Berwick Lady Panthers to host DeQuincy in 1st round

Berwick High School entered this season heavy on youth with some experienced upperclassmen included.
Throughout the season, that group has navigated its way to a 20-15 mark, a No. 12 seed in the first-round of the Division III playoffs and now, a first-round home game Thursday at 5 p.m. against No. 21 seed DeQuincy.
“I thought throughout the season that we did a good job of building and learning from the experiences that we had,” Berwick coach Heather Blanchard said. “We played a really tough schedule and I think it prepared us for the playoffs, and I think from our most recent play that we’re peaking at the right time and we’re really ready for the playoffs.”
Blanchard said to be able to host at home is a “big deal.”
“Our fans have been wonderful, and it’s kind of a reward for them to be able to play at home and hopefully get this win for them,” Blanchard said.
As for their first-round foe DeQuincy, Berwick has no common opponents with them this season.
However, Blanchard knows some about her opponent.
“They look real scrappy,” Blanchard said. “They’re not very tall. … They have a pretty decent record. They do come from a very good district that’s got some good teams in it, so we’re going to be ready for whatever they throw at us.”
DeQuincy plays in District 2-III, which also features volleyball power St. Louis, a No. 13 seed this season, and No. 9 seed Westlake.
In a loss this year, DeQuincy took St. Louis to four sets.
Berwick enters the playoffs after playing a schedule this year that has featured such notable teams as Isidore Newman, Assumption, Louise McGehee, Archbishop Hannan and district foes E.D. White and Lutcher.
While Berwick fell to all of these teams except Archbishop Hannan, the Lady Panthers did win a set against Newman and Assumption and fell to Lutcher in five games in their first matchup of the season.
Thursday’s playoff game will begin at 5 p.m. Admission will be $5.