The N.C. High School Athletic Association girls basketball playoffs begin Tuesday.

In this girls basketball playoff preview, we handed out bracket superlatives, gave four favorites and one dark horse for each region, and even made championship predictions.

We also listed the top 10 players in each bracket half. Many of these players are candidates for our all-state teams that are released a few weeks after the regular season. There’s a first, second, and third team of 15 players each, plus an honorable mention team of 30.

Before reading, don’t miss out on these links to our girls basketball coverage from this year.

4A East

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (18) Jordan at (15) Knightdale. This game could be the Spider-Man pointing meme – they’re very much alike.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (25) Athens Drive at (8) D.H. Conley. The Jaguars were trending in the right direction late in the year.
• The hardest road — (5) Chapel Hill. The Tigers could get South Garner in the second round, and a third rounder against either Southeast Raleigh or Rolesville. Yikes.
• The easiest road — (2) Wakefield. The path to the third round looks clear, then things pick up.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (2) Wakefield
• Favorite #2 — (1) Hoggard
• Favorite #3 — (4) Southeast Raleigh
• Favorite #4 — (13) Rolesville
• Dark horse — (12) South Garner. Any team that beats Southeast Raleigh in a conference tournament game should have your attention. The Titans have the size and athleticism to contend.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Caitlyn Jones, Rolesville
2. Jamyia Lindsey, Richmond
3. Tristan Shivers, Hoggard
4. Korryn Davis, Southeast Raleigh
5. Jasmine Nivar, Apex Friendship
6. Maddison McIntyre, Wakefield
7. Brianna Stanley, New Hanover
8. Britni Silver, D.H. Conley
9. Danauje Brooks, South View
10. Claire Barber, Green Level

4A West

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (17) Porter Ridge at (16) Alexander Central. Porter Ridge has one of the best scorers, but the Cougars have a tough lineup 1-through-5.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (19) Hough at (14) Weddington. Hough had the pleasure of facing off against arguably two of the best three teams in the 4A West in conference play. Not many teams are more battle-tested. Weddington does have a clear higher ranking in RPI and on MaxPreps, though.
• The hardest road — (4) Mallard Creek. They shouldn’t take (5) Marvin Ridge lightly, but it beats having to see North Mecklenburg or Lake Norman too early.
• The easiest road — (1) McDowell. They’ve got a great shot to make a run to the fourth round, which would be at home. All bets are off at that point.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (2) Lake Norman
• Favorite #2 — (4) Mallard Creek
• Favorite #3 — (1) McDowell
• Favorite #4 — (10) North Mecklenburg
• Dark horse — (3) Watauga. It’s easy to think the Pioneers can’t possibly reprise last year’s run, but never rule out the team with the best player.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Kate Sears, Watauga
2. Lenise Joseph, North Mecklenburg
3. Samantha Shehan, Lake Norman
4. Leena McField, Northern Guilford
5. Elle Stone, Mallard Creek
6. Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek
7. Kelsey Rhyne, Lake Norman
8. Khloe Joyner, McDowell
9. Ashanti Taylor, Porter Ridge
10. Kate Schindler, Marvin Ridge

4A Championship and regional final picks

• 4A East: Wakefield over Rolesville
• 4A West: Lake Norman over Mallard Creek
• 4A championship: Lake Norman over Wakefield

3A East

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (20) Westover at (13) C.B. Aycock. A coin flip game between two teams that have been punching above their weight class the last two years.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (19) E.E. Smith at (14) Jacksonville. Whoa, you don’t usually see two 3A powers going against each other in the first round. Never doubt a Dee Hardy-coached team.
• The hardest road — (4) Fike. Anyone on the side of the bracket that has Terry Sanford would fit the bill. Throw in South Central, and it’s definitely a hard road.
• The easiest road — (2) Western Alamance. The Warriors should breeze into the fourth round barring a major upset.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (1) Terry Sanford
• Favorite #2 — (2) Western Alamance
• Favorite #3 — (5) South Central
• Favorite #4 — (4) Fike
• Dark horse — (6) Union Pines. Ashanti Fox is a name you need to know – she won an N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association title last year with O’Neal School, so she has experience with this.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Ashanti Fox, Union Pines
2. Breonna Roaf, Terry Sanford
3. Jamaria Freeman, Fike
4. Jaidiah Blake, Terry Sanford
5. Tina Bowers, Western Alamance
6. Allie Sykes, Western Alamance
7. Brook Evans, South Central
8. Ameya Brown, Terry Sanford
9. Kira Jones, Rocky Mount
10. Amya Harrington, Terry Sanford

