Sulphur draws a tough No. 16 vs. No. 17 matchup in the bi-district round of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association girls basketball playoffs, while Westlake is looking to win a first-round game for the fourth time in five seasons.

The No. 16 Tors (19-9) host No. 17 Benton (19-12) to open the Division I non-select playoffs at 6 p.m. today.

Sulphur head coach Carol Turner said she sees a mirror image of her team in the Tigers and expects a defensive game.

“I think it will be a defensive game,” Turner said. “We are going to start one way, if they end up showing that they can beat it then we are going to be ready to use something else. We are going to be ready for everything. We are a lot alike, and I think they will do the same thing to us. Whatever we are doing that is a strength for us, they are going to try to shut it down by changing the defense.”

Turner said the Tors will need to assert themselves on the boards.

“Benton is watching film and just as good as us rebounding, so it is going to be important that we are blocking out and not giving them rebounds and second or third opportunities on offense,” Turner said.

Elsewhere

No. 13 Westlake (18-11) hosts No. 20 St. James (14-9) at 5:30 p.m. today to open the Division III non-select playoffs.

Westlake head coach Gloria Fontenot said having multiple ball handlers and scorers has allowed the Rams to expand their game.

“I have a couple of ball handlers,” Fontenot said. “The press is always the key. If you have a good pressing team, you have to be able to handle the ball a little bit better, make better decisions, passes and stuff like that.

“They have got better through the season with that and still need to keep working on that. One through four can really fill that role, which allows me to run different things.

“I can switch it up if somebody is pressing us. The twins (Gabby and Maddy Guillory), both of them can help us out with that. They read the floor pretty well, then Lady Fradieu and even Tierra Bargeman. And all of them can score.”

Girls

Bi-district Playoffs

Non-select

Division I

No. 17 Benton at No. 16 Sulphur, 6 p.m.

No. 3 Barbe, bye

Division II

No. 28 Pearl River at No. 5 LaGrange, 6 p.m.

No. 21 Leesville at No. 12 Breaux Bridge

No. 4 South Beauregard, bye

No. 22 Jennings at No. 11 Plaquemine, 6 p.m.

Division III

No. 1 Rosepine, bye

No. 25 Kinder at No. 8 West St. Mary, 5:30 p.m.

No. 20 St. James at No. 13 Westlake, 5:30 p.m.

Division IV

No. 17 Elton at No. 16 Franklin, 6 p.m.

No. 24 Ferriday at No. 9 Oakdale, 6 p.m.

No. 25 Grand Lake at No. 8 Lake Arthur, 6 p.m.

No. 28 Welsh at No. 5 Homer

No. 21 Northeast at No. 12 Merryville, 6 p.m.

No. 26 Haynesville at No. 7 East Beauregard, 6 p.m.

No. 23 Logansport at No. 10 Oberlin, 6 p.m.

Division V

No. 1 Fairview, bye

No. 28 Elizabeth at No. 5 Reeves, 6 p.m.

No. 21 Simpson at No. 12 Bell City, 6 p.m., at Iowa HS.

No. 20 Pitkin at No. 13 Weston, 6 p.m.

No. 26 Starks at No. 7 Anacoco, 6 p.m.

No. 18 Lacassine at No. 15 Hornbeck

Select

Division II

No. 21 Washington-Marion at No. 12 Bolton, 6 p.m.

No. 3 St. Louis Catholic, bye

Division IV

No. 6 Hamilton Christian, bye