PREP NOTEBOOK: LHSAA to reveal playoff pairings today

Rodrick Anderson

The coronavirus pandemic shortened high school football season is set to switch over the postseason.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association will announce the brackets during its annual Prep Pairing Show at 11 a.m. today CST (Suddenlink, Ch. 42).

Jennings (6-0) entered the final week No. 1 in Class 3A while Lake Charles College Prep (5-0) was ranked No. 4 in the most recent LHSAA power ratings.

Other Southwest Louisiana teams that could be top-10 teams include Leesville (4-2) in Class 4A, Class 2A power Kinder (5-2) and a trio of 1A teams in Grand Lake (5-1), Oberlin (5-2) and Basile (3-2).

• STATE SWIMMING: For a second consecutive year, Jennings’ Brennon Conner set a Division III record at the LSHAA state swim meet, but this time someone else set one too, stopping the junior from adding to his state title haul.

Conner, a two-time state champion last year, was the runner-up Thursday to Episcopal’s Eugene Jiang in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle at the Shreveport YMCA.

The meet was moved from Sulphur Parks and Recreation Aquatic Center because of damage caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

Conner broke his own record in the 50 with a time of 21.3 seconds, but Jiang bested him with a 20.86.

Jiang also set a record in the 100 at 45.92, knocking .68 seconds off Conner’s recordsetting mark of 46.24 in 2019. Conner touched the wall in 46.67. St. Louis Catholic’s Andrew Yang was third at 49.66.

At the Division II meet on Friday, Sam Houston’s Allison Hull placed third in the 100 butterfly (1:06.03) and missed a podium by placing fourth in the 50-freestyle (26.15 seconds).

• SIGNING: Washington-Marion senior Ashanti Carter signed a national letter of intent Friday with Division I Alcorn State to play softball.

Carter was a two-time alldistrict pitcher at Iowa before transferring to W-M last season, but the 2020 season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

Carter hit .451 with 25 RBIs while striking out 83 batters in the circle for Iowa in 2019.Superdome

SportsPlus

Jim Gazzolo

Gazzolo column: Redemption tour for more than Wade

Local News

Another giant lay ahead

Crime

3/21: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Grab hope by the reins: Fundraiser benefits ailing horses

Local News

McNeese’s NCAA Tournament game win about more than just basketball

Local News

Jim Gazzolo Notebook: Breed back in old stomping grounds

Local News

Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appears in immigration case

Local News

Higgins letter says he will not run for Senate

life

Touch A Truck returns: Free, family-friendly fun set for Saturday

Local News

Kevin Lambert teaches history as a guide to living

Local News

Jennings mayoral candidates Guinn, Adams outline visions for city

McNeese Sports

Cowboys make history

Jim Gazzolo

Gazzolo column: Look who’s dancing

Local News

BREAKING: McNeese earns first March Madness victory

life

PHOTO GALLERY: Sneak peek at Port Wonder

Local News

Port Wonder ‘a glorious triumph’ for city

Local News

Trump signs orders to dismantle Education Department while keeping some core functions

Crime

3/20: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

Local News

City: Collapsed sidewalk due sewer line damaged during dig

Local News

Historic day for McNeese basketball

Local News

Fire danger risk in SW La. today

Local News

Louisiana school districts wonder about future of federal funding

Local News

Iowa Festival returns to Burton Coliseum tonight

Business

Eleven arrested in ICE raid at the Port of Lake Charles