The Barbe Bucs girls basketball team gets another shot at a state power tonight when it hosts Lafayette at Sam Houston High School in a District 3-5A showdown.

Both the Bucs (17-5, 2-0) and Lions (21-4, 2-0) are undefeated in district play. Barbe lost in overtime to Southwood at Hamilton Christian’s MLK Classic on Jan, 17, its lone loss in a 13-game stretch.

“The great thing about that Southwood game was that we were able to see that we can play with teams like that,” Barbe head coach Trey DiGiglia said.

“We were able to go back and watch the film and fix our mistakes. Now we have an opportunity to see if we have improved.”

Lafayette has won nine of its last 10, with the loss, to Class B Fairview, also coming at the MLK Classic. The Lions have averaged 81 points per game during their three-game winning streak.

DiGigilia said he wants the game to be played at a fast tempo despite Lafayette’s scoring ability.

“They are athletic and seasoned, having played in a lot of big games,” he said. “They can play up-and-down and they usually control the boards. We have to keep them from having a big advantage there. We want to push the tempo, use our speed and force them into some mistakes. We are at our best when our defense is feeding into our offense.”

The game has big stakes in both the district race and playoff seedings. With teams playing each other once instead of twice this season, the winner of tonight’s game will be in control of the race, with the loser needing help to earn a piece of the crown.

Lafayette is third in the state power ratings, with Barbe sixth. The top four seeds are guaranteed home games in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

Elsewhere

Washington-Marion boys will face LaGrange in a District 4-4A showdown. The Gators (11-10, 2-0) and Charging Indians (1-0) are the two unbeaten teams in the district race. LaGrange enters on a three-game winning streak.