Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – District dominance for the Red River girls basketball team continued Thursday, but the stakes were higher.

Red River, the No. 10 seed in the Division III Non-Select playoffs, handled No. 23 Many in a 53-35 victory.

The Lady Bulldogs (20-12) won their first playoff game since 2021 and the first in the coach Kim Burton era as they topped the Lady Tigers (12-18) for the second time in three tries this season.

Red River awaits the winner of No. 7 Mansfield and No. 26 Donaldsonville, which played later Thursday night.

Red River boys basketball not resting on district title
The Red River boys basketball didn’t recline and relax after winning the District 3-2A title with an unbeaten record.

The Bulldogs have been busy testing themselves in the 10 or so days between the end of district season and beginning of the playoffs.

Red River (21-9) would love to move up from its No. 5 seed in Division III Non-Select, but as the Bulldogs are currently a full point behind No. 4 Doyle, perhaps protecting its spot from No. 6 Mamou (.15 points behind) is the more realistic scenario.

The Bulldogs squeezed by Class 5A Parkway (56-52) this past Saturday before falling on the road at Class 2A power Calvary Baptist (65-49) on Monday

Red River got back in the win column at home with a Tuesday win against Loyola Prep (65-43) and a Wednesday victory against Homer (60-28).

The Bulldogs finish the regular season Saturday against Class 5A power Ruston, currently No. 2 in Division I Non-Select.

• Red River softball opened its season Wednesday with a 17-2 drubbing of Northwood-Lena and played Simsboro on Thursday evening.
• Red River baseball improved to 3-2 with a pair of wins and a loss this past week. The Bulldogs got a nice neutral site win against Logansport by a score of 6-3 before falling to Oak Hill, 5-3, in the Many Tournament. Red River bounced back with a 9-8 home win against Converse. The Bulldogs welcome in a traditionally strong Minden bunch on Monday before heading to North Webster on Tuesday.