By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 2, 2007
8:50 PM
A region-by-region breakdown of the Washington area high school playoff situation.
Notes:
-- Playoffs begin Nov. 9 in the DCIAA, the Virginia AAA Northern Region and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference; other regions start on Nov. 16
-- Scenarios for Maryland 3A South, 2A South and 1A South will be added after potential forfeits by Friendly H.S. are resolved.
Maryland Regions
4A West | 4A South | 4A North | 4A East
3A East | 2A West
Virginia AAA Northern Region
Division 6 | Division 5
In: Quince Orchard
In with a win this week: Sherwood
Controls its own fate: Gaithersburg, Whitman
Also in the hunt: Northwest, Springbrook, Magruder, Wootton
The skinny: Quince Orchard has clinched a first-round home game and likely will be the top seed. Key games this week include Sherwood-Gaithersburg and Whitman-Springbrook.
In: Suitland, Parkdale
In with a win this week: Oxon Hill
Also in the hunt: Bowie, Bladensburg, C.H. Flowers, Wise
The skinny: An incredibly convoluted region given several forfeits. It appears that unless Eleanor Roosevelt wins its appeal of a forfeited victory to High Point, the Raiders have no chance to make the playoffs. Key game is in week 10, when Bowie plays Flowers. Any other playoff hopeful would need an upset to get into the picture.
In: Linganore
In with a win this week: Perry Hall, North Carroll
Controls its own fate: Thomas Johnson
Also in the hunt: Parkville, Walbrook
The skinny: Linganore is on track to earn the region's top seed. Thomas Johnson, with games remaining against Middletown (5-3) and Frederick (7-1) has a difficult road if it wants to return to the postseason.
In: Arundel, Old Mill
In with a win this week: Broadneck
Controls its own fate: Severna Park
Also in the hunt: North County
The skinny: Arundel has clinched the top seed, while Old Mill and Broadneck seem headed to be the second and third seeds. The fourth seed is where it gets tricky. If North County wins its remaining games against South River (3-5) and Meade (1-7), then Severna Park will have to beat Broadneck in its regular season finale to get in.
Controls its own fate: Damascus, Frederick, Kennedy, Seneca Valley, Paint Branch
Also in the hunt: Urbana
The skinny: A jumbled region. The key game is next week when Damascus plays Paint Branch. But given the unpredictable nature of this region, don't be surprised if some upsets take place.
In: North Harford
In with a win this week: Howard, Wilde Lake
Also in the hunt: Atholton, Stephen Decatur, Fallston, Bel Air, Reservior
The skinny: North Harford likely will be the top seed, with Howard and Wilde Lake in the next two slots. Atholton holds the inside track for the fourth seed, with remaining games against Mount Hebron (0-8) and Hammond (2-6).
In: Clarksburg
Controls its own fate: Liberty, Middletown
Also in the hunt: Winters Mill, Northwood, Rockville, Francis Scott Key, North Hagerstown, Century
The skinny: Clarksburg can clinch the top seed with a victory in either of its two remaining games. With only two other teams with winning records, the rest of the region is quite jumbled. Winters Mill, with games remaining against Francis Scott Key and Century, is in best position for the fourth seed if it wins out.
In: Westfield, West Springfield, Chantilly, West Potomac, Lake Braddock
In with a win: Centreville, Oakton
Also in the hunt: W.T. Woodson, South County, Langley, Annandale, Herndon
The skinny: Playoff expansion has caused quite a jumble and it likely will come down to the who gets the most bonus points on Friday night.
In: Edison, Stone Bridge, Madison, Marshall, Mount Vernon, Yorktown
In with a win: Lee, Washington-Lee
Also in the hunt: McLean, South Lakes, Hayfield
The skinny: Welcome to perhaps the weakest playoff region around, where Hayfield (1-8) still has a chance to qualify for the playoffs and Lee (2-7 and on a two-game winning streak) controls its own fate.
In: DeMatha, St. John's, Good Counsel
In with a win: Bishop McNamara
Also in the hunt: Gonzaga
The skinny: DeMatha earns the top seed if it beats Good Counsel. If Good Counsel wins and St. John's beats Gonzaga, there would be a three-way tie for first place -- which would be broken by a drawing -- the numbers 1, 2, and 3 will be placed in a hat to determine the seeding. Bishop McNamara earns the fourth seed if it beats Carroll. Gonzaga needs to beat St. John's and have McNamara lose to get in.
In: H.D. Woodson, Ballou, Dunbar
In with a win: Theodore Roosevelt
Also in the hunt: Coolidg
The skinny: Coolidge must beat Roosevelt on Friday by more than 15 points in order to win a tiebreaker in a three-way tie for second-place in the DCIAA West Division. Wilson cannot prevail in the tiebreaker.
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