For the first time in a long time, Wootton is No. 1

Class 4A West Region Girls Basketball Preview

So special that Wootton (17-3) won its division championship this year, and earned its first-ever top seed in the 4A West Region playoffs. However, Dyer is not letting their success overshadow the work at hand. Last year, the Patriots entered the playoffs as the third seed, but were upset at home in the quarterfinals by Quince Orchard, a team they beat twice during the regular season.

‘‘We’re trying not to focus too much on our accomplishments,” Dyer said. ‘‘We know we need to be focused on the next game at hand.”

Led by Lindsay Weiner, who is averaging almost 12 points a game and will play at Tufts (Mass.) University next year, the Patriots bring a balanced attack to the floor. Their second-leading scorer, Becca Feldman (9.9 ppg), comes off the bench, and senior Marley Goldin provides a spark.

‘‘The girls know that if we are going to win, we have to play 32 hard minutes,” Dyer said.

Wootton will face off against the winner of an opening-round contest between No. 8 Magruder (7-13) and No. 9 Watkins Mill (0-19). Watkins Mill, losers of 43 straight heading into this week’s end of the regular season, has obviously struggled, but Magruder is turning the corner, having won four of its last six games. Seniors Jessie Owens and Madupe Megbolupe are both averaging 12.3 points per contest.

No. 4 Gaithersburg (12-5) may be the team that will face off with Wootton in a spirited semifinal. Last year, it was the Trojans who were the top seed, and they claimed the regional title on the way to a berth in the state championship game. Despite the graduation of leading scorer LaTanya Copeland, Gaithersburg was able to get another first-round bye this season.

‘‘The bye was important for us,” Gaithersburg coach Ivan Hicks said. ‘‘A couple of our players were banged up, and it gives us a chance to rest. We needed some of our key players to get healthy.”

Senior Lindsey Harman (12.3 ppg) has battled a knee injury, but should be ready to go by the time the Trojans face off against the winner of an opening round tilt between No. 5 Richard Montgomery (7-12) and No. 12 Northwest (11-8). If Gaithersburg faces the Jaguars, it will need post players Erin Mason, Falasha Culpepper and Jackie Tardif to neutralize sophomore Deven Green and junior Nikki Day.

In the bottom half of the bracket, No. 2 Whitman (17-4) just missed out on the top seed, but coach Peter Kenah seemed pleased with his team’s mental and physical state heading into the playoffs.

‘‘The girls seem excited,” he said. ‘‘The break [because of snow days] came at a nice time, and it gave us a chance to get better. We’re executing defensively. We had a great model in the boys [which won the state championship] last year.”

The Vikings will face the winner of the game between No. 7 Quince Orchard (9-10) and No. 10 Walter Johnson (12-9). Last year, Whitman’s playoff run ended in its opener, a shocker at home to Richard Montgomery. The Vikings are focusing on avoiding that same fate, even if they face off against the Wildcats Alex Chili, who is one of the top scorers in Montgomery County (19.1 ppg). Whitman will need contributions from all corners, including senior Laura Yockey, who can take some of the scoring load off junior Erin Brown (15.2 ppg).

‘‘She’s scored in double figures the last three games,” Kenah said of Yockey. ‘‘When she knocks down those outside shots, she makes us tougher.”

No. 3 Damascus (13-6) may have the hardest road to follow. Despite earning a first round bye, it will likely face the best first-round survivor in a quarterfinal. No. 6 Churchill (12-8), is a good bet to play the Swarmin’ Hornets after its first-round game against No. 11 Blair (1-19).

‘‘We’ll see what happens,” Damascus coach Steve Pisarski said. ‘‘You can hope for an easy draw but it’s all luck. If you can beat the tough teams [early] it will make you better as you go through. It’s going to be challenging”

That sentiment is one that is applicable to all of the top teams, separated by just a few games. The sprint of the playoffs is about to begin.

‘‘Just because you are a certain team doesn’t mean that you’re going to win,” Dyer said. ‘‘There is a time to celebrate, but right now is a time to work.”

4A West Girls Basketball Playoffs

Contenders: Wootton (17-3), Whitman (17-4), Damascus (14-5)

Darkhorses: Gaithersburg (12-5), Northwest (11-8)

Players to watch: Erin Brown (Whitman, Jr., 15.2 ppg), Alex Chili (Walter Johnson, Jr., 19.1 ppg), Porcha Davis (Richard Montgomery, Soph., 16.8 ppg), Carole Dempsey (Churchill, Sr., 15.9 ppg), Deven Green (Northwest, Soph., 15.4 ppg), Lindsey Harman (Gaithersburg, Sr., 12.3 ppg), Kailee May (Damascus, Sr., 12.4 ppg), Madupe Megbolupe (Magruder, Sr., 12.3 ppg), Jessie Owens (Magruder, Sr., 12.3 ppg), Lindsay Weiner (Wootton, Sr., 11.9 ppg)