth-seed, a young St. Augustine team reached the quarterfinals a year ago before falling at West Monroe 55-50. The Purple Knights have not lost at home, going 9-0 this year.

St. Augustine is led by 6’5 Senior Eldridge Moore, who has been nominated as a McDonald’s All-American, along with sophomore point guard Javan Felix and 6’3 sophomore forward Sydie London. Moore is averaging 13.4 points per game while London averages 12.7. Felix averages 9.4 points per game while junior Brandon Lain is averaging over seven points per game.

The tradition-rich St. Aug. program is used to high expectations. The Purple Knights have won four state championships as a member of LHSAA and were a power in LIALO prior to that.

St. Augustine enters the playoffs on a nine-game win streak after sweeping through 10-5A in unbeaten fashion. “We were very happy to earn the top-seed. We had three goals starting out—to win district, to attain the top seed and finally, to win the state championship. We’ve gotten two of them." said St. Aug. coach Clifford Barthe.

The Purple Knights coach is high on his team’s key players. “Moore has been very, very successful. He played as a freshman. He has progressed every year. Last year, he became our leader, our top guy. He’s been very good for us throughout. Felix and London have matured in remarkable fashion over the last year. What they have done so far has been tremendous.

It has been a team effort, spreading the wealth like our other championship teams at St. Augustine. You cannot focus on just one guy much like our 1995 national championship team,” said Barthe.

As for other teams to watch in 5A, Barthe mentioned several. “Scotlandville has been the hot team all year long. They have been at or near number one all year. They have a kid by the name of J.J. Thomas who is a beast inside. Ouachita Christian is the defending state champion. Sulphur is very good. We came back to beat them in the regionals last year. Chip Armlin is outstanding for them. West Monroe beat us last year and they are on the same side of the bracket. Brother Martin is on our side of the bracket as well.

Our league prepared us well for the playoffs. I think two of us could make it to Lafayette. Any one of the three (St. Augustine, Brother Martin, Jesuit) could win it all, I believe.”

In 4A, defending state champion Salmen, undervalued as a very dangerous ninth-seed, will host 24^th-seeded Morgan City at 7 p.m. The Spartans know about being underestimated. They are in very familiar territory. In 2009, Salmen was the ninth-seed as well and won the state championship, defeating Bossier 61-46 for the title, finishing with a 32-2 record.

Along the way, the Spartans upset top-seeded Peabody Magnet 59-51 in the quarterfinals. Peabody is once again the top-seed. Should both teams win their first two playoff games, they would square off again in the quarterfinals for the second straight season.

Jay Carlin is one of the state’s most respected and top basketball minds. Carlin’s Spartans are a threat to make a similar run this season. Salmen is led by senior T.J. Price, an integral part of last year’s state championship team, along with junior Jamal Robinson. Sophomores Charles Trotter and Kyree Price have been excellent as well. The Spartans are 23-6 and enter the playoffs as a hot team, winners of eight straight games. Carlin says his young team has grown up, especially after getting key contributors from the semifinal football team.

“It’s been a progression all the way through. The last couple of years, it has been that way. It seems like we have improved the last two years in January and February. When we have been able to practice three or four times a week and play twice a week with all of our players, you get better.

This team is not playing like a young team anymore. They are young but they know how to play and they play hard. They know how to win close games. Sometimes, young teams have trouble finishing games. Last year’s team knew how to win but they grew into it. This team here has gotten better and better.

We count on T.J. Price to lead us with Adam and Jamal Robinson scoring inside. Kyree Price plays like a senior. He can be special.

It’s exciting. We won’t just beat you on the boards and we are not shooting it as well as we like. Morgan City has size that will make it difficult and they come from a very good league. We have to keep the ball in front of us to give us a better chance of rebounding. We have to execute on offense,” said Carlin.

While second-seeded Bossier is on the other side of the bracket, Salmen is faced with the prospect of a quarterfinal rematch with top-seeded Peabody Magnet, should both advance. “We would like to have avoided Peabody and Bossier but that did not happen. With the football players, we are probably like a two or three seed. Robinson and T.J., along with Greg Brickley came to us late from football and they made a difference. Brickley is a defensive specialist. Senior Thomas Jones has been solid. We are not real deep so we have to stay out of foul trouble,” Carlin said.

In 3A, fourth-seeded E.D. White plays host to 29^th-seeded Kaplan. The Cardinals of Jonathan Keife were a 3A state runner-up in 2007, falling to Karr 54-52 in the title game.