3A West

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (19) South Point at (14) Erwin. Erwin’s small ball against South Point’s power in the post is a good clash of styles.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (21) Hibriten at (12) East Lincoln. Honestly a shame either team has to pack it up after the first round. Both have been consistent winners the last two years.
• The hardest road — (1) Stuart Cramer. At least the Storm have home court, because they’d need it against (5) Jay M. Robinson, (12) East Lincoln, (21) Hibriten, or (4) A.C. Reynolds.
• The easiest road — (3) North Lincoln. It’s just more wide open on this half of the bracket. (2) Pisgah waits as a possible fourth-round team, but there’s no favorite aside.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (3) North Lincoln
• Favorite #2 — (1) Stuart Cramer
• Favorite #3 — (4) A.C. Reynolds
• Favorite #4 — (6) Ben L. Smith
• Dark horse — (14) Erwin. Coming out of a tough conference, there’s an argument that the Warriors can get hot and shock everyone.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Oshauna Holland, Stuart Cramer
2. Camri Hobbs, Jay M. Robinson
3. Amya Graham, South Point
4. Emma Montanari, East Lincoln
5. Aamori Patterson, Hibriten
6. Ally Smith, North Lincoln
7. Taniyah Thomas, East Lincoln
8. Reece Long, Lake Norman Charter
9. Kakyra Sadler, Ashbrook
10. Abby Courtney, Lake Norman Charter

3A Championship and regional final picks

• 3A East: Terry Sanford over Western Alamance
• 3A West: North Lincoln over Stuart Cramer
• 3A championship: Terry Sanford over North Lincoln

2A East

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (19) Southwest Onslow at (14) Kinston. You again? These two conference foes will finally go their own way next year. But not before one last grudge match.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (24) Holmes at (9) Louisburg. Louisburg is clinging to a high seed, but there’s not as big of a gap between these two sides as it might appear on paper.
• The hardest road — (4) Goldsboro. West Craven or Southeast Alamance in the third round is going to make the Cougars have to earn it.
• The easiest road — (2) Seaforth. The fourth round is when the Hawks will finally be tested.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (2) Seaforth
• Favorite #2 — (1) Fairmont
• Favorite #3 — (12) Southeast Alamance
• Favorite #4 — (4) Goldsboro
• Dark horse — Clinton… jokes aside, (5) West Craven. The Eagles have gone under the radar this year and could stun one or two of our favorites here.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Gabby White, Seaforth
2. Sahniya Paylor, Southeast Alamance
3. Taniya Simms, Fairmont
4. Oriyanna Galloway, Southwest Onslow
5. Felisha Wilson, West Craven
6. Shalawn Yates, West Craven
7. Aziyah Boyer, Goldsboro
8. Clara Lachapelle, Southeast Alamance
9. Kdeidria Collins, SouthWest Edgecombe
10. Natasha Marshall, Beddingfield

