The top-ranked LSU baseball team opens SEC play today by hosting Missouri. The game has been moved up to 4:30 to avoid the potential for severe weather later tonight. The Tigers are 17-and-1, and several players have emerged, including catcher Luis Hernandez. Coach Jay Johnson says Hernandez has done a good job handling the pitchers…

Cut 17 (22) “…we needed”

LSU has a chance to get off to a good start in SEC play as Missouri is expected to finish near the bottom.

Sun Belt play begins this weekend. The Ragin Cajuns host 21st-ranked Troy, while ULM is at James Madison.

Tough ending to the season for Louisiana Tech men’s basketball. The Bulldogs lost in double overtime to Middle Tennessee 77 to 75. Tech rallied back from 10 points down in the second half to force overtime. Sean Newman missed a three-pointer to win the game in the first overtime. And the Blue Raiders won the game in the second overtime on a tip in.

At the high school boys basketball tournament…St. Thomas More’s John Luke Bourque short baseline jumper at the buzzer gave the Cougars a 46 to 44 win over John Curtis in the Division one select semifinals. S-T-M also won its quarterfinals game on a last-second, three-pointer at the buzzer. The Cougars will play St. Aug in the Division one select finals.

In the Division One non-select finals…it will be Central versus Zachary. The Broncos pulled away in the second half to beat Natchitoches Central 65 to 45 and  the Wildcats defeated Denham Springs 62-56.