The 23-5 Cardinals are an experienced team, led by leading scorer Philip Lyons, a senior. Fellow seniors Josh Jennings, Charlie Bourgeois and Cody Bourgeois have been forces as well. Sophomore Ja-Dante Frye is a promising young player. E.D. White was a playoff team in 2009 but lost in the opening round as an 18^th-seed to Crowley, 66-64. E.D. White enters the playoffs having won 13 of 14 games. Kaplan is 16-15 on the season.

Keife has watched his team build toward this outstanding season. “We are a veteran team. Some of our players have been playing since tenth grade. Most played for us as youngsters the year after we reached the title game and have been playing since,” Keife said.

Keife is proud of how his team endured a very difficult 2008-2009 season to get where they are today. “Very proud of them. After Hurricane Gustav, we did not have a gym last year. Every game was a road game. We played home games in five different gyms. It was quite an accomplishment to make the playoffs and it is gratifying to be where we are now.”

As for his team’s chances in the playoffs, Keife understands that skill is important but so is good fortune. “It takes a lot of luck to get there. We have played a lot of close games. We are playing our best basketball right now.”

As for the teams to beat in 3A, Keife sees two as the favorites. “I think Vidalia (#1) and Plaquemine (#2) have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Carroll (#3) won the best district in the state. Abbeville (#5) and Redemptorist (#13) currently have huge winning streaks. We have proven in the recent past that we can beat anyone and make a run,” said Keife.

In 2A, Timmy Byrd’s Riverside Rebels are the top-seed and will open at home tonight against 32^nd-seed Sterlington. The 29-6 Rebels are led by 6’7 sophomore center Ricardo Gathers and 6’2 senior guard Cedrick Jenkins. Gathers is averaging 19.3 points and 15.1 rebounds while Jenkins averages 18.7 points per game. 6’6 sophomore Donald Thomas is a very formidable presence as well. 6’3 sophomore Louis Dabney is averaging 12 points per game. The Rebels enter the playoffs as winners of nine of their last 10 games, falling only to 1A top-seed Christian Life 75-73 on February 5.

Byrd feels good about his team’s chances entering the playoffs. “Around here, I think it’s a pretty exciting time. It’s the first playoff appearance since 2005 and the first time they have won a district championship. We’ve gotten tremendous support. We’ve been getting between 900 and 1,200 fans in the gym. Our kids are excited. We are healthy and probably palying the best we have played all year.

We are really excited about being at home and we think that will give us a tremendous advantage because of the environment at our home gym. Thomas has really been playing big for us in the last few weeks and moved into the starting lineup. Louis Dabney has started for us all year and he is probably our top defender.

You can tell how tough 2A is because the defending runner-up Many has everyone back and they are the fourth-seed. They came in second in their district behind Red River, who might be the most athletic team in our class. They are playing really well. Donaldsonville may be the quickest team out there. Springfield has a pair of 6’5 kids and they play zone. Evangel might be the scariest team out there.

St. Thomas Aquinas is really well coached under Errol Gauff and they have won a couple of state championships and they have one of the best guards in the state in Zay Jackson. 6’5 sophomore Steven Wronkowski is awfully good as well. If you don’t handle their pressure, they will be really hard to beat.

There are probably as many as 10 teams that have a legitimate chance to make it to the Top 28,” said Byrd. “There are many good teams in the central and northern part of the state. It’s different than football where two or three teams dominate.”

Sterlington is 21-13 on the season.

In 1A, defending state champion Country Day is seeded second to Christian Life. The Cajuns of Mike McGuire are 34-5 and will host 8-19 Catholic-Pointe Coupee, seeded 32^nd. Country Day has won 15 consecutive games.

Country Day is led by LSU signee Matt Derenbecker. The 6’7 senior is averaging 25.1 points and 11 rebounds and five assists per game and is the reigning Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Derenbecker is shooting 76 percent from the free throw line and 51 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range.

Two-sport stars Nick Hansel, the tight end on the Cajuns football team, is averaging 11 points per game. Senior Hunter Ham averages 10 per game.

“I think we are gelling at the right time. I don’t think we are as deep as a year ago but other kids have adjusted and played good ball. I think they understand that we have to play defense first and rebound. If Eddie is hitting shots and playing well, we are tough to beat. I think we’ll be a hard out if we are playing well.

