Girls’ basketball Top 20: St. John’s vaults to the top spot

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March 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EST
St. John’s shown during the WCAC semifinals, went on to capture that tournament title as well as the DCSAA championship. (Graeme Sloan for The Washington Post)
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It’s tough to find year-over-year consistency in high school basketball, which is perhaps what has made St. John’s postseason lore so impressive over the last three years. The era of Kyndal Walker (Maryland commit) and Coach Jonathan Scribner has been something to marvel at. A week after clinching their third consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title, the Cadets knocked off formerly top-ranked Sidwell in overtime to win the D.C. State Athletic Association title, 42-39.

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In Virginia, two public schools — Woodgrove and Meridian — remain, and will play Friday at VCU for state titles in their respective classes; Osbourn Park, Briar Woods and Robinson fell in their state tournaments. A special nod goes to Osbourn Park, which lost to Thomas Dale by 41 at the start of the season but nearly pulled off an upset Friday before falling, 58-55.

1

St. John’s (26-5) Last ranked: 2

The Cadets toppled Sidwell in the DCSAA title game, with sophomore Morgan Stewart’s and-one being the clincher.

2

Sidwell Friends (25-6) LR: 1

The Quakers lost to St. John’s by three in their final game this season.

3

Bishop McNamara (24-5) LR: 3

The Mustangs take the top seed in the Maryland Private School State Basketball Tournament.

4

Bishop Ireton (24-9) LR: 5

The Cardinals snapped Paul VI’s 16-year Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association title streak with a 56-52 win behind junior Nyla Brooks’ 17 points.

5

Woodgrove (28-1) LR: 4

The Wolverines play Hampton in the Virginia Class 4 finals Friday with a chance to win their first state title.

6

Osbourn Park (24-4) LR: 6

The Yellow Jackets exceeded all expectations this season, their winter ending in a three-point loss to national power Thomas Dale.

7

Hammond (23-0) LR: 7

The Golden Bears’ path to the Maryland 2A state semifinals must go through Southern and the winner of Francis Scott Key-Middletown this week.

8

Bullis (22-7) LR: 9

The Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed in the Maryland Private School State Basketball Tournament.

9

Paul VI (19-15) LR: 8

The Panthers’ streak of 16 consecutive VISAA titles came to an end against Bishop Ireton.

10

Mount Zion Prep (21-15) LR: 10

The Warriors will be the No. 5 seed in the Maryland Private School State Basketball Tournament.

11

Briar Woods (25-2) LR: 11

The Falcons’ dream season came to an end in the Virginia Class 5 state quarterfinals with a 36-35 loss to Patrick Henry.

12

Bethesda-Chevy Chase (23-2) LR: 12

The Barons will play Whitman for the region title Wednesday. A win would send them to the Maryland 4A state quarterfinals.

13

Good Counsel (14-11) LR: 13

The Falcons’ season ended in the WCAC quarterfinals.

14

Elizabeth Seton (17-10) LR: 14

The Roadrunners will compete in the Maryland Private School State Basketball Tournament.

15

Archbishop Carroll (20-10) LR: 15

The Lions nearly stunned top-seeded Sidwell in the DCSAA tournament but fell in the semifinals, 44-40

16

Robinson (26-3) LR: 16

The Rams fell to Thomas Dale in the state quarterfinals, 64-39.

17

Severna Park (21-2) LR: 17

A threat in the Maryland 3A tournament, the Falcons will play South River in the region finals on Wednesday.

18

South River (21-2) LR: 18

The Seahawks, meanwhile, will have a chance to avenge an earlier loss to Severna Park.

19

Gwynn Park (21-5) LR: 19

The Yellow Jackets have yet to lose at the Class 2A level, but getting past Largo on Wednesday won’t be easy.

20

C.H. Flowers (19-2) LR: 20

The Jaguars are the favorite to reach the Maryland 4A state semifinals from their quadrant.

On the bubble: Clarksburg, Georgetown Day, Meridian, North Point, Oxon Hill

Dropped out: None