Postseason is here or approaching for most high school girls basketball programs across the country and three MaxPreps Top 25 teams begin their quest for a state title this week in California's Southern Section Open Division.
No. 4
Etiwanda, No. 6
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) and No. 24
Sage Hill (Newport Beach) begin pool play this weekend. However, the three programs could cross paths again in the CIF Southern Regional bracket later this month.
Sierra Canyon, the No. 1 seed in section play, headlines Pool A that also features Sage Hill, previously-ranked
Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and
Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove). Etiwanda is joined by
Ontario Christian (Ontario),
Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) and
Centennial (Corona) in Pool B.
The winners of the two pools meet for the championship Feb. 23.
Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon haven't played since last season's Southern Section final. Etiwanda beat the Trailblazers 55-54 en route to the CIF Open Division title.
Freshman Khya Epps has helped No. 15 Thomas Dale to a 17-0 record as the Knights have three regular-season games remaining. (Photo: Jessica Hendricks)
1. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 1
Sophomore
McKenna Woliczko needed 49 games to get to 1,000 career points, passing the threshold in a 91-55 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (San Francisco).
2. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
Record: 17-1 |
Last week: 2
Lauryn Swann committed to Arizona over the weekend.
3. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 20-1 |
Last week: 3
McDonald's All American
Jaloni Cambridge led the Eagles with 15 points as they escaped with a 56-55 win over Palm Bay (Melbourne).
Eris Lester had 14 points and
Vivian Iwuchukwu added 12.
4. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 25-3 |
Last week: 4
Kennedy Smith, the school's all-time leading scorer, passed the 2,000-point mark as the Eagles won their 24th straight Baseline League title.
5. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 15-3 |
Last week: 5
Sophomore
Jayla Jackson led five players in double figures with 18 in a 67-27 win over Connelly School of the Holy Child (Potomac, Md.). The Quakers close their season in two weeks with back-to-back games against No. 3 Montverde Academy and No. 2 Long Island Lutheran.
6. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 26-1 |
Last week: 6
Mackenly Randolph became the school's all-time leader in points and rebounds.
7. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
Record: 19-3 |
Last week: 7
Five games remain in the regular season for the Mustangs after a 62-43 win over Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.).
8. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 8
Mya Pauldo passed 1,000 career points in the win over St. John-Vianney.
9. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Record: 23-0 |
Last week: 9
Looking to put a bow on an unbeaten regular season, the Rams host South Gwinnett (Snellville) on Tuesday before heading to Newton (Covington) on Thursday.
10. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 21-3 |
Last week: 10
The schedule concludes Friday with a Florida showdown at No. 3 Montverde Academy.
11. Hebron Christian (Dacula, Ga.)
Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 11
Amiya Porter passed 1,000 career points with a 21-point effort in an 89-13 win over Monroe Area (Monroe).
12. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas)
Record: 33-1 |
Last week: 12
Tuesday's contest against Seguin (Arlington) wraps up the regular season for the Timberwolves.
13. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 13
Jenica Lewis tied a school record with seven 3-pointers, scoring 23, in a 62-52 win over Ankeny on Monday.
14. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 14
The Red Knights took down No. 25 Burroughs 50-47 to grab the Webster Winter Classic title.
15. Thomas Dale (Chester, Va.)
Record: 17-0 |
Last week: 15
Nylah Wilson is leading the team in scoring at 21.7 points per night. The Knights rolled to a trio of wins last week by margins of 79, 36 and 41 points.
16. Clark (San Antonio, Texas)
Record: 28-2 |
Last week: 16
Arianna Roberson grabbed her 1,000th rebound in a 56-45 win over Churchill (San Antonio).
17. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 21-5 |
Last week: 18
Cedar Hill and Mansfield remain on the slate for the Eagles before postseason.
18. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 27-4 |
Last week: 19
Chloe Mann dropped 19,
Laila Coleman added 15 and a trio of players added 14 in a blowout win over Mansfield.
19. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 18-5 |
Last week: 20
Jada Eads poured in 22 points and
Bri Rivera added 11 in a 71-58 win over Colonial (Orlando).
20. Purcell Marian (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 18-1 |
Last week: 21
A third straight Miami Valley Conference title was had with a 61-45 win over Cincinnati Country Day (Cincinnati). The Cavaliers begin sectional play Feb. 14 vs. New Richmond.
21. Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 22
Olivia Austin scored 19 in a 45-25 win over Carmel (Mundelein).
22. Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 26-1 |
Last week: 23
After winning the sectional title, the Bears draw Mt. Vernon (Fortvile) on Saturday in regional play.
23. Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.)
Record: 31-0 |
Last week: 24
The Ramblers grabbed the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference title with a 76-57 win over Montini (Lombard).
24. Sage Hill (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Record: 24-2 |
Last week: NR
The Pacific Coast League title belongs to the Lightning after a 6-0 sweep through league play. Up next is Southern Section Open Division Pool Play.
25. Burroughs (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 17-2 |
Last week: NR
The Bombers' two losses are by a combined seven points to Incarnate Word Academy. They led 27-22 at half on Saturday in the final of the Webster Winter Classic as
Moriyah Douglass had 10 points.
On the bubble: Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.), 18-2;
Walker (La.), 31-1;
Ridgeline (Millville, Utah), 18-2;
Camden (S.C.), 22-2,
Hebron (Carrollton, Texas), 30-2
