Maryland State Playoff Predictions

<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Maryland State Playoff Predictions</strong></span> The Maryland State Championship is the ultimate prize for the states public schools.  It culminates the in to a grueling season and a moment that these players will never forget.  Win or lose these memories will be cherished for years.  For the first time in years there in no team from PG County in the states which shows a shift in the balance of power.  This year several teams will get their crack at their first ever title, also playing in the Xfinity Center is a change for the girls as we; <strong>1A</strong> <strong>Catoctin vs Pikesville</strong> <strong>Key Players:</strong> <strong>Pikesville</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="239434" first="Amori" last="Jarrett"] <strong>Catoctin</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="399380" first="Taylor" last="Smith"] Emma Wivell <strong>Prediction:</strong> Pikesville Watching Pikesville in the pre-season fall leagues. I stated that they were state championship bound.  I like the make up of the team and coaching experience as Coach Dukes has already been through the work to win it all.  Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="239434" first="Amori" last="Jarrett"] will play a huge role for Pikesville but don’t count out play from the Cougars freshman [player_tooltip player_id="399380" first="Taylor" last="Smith"] and the inside work of Emma Wivell. <em>Update: Pikesville wins states 51-42</em> <strong>2A</strong> <strong>Fallston vs Hereford</strong> <strong>Key Players:</strong> <strong>Fallston</strong> Jillian Crawford Ayla Galloway <strong>Hereford</strong> Jordan Peterson Kayla Nieberlein <strong>Prediction:</strong> Pick’em I’m leaning to the Cougars on this one based on the drive of Jillian Crawford, I feel that she is the key to this game.  Hereford has a trio of six footers starting with the seniors Jordan Peterson and Kayla Nieberlein.  Ayla Galloway will have her hands full in the paint but guard play may be the difference. <strong>3A</strong> <strong>Baltimore Polytechnic vs Howard</strong> <strong>Key Players:</strong> <strong>Poly</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="142834" first="Trinity" last="Massenburg"] <strong>Howard</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="324014" first="Gabby" last="Scott"] [player_tooltip player_id="163864" first="Gabrielle" last="Kennerly"] [player_tooltip player_id="303119" first="Meghan" last="Yarnevich"] <strong>Prediction:</strong> Howard Howard has a complete team in place to compete with any team public or private.  Poly is solid and has been battle tested in the Baltimore area and had competitive out of conference games.  The Lions have 6’2" freshman [player_tooltip player_id="303119" first="Meghan" last="Yarnevich"] who is a load to handle inside and junior [player_tooltip player_id="163864" first="Gabrielle" last="Kennerly"] who can carry a team on her own, they also add in Towson commit [player_tooltip player_id="324014" first="Gabby" last="Scott"] and not many teams can hold up to that firepower.  On the other end Poly belongs here [player_tooltip player_id="142834" first="Trinity" last="Massenburg"] has had a great career thus far and would like nothing more than to cap it off with a state title. <strong>4A</strong> <strong>Western vs Clarksburg</strong> <strong>Key Players:</strong> <strong>Western</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="137209" first="Ny’Ceara" last="Pryor"] [player_tooltip player_id="88782" first="Gabrielle" last="Johnson"] <strong>Clarksburg</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="137216" first="Mia" last="Smith"] [player_tooltip player_id="293245" first="Riley" last="Nelson"] <strong>Prediction:</strong> Clarksburg Clarksburg has been running through teams in Montgomery County with little resistance led by [player_tooltip player_id="137216" first="Mia" last="Smith"] and [player_tooltip player_id="293245" first="Riley" last="Nelson"].  Western will be their toughest test of the season.  The Doves have been tested and have tasted defeat, however, no one has found an answer for [player_tooltip player_id="137209" first="Ny’Ceara" last="Pryor"] who has been on a record setting scoring pace and Gabby Johnson who is dangerous on both ends of the floor.  This one is a toss up but after seeing the Western fall before in a close game I’d have to go with the Coyotes <em>Update: Western wins 81-68</em>