MCPS Basketball State Quarterfinals Update and Preseason Softball Power Rankings!

GIRLS BASKETBALL 🏀

Last Thursday, MCPS girls basketball teams competed in the regional championships, looking to punch their ticket into the state bracket, and had four win their title game! In the 3A West II division, Wootton hosted Damascus, and took down the Hornets 69-33. In the 4A West I region, Clarksburg took down Frederick County’s Governor Thomas Johnson 55-51. The West II featured the third game of the season between Whitman and Churchill, with the Vikings cruising to complete the season sweep 57-41. Finally, Richard Montgomery secured the North II title with their 55-45 win over Einstein.

In the state quarterfinals, Wootton entered as the eight-seed, and unfortunately, saw their season come to an end on the road against Edgewood 58-36. Clarksburg also fell in a first round upset, as they fell to C.H. Flowers 42-38 at home. However, MCPS still has two girls teams alive! Top-seeded Whitman took down the Eleanor Roosevelt Raiders 46-38 while Richard Montgomery defeated the Dulaney Lions at home 61-46. Both of the two matchups are set to take place on Wednesday at Blair High, with Richard Montgomery (2) and Western High (6) tipping off at 5:30 while Whitman (1) and Flowers (5) will face off at 7:30. Tickets are available on GoFan.

BOYS BASKETBALL🏀

Last Wednesday, MCPS boys basketball teams competed in the regional championships, looking to punch their ticket into the state bracket, and had __ win their title game! In the 3A West II region, top-seeded Magruder took care of Damascus, as the Colonels won 57-46. In the 4A West I, two-seeded Seneca Valley upset Governor Thomas Johnson on the road, advancing on the backs of a 66-61 victory. In the West II, Walter Johnson traveled to Whitman, and the Vikings came out ahead 57-45. Finally, Blake will also be advancing out of the North II, as the Bengals beat the Kennedy Cavaliers 76-44.

Magruder went into the 3A tournament as the four seed, and took care of business against the Overlea Falcons, winning 76-44 to send them to the semifinals. Whitman also entered as the 4A’s four seed, and took down the Dulaney Lions 74-48. Blake entered ranked No. 3, and handled Eleanor Roosevelt 78-62. Unfortunately, entering as the seven seed didn’t help Seneca Valley, as they were defeated by Meade 75-60.

Whitman (4A 4) is set to face off against C.H. Flowers (4A 1), Magruder (3A 4) will match up with Frederick (3A 8) on the backs of their 8v1 upset win over Mariotts Ridge, while Blake (4A 3) will face Meade (4A 2). The Vikings will tip off at Wise at 6:30 on Tuesday, the Colonels will play at Richard Montgomery at 6:30 on Tuesday, and the Bengals will have their semifinals match at North County High at 6:30 on Tuesday. Tickets are available on GoFan.

SOFTBALL 🥎

We are just 11 days away from first pitch of high school softball in Maryland! Scroll down or click this link to check out the CSZ Preseason Power Rankings for Montgomery County softball!

In 2025, Montgomery County sent six teams into the state tournament, including Damascus in the 2A, Sherwood in the 3A, while Northwest, Blair, Churchill, and Richard Montgomery advanced in the highest class. Of these teams, both Sherwood and Churchill advanced to the championship game, with neither bringing home the title. With last spring marking the first time since 2021 no MCPS team won a state softball title, the question is, will any hoist the big trophy in 2026? Here are the ten teams from MCPS most likely to win the big game:

1. Damascus

The Hornets’ 2025 season started very mercurially. Their 4-2 record to start the season included scoring double-digit runs in each of the wins, highlighted by a 19-0 opening day rout against Seneca Valley on opening day, but the squad gave up double-digit runs in each of the losses. After the rocky start, Damascus finished their season on an 8-1 run, including six additional double-digit offensive performances. The Hornets outscored Southern, Centennial, and Hereford 39-5 from the regional semifinals to the state quarterfinals, before a one run loss in the semifinals against Stephen Decatur. Damascus looks so good this coming spring because, after only losing senior Josie Hoffacker, they will return first-team all-MCPS nominee Brook Sell, Marymount University commit Kailyn Sheahin plus all-Met honorable mention Ana DiGiandomenico. This spring looks very bright in Damascus.

2. Churchill

The Bulldogs opened their last campaign with a 3-3 record, including scoring 19 runs in a road game against Watkins Mill and a home game against Whitman, while also surrendering 20 on the road against Walter Johnson. From there, Churchill turned up their play, working towards a 10-7 regular season record. The team was one of the only of any sport in the state to play six playoff games, requiring a regional quarterfinal match all the way to the state championship. Churchill outscored opponents 41-5 in the first five playoff games, before an unfortunate end in the 4A championship, falling to Leonardtown 5-0. The loss of Villanova softball commit Maggie King will hurt this year’s squad, along with four other seniors, but they are set to be led by first-team all-division nominee Kai-En Hsu and honorable mention Jacqueline Le.

3. Walter Johnson

The Wildcats opened their season dropping their first game, but they quickly turned it around with a seven game win streak. This impressive stretch started with a 26-0 blowout on the road against Gaithersburg, followed by a 20-3 win over Churchill and a 20-4 win at Whitman. However, the stretch quickly switched course, with Walter Johnson going on to lose four of their next five. After outsourcing Einstein and Springbrook 29-0 in their final two regular season games, WJ would fail to make it past the regional semifinals, as Churchill got their revenge in a 7-0 loss. Despite the unfortunate end to their season, the WIldcats look to be in prime position going into this season. After losing four seniors, they will return Ella Reynolds, the all-division player of the year and Emory University commit, along with two seniors and three sophomores who all made the division’s first team.

