North Vermilion Lady Patriots Face LaGrange in Division II Semifinal

The winner will advance to the state finals on Saturday

Mar. 4, 2026 at 2:53pm

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The No. 3 North Vermilion Lady Patriots (26-3) will face the No. 2 LaGrange Gators (25-4) in the Division II Non-Select semifinal basketball game tonight at the University Center in Hammond, Louisiana. The winner will play the winner of the No. 1 Sterlington/No. 4 Wossman game in the state finals on Saturday.

Why it matters

This is the first time in 40 years that the North Vermilion Lady Patriots have reached the semifinal round of the state basketball tournament. The game features two teams with contrasting offensive styles - the fast-paced, pressing defense of LaGrange against the slower, half-court approach of North Vermilion.

The details

North Vermilion and LaGrange are familiar foes, having faced each other last year in the playoffs and during summer basketball. LaGrange head coach LaKeem Holmes and North Vermilion head coach Jack LeBlanc are close friends. The Lady Gators are seeking their second state title since 2020, while the Lady Patriots are looking for their first basketball state championship. LaGrange relies on a full-court press and quick transition scoring, while North Vermilion prefers a more methodical, ball-movement oriented offense.

  • The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
  • North Vermilion last appeared in a semifinal basketball game during the 1986 season, marking a 40-year gap.

The players

LaKeem Holmes

Head coach of the LaGrange Gators basketball team.

Jack LeBlanc

Head coach of the North Vermilion Lady Patriots basketball team, in his 5th year as head coach.

Marleigh Alexis

5-foot-7 point guard for the LaGrange Gators, averaging 12 points and 7 steals per game.

Zaliyah Harris

Freshman transfer for the LaGrange Gators, averaging around 13 points and 7 steals per game.

Stevie Brasseaux

Post player for the North Vermilion Lady Patriots, averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“The best way to describe how we play is organized chaos.”

— LaKeem Holmes, LaGrange Gators head coach

“We work on the press every day in practice. They are not going to do something we have not seen.”

— Jack LeBlanc, North Vermilion Lady Patriots head coach

What’s next

The winner of tonight's semifinal game will advance to play the winner of the No. 1 Sterlington/No. 4 Wossman game in the state finals on Saturday.

The takeaway

This semifinal matchup between the fast-paced LaGrange Gators and the methodical North Vermilion Lady Patriots features two contrasting styles of play, with the winner earning a spot in the state championship game and a chance at the Division II Non-Select title.