Girls Tournaments
Wootton and Springbrook Are Among Powerful Players
Thursday, February 22, 2007; Page GZ22
4A West
  Tarik Hislop and Paint Branch have won 17 of their last 18 games after losing their first two. (By Toni L. Sandys -- The Washington Post)
VIDEO | Shadow of Death on Senior Night
|
Team to beat: Wootton. Even though they have never won a region title, it's hard to go against the Patriots, who entered the week having won 13 straight since Dec. 29. They are the county's deepest team, with nine players scoring in double figures at least once this season.
What to watch for: When Whitman is on, the Vikings are tough, but their past three losses have each been by at least 15 points. . . . Churchill, Northwest and Walter Johnson each had losing streaks of at least three games earlier this month. With those slumps over, each is capable of pulling an upset, behind their respective stars, Carole Dempsey, Deven Green and Alex Chili.
4A North
Team to beat: Springbrook. Winners of two straight region titles, the Blue Devils have mastered the key to playoff success -- defense. They have allowed only three of their last 17 opponents to surpass 40 points.
What to watch for: Two of Blake's five losses were to Springbrook, which the Bengals wouldn't have to play until the region final. . . . Undefeated Dulaney, which features 6-foot-2 junior Danielle Parker (16 ppg, 13 rpg), last won a region title in 1988.
3A West
Team to beat: Paint Branch. State finalists in 2004 and '05, the Panthers lost their first two games -- to Damascus and Springbrook -- and have since won 17 of 18, along the way avenging their other defeat to B-CC.
What to watch for: Bethesda-Chevy Chase has never won a region title, and the Barons have home-court advantage throughout, in addition to the county's leading scorer, Nalini Hawkins. . . . After starting the season 1-5, Urbana, the defending region champion, won 13 of 14.
