BCPS Basketball State Quarterfinals Update and Preseason Softball Power Rankings!

We have moved into the state tournament for basketball! As we enter the third week of march, at CSZ, we work hard to get you the high school sports info you are looking for, faster and easier. This weekly newsletter brings the latest scores, updates, and highlights straight to your inbox. If you live it, share it so others can subscribe too. If it is not for you, feel free to unsubscribe and visit us anytime at CountySports.Zone. Most of the content below is image based, so depending on how you are viewing, you may need to download the images to see everything.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL 🏀

Last Thursday, March 5, Maryland Girls Basketball programs competed in their regional championships. In the 1A North I, the two-seeded Pikesville Panthers upset Patterson Mill on the road in a 50-25 rout, marking their sixth consecutive regional championship and sending them back to the state tournament. Also, in the 4A North I, Dulaney’s team traveled to Perry Hall and upset the top team in the region 43-41, securing a region title for the Lions!

The Lions went into the 4A state bracket as the seven-seed, but fell on the road against Richard Montgomery 61-46. Pikesville entered the 1A tournament as the two-seed, behind Smithsburg, and secured a dominant 62-8 home victory over CMIT North! The Panthers are now set to face SEED School in the state semifinals. That game is set for this Tuesday, March 10, and will tip off at 7:30 p.m. at Woodlawn High School. Tickets are available to purchase through GoFan. Good luck to Pikesville!

BOYS’ BASKETBALL 🏀

Last Wednesday, March 4, Maryland Boys Basketball programs competed in their regional championships. The 3A North I region had one of the best games of the day, as the Overlea Falcons took down the Milford Mill Millers with a 69-68 final score, giving the orange and blue proper revenge from last year’s regional semifinal matchup and sending them to the state tournament! Additionally, in the 4A class, Dulaney won the North I regional championship, defeating two-seeded Perry Hall 75-49 at home in their first regional championship appearance since 2022.

Unfortunately, both team’s seasons came to a close in the state quarterfinals. After entering the 3A bracket as the five seed, the Falcons fell to Magruder on Friday 76-44. Dulaney also went into the 4A tournament ranked fifth, but fell to Walt Whitman 74-48. As of March 6, there are no more Baltimore County boys basketball teams alive. Scroll down to see the final standings for BCPS Boys Basketball for the 2025-26 season!

SOFTBALL 🥎

Maryland high school softball is set to kick off their seasons in just under two weeks! Scroll down or click this link to check out the CSZ Preseason Power Rankings for Baltimore County softball!

In 2025, Baltimore County featured five teams that advanced to the regional tournament, with Carver in the 1A, Hereford and Sparrows Point one class above, Dulaney as a 3A and Perry Hall in the highest grouping. Despite this, just one team made it past round one, with Dulaney reaching the semifinal match. Fans have to go back to 2021 for the county’s most recent state championship, with the Catonsville Comets taking home the 4A trophy. The question is, will any teams hoist the biggest trophy the state has to offer? Here are the ten teams from BCPS most likely to win the big game:

1. Dulaney

Last season’s Lions finished with the best record in the county with 14 wins, two losses, and a tie. Dulaney’s team had double-digit wins with ten or more points, while also winning two games by two or fewer runs, with an early 2-1 win at Catonsville, and a 4-2 road victory against Towson in early May. What was most impressive about their season was their run from the regional semifinal through the state quarterfinal, where they outscored Franklin, Catonsville, and Marriott’s Ridge 40-0, earning a regional title. In the state semifinal game at Bachman Stadium, the Lions’ season was cut short, as they fell 2-0 to the Sherwood Warriors. This season’s squad will be without just two members from last year's team, and will return four all-county athletes, including Amherst College softball commit Brynn Townsend. The Lions also added former Franklin Indian Mia Cleveland, who finished last season with a .429 batting average and a 1.578 OPS.

2. Perry Hall

In 2024, the Gators went 11-3 in the regular season and reached the state semifinals before being eliminated by Eleanor Roosevelt from Prince George’s County. Last spring, Perry Hall went just 6-6-1 in a season that featured a four game win streak, immediately followed by a four-game losing streak. After wrapping up the regular season, the Gators took down Western High and Dundalk to secure their regional championship, before their second consecutive elimination at the hands of the Raiders. This spring, the Perry Hall roster looks as strong as ever. After losing just three seniors, they are set to be led by Randolph-Macon College commit Maddie Carl, and Roanoke College commit Addison Dunlap. The team will also have Savannah Carl in the lineup, who made the first all-BCPS team last spring.

