Five things to watch for this week in the world of Southwest La. prep sports.

Title defense: Three area girls’ basketball teams will start their state title defense this week in St. Louis Catholic, LaGrange and Lake Arthur.

The Saints are loaded this year as the look to return to the Division II finals for the fourth consecutive year and win another title. They are led by recent UL-Monroe signee Myca Trail. She was the Class 3A MVP last year while averaging 20.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 6.0 steals to lead the Saints to a 31-1 record.

Other key players back are seniors Raven Guillory and Tia Reder and junior Paris Guillory. The Saints host Sam Houston on Friday.

LaGrange has some big shoes to fill to win a third consecutive Class 4A state title, including 2021 Miss Louisiana basketball Jeriah Warren, who now plays for the Florida Gators.

The Gators will look to senior forward McKenzie, senior guard Shaw Miah Alexis and junior guard Ala’Jsa Walker as they open the season on Tuesday at Jennings.

Lake Arthur also has some holes to fill after winning its first state title in 45 years with the departure of Class 2A MVP Deonna Brister, who now starts for Nicholls State. Lake Arthur will be led by sophomore point guard Vivian Sketoe and senior Kali Hornsby, a LSU Eunice signee. The Tigers host East Beauregard on Tuesday.

Reloading: Washington-Marion and South Beauregard each won district titles last season but suffered heavy graduation losses. Point guard Tyree Brown returns for W-M, while South Beauregard must replace most of its rotation.

Iowa returns seniors Curtis Deville and Crajaun Bennett.

District 4-1A figures to be a tight race with defending champion Elton hoping to hold off challenges Hamilton Christian and Grand Lake.

The Indians return Demarcus Jack, Sherman Bellow and Xavier Ceasar.

Hamilton Christian will feature guards Deion Ware, Neiman Sullen and Mason Russell. Senior guard Blayne Cooper returns for Grand Lake.

Road to home: Four area football teams pulled upsets on the road in the bi-district round last week to earn a home game this week in the regionals.

Three of those come from Class 2A in No. 21 DeQuincy, No. 19 Welsh and No. 22 Kinder.

Welsh upset No. 14 South Plaquemines 23-13 and will host undefeated No. 3 General Trass.

Kinder edged St. Helena 22-20 to earn the right to host No. 6 Amite, who is on a seven-game win streak.

DeQuincy dominated Port Allen in the second half to win 44-22 and will host No. 5 North Caddo.

In Class 3A, No. 17 Westlake cruised to a 45-22 win over No. 16 Grant and will host No. 1 and undefeated Sterlington.

Entering the fray: After a bye in the first round of the playoffs, Grand Lake will be back on the field this week.

The Hornets, ranked No. 3 in Class 1A, are looking to return to the Class 1A state championship game and will host District 4-1A rival Oberlin this week.

Grand Lake scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to rally from a six-point deficit to beat the Tigers 27-20 in Week 6.

Return to the pitch: The high school soccer season kicks off this week.

The St. Louis Catholic and DeRidder girls look improve on their quarterfinals runs last season.

The Saints have to replace Division III, District 4 offensive and defensive MVPs in Sarah Upshawn Kya Duhon, but return five all-district players in forward Jennifer Lytle (Sr.), midfielders Jessica Lytle (Sr.) and Jenna McNamara (So.) and defenders Charlie Maze (So.) and Gretchen Hanley (Sr.).

DeRidder returns defender Audrian Cruz and midfielder Autumn Dowd and will travel to Barbe on Tuesday to open the season.

St. Louis will open next week on Monday at Sulphur.

South Beauregard, led by last year’s Division III, District 3 offensive and defensive MVPs Alexa Midkiff and Ashley Graham, will travel to Leesville today.

On the boys side, there will be a pair of match ups between regional finalist this week with DeRidder traveling to Sulphur and St. Louis Catholic at Teurlings Catholic on Tuesday.