2A West

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (17) Newton-Conover at (16) Surry Central. A true coin flip game between two teams that were packed into tough leagues.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (25) Burns at (8) Shelby. Two county rivals that have such familiarity that it could lead to one of two things: a blowout or an upset. Little in-between.
• The hardest road — (5) Lincoln Charter. Getting Forbush or Monroe in the second round isn’t the worst, but Maiden or T.W. Andrews in the third is one of the harder draws.
• The easiest road — (2) East Burke. The path to the fourth round looks clear, where it could tangle with Southwestern Randolph at home.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (1) North Wilkes
• Favorite #2 — (2) East Burke
• Favorite #3 — (4) T.W. Andrews
• Favorite #4 — (3) Southwestern Randolph
• Dark horse — (13) Maiden. The Blue Devils are a talented group. It wouldn’t be a shock to see them still standing in the fourth round.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Braelyn Stilwell, East Burke
2. Ralee Bare, North Wilkes
3. Shalyn Bare, North Wilkes
4. Khiara Culliver, Maiden
5. Janiyah Boyd, Monroe
6. Kara Brinkley, East Burke
7. Sanai Johnson, T.W. Andrews
8. Jordin George, Southwestern Randolph
9. Jylyia Mizell, North Forsyth
10. Kaylee Greene, Burns

2A Championship and regional final picks

• 2A East: Seaforth over Fairmont
• 2A West: North Wilkes over East Burke
• 2A championship: Seaforth over North Wilkes

1A East

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (19) Washington County at (14) Lakewood. Lakewood’s talented but young. Washington County’s conference was one of the toughest in the East.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (18) East Columbus at (15) Neuse Charter. The Gators didn’t play as many games and missed on boosting their RPI, which makes them a deceiving 18th seed.
• The hardest road — (2) Wilson Prep. There’s a chance the Tigers see both of last year’s East regional finalists, (7) East Bladen and (18) East Columbus, in the third and second round.
• The easiest road — (1) Perquimans. The road to the fourth round appears pretty smooth, as it should be for a team that earned the top spot.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (1) Perquimans
• Favorite #2 — (2) Wilson Prep
• Favorite #3 — (3) Northside-Pinetown
• Favorite #4 — (5) Roxboro Community
• Dark horse — (11) Gates County. Don’t let the seed fool you. The Red Barons and Perquimans are arguably the best two teams in a wide-open field.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Karrie Obie, Roxboro Community
2. Malia Graham, East Columbus
3. NeNe Ward, East Bladen
4. Lailana Marie Harris, Perquimans
5. London Barber, Gates County
6. Olivia Jane Cahoon, Northside-Pinetown
7. Areona McKoy, Lakewood
8. Tateyawna Faison, North Duplin
9. Paris Best, Wilson Prep
10. Hanna Tickle, Clover Garden School

1A West

Bracket Superlatives

• Best first-round matchup — (30) Bessemer City at (3)  Albemarle. You can’t beat a matchup of Amari Baldwin and Tionna Pettus. If Pettus wants to break the NCHSAA scoring average record for a season, she’s going to have to earn it.
• Best chance at a first-round upset — (25) East Wilkes at (8) Thomas Jefferson. East Wilkes’ neck of the woods has a number of strong teams. Thomas Jefferson could avoid upset if their complimentary players step up at home.
• The hardest road — (3) Albemarle. It’s not just having to go to Cherokee on the fourth round, but possibly getting (6) Uwharrie Charter in the third.
• The easiest road — (2) Cherokee. Finally, the Braves don’t have to see Bishop McGuinness in the fourth round.

Four Favorites and a Dark Horse

• Favorite #1 — (2) Cherokee
• Favorite #2 — (1) Bishop McGuinness
• Favorite #3 — (5) Polk County
• Favorite #4 — (3) Albemarle
• Dark horse — (6) Uwharrie Charter. Don’t underestimate the Eagles, who have a solid core that can stretch their run to the third or fourth round.

Our Top 10 Players in the Region

1. Adelaide Jernigan, Bishop McGuinness
2. Amari Baldwin, Albemarle
3. Dvdaya Swimmer, Cherokee
4. Za’Miya Bynum, Queen’s Grant
5. Jocelyn Stamper, Cherokee
6. Whitney Rogers, Cherokee
7. Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City
8. Raylei Gidney, Cherryville
9. Bailey Staton, Polk County
10. Misa Garris, Queen’s Grant

1A Championship and regional final picks

• 1A East: Perquimans over Northside-Pinetown
• 1A West: Cherokee over Bishop McGuinness
• 1A championship: Cherokee over Perquimans