IMG Academy, Bishop McNamara join No. 8 New Hope Academy, No. 12 Montverde Academy and No. 14 DME Academy in quest for title.
If you're on the West Coast and want to watch the GEICO Nationals, which begins Thursday, you're likely going to have to set the alarm.
The championship game for schools that don't compete for state titles will be Saturday on ESPN2, but tipoff is 10 a.m. in Fort Myers, Fla. — which of course translates to 7 a.m. on the West Coast. Then again, all the games involve teams from the Eastern time zone. There are Californians (and Oregonians and Nevadans) who would like to see how it all plays out, and it will require early rising to see all four games.
The action begins at 10 a.m. (Eastern) Thursday game between IMG Academy and Bishop McNamara, both of which spent some time in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings. The winner faces No. 8 New Hope at 12:30 p.m. on Friday on ESPNU. At 10:30 a.m. Friday, there's a rematch between No. 12 Montverde Academy and No. 14 DME Academy, with the championship game Saturday morning.
The following week, four state champions play in the inaugural State Champions Invitational. The four facing off for the first-time title is No. 1 Sidwell Friends, No. 15 Lake Highland Prep, No. 17 Woodward Academy and Centennial of Las Vegas.
Sydney Shaw, DME Academy
Photo by Annette Wilkerson
Record: 28-0 |
Last week: 1
The Quakers will play the State Champions Invitational April 8 and 9, and though the draws haven't been announced, expect them to play Centennial of Las Vegas.
2. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 35-2 |
Last week: 2
Season complete.
3. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 3
Season complete
4. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 32-1 |
Last week: 4
Season complete.
5. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 5
Season complete.
6. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Record: 26-1 |
Last week: 6
Season complete.
7. Classen SAS (Oklahoma City)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 7
Season complete.
8. New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)
Record: 27-2 |
Last week: 8
New Hope hasn't played since Feb. 25, and it may take a few minutes to shake off the rust — but against either Bishop McNamara or IMG Academy, a few bad minutes might be enough for an upset.
9. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 25-3 |
Last week: 9
Season complete.
10. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 29-0 |
Last week: 10
Season complete.
11. Cedar Park (Texas)
Record: 37-0 |
Last week: 11
Season complete.
12. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 12
Though the Eagles lost head-to-head to DME — Friday's opponent — wins over No. 15 Lake Highland Prep and No. 19 Duncanville put them higher in the rankings. Friday will be a chance to prove the rankings right.
13. Hazel Green (Ala.)
Record: 35-0 |
Last week: 13
Season complete.
14. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 14
It's always frustrating to be ranked behind a team you beat head-to-head, which DME did against its GEICO opponent Montverde. Another such win will leave no doubt as to which ends up with the higher ranking.
15. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 25-4 |
Last week: 15
The Highlanders must wait one more week to play.
16. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 16
Season complete.
17. Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 17
The War Eagles likely will have a chance to avenge their loss to No. 15 Lake Highland Prep in the first round of the State Champions Invitational.
18. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 34-3 |
Last week: 18
Season complete.
19. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 34-7 |
Last week: 19
Season complete.
20. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 20
Season complete.
21. Garfield (Seattle)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 21
Season complete.
22. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 23-0 |
Last week: 22
Season complete.
23. Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.)
Record: 34-0 |
Last week: 23
The Colonials rolled over 27-2 Mt. Lebanon 60-40 to win the PIAA 6A championship Saturday and cement this national ranking. Plymouth Whitemarsh also beat the state's 5A champion Cardinal O'Hara and Delaware titlist Caravel.
24. Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)
Record: 24-4 |
Last week: 24
Season complete.
25. West Bloomfield (Mich.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 25
Season complete.
Dropped out: None.