4. Northwest

The Jaguars opened their season on a fourteen game win streak that included a 19-2 road win against Magruder, a 19-4 road win against Gaithersburg, and a 20-run shutout victory over Blake, also on the road. After this, Northwest dropped their final two games of the season, losing to Damascus and Churchill. After eliminating Frederick, Urbana, and Richard Montgomery from the playoffs, the Jaguars fell in their state semifinal game against Leonardtown, the future 4A state champions. While this year’s team will be without six members of last year’s state semifinalist team, head coach Mike Horton will look to bring his team back to the state bracket in the coming months.

5. Wootton

The Patriots’ last season kicked off with a strong win over Einstein before the team dropped three of their next four. Following the slide, Wootton won five of their next six, including a 20-4 victory against Watkins Mill on the road, a 14-11 fight against Paint Branch, and a 17-0 home blowout over Northwood. The team went on to finish with an 8-7 regular season record, before beating Kennedy and Rockville in the regional bracket to win the region title. In the state quarterfinals, the Patriots had a tough seed, and were forced to face Sherwood, where they fell 15-0. The good news is that, after losing just three seniors, Wootton will return Bryn Priolo and Emily Liu, who were selected as first-team and honorable mentions to the all-division team, respectively.

6. Sherwood

Last year’s 3A runner ups were the lone undefeated team from Montgomery County, finishing with 15 wins. In those 15, the Warriors plated at least 10 runs in 12 games, and at least 15 in seven. From the regional semifinals to the state quarterfinals, Ashley Barber-Strunk’s team outscored Atholton, Reservoir, and Wootton 35-0, before taking down the Dulaney Lions 2-0, punching their ticket to the big game. However, with the season on the line, Sherwood could not come through, falling 5-3 against the Chopticon Braves, ending their season. This year’s squad will be without several key members, including first-team all-met selection Keira Schlutz and first-team all MCPS nominee Avery Anderson, but all-division honorable mention Gabby Anderson will be returning as the team looks to make it back to the top of the state for the second time in three years

7. Quince Orchard

The Cougars had a 4-3 start to their most recent campaign, including a 20-3 road win against Blake on opening day, plus a 13-4 road win over Seneca Valley and a 21-run shutout against Gaithersburg at home. After this start, Quince Orchard played six of their last seven games on the road, en route to a solid 10-5 regular season record. Despite this, QO would fall to the 9-9 Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons, who were coming off a 27-23 first round win over Whitman. Despite the untimely ending to their 2025 year, the Cougars will enter this season without just two members of last year’s campaign, as they look to win their first playoff game since 2024, or potentially, their first state semifinals since 1993.

8. Clarksburg

The Coyotes had an impressive regular season campaign, scoring double-digit runs in ten games while surpassing the 20 run mark in three, in a season where the team finished 13-2. Despite such strong play before the playoffs, Clarksburg dropped their first game of postseason play in a 4-3 loss to the Urbana Hawks from Frederick County. After having success in the regular season, the team will lose Sommer Witz to Shepherd University and Gabby Encinas to Frostburg State. The remaining athletes will have a couple of big holes to fill before kicking off their season at home against Churchill.

9. Richard Montgomery

To kick off last season, the Rockets opened with a 5-0 record that included four straight wins with over 16 runs scored. After the incredible start to their season, Richard Montgomery went on a 1-6 run that saw a 19-18 home loss against the Blair Blazers, a 23-0 win over Springbrook, which was immediately followed by a 17-run shutout loss to Clarksburg. Despite the rough patch, RM went on a four-game win streak to end their season 10-6. RM took down Einstein and Wheaton in the regional bracket, securing them the championship, before the Rockets fell to Northwest 15-3 in the state quarterfinals.

10. Blair

Last Spring, the Blazers opened with a 9-6 home loss to the Churchill Bulldogs before going on a six game win streak, including a 15-0 win over Northwood and an incredible 19-18 victory on the road against Richard Montgomery. Blair slowed down a bit, finishing the regular season 11-5, but in their regional playoff games against Northwood and Laurel, the Blazers outscored the two 32-3 on the way to a regional championship. In the state bracket, their run was cut short in a 5-0 loss against Churchill, the second of the season. Additionally, this year’s team will be without an incredible nine athletes from last year’s squad, which could pose challenges for head coach Louis Hoelman, as the team looks to get back to the state semifinals for the first time in a decade.

MCPS ATHLETICS ZONE FEATURE

Montgomery County students produce stories highlighting their county’s athletes, and CSZ is thrilled to continue working to highlight their work. Wootton senior Jack White highlighted Olympic powerhouse Katie Ledecky, and his experience watching the 28-year-old continue to break records. Click the link below to read more about his experience!

SPRING SPORTS ⚾🥍

Stay tuned to CSZ for preseason power rankings for spring sports including Baseball and Lacrosse in the coming weeks!

SHARE YOUR STORIES

Know a coach, teammate, or fan going above and beyond? Nominate them for a feature! Your story idea could be highlighted in next week’s edition.

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