Juju Watkins scores 29 points Tuesday night to lead Trailblazers past then-No. 2 Etiwanda.
As usual, the state playoffs are a minefield, full of unexpected dangers and surprising explosions. This past week, four ranked teams took postseason hits and lost their spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 girls basketball rankings, and two others lost but had strong enough resumes to still be ranked.
But as state champions are crowned and seasons conclude, there will be fewer spots available — and even those teams that are invited to and allowed to play in the GEICO High School Nationals are unlikely to drop out of the rankings.
Still, there are several teams on the bubble, though the first order of business for that group is to keep winning. After that, they need to hope that someone else above them in the pecking order loses.
Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon
Photo by Rudy Schmoke
1. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 28-0 |
Last week: 1
The Quakers won the District of Columbia championship with ease this past weekend, and now the only challenge left is the GEICO High School Nationals. And since Sidwell hasn't ducked a challenge all year, expect the Quakers to go if invited.
2. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 35-2 |
Last week: 3
The Eagles finished a stellar season by beating Clark 56-47 and South Grand Prairie 40-23 to win the Texas 6A championship. Both losses came at the hands of No. 1 Sidwell Friends.
3. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 8
The Trailblazers beat the two teams they lost to in the Southern California Regional Open Division playoffs and jump to No. 3. To stay there, they'll need to handle new No. 24 Archbishop Mitty in Saturday's Open Division state title game in Sacramento.
4. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 26-1 |
Last week: 4
The Lancers had no trouble with Camden Catholic on Monday but face a stiffer test Wednesday against 20-2 Paul VI. The winner will claim the Non-Public A title and move on to the last New Jersey Tournament of Champions, which matches all of the state's division winners.
5. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 2
The Eagles couldn't seal the deal against new No. 2 Sierra Canyon in the Southern California Regional Open Division final, but the overall body of work is way too impressive to drop them very far.
6. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Record: 22-1 |
Last week: 5
The first time the Royals played rival Wayzata, they won by 34, at Wayzata. The second time, they won by 10, in Minnetonka. Thursday, they play at home against Wayzata, and this time the loser doesn't get to play any more.
7. Classen SAS (Oklahoma City)
Record: 21-1 |
Last week: 7
Despite this national ranking, the Comets have consistently lined up behind Tuttle in the Oklahoma ratings, despite going 10-0 against Class 5A and 6A teams. Tuttle is 1-0 against Class 5A and 6A teams.
8. New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)
Record: 27-2 |
Last week: 9
Still waiting for a GEICO bid.
9. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 25-3 |
Last week: 6
The Torreys roared back from 11 down in the fourth quarter against new No. 3 Sierra Canyon to take a one-point lead on a banked-in 3-pointer with 18 seconds left. But 10 seconds later, two free throws put the Trailblazers back on top, and La Jolla Country Day's season came to an end.
10. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 10
The Red Knights move into the Missouri 6A state tournament Saturday against Troy-Buchanan, a team IWA beat 78-19 on Feb. 22. And thanks to Blue Springs, once-ranked Rock Bridge is already eliminated, leaving Kickapoo as the likely biggest roadblock.
11. Cedar Park (Texas)
Record: 37-0 |
Last week: 11
The Timberwolves needed overtime to snap Memorial's 16-game winning streak (and 26 of the last 27) in the 5A final. But the scoreboard said 45-40 at game's end, and as we know, the scoreboard doesn't lie.
12. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 12
Montverde is waiting for GEICO.
13. Hazel Green (Ala.)
Record: 35-0 |
Last week: 17
The Trojans won the 6A semifinals by 30 and the finals by 17, leaving no doubt as to which is the best team in Alabama.
14. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 14
Another Florida team hoping for a GEICO invitation.
15. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 25-4 |
Last week: 15
Yes, the Highlanders are also looking for a shot at the GEICO.
16. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 18
The Dragons finished an unbeaten season in impressive fashion, thumping Waterloo West 61-31 to win the 5A championship.
17. Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
Record: 28-2 |
Last week: 19
The War Eagles face 22-6 Forest Park in Thursday's AAAAA finals, a team they've beaten three times by an average of 13.7 points. But you never know …
18. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 34-3 |
Last week: NR
The Buccaneers played a challenging schedule, knocked off some high-quality teams and wound up as the Alabama 7A champ — and jumped back into the rankings. If you want to get in the Top 25, the best way is to schedule top teams, and then beat several of them.
19. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 34-7 |
Last week: 22
The Pantherettes may have seven losses, but they've also beaten some quality teams, and done so all over the country. And seven losses or no seven losses, there are a lot of teams ranked higher that would prefer to have no part of Duncanville.
20. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 13
The Wampus Cats hang on to their spot in the Top 25 despite losing to Central, a team they had handled twice before. And the other loss was at Duncanville (always a very tough place to win), by one point.
21. Garfield (Seattle)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 23
The Bulldogs and their national ranking — and any hopes of going to the GEICO High Nationals — were in serious jeopardy against Lake Washington in the 3A final. But Garfield scored six straight in the final 2:45 for a 39-38 win.
22. Millard South (Omaha, Neb.)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 22
The Patriots draw 20-5 Lincoln Southwest in Wednesday's Class A semifinal, and with a victory, then the winner of 25-2 Fremont and 22-2 Lincoln in Friday's final.
23. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 23-0 |
Last week: NR
The Knights didn't exactly overpower previous No. 16 Fremont in the Utah 6A finals, but one point counts the same as 100 when it comes to who wins or loses. And one point was enough to earn Lone Peak both the championship and a No. 23 ranking.
24. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 30-1 |
Last week: NR
The Monarchs, a perennial California power, avenged its only loss of the season by knocking off Carondelet 73-62 in the NorCal Regional Open Division title game. Next up is No. 3 Sierra Canyon in Saturday's state championship.
25. Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: NR
The Colonials jump into the rankings thanks to a dazzling record and a rousing start to the Pennsylvania 6A playoffs — a 63-32 win over Mannhiem Township. But the final isn't until March 26, so there's a long way to go.
Dropped out: No. 16 Fremont (Plain City, Utah); No. 20 St. John's (Washington, D.C.); No. 21 Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati); No. 25 Parkway (Bossier City, La.).
