"MD Public Girls Basketball-Another Great Year "State Championship Week"

SamBuckMDPrepHoops- MD Public School Girls Basketball State Championship Week- 2025

Thank You to all my Supporters!!! We have officially made it to State Championship week. I started this blog 3 years ago to give a platform for girls who participated in Public School basketball throughout the state of Maryland. I cover games, assist with tournaments, run the scoreboard for the fall league, create weekly rankings, and prepare write ups all for the love of supporting our student athletes. There is no monetary help, sponsors, or assistance, it is just my love for the game. As a former teacher, athletic director, and Principal, I understand the self-less work that goes into creating a well-rounded education with extracurricular activities for students, so this is me doing my part. Thanks to everyone that has supported SamBuckMDPrepHoops over the last 3 years. My mission is always to grow the girls’ basketball landscape for our Maryland athletes. Behind the scenes I am adding a podcast show for the weekly rankings, more tournaments, scholarships for graduating seniors, and more college partnerships that will benefit our student athletes that want to play at the next level.

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1A Region: This Weeks Outlook- State Semifinals and Championship Game

Forest Park vs Pikesville: As predicted Forest Park and Pikesville match up. We were hoping to get this game for the championship, but the seeding disrupted that dream. The two teams meet for the second year in a row in the state semifinals game. This game will be won in the paint. Forest Park post players are active and physical. Forest Parks guards will put pressure on the defense with their ability to penetrate and get to the free throw line. Pikesville is led by a two-time state champion at the point guard position. As she goes, so does the Panthers. With their other star combo guard back for the playoffs, Pikesville looked great through the first 3 rounds beating their opponents by an average of 30+ points. This game will come down to whoever wants it more. Free throw shooting and rebounds will be key in this matchup. Southern vs Smithsburg: Southern is the number 1 seed for a reason. They have only lost one game all season. They are looking to get back to the state championship game for the second year in a row. Smithsburg has some quality wins this year even over 2A semifinalist FSK. This game will come down to three-point shot making and free throw shooting. This region is too close to call. I feel like we will get three great games to crown a champion. My pre-playoff predictions are below. Good luck to all four teams.

1A Region- Pre-Playoffs Final 4 Prediction:

Championship Game (Pikesville vs Forest Park), Southern Garret, Smithsburg.

2A Region: This Weeks Outlook- State Semifinals and Championship Game

As stated, all year, in this region I had no idea what was going to happen, hence all my final four picks are out. Parkside vs FSK: Interesting matchup, a contrast of styles. Can Parkside’s athleticism combat FSK’s fundamental, not beating themselves play? Same goes with the Hereford vs Douglass-PG game. They say styles make fights. Watching Douglass-PG the past few games they knocked out Largo and Gwynn Park who was my favorite to win it all. Honestly, I can see any of these 4 teams winning it all depending on if they are able to play their style of game. I may be leaning towards FSK and Douglass-PG in the finals, but hey I have been wrong all year with this region. Just like 1A this region is too close to call. I feel like we will get 3 great games to crown a champion. My pre-playoff predictions are below. Good luck to all four teams.

2A Region- Pre-Playoffs Final 4 Prediction:

Championship Game (Gwynn Park vs Hammond), New Town, Queen Anne’s.

3A Region: This Weeks Outlook- State Semifinals and Championship Game

I predicted 3 out of 4 teams to be here in the preseason. I picked Poly from the start of the year because we must always consider Championship pedigree, grit, and defense travels. Winning road games on back-to-back days is a feat within itself. South River has played a tough out of conference schedule for this time of the year. The Anne Arundel County winners have been dominant in the playoffs. After losses to good teams at the start of the season Oakland Mills has been the hottest team in the state. They have won 13 in a row, winning the Howard County championship outright. Their guard play is superb and defensively they have been locked in. Oakdale the state championship runner up last year has a lot of experience and back to finish the deal this year. They beat Carroll County champion Westminster and a solid Wootton team to get here. I can see any of these 4 teams winning it all. I am going to go with my preseason and pre playoff pick of South River vs Poly. We will get 3 great games to crown a champion. My pre-playoff predictions are below. Good luck to all four teams.

3A Region- Pre-Playoffs Final 4 Prediction:

Championship Game (Poly vs South River), Oakland Mills, Dulaney.

4A Region: This Weeks Outlook- State Semifinals and Championship Game

I predicted 3 out of 4 teams to be here in the preseason. North Point got its revenge last week at Bethesda for their loss last year in the playoffs. They were able to travel to Annapolis as well for that win. Once again defense travels. North Point has the best perimeter defenders in the state, I watched them dominate some of the best offensive guards in the state this year. Flowers have been number 1 for most of the year and rightfully so. They simply cause havoc and put so much pressure on the ball, it is hard for any team to get an offensive rhythm vs them. They have simply dismantled teams all year. Clarksburg, the defending 4A state champions, were the last public school to beat Flowers, which was last year in the state semifinals. Clarksburg won Montgomery County outright but really has not gotten their due respect. Another solid defensive team, they have the championship pedigree to pull out close games. The Western Doves were in an overtime fight vs Reservoir, and they pulled it out. As the 3rd Baltimore City schools’ team in the state semifinals, Western looks to win their 2nd state title in the last 3 years. I can see any of these 4 teams winning it all. I think we will see the North Point Vs Flowers Championship game. I am going to switch my pick though and go with North Point. I believe they are the only team that can beat Flowers on a neutral court because they will be able to withstand the pressure, and they can lock up on defense as well. Either way we will get 3 great games to crown a champion. My pre-playoff predictions are below. Good luck to all four teams.

4A Region- Pre-Playoffs Final 4 Prediction:

Championship Game (Flowers vs North Point), Western, Seneca Valley.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Class 1A Girls

Allegany County Community College

No. 1 Southern-G vs. No. 4 Smithsburg- 6 p.m.

New Town High School- Class 1A Girls

No. 2 Forest Park vs. No. 3 Pikesville - 5 p.m.

Thomas Johnson High School- Class 3A Girls

No. 3 Oakland Mills vs. No. 7 Baltimore Poly - 5 p.m.

No. 1 Oakdale vs. No. 5 South River - 7 p.m.

North Point High School- Class 4A Girls

No. 1 Charles H. Flowers vs. No. 4 Western-B - 5 p.m.

No. 2 Clarksburg vs. No. 6 North Point - 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Montgomery Blair High School- Class 2A Girls

No. 1 Parkside vs. No. 5 Francis Scott Key - 5 p.m.

No. 2 Hereford vs. No. 3 Frederick Douglass - PG - 7 p.m.