Playoffs Should Bring Out the Best of 4A West

The Maryland playoffs start tomorrow and the talent-rich 4A West -- consisting of all Montgomery County teams -- should provide exciting boys' games over the next two weeks, especially considering the parity.

Churchill is unbeaten (two ties) and the No. 1 seed, but could be looking at a semifinal matchup against a Quince Orchard team that is unbeaten in its last five. Defending state champ and No. 2 seed Magruder is no sure bet to make the region final either: Likely quarterfinal opponent Wootton was its equal in a close 1-0 loss two weeks ago.

In 4A South, No. 1 seed Bowie has had a perfect season (and has won the region three of the past four years), but in each of those years the Bulldogs lost in the state semifinals. They will likely have to get past an Anne Arundel team at states if they again win the region; hopes could be raised though, since Bowie has a win over Broadneck. . . .

Southern Maryland's most improved squad is arguably Chopticon, and that bodes well for the playoffs. A one-win team in 2005, the Braves won four games in '06, went 9-8-1 in '07, and this season are 8-5-1 with a 3A South quarterfinal match against Huntingtown ahead next Tuesday. One reason is senior forward Jo Jo Bucior, who has 13 goals this season.

Another outstanding SMAC player this fall is Great Mills striker Franck Zeba, a sophomore from Ivory Coast who has seven goals for the Hornets (10-3-1), the No. 4 seed in the 3A South Region. . . .

Flint Hill senior John Stertzer scored his 100th career goal Saturday in a 2-0 win over Christ Church in the Huskies' homecoming game. The 2007 All-Met and Maryland recruit is the school's career scoring leader and a four-year varsity player. . . .

Marriotts Ridge (13-0) won its first Howard County championship with a 4-1 victory over River Hill (10-2-1) last night. The Mustangs scored three first-half goals to take control. Pat Sullivan had two goals, while Phil Martinelli and Steven Kahl had one apiece. Marriotts Ridge and River Hill are the first and second seeds, respectively, in the upcoming 2A South playoffs.

Wheeler to Step Down

Walter Johnson girls' coach Tom Wheeler said yesterday that this would be his last year coaching the sport for the Wildcats.

Wheeler, 61, said he would continue to coach wrestling and umpire baseball games, but that his 14th season coaching soccer would be his last.

"It's time to start shutting things down a little at a time," Wheeler said. "You get three-quarters of your life done and you say it's time to start letting things go a little at a time."

Walter Johnson (11-2) holds the top seed in the 4A West region entering the MPSSAA tournament, thanks in part to the leadership from record-holding goal scorer Caroline Miller.

Miller, a four-year starter who has 24 goals on the season, holds the career scoring record at Walter Johnson with 86 goals. She has orally committed to Virginia.

The Wildcats clinched the top seed with a 2-1 overtime win last week over No. 2 seed Blair. Quince Orchard holds the No. 3 seed and all three teams will have first-round byes in the playoffs. . . .

Top-seeded Bowie (9-1) and No. 2 seed Eleanor Roosevelt could meet again in the 4A South playoffs in a rematch of their Oct. 13 meeting, which Bowie won, 2-0. . . .

Top-seeded Bethesda-Chevy Chase (11-0) leads 3A West action with a first-round bye and will face the winner of Tuscarora-Kennedy to start the postseason. . . .

Wilde Lake (10-2) scored two goals in the second half yesterday to beat No. 4 River Hill, 2-1, and capture the Howard County championship. Gillian Sawyer scored first for the WildeCats, and Bethany Keefer scored the winner on an assist by Caitlin Duff. . . .

Flint Hill won the ISL A regular season championship yesterday with a 4-1 win over St. Andrew's. The title comes after the Huskies finished second in the league the past three seasons.