Final Rankings
1. Paul VI (23-10)–Yet another state title for Paul VI, its 16th straight. Louis Volker (First Team All-WCAC), Brooke Batchelor, Anna Kunzwiler end their high school careers the way you would expect, as winners.
2. Bishop Ireton (16-15)–A disappointing end to the season with another loss to STAB in the VISAA playoffs. Still, this team has the potential to be really, really good next year with only two seniors graduating.
3. Virginia Academy (25-8)–Division II VISAA Champs after a rugged title victory over Miller School. Long-time Patriots Joi Williams and Cai Smith end their high school careers on a very high note.
4. Madison (25-4)–Down late to Manchester in the VHSL Class 6 Championship, it looked like the Warhawks’ run was done. Nope. The four-peat is complete and a class of Suryabudi, Link, and Dixon takes its place…wait, that’s all their seniors? Five-peat, anyone?
5. Osbourn Park (23-5)–Disappointing loss to Manchester in the state quarters but that is/was obviously a very strong team. Powell, Cole, and Darfour (very underrated) are significant losses but everyone else on this still-young team should return.
6. Robinson (26-4)–The loss to Madison in the state semis was tough, as the Rams simply couldn’t score enough to win. Only three seniors graduate but they are good ones: Caroline Shimp, Bella Burton, and Amelia Simonsen.
7. Gainesville (23-5)–Gave a very good Thomas Dale team a heckuva fight in the state quarters on the road. Had a decent amount of injuries this year and still are a young team–are the Cardinals our favorites next year to win it all?
8. Oakton (21-8)–A very underrated senior class led by the versatile Caitlin Crump graduates after the Cougars won the Concorde District tourney title and advanced to the state tourney. Lots of nice young talent returns next year, though.
9. Centreville (17-7)–Gonna be weird not seeing Ryleigh Thurston running around in that powder, Carolina, or whatever-type blue it is next year. This remains a program on the rise under Jo McLane and the Wildcats will be loaded in the backcourt next year.
10. Tuscarora (24-3)–Heartbreaking loss to Pulaski in the state semis was tough, especially since the Huskies might very well have been able to hang with eventual Class 4 Champ Hampton next game. Still, Grace Middleton and a good senior class had an amazing year.
11. Potomac School (16-13)–As expected, a young TPS team took its lumps in the top division of the ISL. But the season-ending loss to STAB, a very close game in which the Panthers could have easily won, showed the team’s continued growth.
12. West Potomac (19-10)–Man, it seems like just yesterday we were taking pictures of freshman Mary Prater on the court and telling everyone how good she was going to be. She is, and was, very, very good.
13. Meridian (25-2)–A tough loss to a very determined and very solid Brentsville team in the Class 3 state semis doesn’t diminish another amazing season for the Mustangs. Creed and Jones are tremendous losses but lots of young talent stepped up this year for Meridian.
14. Briar Woods (22-4)–Disappointing loss in the regional semis to a good Massaponax team, but Briar Woods has the potential to roll almost everyone next year with most of its players returning. Should continue to be a fun team to watch.
15. McLean (18-8)–This team learned to be far more physical as the season wore on, and learned to win the tough games it needed to win. Very good senior class goes, but there is nice young basketball talent at McLean ready to step up.
16. Edison (21-6)–This may seem like a down year (21 wins is a down year?!) by Edison standards, but it really wasn’t. The tough loss at regionals to West Potomac notwithstanding, the Eagles clearly improved and diversified its attack during the season.
17. Langley (20-6)–Seniors Raylin Harrell and Alexis Tappan didn’t usually score a ton, but they were a pair of highly-talented, somewhat underrated seniors. The rest of the Liberty hopes (in vain) sophomore Anya Rahman has already reached her peak.
18. South Lakes (14-10)–Played an extremely tough schedule (Bishop Ireton, Virginia Academy, etc.) and that paid off in other big games (Oakton, Centreville) that were wins. Five talented seniors leave led by Dornak and Timbers.
19. Woodgrove (21-4)–Very good year for the Wolverines, who weren’t far from a state tourney despite the tragic loss of Colette Baine and the transfer of Sadie Shores. Only four seniors go, but they are/were good ones, led by Jenna Steadman and Rohs.
Others Receiving Votes–Brentsville District (21-7), O’Connell (12-16), Patriot (17-8), Flint Hill (22-5), Seton (22-6), Lake Braddock (13-13), Mount Vernon (16-9), Potomac (15-7), Colgan (16-10)