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Arcadia defeats White Castle in Louisiana (LHSAA) Division IV nonselect semifinal: Live updates, recap

Reigning Division IV nonselect champion No. 2 Hornets defeat No. 3 White Castle by a score of 55-47

Mike Coppage

Arcadia sophomore forward DeAsia Alexander hopes to lead the Hornets to back-to-back state titles.
Arcadia sophomore forward DeAsia Alexander hopes to lead the Hornets to back-to-back state titles. / Paul Karge The Shreveport Times

The second semifinal game Monday at the LHSAA girls basketball "Marsh Madness" state tournament features defending Division IV nonselect champion No. 2 Arcadia (27-4) versus No. 3 White Castle (25-9).

Tipoff is set for 2:45 p.m. at the University Center on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

Pregame

Arcadia, which reached the tournament with wins over No. 15 Delhi (56-12) and No. 7 Oberlin (74-34), graduated only two seniors from last season's team that defeated Oakdale for the title. The Hornets remain an underclass-laden squad with only one senior, Jayla Mendenhall (averaging eight points, five rebounds). Sophomore DeAsia Alexander averages 16 points and eight boards. Sophomore Arianna Williams also scores in double digits (10 points per game).

White Castle, which downed No. 14 Montgomery (73-37) and No. 6 Logansport (75-66), is led in scoring by senior Cambrieion Link (24 ppg), senior Kelsey Robinson (20 ppg), eighth-grader Jahzarah Brown (13) and freshman Serenity Singleton (10). Last year, White Castle lost to No. 2 Oakdale in the semifinals as a No. 6 seed, 57-50.

The Bulldogs have won 14 of their past 15 games with a loss to Class 5A Denham Springs. Arcadia also has won 14 of its past 15 with a loss to Division IV select tournament team Cedar Creek.

Follow this post, refreshing frequently to receive the latest live update, with real-time reporting on scores and key plays.

First Quarter

Arcadia up 5-4 early.

Arcadia 6-foot sophomore DeAsia Alexander with a couple of blocked shots as both teams are struggling shooting the ball.

White Castle has missed 8 of 9 field goals so far. Arcadia up 5-4, just over three minutes left in the first quarter. Hornets tack on a bucket off a fast break to push it to 7-4.

Alexander scores for a 9-4 lead. White Castle off to a 1-for-11 start shooting from the field. Bulldogs average over 70 points per game.

Mendenhall to Alexander. Arcadia, 11-4. Hornets get another turnover. Mendenhall capitalizes for a 13-4 lead.

Second Quarter

White Castle 1 for 15 FG. Bulldogs trail Arcadia, 13-4

Alexander with a chance for a 3-point play. She completes it and has nine points for Arcadia, which is up 16-4. White Castle's only field goal was an early 3 by Link.

Mays, a freshman, scores for Arcadia. Alexander takes a pass from Arianna Williams and scores to make it 20-4. The game was tied early, 4-4. Timeout: 6:38 left in the half.

Alexander free throw puts the Hornets ahead, 21-4. 5:00, 2nd Quarter

Robinson, who is averaging 20 ppg, makes a shot, her first basket. Arcadia leads, 21-6. 3:42 2nd. Hornets 6-for-9 from the free throw line. White Castle, 1-for-4.

Thomas makes an easy basket, but Link counters with a 3 to reduce Arcadia's lead to 15.

White Castle 4 of 23 from the floor, trailing 26-11 with less than a minute to go in the half. Alexander picks up her second foul.

Bradford, an eighth-grader, hit a shot for Arcadia, which leads 28-12 late in the second quarter.

Third Quarter

Arcadia didn't attempt a 3 in the first half. White Castle was 2-of-12 from beyond the arc. White Castle (2 of 6 FT), Arcadia (6 of 9). Hornets up 30-14, early third.

Arcadia up 32-20 after back-to-back 3s from White Castle. 5:08, 3rd Quarter.

8-0 White Castle run, Bulldogs down 32-22 4:34 3rd. Alexander (18 pts) gets a high percentage shot to push it back to 34-22. Link nails a rainbow 3, but Mendenhall gets the bounce and Arcadia is up, 38-25, 3:06 3rd.

Abney runner extends the Arcadia lead to 40-25, 2:25 3rd.

Mendenhall (eight points) knocks one down from the baseline. Arcadia, 42-25 :30 left, 3rd.

Alexander has 20 points. Arcadia ends the third up, 44-25.

Fourth Quarter

Alexander just blocked her sixth shot and took the ball all the way to the goal for a foul and two free throws. Has 21 points and 13 rebounds. Arcadia up, 45-29, early in the quarter.

Brown, the eighth-grader for White Castle, is having a good game. Three points and seven combined assists and rebounds. Arcadia up 45-30.

Arcadia hasn't attempted a 3 in the game. Hornets up, 47-34, after Alexander's 23rd point. 4:08 left.

Alexander goes strong to the goal. 10-of-17 field goals, 25 points....Arcadia leads 49-34, 2:32 remaining.

White Castle 5 for 28 from 3-point range, down 51-38 with 1:25 left.

White Castle makes a 3 and calls timeout. They're 6-for-30 on 3s. Arcadia up with 1:08 left, 51-41.

The Bulldogs cut it to nine (51-42) on a free throw by the eighth-grader, Brown. She makes the second and it's 51-43 with 51.1 seconds left. Arcadia timeout.

Wow! Brown scores off a turnover and suddenly it's Arcadia with a 51-45 lead and 38.5 seconds left. White Castle on an 8-0 run.

Arcadia misses a free throw, makes the second. White Castle misses on the other end. Alexander grabs her 16th rebound and will get two free throws. She's 5 of 7 from the line. 20.2 seconds to go. She makes the first and the second. Hornets ahead 54-47 after a Bulldogs' bucket.

Alexander at the line with 6.8 seconds to go. Misses the first, makes the second (8 of 11 FT). Hornets will advance to face No. 1 Lakeview on Friday with a 55-47 win over No. 3 White Castle.

semifinal game statistics
Final stats / Mike Coppage

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Mike Coppage
MIKE COPPAGE

Mike Coppage is a Louisiana-based veteran reporter with decades of experience covering recruiting and high school sports for Scout, Rivals, The Acadiana Advocate and The Daily Iberian. He has been freelancing for High School On SI since 2024.

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