Matt Vines

COUSHATTA — The Red River boys basketball team used a decisive second quarter to pull away from Rayville in a 74-53 second-round playoff win Tuesday.

The No. 2 seed Bulldogs stretched a four-point first-quarter lead by outscoring the No. 15 seed Hornets 19-8 in the second quarter.

The 34-19 halftime lead was more than enough cushion for Red River to protect home-floor advantage at The Dawg Pound against Rayville (12-12).

The Bulldogs (25-5) advanced to the quarterfinals for the second straight season after playing for a Division III Non-Select state championship this past season.

Red River will host No. 10 seed Westlake, who upended No. 7 Loreauville on the road in a 58-48 victory.
As a double-digit seed, Westlake (16-8) is trying to mirror what Red River accomplished this past season, advancing to Marsh Madness as a No. 13 seed by knocking off two top-seven seeds on the road.

Better seeds generally held serve in the second round of the Division III Non-Select playoffs.
Avoyelles (No. 11), Richwood (No. 4), Donaldsonville (No. 5), Madison (No. 1), and Marksville (No. 3) all advanced as the favorites.

Fellow district partner Winnfield (No. 9) pulled off a road win at No. 8 St. Helena College and Career Academy to put two District 3-2A teams in the quarters.