3. Franklin

Despite an average regular season record last spring, finishing just 7-8, the Indians had several bright spots in their schedule. Franklin opened their season on a three-game win streak, including an 18-0 home rout against Lansdowne and a 19-2 victory over Parkville. Last season’s issue was the obstacle of two separate four-game losing streaks, separated by just two games. In the regional quarterfinal game, Franklin locked down their third win of the season against Lansdowne, with a 16-1 final, before a loss against Dulaney to end their season in the semifinal match. After losing just one senior, Samantha Maldonado, this year’s team will be headed by senior Scarlett Cornwell, a pitcher who dished out 108 strikeouts last spring

4. Sparrows Point

The Pointers opened their season with just one win in the first seven games. After that, the team started to turn up the heat, going 4-3-1 to end the year with an interesting 5-6-4 record. In their first game in the regional bracket, The Point avenged an early season tie and an 11-0 regular season loss, eliminating the Mavericks with a 9-5 win, followed by a 23-0 regional final win against the Bayhawks. Unfortunately, the Pointers’ season came to an end against the future 2A state champion, the Huntingtown Hurricanes, in a 19-0 state quarterfinal game. This coming season, the Pointers will be without three members of last year’s team, but will have leadership returning from senior captain and Widener University commit Allie Roberts

5. Hereford

Looking at overall records from last season, the Bulls took the top spot, but in the regular season, they were number two, finishing with 13 wins. That includes a seven game win streak to open the season, including a 28-7 landslide win on the road against the Lansdowne Vikings. After scoring ten or more runs in nine separate games, including 16 and 19 run performances towards the end, the Bulls knocked out Milford Mill 15-0 in the regional championship. However, Hereford’s season came to a close at the hands of the Damascus Hornets, as the green and gold took down the maroon and yellow in the state quarterfinals. After losing six seniors, including all-county nominee Lauren Clement, who hit .420 while striking out 77 on the mound, the Bulls are set to be led by senior Morgan Hall, who mashed at the plate last season, hitting .587 with two bombs.

6. Milford Mill

The Millers opened their season with a 3-4 record, that included one-point road losses to Loch Raven and Pikesville. Despite the rough start, Milford finished their season on a five game win streak, that included revenge against both teams, beating the Raiders 8-7 and the Panthers 13-12. The academy’s region has just two teams, sending them straight to the regional championship, where they fell to the Hereford Bulls. This season’s squad will look very similar for the green and black, with just two athletes, Cortai Thompson and Tomi Adenugba, graduating. Playoffs this season could look different, if New Town and Owings Mills go into the bracket, but only time will tell how far the Millers can go.

7. Carver

The Wildcats could be a wildcard this spring season after a 2025 campaign that featured several highs and lows. After opening the season 0-3, Carver went on a 4-1 run, followed immediately by a 1-4 run, with their regular season ultimately ending with a 6-8 record. Despite falling short of the .500 mark, the Wildcat squad went on a tear through the regional bracket, beating ACCE by 7 in the quarterfinals, Loch Raven by 20 in the semis, and Western Tech 14-10 in a high scoring regional championship game. Unfortunately, Carver went into the state tournament as the bottom seed, forced to face the future 1A state champions, the Mardela Warriors. After losing three seniors, Carver is lucky to have Mia McGarvey back for this spring, as the all-county nominee will look to lead her squad to their third consecutive regional title.

8. Dundalk

Last season, the Owls offense was one of the best that BCPS had to offer. In 11 regular season wins, Dundalk secured two wins with at least 20 runs scored, while 9 had double digits cross the plate. Their three losses included two at the hands of the Hereford Bulls and another against Catonsville. Their first playoff game was the regional semifinal match, which was their second consecutive against Kenwood. After beating the Bluebirds 10-0 to end the regular season, Dundalk took them down just 3-1, advancing them to the regional championship, where they ultimately fell to Perry Hall 6-3. Coming into this spring, the Owls are set to be led by senior Makayla Woods who will play in her fourth season with the Dundalk squad.

9. Towson

The Generals opened their season with a three-game win streak that included an 18-4 road win against the Gators on opening day, followed by a 19-5 win on the road in Sparrows Point just four days later. The midseason featured a 7-1 stretch, with the one loss coming in a 15-14 affair at home against the Pointers. This would not be the only instance of home struggles for the Towson team, as they took down Eastern Tech on the road 16-3 early in the season, before losing their final game of the season 13-12 at home against the Mavericks. The squad with six seniors fell in their first playoff game, losing 7-0 at home against the then 8-7 Catonsville Comets, ending their season.

10. Chesapeake

The Bayhawks’ offense opened the season incredibly well, defeating Loch Raven 24-11 at home, Milford Mill on the road 24-8, and New Town 20-4 in an away game, with those three all coming in their first four games. Despite some midseason struggles, Chesapeake ended their regular season on a four-game win streak, giving them a final record of 8-4. Their first playoff game came against SEED, where the Bayhawks took down the Sabers 26-7, before being silenced in the regional championship, falling 23-0. The reason for the low spot for Chesapeake surrounds the inconsistency of their play, but if this spring’s squad can sort that out, this team looks to be in good shape

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SPRING SPORTS ⚾🥍

Stay tuned to CSZ for preseason power rankings for spring sports including Baseball and Lacrosse in the coming weeks!

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