Girls’ basketball Top 20: St. Mary’s rises; Oxon Hill, Dunbar enter

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Three of the area’s top players — Bullis’ Riley Nelson, Sidwell Friends’ Jadyn Donovan and Shabach Christian’s Laila Reynolds — made the McDonald’s all-American game, a showcase of the nation’s best high school basketball players. As a testament to the selections, Sidwell and Bullis went undefeated last week, while the Eagles lost both games Reynolds missed.
Among the top girls private schools, Good Counsel proved its tough non-conference schedule was good preparation for Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play as it knocked Paul VI out of the No. 2 spot with a 54-53 upset. Shabach Christian, formerly in the no. 3 place, lost twice and moved back two places. As a result, Bishop McNamara and Georgetown Visitation rise. A Top 5 matchup between Bishop McNamara and Paul VI awaits this week and should help sort out the WCAC hierarchy.
In Virginia, Osbourn Park drops two spots after a narrow loss to Princess Anne, one of the top teams in Southern Virginia, while Robinson falls after its first district loss of the year to West Potomac.
In Maryland, the top-ranked public schools continued to steamroll their area peers. Howard won his two games by a combined 118 points. Glen Burnie’s opponents lost by an average of 44.5 points. CH Flowers won his lone game with 51 points. Clarksburg and Virginia private school Bishop Ireton drop out after going 1-3; Oxon Hill and Dunbar go into their places.
1. Sidwell Friends (15-2) Last position: 1
The Quakers faced tough Independent School League tests this week against no. 9 Maret and no. 10 Bully.
2. Bishop McNamara (15-5) LR: 3
The Mustangs have won 12 straight and sit atop the WCAC.
3. Georgetown Visit (13-4) LR: 5
The Frogs move up to the no. 3 place after an idle week, like Paul VI and Shabach Christian every fall.
The Panthers split their two games and took their first WCAC loss against Good Counsel before crushing Archbishop Carroll.
5. Shabach Christian (18-7) LR: 4
The Eagles lost twice with Florida commit Laila Reynolds sidelined.
6. St. John’s (16-6) LR: 6
Junior Kyndal Walker led the Cadets to wins over Elizabeth Seton, Archbishop Carroll and Bishop Ireton.
The Lions, motivated after their first loss of the season, beat Wilde Lake and Reservoir by a combined 118 points.
8. Glen Burnie (14-1) LR: 8
The Gophers travel to Anne Arundel County this week along with Meade and Chesapeake.
The Frogs got a big hit from sophomore Kennedy Austin and senior Maryan Eniafe in two Independent School League wins.
The Potomac private school surrounded Stone Ridge and Holy Child.
11. Virginia Academy (15-5) LR: 11
The Patriots posted a signature win over strong Riverdale Baptist, 76-73.
12. St. Mary’s (Annapolis) (20-0) LR: 16
The Saints outlasted two conference opponents to reach the 20-win mark.
13. Pallotti (15-7) LR: 13
After their second loss of the year against McDonogh, the Panthers defeated TPLS Christian Academy.
14. Mount Zion Prep (15-9) LR: 17
The Warriors move up after an off week.
15. CH Flowers (12-2) LR: 18
The Jaguars shut out Bladensburg in the second and fourth quarters of a 59-8 victory.
16. Osbourn Park (16-4) LR: 15
The Yellowjackets split last week’s games, defeating Battlefield before a 45-41 road loss to Princess Anne of Southern Virginia.
17. Madison (16-2) LR: 20
The Warhawks easily handled Concorde District foes Westfield and Chantilly.
18. Robinson (15-3) LR: 12
A downer for the Rams after Friday’s loss to West Potomac.
19. Oxon Hill (15-2) LR: Not ranked
The Clippers, winners of 10 straight, are heating up as postseason play approaches.
Last year’s DC Interscholastic Athletic Association champions enter the Top 20 with the best resume among DC public schools.
Fallout: no. 14 Bishop Ireton, no. 19 Clarksburg
On the bubble: Bishop Ireton, Churchill, Gainesville, Good Counsel, Riverdale Baptist