Taking a look at the parish basketball picture as we are getting close to playoff time there are two parish teams that are doing well and two not so well.
Franklinton is currently at 23 and has a good chance of qualifying for the DII playoffs but will almost definitely be on the road.
Pine is at 18 and will qualify for the DIII playoffs. Two more out of district games remain for the Raiders and those will likely determine if they can play at home in the first round of be on the road.
Bogalusa is at 36 and needs a lot of help to qualify for the DIII playoffs. The Jacks have one game remaining and a win over East Feliciana will still not likely be enough for them to make the playoffs.
Varnado is on the bubble at 31 in the DIV power ratings. They have no more games scheduled and would need help to qualify for the playoffs.
Peeking in at the girls teams for the parish and their playoff, which begin this week, there is one team in excellent shape, another in decent shape and two more who will likely be on the outside looking in.
Franklinton is at 35 and not likely to make the playoffs in DII.
Pine is at 7 in the DIII power ratings and will qualify and will host in the first round.
Bogalusa is at 29 and is on the bubble. They will not know for sure until the final ratings are released.
Varnado is at 25 in DIV and should qualify but will definitely be on the road in round one.
Notes and Quotes
Pine High school will be hosting the Washington Parish baseball jamboree this Friday February 16.
Pine will play Franklinton at 3pm before their respective JV teams will play at 4pm. Bogalusa and Franklinton will then play at 5 before Varnado plays Bogalusa at 6 and Varnado will conclude the evening against Pine at 7.
The FHS Demons baseball team will participate in this jamboree and will have their first game against Albany on the road on February 19. First year head coach Clay Tageant likes what he has for his inaugural season. "I really like the group we have. My guys have embraced me as their new head coach and they understand the internal and external pressures of taking over the program from my dad, a Louisiana High School baseball legend. We have one of the most diverse rosters I've coached. We will have around six starters who can and will play multiple positions. Our goal is to play as fast as possible and overwhelm our opponents with pressure. With our ace senior, Micah Wascom, on the mound I feel like we can match up with anyone."
•Skylar Branch, a softball player at FHS, signed to play for Northeast Alabama Community College last week.
•Micah Hart, a football player at FHS, signed to play at the University at Monticello.
•The FHS JROTC Air Rifle Team placed third in the state recently in the Louisiana JROTC State Air Rifle Championship.
•Mercedes Lopez and Susan Bradford were selected to the All District soccer team from FHS. Madysen Varnado and Morgan Varnado were selected to the second team and Kaylee Ard, Savannah Lewis and Hayden D'Luca were honorable mention selections.
•Shane Smith, principal at Franklinton High school was recently elected to the LHSAA Executive Committee. This is a very important position in the LHSAA community and he will do well representing the athletes of our community and state.
•Jacob Smith, a 2018 FHS graduate, has garnered a graduate assistant position with the University of Washington football program.
