Win or go home. In parts of the country, the high school girls basketball season has reached sectional, regional and other rounds of postseason play and that's always a dangerous place to be. Especially for MaxPreps Top 25 teams.
The playoffs are a bad time to have an off night and the possibility of an early exit can keep a coach up at night or gray some hairs.
But it's also the time that the cream rises and the next month should see plenty of stellar action across the land.
Last year, Etiwanda took down the Trailblazers 69-57 before falling in the Southern California Open Division Regional round to Sierra Canyon as it went on to win the CIF title.
Last week in Alabama,
Hoover (Ala.) ended the nation's longest win streak with a 52-38 victory over No. 17
Hazel Green. The Bucs got 24 points from
Reniya Kelly and used a smothering 2-3 zone to limit the Trojans to their lowest output since last season. As a result of the victory, Hoover jumped three spots to No. 16.
Brooke Coffey goes up for three in Incarnate Word Academy's 72-61 win over Vashon at the Webster Winter Challenge. The Red Knights own the nation's longest win streak at 88 games. (Photo: Jimmy Simmons)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 1
The Southern Section Open Division playoffs begin Feb. 11 with the Trailblazers drawing Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) first, followed by Ontario Christian (Ontario) on Feb. 15 and Sage Hill (Newport Beach) on Feb. 18. A matchup in the final with No. 10 Etiwanda is likely on Feb. 25.
2. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 17-2 |
Last week: 2
The Quakers have six league contests remaining after a pair of big wins last week.
Jadyn Donovan went for 30 in their 74-53 victory over Bullis (Potomac, Md.).
3. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 23-1 |
Last week: 3
After an off week, the Eagles take the floor Saturday against IMG Academy (Bradenton).
4. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
Record: 15-2 |
Last week: 4
Shy Hawkins led five players in double figures in an 87-51 win over Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) as freshman
Savannah Swords continues to shine with 19 and 11.
5. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 25-3 |
Last week: 5
Capped the regular season with a pair of runaway wins and now await San Diego Section Open Division pairings.
6. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 6
Natalie Potts scored 36 points to help the Red Knights down Vashon (St. Louis) 72-61, win the Webster Winter Challenge and wrap up the program's 88th win in a row.
7. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 22-0 |
Last week: 7
Zoe Brooks scored 25 points as the Lancers erased an eight-point, third-quarter deficit to squeak past Immaculate Conception (Montclair) 72-68 at the Coach's Choice USA showcase.
8. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)
Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 8
Daniella Matus led four players in double figures with 20 in a blowout win over Pequannock (Pompton Plains).
Natalie Stoupakis added 18 along with 14 from
Mia Pauldo and 11 from
Alexis Rosenfeld.
9. South Bend Washington (South Bend, Ind.)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 9
After winning the sectional title the Panthers meet Valparaiso on Saturday for the Regional 1 championship.
10. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 26-2 |
Last week: 10
The Eagles are in the opposite pool of No. 1 Sierra Canyon and get Corona (Santiago) on Feb. 11, Windward (Los Angeles) on Feb. 15 and Mater Dei (Santa Ana) on Feb. 18.
11. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 25-4 |
Last week: 11
Beat Waxahachie by 31 and Mansfield by 59 on Monday in a makeup game from last week's ice storms in Texas.
12. The Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tenn.)
Record: 23-4 |
Last week: 12
After two wins and a forfeit victory, the Feet begin a championship push with a Division II Class A District 3 playoff game on Tuesday against 2-21 University School of Nashville.
13. Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 14
The Golden Eagles close out league play this week with Buchanan (Clovis) and Clovis – the only team to beat Clovis West this season.
14. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Record: 19-1 |
Last week: 15
Nunu Agara had 30 points while
Liv McGill added 18 and
Kelly Boyle chipped in 15 as the Royals handled Edina 81-45.
15. Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.)
Record: 17-2 |
Last week: 16
Hannah Hidalgo reached the 2,000-career point mark in a 61-39 win over Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill). She went for 29 in the game, landing exactly on 2,000. She added 20 over the weekend in a 70-46 win over St. Rose (Belmar).
16. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 19
Reniya Kelly scored 24 as the Bucs snapped No. 17 Hazel Green's 87-game win streak. They begin the 7A Area 5 tournament on Tuesday against Tuscaloosa County (Northport).
17. Hazel Green (Ala.)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 13
The Trojans started a new win streak Friday, beating Good Hope (Cullman) 68-53. Head coach Tim Miller's program is looking for its sixth straight 6A title.
18. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 20-2 |
Last week: 17
Doubled up rival Saint Francis (Mountain View) as freshman
McKenna Woliczko continues to shine, averaging 19.8 points per game. That's been huge for the Monarchs in the absence of all-stater
Morgan Cheli.
19. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 18
ZaKiyah Johnson scored 19, leading four players in double figures in a 75-47 win over Bowling Green. Last year's MaxPreps Freshman of the Year is averaging 22.0 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Valkyries.
20. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 15-3 |
Last week: 20
The Knights keep rolling over Utah opponents, beating Pleasant Grove 84-33 last week.
21. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 21
Begin the 7A postseason Thursday with a regional quarterfinal against eighth-seed Harmony (16-4).
22. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 20-5 |
Last week: 23
Since losing three in a row last month, the Wampus Cats have righted the ship with three straight wins.
23. Mason (Ohio)
Record: 21-1 |
Last week: 24
Won their third straight Greater Miami Conference title and sixth overall with a 58-46 win over Lakota East (Liberty Township).
24. Piedmont (Calif.)
Record: 22-0 |
Last week: 25
Continue to dominate Bay Area competition, beating last Thursday Alameda 61-34.
25. Monterey (Lubbock, Texas)
Record: 26-3 |
Last week: NR
Sophomore
Aaliyah Chavez leads the top 5A school in Texas, averaging more than 30 points per game to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
On the bubble: Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.), 17-0;
Desert Vista (Phoenix), 23-3;
McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.), 19-2;
Hebron Christian Academy (Dacula, Ga.), 23-0;
Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.), 24-1.
