Defending Class C state champion Simpson looks to add another title this week at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Marsh Madness state tournament at Burton Coliseum. But the Broncos have to first face top-ranked Calvin in the semifinals at 4 p.m. today.

No. 4 Simpson (24- 9) beat Ebarb 73-65 in overtime in the finals last season and has again been living on the edge recently, winning its first two playoff games by a combined five points over Ebarb and Pleasant Hill led by seniors Ethan Nash, Braxton Basco, Brayden Cutts and Tristan Williams, who all averaging more than 10 points a game.

Calvin (35-2) is on an 18-game win streak and in the semifinals for the first time since 2003.

The Broncos will need to contain Cougar forward Joseph Adams (28 ppg), a second-team all-stater last season, and guard W.C. Huckaby (18 ppg). The duo combined for 55 points in the Cougars 68- 51 quarterfinal win over No. 8 Hicks.

No. 2 Gibsland-Coleman (19-7) will face No. 6 Phoenix (16-15) in the other Class C semifinal at 2 p.m. to open the second day of the state tournament.

The Bulldogs are back in the state tournament for the first time since 2017 and looking for their first state title since 1999. They have a 6-5 junior swing-man who averages close to a double-double in Terrance James (18.1 ppg, 9.7 ppg).

Phoenix started the season hot at 9-4, but went 5-11 to close out the regular season before getting hot in the postseason again and knocking off No. 3 Hornbeck 80-79 in the quarterfinals.

The day will close out with the second half of the Class B semifinals at 7 p.m. when a pair of perennial title contenders face off in No. 2 Anacoco (31-10) and No. 3 Zwolle (27-5).

Anacoco was the state runner-up last season and won a pair of titles in 2015 and 2016.

Zwolle leads the state with 15 state championships but won its last in 2017 and hasn’t played at the state tournament since a runner-up finish in 2019.

While Anacoco has five players scoring more than 10 points game, defense has been key during its nine-game win streak, holding opponents under 40 points seven times in that span.

The Indians have a pair of solid post players in Dustin Welsh (20 ppg, 9 rpg) and 6-8 Emanuel Luzardo (10 ppg, 8 rpg).

Junior guard Kenneth Montgomery leads Zwolle with 16 points and 5 rebounds per game.