by Malcolm Butler
On paper, Simsboro’s 76-60 win over West Ouachita Friday night may look like just another win.
Sure. It was the 20th victory of the season for head coach Adam Wodach’s team, it’s 12th in a row.
But if you put a calculator to the the non-district victory over the Chiefs, it proved to be so much more than just another W.
With the win, Simsboro earned enough power points (58.63) to leapfrog Hicks High School into No. 4 in the Class B power ratings. The top 4 teams earn home court advantage throughout the playoffs until the Final Four meaning the Tigers won’t have to play a road playoff game.
The addition of the game against West Ouachita was a late season add, and Wodach’s decision may prove to be huge for the Tigers.
“The big thing is we get to host all the way to the Final Four,” said Wodach. “We had the last week open before the playoffs. I didn’t like the idea of not playing for almost two weeks. About a month ago, I started looking for someone who would want to play.
“I thought there was a potential chance it could help move us up. I wasn’t sure at the time we had a chance of moving up to No. 4. With winning 12 in a row, this win gave us the little extra to get us there.”
While Simsboro was adding a game, Hicks canceled a game against Class C power Lacassine — a contest that could have kept Hicks above the Tigers in the Class B power ratings with a win.
Ahmad Smith scored 32 points and Jakaleb Modest added 16 points on Friday night to lead Simsboro (20-8), the District 2B champions, to their 12th win in as many tries.
Smith, Modest, Trumarion Smith and Jalen Outley form as tough a four-man punch as you will find on the Class B level and Wodach believes the quartet and their Tiger teammates are playing their best basketball of the season.
“I think we are very locked in,” said Wodach. “There is a quiet calmness to our team. I’m not having to give crazy speeches before games or at halftime of games. We are just super calm right now. We are starting games strong and adjusting well. They are embracing coaching and each other. They are doing winning things consistently.”
Simsboro won four out of five state championships in boys basketball during an impressive stretch that saw it capped by a 67-44 win over Zwolle in 2022.
The LHSAA will release the official brackets for all Divisions and Classifications for the boys tournament on Monday.