Derenbecker has stepped his game up in every facet. He’s our point guard, our center, he rebounds, he blocks shots. He is the most versatile player I have ever coached. He is going to be special at LSU. He does whatever we need him to do to win. He has really picked up his game. He plays the whole game.

I think Christian Life is clearly number one, the team to beat. In a one-game situation, if we play well, if we get that far, we’ve got a good shot. We could be at Varnado in the second round and could play White Castle in the quarterfinals and they beat Christian Life. Of course, we have to get that far,” said Cajuns coach Mike McGuire. Country Day beat Christian Life 58-49 in the semifinals in 2009.

In Class B, Houma Christian is the 12^th-seed and will host 21^st-seeded Maurepas Friday night. The Warriors of Frederick Frye are 18-4 and have won 10 of their last 11 games entering the playoffs. Maurepas is 21-14 on the season and lost to Houma Christian 62-55 on January 12.

In Class C, Grand Isle is seeded ninth and will host 24^th-seeded First Baptist Christian of Slidell Friday. The Trojans of Ralph Vaughn are 22-13 and have won eight consecutive games. The Eagles are 16-7 on the year and have won three straight entering the playoffs. The district 10-C rivals met twice in the regular season with Grand Isle prevailing easily both times, 58-26 on January 15 and 67-42 on February 2.

BOYS BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26:

5A

#32 Acadiana @ #1 St. Augustine—7 p.m.

#17 Thibodaux @ #16 Slidell—7 p.m.

#24 Lafayette @ #9 Brother Martin—7 p.m.

#25 Ponchatoula @ #8 West Monroe—7 p.m.

#28 West Jefferson @ #5 Hammond—7 p.m.

#21 Southwood @ #12 Central (B.R.)—7 p.m.

#20 Pineville @ #13 LaGrange—7 p.m.

#30 Byrd @ #3 Ouachita Parish—7 p.m.

#19 Destrehan @ #14 St. Thomas More—7 p.m.

#22 Catholic (B.R.) @ #11 Hahnville @ R.K. Smith Middle School—7 p.m.

#27 East St. John @ #6 Jesuit—7 p.m.

#23 Covington @ #10 John Ehret—7 p.m.

#18 Natchitoches Central @ #15 Airline—7 p.m.

#32 Denham Springs @ #2 Scotlandville—7 p.m.

4A

#32 Woodlawn (Shreve.) @ #1 Peabody Magnet—7 p.m.

#17 Franklin Parish @ #16 McDonogh 35—7 p.m.

#24 Morgan City @ #9 Salmen—7 p.m.

#25 St. Louis Catholic @ #8 Istrouma—7 p.m.

#28 Belle Chasse @ #5 Wossman—7 p.m.

#21 Tioga @ #12 DeRidder—7 p.m.

#20 Huntington @ #13 Minden—7 p.m.

#29 Haughton @ #4 Glen Oaks—7 p.m.

#30 Woodlawn (B.R.) @ #3 Washington-Marion—7 p.m.

#19 Vandebilt Catholic @ #14 Karr—7 p.m.

#22 St. Martinville @ #11 East Jefferson—7 p.m.

#27 Benton @ #6 Northside—7 p.m.

#26 O.P. Walker @ #7 Ellender—7 p.m.

#23 Helen Cox @ #10 Cecilia—7 p.m.

#18 Alexandria @ #15 Neville—7 p.m.

#31 Franklinton @ #2 Bossier—7 p.m.

3A

#32 Carver @ #1 Vidalia—7 p.m.

#17 Avoyelles @ #16 Bogalusa—7 p.m.

#24 Baker @ #9 Crowley—7 p.m.

#25 Northeast @ #8 Rayville—7 p.m.

#28 Patterson @ #5 Patterson—7 p.m.

#21 Madison @ #12 Caldwell Parish—7 p.m.

#20 Marksville @ #13 Redemptorist—7 p.m.

#29 Kaplan @ #4 E.D. White—7 p.m.

#30 Cohen @ #3 Carroll—7 p.m.

#19 Northwest @ #14 Port Allen—7 p.m.

#22 Franklin @ #11 Holy Cross—7 p.m.

#27 Booker T. Washington @ #6 Green Oaks—7 p.m.

#26 Loyola Prep @ #7 Richwood—7 p.m.

#23 North DeSoto @ #10 Amite—7 p.m.

