As champions ascend, Sidwell Friends reigns
Another year down, another year of Sidwell Friends at No. 1.
The top three spots in our final girls’ basketball rankings of the season remain with private schools, led by notable D.C. champions: Sidwell wears the D.C. State Athletic Association crown, St. John’s won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, and Georgetown Visitation earned the Independent School League title.
With the conclusion of the Maryland and Virginia public school state tournaments last weekend, plenty of movement shakes up the Top 20. On Friday, Madison became the first Northern Virginia girls’ basketball team to win four straight titles. The Warhawks make the week’s biggest jump, up to No. 6.
In Maryland, Howard moves to No. 4 with its first title since 1994, while Glen Burnie comes up one spot with its 4A state title, a 43-40 victory over fellow riser Churchill. Lackey is the lone addition in this final iteration of the rankings after its impressive win in the 2A championship game. 1. Sidwell Friends (28-3) Last
ranked: 1 | Behind an uber-talented roster led by Duke commit Jadyn Donovan, the Quakers were again D.C. champions and one of the best teams in the country.
2. St. John’s (26-7) LR: 2 | The Cadets pushed through midseason injury woes to repeat as Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champions. 3. Georgetown Visitation
(24-6) LR: 3 | Princeton commit Fadima Tall led a strong Cubs season that included an upset of Sidwell for the Independent School League title.
4. Howard (26-1) LR: 7 | The Lions defeated Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 64-52, for the Maryland 3A state title, their first since 1994.
5. Paul VI (23-10) LR: 4 | The Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I champion was one of the most feared local teams for much of the season.
6. Madison (25-4) LR: 17 | Thanks to a game-winning andone in overtime from junior Stella Gougoufkas, the Warhawks claimed their fourth straight state title in Virginia Class
6. 7. Bishop Mcnamara (21-6) LR: 5 | Behind WCAC player of the year Madisen Mcdaniel, the Mustangs went undefeated in regular season conference play.
8. Shabach Christian (22-9) LR: 6 | Florida commit Laila Reynolds helped put the firstyear program on the map.
9. Glen Burnie (23-2) LR: 10 | With a fourth-quarter push, the Gophers edged Churchill to win the Maryland 4A state championship. 10. St. Mary’s (Annapolis) (27-0) LR: 8 | The Saints completed an undefeated season with their first Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B conference championship in a decade.
11. Virginia Academy (25-8) LR: 9 | The Patriots enjoyed a breakout season and captured the VISAA Division II title.
12. Churchill (24-4) LR: 16 | The Bulldogs fell just short in the Maryland 4A title game.
13. Robinson (26-4) LR: 11 | The Rams lost to Madison in the state semifinals. 14. Osbourn Park (23-5) LR: 12 | The Yellow Jackets were the top Northern Virginia public school team for most of the year, but they couldn’t get past state finalist Manchester in the quarterfinals.
15. Bullis (19-10) LR: 13 |
Bullis emerged as a contender around midseason, with its signature win coming in January over Georgetown Visitation.
16. Mount Zion Prep (21-11) LR: 14 | The Warriors got a big boost from sophomore J’niya Weaver in the program’s first season. 17. Tuscarora (26-3) LR: 15 | The best season in school history ended with a one-point loss in the state semifinals.
18. C.H. Flowers (20-4) LR: 18 | The Jaguars came up short against Western in the state quarterfinals.
19. Maret (19-11) LR: 19 | The Frogs were, yet again, one of the top teams in the increasingly competitive Independent School League.
20. Lackey (24-4) LR: Not ranked | The Chargers defeated previously unbeaten Kent Island in the Maryland 2A title game. Dropped out: No. 20 Oxon Hill