Per Clay Kallam, publisher of Full Court Press
1. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco, Calif.) 29-0 (1): The Irish handled its league playoffs with no problems, and shouldn’t have to worry too much in the first rounds of the sectional tournament. But the road will start to get tougher soon.
2. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) 24-2 (2) : Here’s a scary thought for California’s remaining Division I teams: ‘That might have been the best game of the year,’ coach Carl Buggs said after the Jackrabbits embarrassed perennial power Lynwood (Lynwood, Calif.) Tuesday (they were up 55-17 at one point). Then again, Millikan (Long Beach, Calif.), which beat Poly once this year, is Friday’s opponent.
3. Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg, Va.) 24-2 (3): The Dragons don’t belong to a league, nor is it in the Virginia state playoffs, so its season will culminate at the Bishop Walsh Invitational March 6-8, where it will face other top Catholic schools that aren’t in state tournaments.
4. Murry Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.) 20-4 (4): The Blazers face Boys & Girls (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Wednesday, and the Kangaroos could use some boys ? some very good boys ? in this one. Expect Murry Bergtraum to roll to the March 8 quarterfinals (why do New York teams need so much time off between games?).
5. St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) 30-0 (5): It’s starting to get serious for the Rams, who will take on a pretty good Vanden team in the sectional semifinals and then either Sacramento or Del Oro in the finals. St. Mary’s should roll, but this is the time of year that strange things happen.
6. Highlands Ranch (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) 20-3 (6): The Colorado postseason unveils itself at a placid pace, with just one game this week ? and the Falcons won’t be tested Saturday. The anticipated rematch with Regis Jesuit, if it happens, will be March 14.
7. Sapulpa (Sapulpa, Okla.) 26-1 (9): The Chieftains held Bartlesville (Bartlesville, Okla.) to just 17 points in the regional finals Saturday, but unbeaten Claremore (Claremore, Okla.) is next. Then again, Sapulpa beat Tahlequah (Tahlequah, Okla.) by 41, and Claremore beat the Tigers by only 11.
8. Centennial (Circle Pines, Minn.) 25-0 (8): The Cougars start the playoffs, but don’t get too excited: 5-20 Park Center (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) is the first-round opponent and Centennial has established itself as the top team in the state.
9. DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas) 36-1 (10): The Eagles beat both Timberview (Arlington, Texas) and Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) - the only team to beat them - over the weekend, and now move on to the state semis, against Naaman Forest (Garland, Texas). But what everyone’s looking forward to is DeSoto versus Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas) for the Texas title Saturday.
10. Dunbar (Lexington, Ky.) 28-1 (11): Chelsey Johnson finished the regular season in fine form with 24 points and five of ten shooting from three-point distance. The playoffs begin Wednesday.
11. Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) 23-1 (12): There are always games like this in postseason: The Firebirds got into foul trouble, and had to turn to the bench for salvation ? and the bench came through, with 15 points in a 44-35 win over Chaminade-Julienne (Dayton, Ohio). Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) is next, with unbeaten Coffman (Dublin, Ohio) in the same four-team pod.
12. Buffalo Grove (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) 32-3 (14): The Bison almost blew a 15-point lead to Wheeling (Wheeling, Ill.), but held on to win by two, before winning by 11 to advance to Friday’s semifinals. Next up is Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.), which was ranked earlier in the year, with the championship on Saturday.
13. Gentry (Indianola. Miss.) 36-0 (13): If the Rams make it two straight state titles, they will earn it. They beat 31-3 Pontotoc (Pontotoc, Miss.) by only three points last week and most likely will play the Warriors again in the state semifinals.
14. Lexington Catholic (Lexington, Ky.) 25-4 (15): Last year, Lexington Catholic and Lexington Christian (Lexington, Ky.) split four games, but Lexington Christian won the game that really mattered, the playoff elimination game. This year, Lexington Catholic has won both games, by six and seven points, but the one that really counts is the upcoming playoff game.
15. Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas) 37-2 (19): The Bobcats survived two tough games in the Texas playoffs, getting by 6-5 junior Kelsey Bone’s Dulles (Sugarland, Texas) team along the way. To get to DeSoto, though, they must get by Wagner (San Antonio, Texas) and its 33-game winning streak in the semis.
16. Washington (South Bend, Ind.) 23-2 (20): This is Washington’s third straight trip to the 4A finals, and the Panthers won it last year. Still, Carmel (Carmel, Ind.) is rolling, and knocked off Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) - in the top ten nationally at the time - earlier in the tournament.
