"Laissez les bons temps rouler!" gets thrown out of the window during this year's Mardi Gras season as the prep basketball regular season reaches the finish line.

The regular season goes into a fever pitch tonight with an abbreviated schedule with major implications for the boys and girls teams from Hammond, Ponchatoula and Amite.

"If we can win (against Bogalusa), it'll put is in pretty good shape going into Albany Friday night," Amite head coach Alvin Stevens said. "If we lose it, it makes the next three games all the more important. It's going to be a tough task."

In the District 7-5A boys race, the Hammond Tors (19-8, 8-2) and Ponchatoula Green Wave (20-11, 8-2) remain tied for first with Mandeville (22-7, 7-3) one game off the pace. The Tors and Greenies each have road games tonight, with Hammond facing Covington (9-16, 4-6) while the Wave squaring off against Slidell (10-15, 4-8).

Other 7-5A boys games tonight include Fontainebleau (3-23, 0-10) at Mandeville - which Hammond hosts Friday night - and St. Paul's (19-9, 6-4) - Ponchatoula's Friday night opponent - at Northshore (13-15, 3-7).

Hammond head coach Kilavorus Thompson said his team cannot fall into the trap that Covington presents. The Tors have to dictate the game to the Lions and not have Covington control the game.

"They're a very scrappy team and they like to play up-and-down the floor and get after teams and try to make you play the way they want you to play," Thompson said. "If you fall into their trap, they can really give you some trouble."

Green Wave head coach Clint Husser called his team's stretch run "Murderer's Row," having beaten Mandeville last Friday and still having games against St. Paul's and Hammond on tap. However, his team's maturation during the season has been the key to the Wave's run down the stretch.

"We've been steadily improving, and we feel confident against everyone in the district," Husser said.

In the District 10-3A boys race, the Amite Warriors (15-8, 5-1) looks to get a measure of payback against Bogalusa (20-7, 6-0) at the Purple Pit. The Lumberjacks sit in first place in league play and defeated Amite 75-64 in Bogalusa in their first meeting.

Warriors head coach Alvin Stevens said his team has played with more consistency after the Bogalusa loss. That consistency will get tested tonight in a game that can give the winner the inside track to the 10-3A title.

"They like to run, and they always have some athletes over at Bogalusa," Stevens said. "It's going to be a good game."

In 7-5A girls action, the Ponchatoula Lady Wave (29-5, 12-0) - still ranked No. 3 spot in this week's LSWA prep girls poll - still holds a two-game lead over second-place Mandeville (21-4, 10-2). Ponchatoula heads into St. Tammany Parish to take on a Slidell (10-15, 4-8) team the Lady Wave blasted 59-18 in their first meeting.

Head coach Justin Adams said he will rest injured guards Chelsee LaMarca and Bria Bohanon during the final two regular season games in preparation for the playoffs. Younger players have stepped up, but more experience will be needed as the Lady Wave gear up for another run at the Ladies Top 28.

"Not taking anything away from Slidell and St. Scholastica, but we're going to rest those two the rest of the week," Adams said. "We're going to need our guard play when it comes down to the playoffs."

The Hammond Lady Tors (17-9, 8-4) are in third place and have a one-game edge over Northshore (17-8, 7-5). Hammond travels to take on a Covington (8-17, 3-9) team celebrating Senior Night, but had 90 puts put on them by the Lady Tors in the first matchup.

Lady Tors head coach Tommy Morrison said he is still being cautious with forward Jasmine Manuel. Manuel has been playing in spots, but does not want her to risk further injury.

"My big thing is she's such a great kid," Morrison said. "She's really the center of our defense because gets so many steals and rebounds. We'll do what's best for her."