A look at how girls teams could fare in the playoffs

The road to the badly named Ladies (should be Girls) Top 28 is easier for some area teams than others.

Class 5A
Southwood -- The defending state champs, who could host three playoff games, would face no ranked teams until the quarterfinals, when they could play No. 6 Dutchtown.
Airline -- The Lady Vikes travel to unranked East St. John in the first round and then may have to face No. 2 Ellender in the second. The second-round game would likely be at Airline, though.

Class 4A
Parkway -- The District 1-4A champ Lady Panthers have a very tough draw. If they advance to the second round, they will face District 2-4A champ Caroll, unless Minden pulls off the upset. If Parkway reaches the quarterfinals, No. 4 ranked Glen Oaks could be waiting. The good news is all these games could be played at Parkway.
Bossier -- The Lady Bearkats also have a tough draw. If they defeat unranked Sam Houston, they will likely have to play at eighth-ranked Peabody in the second round. The survivor would then likely have to play top-ranked St. Michael in the quarterfinals, barring an upset, of course.

Class 3A
Mansfield -- The District 1-3A champ Lady Wolverines would not play a ranked team until the quarterfinals. But then they will likely have to get past fourth-ranked Marksville to reach the state tournament. The good news is there’s a possibility the Marksville game could be played in Mansfield. Mansfield, though, will definitely be a team to watch.
Benton -- The Lady Tigers are in a tough quarterfinal bracket that includes sixth-ranked Wossman and top-ranked Capitol. If Benton gets past the first round, it will likely have to travel to Monroe to face Wossman.
Booker T. Washington -- The Lady Lions have an extremely tough draw. They must travel to Lake Charles to face third-ranked St. Louis in the first round. And if they can pull off the upset, they will likely have top-ranked Capitol in the second.

Class 2A
Homer -- The luck of the draw certainly didn’t fall in the fourth-ranked Lady Pelicans’ favor. Three of teams ranked in the top four in the final poll are in Homer’s quarterfinal bracket.
If Homer reaches the second round, it will likely host second-ranked Ouachita Christian in the second round. Next up would likely be top-ranked and undefeated Iota in the quarterfinals.
Loyola -- If the Flyers are to make it to the state tournament, they will likely have to defeat two-time defending state champ Many in the second round.
Lakeside -- With No. 2-ranked Ouachita Christian in the first round, the Lady Warriors are a long shot.
Lakeview -- The Lady Gators face unranked Madison, the District 4 champ, in the first round. If they win, sixth-ranked South Beauregard could be next.

Class 1A
Plain Dealing -- The Lady Lions would not have to play a ranked team to reach the semifinals.
Ringgold -- The Lady Redskins are in Plain Dealing’s quarterfinal bracket and could very well play the Lady Lions for a trip to the Top 28.
Evangel -- The Lady Eagles got a tough draw in No. 3 Mangham. If they can pull of the upset, No. 4 Vermilion Catholic will likely be next.
Arcadia -- The Lady Hornets are in Evangel’s quarterfinal bracket along with area teams Cedar Creek and St. Mary’s. If Arcadia reaches the second round, there will be an all-area second-round matchup because the Lady Hornets will play the Cedar Creek-St. Mary’s winner.