17. Heritage Christian (Indianapolis, Ind.) 27-1 (17): Unbeaten Oak Hill (Converse, Ind.), the opponent in the 2A state title game, hasn’t played the same quality of opposition that Heritage Christian has, but then again, the Golden Eagles haven’t lost. Still, Rick Risinger’s team has been to Conseco four times since 1994, and that’s a significant advantage.
18. Oak Ridge (Oak Ridge Tenn.) 28-1 (18) Next up for the Wildcats is Farragut (Farragut, Tenn.), an 11-loss team they’ve already beaten by 23. Even a loss Wednesday won’t keep them from advancing to the Sectionals Saturday, but don’t expect Oak Ridge to stumble.
19. Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield, Pa.) 25-2 (21): Stephanie Holzer not only had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Lions, her three-point play extended a late one-point lead over Archbishop Carroll to four ? and that put Cardinal O’Hara into the top 20.
20. Southridge (Beaverton, Ore) 20-4 (NR): The Skyhawks jump back into the rankings despite four losses ? and because of wins over Highlands Ranch and Sequoyah (Tahlequah, Okla.). Two of the losses were to top five teams, they avenged another (to Prairie), and the fourth is to Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.), which has lost only three times, all to Prairie (Vancouver, Wash.).
21. Sequoyah (Tahlequah, Okla.) 24-2 (23): The Indians are rolling through the Oklahoma 3A playoffs, but made its reputation at the Nike TOC, beating Archbishop Carroll (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Auburn Riverside (Auburn, Wash.).
22. Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.) 33-2 (22): Rivalry games are always chancy, but the Patriots went on a 14-2 second-half run to knock off Sparkman (Harvest, Ala.) and move into the 6A semifinals Thursday against Robertsdale (Robertsdale, Ala.).
23. St. Michael Academy (New York, N.Y.) 23-1 (25): Like Murry Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.), the Eagles don’t get to do much while New York wends its dilatory way through postseason. Eventually they’ll get to play again.
24. Lower Richland (Hopkins, S.C.) 25-0 (24): For the fourth straight season, the Diamonds Hornets and 23-4 Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) will face off for the South Carolina title Saturday. A win there will run Lower Richland’s winning streak to 44, but the Cavaliers have played a much tougher schedule.
25. Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) 28-3 (NR): Diminutive D’Franz Smart not only led the Dolphins back into the top 25, she also helped them get to the Illinois semifinals, where they’ll face Buffalo Grove.
1. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco, Calif.) 29-0 (1): The Irish handled its league playoffs with no problems, and shouldn’t have to worry too much in the first rounds of the sectional tournament. But the road will start to get tougher soon.
2. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) 24-2 (2) : Here’s a scary thought for California’s remaining Division I teams: ‘That might have been the best game of the year,’ coach Carl Buggs said after the Jackrabbits embarrassed perennial power Lynwood (Lynwood, Calif.) Tuesday (they were up 55-17 at one point). Then again, Millikan (Long Beach, Calif.), which beat Poly once this year, is Friday’s opponent.
3. Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg, Va.) 24-2 (3): The Dragons don’t belong to a league, nor is it in the Virginia state playoffs, so its season will culminate at the Bishop Walsh Invitational March 6-8, where it will face other top Catholic schools that aren’t in state tournaments.
4. Murry Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.) 20-4 (4): The Blazers face Boys & Girls (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Wednesday, and the Kangaroos could use some boys ? some very good boys ? in this one. Expect Murry Bergtraum to roll to the March 8 quarterfinals (why do New York teams need so much time off between games?).
5. St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) 30-0 (5): It’s starting to get serious for the Rams, who will take on a pretty good Vanden team in the sectional semifinals and then either Sacramento or Del Oro in the finals. St. Mary’s should roll, but this is the time of year that strange things happen.
6. Highlands Ranch (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) 20-3 (6): The Colorado postseason unveils itself at a placid pace, with just one game this week ? and the Falcons won’t be tested Saturday. The anticipated rematch with Regis Jesuit, if it happens, will be March 14.
7. Sapulpa (Sapulpa, Okla.) 26-1 (9): The Chieftains held Bartlesville (Bartlesville, Okla.) to just 17 points in the regional finals Saturday, but unbeaten Claremore (Claremore, Okla.) is next. Then again, Sapulpa beat Tahlequah (Tahlequah, Okla.) by 41, and Claremore beat the Tigers by only 11.
8. Centennial (Circle Pines, Minn.) 25-0 (8): The Cougars start the playoffs, but don’t get too excited: 5-20 Park Center (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) is the first-round opponent and Centennial has established itself as the top team in the state.
9. DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas) 36-1 (10): The Eagles beat both Timberview (Arlington, Texas) and Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) - the only team to beat them - over the weekend, and now move on to the state semis, against Naaman Forest (Garland, Texas). But what everyone’s looking forward to is DeSoto versus Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas) for the Texas title Saturday.
10. Dunbar (Lexington, Ky.) 28-1 (11): Chelsey Johnson finished the regular season in fine form with 24 points and five of ten shooting from three-point distance. The playoffs begin Wednesday.
11. Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) 23-1 (12): There are always games like this in postseason: The Firebirds got into foul trouble, and had to turn to the bench for salvation ? and the bench came through, with 15 points in a 44-35 win over Chaminade-Julienne (Dayton, Ohio). Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) is next, with unbeaten Coffman (Dublin, Ohio) in the same four-team pod.
12. Buffalo Grove (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) 32-3 (14): The Bison almost blew a 15-point lead to Wheeling (Wheeling, Ill.), but held on to win by two, before winning by 11 to advance to Friday’s semifinals. Next up is Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.), which was ranked earlier in the year, with the championship on Saturday.
13. Gentry (Indianola. Miss.) 36-0 (13): If the Rams make it two straight state titles, they will earn it. They beat 31-3 Pontotoc (Pontotoc, Miss.) by only three points last week and most likely will play the Warriors again in the state semifinals.
14. Lexington Catholic (Lexington, Ky.) 25-4 (15): Last year, Lexington Catholic and Lexington Christian (Lexington, Ky.) split four games, but Lexington Christian won the game that really mattered, the playoff elimination game. This year, Lexington Catholic has won both games, by six and seven points, but the one that really counts is the upcoming playoff game.
15. Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas) 37-2 (19): The Bobcats survived two tough games in the Texas playoffs, getting by 6-5 junior Kelsey Bone’s Dulles (Sugarland, Texas) team along the way. To get to DeSoto, though, they must get by Wagner (San Antonio, Texas) and its 33-game winning streak in the semis.
16. Washington (South Bend, Ind.) 23-2 (20): This is Washington’s third straight trip to the 4A finals, and the Panthers won it last year. Still, Carmel (Carmel, Ind.) is rolling, and knocked off Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) - in the top ten nationally at the time - earlier in the tournament.
17. Heritage Christian (Indianapolis, Ind.) 27-1 (17): Unbeaten Oak Hill (Converse, Ind.), the opponent in the 2A state title game, hasn’t played the same quality of opposition that Heritage Christian has, but then again, the Golden Eagles haven’t lost. Still, Rick Risinger’s team has been to Conseco four times since 1994, and that’s a significant advantage.
18. Oak Ridge (Oak Ridge Tenn.) 28-1 (18) Next up for the Wildcats is Farragut (Farragut, Tenn.), an 11-loss team they’ve already beaten by 23. Even a loss Wednesday won’t keep them from advancing to the Sectionals Saturday, but don’t expect Oak Ridge to stumble.
19. Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield, Pa.) 25-2 (21): Stephanie Holzer not only had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Lions, her three-point play extended a late one-point lead over Archbishop Carroll to four ? and that put Cardinal O’Hara into the top 20.
20. Southridge (Beaverton, Ore) 20-4 (NR): The Skyhawks jump back into the rankings despite four losses ? and because of wins over Highlands Ranch and Sequoyah (Tahlequah, Okla.). Two of the losses were to top five teams, they avenged another (to Prairie), and the fourth is to Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.), which has lost only three times, all to Prairie (Vancouver, Wash.).
21. Sequoyah (Tahlequah, Okla.) 24-2 (23): The Indians are rolling through the Oklahoma 3A playoffs, but made its reputation at the Nike TOC, beating Archbishop Carroll (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Auburn Riverside (Auburn, Wash.).
22. Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.) 33-2 (22): Rivalry games are always chancy, but the Patriots went on a 14-2 second-half run to knock off Sparkman (Harvest, Ala.) and move into the 6A semifinals Thursday against Robertsdale (Robertsdale, Ala.).
23. St. Michael Academy (New York, N.Y.) 23-1 (25): Like Murry Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.), the Eagles don’t get to do much while New York wends its dilatory way through postseason. Eventually they’ll get to play again.
24. Lower Richland (Hopkins, S.C.) 25-0 (24): For the fourth straight season, the Diamonds Hornets and 23-4 Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) will face off for the South Carolina title Saturday. A win there will run Lower Richland’s winning streak to 44, but the Cavaliers have played a much tougher schedule.
25. Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) 28-3 (NR): Diminutive D’Franz Smart not only led the Dolphins back into the top 25, she also helped them get to the Illinois semifinals, where they’ll face Buffalo Grove.
