NEW ORLEANS ― Nine metro area Class 5A teams have a chance at reaching Denham Springs, where the real state tournament begins.

Courtesy LHSAA

But first they’ll have to get through today’s second round Regional, including defending state runner-up Jesuit and No. 1 seed Northshore.

Also alive are two teams in 4A and one in 1A.

Northshore will host No. 16 Sulphur in the first meeting between the two schools this year. The Panthers haven’t lost since an April 21 district game at St. Paul’s.

No. 10 Jesuit, looking for a sixth-consecutive quarterfinals appearance, will travel to No. 7 Destrehan. The Blue Jays and Wildcats have split a pair of games already in 2009.

The other 5A games involving local schools include No. 24 South Terrebonne hosting No. 25 Fontainebleau, No. 21 Rummel hosting No. 5 Airline, No. 22 Mandeville hosting No. 6 St. Paul’s and No. 18 Hahnville hosting No. 2 Dutchtown.

In 4A, No. 8 Holy Cross hosts No. 1 seed Sam Houston today in a quarterfinal matchup. The Tigers haven’t lost to a 4A opponent since April 3, when Salmen topped them 4-3 in a district game. In all, Holy Cross has lost only three games all season to 4A opponents.

No. 3 Belle Chasse will play No. 2 Zachary in the semifinals at Fair Grounds Field in Shreveport on Thursday.

And in 1A, No. 1 Northlake Christian will take on No. 4 St. Edmund in a semifinals showdown on Wednesday in Alexandria, site of the final two rounds of 1A playoffs.

You can find the LHSAA playoff brackets here . You must have a PDF reader to view it.