By: RHETT MANUEL
Sports Editor
VILLE PLATTE – The Ville Platte Bulldogs did what it needed to do most of the way through the game on Monday night against the Northwest Raiders.
The Bulldogs, who entered Monday’s game 5-0 in District 4-3A play, had done a good job of handling business throughout the season.
When the chips were on the table and their district championship hopes were hanging by a thread, Northwest dug deep against Ville Platte and outscored the Bulldogs 28-12 in the final period to eke out a 71-70 win in Ville Platte’s regular season finale and kept its District 4-3A title hopes alive.
The Bulldogs, who closed the regular season with a 20-9 mark with a 5-1 district record, must wait it out and will closely watch Northwest’s 7 p.m. home showdown with Mamou tonight.
If Mamou beats Northwest, it likely sets up a neutral-site district championship game between Ville Platte and Northwest this weekend.
But, down 15 heading into the final quarter, it took the Raiders digging deeper than they’ve had to all season to pull it out.
As games like this do, it came down to foul shooting. Ville Platte missed a pair of shots that would’ve helped stretch its lead with a minute left. Northwest, on the other hand, capped a massive fourth quarter by making a pair of free throws with a second remaining to provide the winning margin.
An off fourth quarter spoiled a sterling game otherwise played by the Bulldogs, who took a nine-point lead into the locker room and outscored Northwest 21-15 in the third period.
Northwest, however, dialed up the defensive pressure in the fourth period and forced multiple Bulldog turnovers that led to transition baskets for the Raiders.
As a result, Ville Platte is watching and waiting for results of tonight’s contest.
Monday’s loss doesn’t, however, affect their playoff fate in any way. Unofficially the No. 8-seed in the Division III non-select bracket according to GeauxPreps.com, the Bulldogs will host a home playoff game when the postseason kicks off next week.
June 19, 2026
