There are no second chances at this point in the high school girls basketball season. If the win-or-go-home pressure hasn't yet started, then it will this week.
Texas enters its final four round and a red-hot
DeSoto team joins the MaxPreps Top 25 for the second time this season.
Florida wrapped up its postseason over the weekend and No. 18
Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) won a second straight 7A title behind a standout effort from junior
Trinity Turner. She scored 19 of her game-high 22 in the second half as the Panthers erased an 11-point third quarter deficit to down Winter Haven 47-43.
Mylasia Smith and DeSoto re-enter the MaxPreps Top 25 at No. 24 as the Eagles are in the Texas 6A final four. (Photo: Terry Cullop)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: 1
Etiwanda played them tough in the Southern Section Open final but the Trailblazers pulled away for a 70-57 victory behind 24 from
Juju Watkins.
2. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 3
Expected to participate in GEICO Nationals in March.
3. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
Record: 20-2 |
Last week: 4
Finished the regular season with a 107-75 win over St. Joseph By the Sea as Syla Swords had 32 to lead five in double figures.
4. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 29-3 |
Last week: 5
Handled Del Norte 86-27 for their third San Diego Section Open Division title in four years. Up next is No. 10 Etiwanda in the SoCal regionals with the winner likely drawing top-ranked Sierra Canyon.
5. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 6
Needed a 53-43 come-from-behind victory over Burroughs (St. Louis) to extend their win streak to 94.
6. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 26-3 |
Last week: 2
Fell 60-57 in the
regular-season finale to Georgetown Visitation Prep (Washington, D.C.).
The WCAC postseason looms but the Quakers are battle-tested from an
aggressive national schedule.
7. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 31-0 |
Last week: 7
The Lancers got past Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank) 43-38 playing without
Zoe Brooks, who is day-to-day with a foot injury.
Bre Delaney and
Ashley Sofilkanich led the way down the stretch in the victory.
8. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)
Record: 26-3 |
Last week: 8
Mia Pauldo scored a game-high 24 while
Daniella Matus added 17 and
Mya Pauldo and
Alexis Rosenfeld each chipped in 12 as the Crusaders advanced to Wednesday's South Jersey Non-Public B final against Immaculate Conception (Montclair).
9. Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.)
Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 10
Hannah Hidalgo led the way with 25 points in a 65-53 win over Camden Catholic (Camden) as
Shariah Baynes added 17 and
Azanah Campbell chipped in 13. The showdown with No. 7 St. John-Vianney looms Wednesday.
10. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 29-3 |
Last week: 9
Eagles couldn't repeat as section champs but are among three top 10 teams in the Southern California regionals.
11. The Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tenn.)
Record: 30-4 |
Last week: 11
Feet have Thursday game against King's Academy (Seymour) following a 60-point win over Fayette Academy (Somerville) on Friday.
12. Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 30-1 |
Last week: 12
Earned 11th straight Central Section title and land in Northern California regional bracket as the No. 3 seed, drawing No. 15 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose).
13. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 33-1 |
Last week: 13
The reigning 7A champs are back in the state final four after beating Bob Jones (Madison) 48-35 in last week's quarterfinals.
14. Hazel Green (Ala.)
Record: 34-1 |
Last week: 14
A sixth straight 6A title is the goal for Tim Miller's Trojans, who are in the final four after a 55-45 win over Clay-Chalkville (Pinson).
15. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 26-2 |
Last week: 15
After beating Pinewood 74-51 to win the North Coast Section Open Division title, the Monarchs grabbed the No. 2 seed in the NorCal regionals against No. 12 Clovis West.
16. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 29-3 |
Last week: 16
The Valkyries downed Male (Louisville) 76-45 behind 38 from
ZaKiyah Johnson. They get DuPont Manual (Louisville) on Thursday in the 7th Region semifinals.
17. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 20-3 |
Last week: 17
Looking to get to the 6A semifinals against No. 8 seed Westlake (Saratoga Springs) on Tuesday. The Knights beat Westlake by 33 on Jan. 27 but only nine on Feb. 16, the closest contest against an in-state school all season.
18. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 30-1 |
Last week: 18
Junior
Trinity Turner was sensational in the comeback 47-43 win as the Panthers again captured the 7A crown.
19. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 25-5 |
Last week: 19
The top seed in the 6A postseason, the Wampus Cats await Tuesday's winner between Fayetteville and Bryant for Thursday's quarterfinals.
20. Mason (Ohio)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 20
The Comets play No. 4 seed Princeton (Cincinnati) on Tuesday in the Division I regional semifinal. Sophomore
Madison Parrish had 19 in a 55-28 district final win over Springboro.
21. Piedmont (Calif.)
Record: 27-0 |
Last week: 21
A Division IV team, the Highlanders beat Branson (Ross) 75-49 in the North Coast Section and bump up to the Northern California Open Division regional as the No. 1 seed. They host the Folsom-Salesian College Prep (Richmond) winner on Saturday.
22. Desert Vista (Phoenix)
Record: 27-3 |
Last week: 23
Freshman
Jerzy Robinson scored a game-high 32 in a 78-65 Open Division semifinal win over Xavier College Prep (Phoenix). The Thunder look to lay the boom on No. 6 seed Millennium (Goodyear) in Saturday's inaugural Open Division title game.
23. Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.)
Record: 24-0 |
Last week: 24
Laci Steele scored 19 in a 60-20 regional final win over Mustang, breaking the school record for points scored with 1,987.
24. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 27-5 |
Last week: NR
Getting hot at the right time, the Eagles are in the 6A final four after beating Cedar Hill 59-30. Up next is Pearland on Friday.
25. Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.)
Record: 29-0 |
Last week: NR
Kirsten Lewis-Williams leads a quartet averaging double figures, including sophomores
Samantha Shehan and
Alexis Shehan and freshman
Kelsey Rhyne as the Wildcats put their 29-0 record on the line in the 4A postseason fourth round on Tuesday.
On the bubble: Coppell (Texas), 38-3;
Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 21-6;
Bedford North Lawrence (Bedford, Ind.), 27-3;
Neenah (Wis.), 24-1;
Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.), 32-1
