It is a good time to be a Barbe Buc, with the baseball team starting practice Monday in preparation for its annual run at the state championship team, the softball team preparing for a return to the state tournament and the girls basketball team sitting atop the Class 5A power rankings in search of its first ever trip to the state tournament.

McNeese Street isn’t the only place where title hopes are on the rise. A combination of the expanded number of classes and divisions in this year’s playoffs and a good crop of talent has a larger-than-normal group of schools holding legitimate chances to reach the girls state basketball tournament in Hammond.

On the girls side, the Bucs are rolling through the regular season with only one loss to a state school.

The Bucs lead the power rankings by more than two full points and are unlikely to be caught. The Bucs preferred style of play, featuring a dominant defense and balanced offense, should hold up well in the playoffs.

The Bucs won a pair of postseason games last year, and depending on how the brackets break, may not have to leave home to earn a trip to Hammond.

The Sam Houston Broncos are not far behind the Bucs, sitting at third in the power ratings. There is a sizable cushion between the Broncos and fifth-ranked Denham Springs, meaning the Broncos are in good shape to remain in the top four and would be in line to most likely host a quarterfinal game in the playoffs.

DeRidder entered last week second in the 4A power rankings and are led by Domonique Davis, a sophomore who has already passed the 1,000-point scoring mark.

The Dragons have quality non-district wins over Sulphur, South Beauregard and Iota and is in control of the District 3-4A race with a 4-0 mark and wins over Rayne and LaGrange.

The District 4-3A race is far from divided, with Iota leading South Beauregard by a game after rallying late to beat the Lady Ks Friday.

Last week the Lady Ks were first in the power rankings, with the largest lead over the second ranked team in any class. Their hold on the top spot is unlikely to change.

Iota was third and could move up to second based on two good wins over St. Louis and South Beauregard last week.

The Lady Dogs were in Hammond last year and have four starters back from that team. They know how to win big games, have multiple scoring options and are a great passing team. Both Iota and South Beauregard are in good position to get to Hammond.

St. Louis could also earn a trip. The Saints have struggled with inconsistency, but have a game-changing player in guard Alexandria Goodly, who is capable of dominating games on both ends of the floor.

The Saints were fourth in the power rankings last week, but face a tough schedule to end the season with road trips to both Iota and South Beauregard.

In the lower classes, Merryville and all-world guard Andrea Cournoyer are rolling and in line for a return to Hammond, where the Panthers finished as 1A runner-up last season.

Fairview looks set to return to the big stage after a rare absence last year, fueled by the return of Callie Maddox from a shoulder injury.

In Class 2A, Lake Arthur is having another quality season and is in the hunt for a top four playoff seed.