Rosepine's Kody Perry-Calhoun guards Vinton's Khailen Ross on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)

Two first-time No. 1 seeds will lead 26 Southwest Louisiana boys basketball teams into the Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Lacassine and Vinton earned their first top billing in the power-ratings era (since 2008) when the playoff brackets were playoffs released on Monday.

Vinton (20-5) is No. 1 in Non-select Division IV after moving down from Division III.

“We are excited about the possibilities,” Vinton head coach Keith Kelly said. “Division IV has some quality teams. Obviously, it’s going to be a difficult path, but we like our chances.”

After exiting last season’s playoffs in the regional round as a four-seed to eventual runner-up Red River, the Lions will look to three experienced seniors — D.J. Broussard, Keithan Rigmaiden and Jaheim Levias — to lead them deeper into the playoffs.

“I think our seniors are pretty mature,” Kelly said. “They’ve been through the fire quite a few times. “All three of them have been starting since they were sophomores, two of them since they were freshmen. They’ve played in a lot of really difficult games.

“I felt like we upgraded our schedule this year to try to be a little bit more tournament-tested and to play against some better opponents, bigger opponents, and more physical opponents. “It seems like the playoffs have become a much more physical style of basketball.”

Lacassine will ride a 28-game win streak into the playoffs as the No. 1 team in Class B.

The Cardinals have earned a top-five seed four consecutive seasons. They lost in the 2022 semifinals and lost to Gibsland-Coleman in the quarterfinals the last two seasons, including in overtime last year.

Lacassine’s lone loss was to Negreet 63-60 in its Nov. 8 season opener.

Lake Charles College Prep (25-4) finished the regular season with an 11-game win streak to earn its highest seed ever, No. 4 in Select Division II, and a first-round bye. Hamilton Christian is the fourth-ranked team in Select Division IV.

Other area teams that received first-round byes include Select Division III No. 5 Rosepine (26-3), plus Class C No. 8 Reeves (16-13), No. 9 Starks (206) and No. 12 Hackberry (22-8).

Local boys basketball bi-district playoff schedule

Nonselect Division I

No. 25 Sam Houston (15-15) at No. 8 Sulphur (28-5), 7 p.m. Friday

No. 26 Barbe (13-15) at No. 7 East Ascension

Division II

No. 17 Iowa (13-11) at No. 16 Abbeville

No. 24 Jennings (13-15) at No. 9 Northwest

Division III

No. 22 Oakdale (14-15) at No. 11 Avoyelles, 6:30 p.m. Friday

No. 27 Kinder (16-14) at No. 6 French Settlement, 6 p.m. Friday

No. 23 Crowley at No. 10 Westlake (14-8), 6 p.m. Friday

Division IV

No. 1 Vinton, bye

No. 25 East Beauregard (12-14) at No. 8 West St. Mary, 6 p.m. Friday

No. 21 Grand Lake (1514) at No. 12 Delhi, 6:30 p.m. Friday

No. 20 Northwest at No. 13 Lake Arthur (13-12),

No. 19 DeQuincy (8-13) at No. 14 Elton (13-11), 6:30 p.m. Friday

Select Division II

No. 4 Lake Charles College Prep (25-4), bye

No. 19 St. Charles Catholic at No. 14 Washington-Marion (18-12), 6 p.m. Friday

Division III

No. 24 Houma Christian at No. 9 St. Louis Catholic (13-13), 6 p.m. Friday (Reynaud Middle School)

No. 5 Rosepine (26-3), bye

Division IV

No. 4 Hamilton Christian (16-7), bye

Class B No. 1 Lacassine (28-1), bye

No. 17 Holden at No. 16 Fairview (16-15)

Class C

No. 17 Harrisonburg at No. 16 Singer (15-19), 6 p.m. Thursday

No. 9 Starks (20-6), bye

No. 8 Reeves (16-13), bye

No. 12 Hackberry (228), bye