No. 4 Lacassine will play in its first semifinal game today in 14 years against one of the most successful Class B programs at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state basketball tournament.

Lacassine (32-6) will face top-ranked defending state champion Simsboro (30-3) today at Burton Coliseum at 7 p.m.

The non-select state tournament will run through Saturday.

Simsboro has played in four consecutive state championship games. The Tigers beat Anacoco 56-53 in the finals last season and have won three of the last four Class B titles. Its only title game loss was to Doyline, 85-83, in 2020 in overtime.

Lacassine last reached the semifinals in 2007 and is looking for its first championship game appearance since falling to Pineview in the Class C finals 69-67 in 1976.

The Cardinals beat Doyline 74-66 in the quarterfinals led by 21 points from junior Aaron Garcia.

Senior guard Kane Broussard has been the Cardinals top-scoring threat in the postseason, averaging 29 points a game including 40 in the regional round.

The Tigers are led by a trio of guards in Jordan Crawford (16 ppg), Nick Maryland (16 ppg) and Chilaydrien Newton (18 ppg), who can play inside or from the perimeter. Newton earned all-state first team honors last season.

Simsboro has won its last seven games by an average of 33 points. Simsboro three losses this season were all to semifinalist teams in Class 5A’s Oauchita Parish, St. Paul’s in Division I and Class 1A No. 2 Delhi.

In the other Class B semifinal, No. 2 Anacoco will play No. 3 Zwolle on Tuesday at 7 p.m.