Narrow win in quarterfinals sends Bulldogs to Lake Charles Saturday for 1-A hoop semifinals…to play La. New Tech

A narrow 70-67 victory over visiting North Central High Tuesday night boosted the White Castle High Bulldogs into the Class 1-A state semifinals Saturday afternoon against La. New Tech-Plain Dealing High.

The defending state champion Bulldogs had to hit six free throw baskets in the final 20 seconds of the game to trim the NCHS Hurricanes. WCHS slipped by North Central last year in Lafayette in the semifinals portion of the state tournament.

Due to the new La. High School Athletic Assn. format, WCHS plays in Lake Charles for the semifinals with hopes of reaching the state finals tourney in Ruston next week.  There will be six other semifinal games for boy and girl teams in various classifications being played Thursday-Saturday in Lake Charles.

Tuesday’s quarterfinals victory boosted fourth-seeded WCHS to a 25-7 overall record. Fifth-seeded North Central ended its season with a 24-7 record.

Jarrian Jenkins, who led WC with 21 points, hit a pair of free throws to begin the Bulldogs late-game heroics and the senior Randy Foster clinched the contest with four free throw baskets over the final eight seconds of the game.

WCHS blew a 17-point lead in the third period and veteran Coach Ronald Johnson noted lack of patience and too much relaxing with a lead has haunted his Bulldogs in their last two playoff outings.

Having garnered three-straight home playoff games via the bracketing, the Bulldogs draw Lake Charles for the semifinals, rather than closer distance Hammond.?