Springbrook Has Tough Path Ahead

If Springbrook is going to become the first repeat Maryland 4A boys' champion in 41 years, then the Blue Devils will have to get past the two teams that gave them their toughest tests this season just to reach the state semifinals.

Winner of an area-best 30 straight games and 41 of 42 dating from season, second-ranked Springbrook (21-0 this season) likely will have to face Blake or Quince Orchard in the final of the 4A West region, which offered some of the more intriguing potential matchups when Maryland announced its boys' and girls' playoff draws Sunday.

The Blue Devils handed Blake two of its three losses -- by six points and one, respectively -- and they had to come from behind in the fourth quarter last Friday to beat Quince Orchard, 54-52.

"The kids really did get a scare" against Quince Orchard, said Springbrook Coach Tom Crowell, adding he was stunned to learn that Northwestern was the last repeat 4A (formerly AA) state champion. "I know I've got all ears now. But the pressure's been on us all year, with this winning streak, and being the defending state champions, so we're ready."

Meantime, Eleanor Roosevelt's girls already have done the repeat thing. In fact, the Raiders will try to win their fifth straight 4A championship. Only Brooklyn Park, which won the Class C title from 1985 to '89, has done that before.

The Raiders (18-1), who have won 108 of their last 116 games, are the top seed in the 4A South region. But with senior Nickia Gibbs and Terah Mustaf injured and their returns for the playoffs questionable, the Raiders struggled last week to pull away from Bowie and Parkdale. Sitting on the opposite side of the draw is second seed Wise, which not only played the Raiders close (losing, 60-51, on Jan. 8), but also lost by seven to Arundel, the 4A East's top seed.

"We learned that we can't look past nobody," Raiders Coach Rod Hairston said. "It would be nice to win a fifth state championship and make history, but looking ahead can really hurt you."

There are other intriguing potential matchups in the region tournaments, most of which begin Friday. One possible pairing would have defending 3A boys' champion Largo, provided the Lions beat Northern on Friday, facing Friendly, the region's top seed. The Patriots won both regular season meetings, but only by a combined seven points.

Whichever boys' teams advance to the 3A semifinals will likely have to go through undefeated Baltimore power Lake Clifton to win the title, but that doesn't mean the 3A West champion won't arrive tested. Top seed Seneca Valley won 13 straight before losing to No. 4 seed Bethesda-Chevy Chase last Friday. Meantime, second seed Paint Branch has won 17 of 19.

The 4A West girls' tournament should also be very competitive. The top two seeds, Gaithersburg and Wootton, split their regular season meetings, and fourth-seeded Blake is on a roll. The Bengals, state semifinalists each of the past two years, have won 13 straight after starting the season 2-6.

Defending 3A girls' champion Paint Branch, a region champion six of the past nine years, has won 44 straight against area opponents, but the last one might have been the toughest. Seneca Valley led the Panthers at halftime of their Feb. 17 game before Paint Branch pulled out an 89-82 victory.

Two of the area's longest winning streaks could collide in the 2A South girls' final if No. 7 River Hill (22-0) and No. 9 North Point (21-1, with 16 wins in a row) can get through.

DCIAA, WCAC Situations

The D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs get underway tomorrow with the quarterfinals, followed by the final two rounds Thursday and Saturday at Coolidge. While it would be a stunner if the H.D. Woodson girls (winners of 55 straight against DCIAA opponents) didn't win their fourth straight title, the boys' field is up for grabs.

Theodore Roosevelt's boys won the title last year, but needed a victory on the last day of the regular season this year just to have a chance to defend their crown. . . .

Four of the top eight boys' teams and three top 20 girls' teams will be in action at next weekend's WCAC tournament. The boys' quarterfinals will be Saturday at Gallaudet, while Gonzaga will host the girls' quarterfinals. The final two rounds for both will be March 1 and 2 at American University's Bender Arena.

Boys', girls' rankings, E8