#18 Rayne @ #15 Iowa—7 p.m.

#31 McDonogh @ #2 Plaquemine—7 p.m.

2A

#32 Sterlington @ #1 Riverside—7 p.m.

#17 Ville Platte @ #16 Port Barre—7 p.m.

#24 Lakeview @ #9 Anacoco—7 p.m.

#25 South Beauregard @ #8 Springfield—7 p.m.

#28 North Caddo @ #5 Evangel—7 p.m.

#21 Lakeside @ #12 Dunham—7 p.m.

#20 Welsh @ #13 Douglass—7 p.m.

#29 Pickering @ #4 Many—7 p.m.

#30 Calvary Baptist @ #3 Red River—7 p.m.

#19 Farmerville @ #14 Newman—7 p.m.

#22 St. Helena Central @ #11 Episcopal (B.R.)—7 p.m.

#27 Lusher @ #6 Mamou—7 p.m.

#26 Pope John Paul II @ #7 Donaldsonville—7 p.m.

#23 Rosepine @ #10 Pointe Coupee Central—7 p.m.

#18 Capitol @ #15 Jonesboro-Hodge—7 p.m.

#31 John Curtis @ #2 St. Thomas Aquinas—7 p.m.

1A

#32 Oberlin @ #1 Christian Life—7 p.m.

#17 Gueydan @ #32 Oberlin—7 p.m.

#24 Ascension Catholic @ #9 East Iberville—7 p.m.

#25 Crescent City @ #8 Southern Lab—7 p.m.

#28 Jackson @ #5 Plain Dealing—7 p.m.

#21 Ecole Classique @ # 12 Grambling—7 p.m.

#20 Northwood Lena # #13 Block—7 p.m.

#29 Vermilion Catholic @ #4 North Central—7 p.m.

#30 Logansport @ #3 Central Catholic—7 p.m.

#19 Tensas @ #14 Delhi—7 p.m.

#27 Oak Grove @ #6 Elton—7 p.m.

#26 Hamilton Christian @ #7 St. Mary—7 p.m.

#23 Haynesville @ #10 White Castle—7 p.m.

#18 Varnado @ #15 St. Martin’s—7 p.m.

#31 Catholic-Pointe Coupee @ #2 Country Day—7 p.m.

CLASS B

#32 Episcopal (Acadiana) @ #1 Rapides—7 p.m.

#17 Bell City @ #16 Florien—7 p.m.

#24 Negreet @ #9 Castor—7 p.m.

#25 Hathaway @ #8 Gibsland-Coleman—7 p.m.

#29 Forest @ #5 Centerville—7 p.m.

#21 Maurepas @ #12 Houma Christian—7 p.m.

#20 Quitman @ #13 Holden—7 p.m.

#29 Weston @ #4 Fairview—7 p.m.

#30 Mount Hermon @ #3 Zwolle—7 p.m.

#19 Summerfield @ #14 Pitkin—7 p.m.

#22 Monterey @ #11 Shongaloo—7 p.m.

#27 Grank Lake @ #6 Simsboro—7 p.m.

#26 Singer @ #7 Hornbeck—7 p.m.

#23 Doyline @ #10 Lacasinne—7 p.m.

#18 Hosanna Christian @ #15 Glenmora—7 p.m.

#31 Simpson @ #2 Midland—7 p.m.

CLASS C

#32 Bishop McManus @ #1 Pleasant Hill—7 p.m.

#17 Starks @ #16 Calvin—7 p.m.

#24 First Baptist @ #9 Grand Isle—7 p.m.

#25 Cotton Valley #8 Dubach—7 p.m.

#28 St. Joseph’s Plaquemine #5 Kilbourne—7 p.m.

#21 Elizabeth @ #12 Saline—7 p.m.

#20 Northside Christian @ #13 Pelican—7 p.m.

#29 Phoenix @ #4 Jehovah-Jireh—7 p.m.

#30 Ebarb @ #3 Plainview—7 p.m.

#19 Claiborne Christian @ #14 Reeves—7 p.m.

#22 Assembly Christian @ #11 Spearsville—7 p.m.

#27 Johnson-Bayou @ #6 Atlanta—7 p.m.

#26 Family Christian @#7 Grace Christian—7 p.m.

#23 Hicks @ #10 Sicily Island—7 p.m.

#18 Epps @ #15 Marion—7 p.m.

#31 Holy Rosary @ #2 Athens—7 p.m.