Iowa High will play in the boys state basketball tournament for the first time in program history when the No. 2 Yellow Jackets face No. 3 Carroll in a non-select Division II semifinal at 8 p.m. today at Burton Coliseum.

The Yellow Jackets (29-5) won their first two playoff games by a combined 29 points, cruising by Brusly 75-57 in the quarterfinals to extend their winning streak to eight games. Carroll (24-11) advanced with a 71-52 win over Breaux Bridge.

Iowa head coach Rob Melanson said early jitters are to be expected.

“I’m sure as a team we will be a little nervous,” he said. “But we were able to play at the Burton twice this year, played at the Legacy Center, played at a packed St. Thomas More packed gym, at Madison Prep. The reason we played those games was to hopefully get us where we are at now.”

Melanson said Carroll presents a few challenges.

“They will play a lot of kids and they shoot the 3-ball well,” he said.

The Jackets are led by the high-scoring trio of Desamonte Gradney, Dashawn Ceaser and Landon Langley, who combine to average 52 points per game.

Melanson said he likes the way the team is playing on the other end.

“So far this postseason I think our defense and rebounding has been solid and our role players have done their jobs really well,” he said. “Both playoff games, I also felt like we set the tone early. It is something that we will definitely have to do against a team as good as Carroll.”

Lavion Owens leads Carroll with 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Play begins at 1:15 p.m with Newman vs. Dunham.

In select Division III, followed by East Feliciana vs. North Central at 3 p.m., Wossman vs. Bossier at 4:45 p.m. and Franklin vs. White Castle at 6:15 p.m.