Matt Vines

MANSFIELD – Beating a team three times in one season is hard to do.

It’s one of the oldest adages in sport, yet the Red River girls basketball team found a way Monday as they knocked off No. 7 seed Mansfield in overtime, 57-53.

Kaleah Crawford owned the floor with 30 points and double-digit rebounds as the double-double machine took over.

Red River (20-12) advances to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020, where No. 2 seed Oak Grove and national top-five recruit Caroline Bradley await.

It’s the second victory over Mansfield in overtime this season as coach Kim Burton said her team relied on its maturity and mental toughness developed over the course of this season.

Red River hits the road for Oak Grove (22-2) on Thursday for a 6 p.m. tip.

The Lady Bulldogs’ improved team defense will certainly be put to the test against the 6-foot-5 Bradley and her compatriots.

The reigning LSWA Miss Basketball, which is awarded to the best player in the state, averaged nearly 21 points and 15 rebounds in 2024-25, leading the Lady Tigers to a state title game appearance.

Oak Grove hammered No. 15 Winnfield 76-37 in the second round.

But just like Red River is re-establishing itself as a Class 2A force to be reckoned with because of its three wins against Mansfield, a win against Oak Grove would mean the Lady Bulldogs are bonafide championship contenders.

Oak Grove has appeared to strengthen its supporting cast around Bradley with wins against programs like Ruston, West Monroe, Jena, Ouachita, and Southern Lab in addition to a split with Sterlington.

Red River relies on its strength and swarm of its team in complement Crawford.

May the best double-double (and supporting cast) win.

Red River boys nab No. 6 seed, play Friday
The Red River boys earned the No. 6 seed in the Division III Non-Select playoffs and will host No. 27 Crowley (10-18) on Friday in the first round.

Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. in Coushatta.

After winning the District 3-2A title, the Bulldogs (21-10) challenged themselves heavily in the final week of the regular season, posting a 3-2 record.

Red River edged Parkway (56-52) on Feb. 14, traded licks with Calvary Baptist in a 65-49 loss on Monday, bested Loyola (65-43) on Tuesday and Homer (60-28) on Wednesday and fell to Ruston on Saturday (83-66).

he whirlwind finish secured a No. 6 seed in the playoffs, falling just 0.05 points shy of No. 5 Mamou but topping the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds by a few tenths of a point.

Red River, who advanced to their second straight Top 28 as a No. 2 seed last year, probably doesn’t mind being on the opposite of No. 1 seed Marksville, who returns many of its pieces from the 2024 state title team and 2025 state runner-up.