The Minden Crimson Tide will aim for for a spot in the state tournament Friday night.
Minden (22-3), the No. 2 seed, hosts No. 7 Franklin Parish (17-8) in a non-select Division II quarterfinal game at 7 o’clock.
Minden is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. Friday’s winner advances to Lake Charles, site of the state tournament also known as the LHSAA Boys’ Marsh Madness.
After a layoff of almost two weeks, Minden showed little rust in a 69-32 rout of No. 15 Beau Chene Tuesday at Minden. The Tide received a bye in the first round of the 28-team bracket.
Franklin Parish, located in Winnsboro, has had little trouble in the first two rounds. The Patriots defeated No. 26 Belle Chasse 69-48 in the first round and No. 10 Albany 60-42 in the second.
Minden has won of eight of its last nine games. The only setback was to Bossier 66-52 on Feb. 7 at Bossier, a game that decided the District 1-4A championship.
The Tide’s second-round victory was similar to other games this season. Three players — senior Darnell Morris, junior Cameron Parker and junior Jaiden Franklin — scored in double figures. It hasn’t been unusual for four players to reach double digits this season.
Franklin Parish is in District 2-4A, which features defending state champion Wossman, also this season’s No. 1 seed. Perennial power Peabody, the No. 3 seed and a quarterfinalist in in select Division II, is also in the district.
The Patriots’ three district losses were to Wossman, Peabody and Tioga, which fell in the second round of select Division I.
According to the Franklin Sun, 6-foot-5 junior Chris Addison led Franklin Parish against Albany with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Addison is also football standout and one of the state’s top college prospects at edge rusher. He also is a receiver.