By Clay Kallum, Special to SI.com
The perils of playing a relatively weak schedule caught up to Heights of Wichita, Kan. and Midfield (Ala.) this week.
Heights lost in overtime to a South that's just 7-4 in league play, and with no good wins to offset that 59-49 defeat, the Falcons drop out of the Top 25. And Midfield, No. 15 last week, scored just 17 points against Bob Jones, and also disappeared from the rankings.
Expect the upsets to continue, though, as some states have already begun their postseasons, and most will start in the next couple weeks.
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Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) (21-0) The Irish should complete their league season undefeated, and then will move into the Central Coast Section playoffs (one of 10 sections in California). From there, they move on to the Northern California championships, where the anticipated matchup with St. Mary's of Stockton seems inevitable.
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Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (20-2) Poly has just one game left before the Southern Section playoffs begin. The big three of Jasmine Dixon, Monique Oliver and April Cook have been carrying the load, but coach Carl Buggs credits a team-first attitude for the Jackrabbits' 11-game winning streak.
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Notre Dame Academy (Middleburgh, Va.) (21-2) The Dragons knocked off Seton Keough, which just moved into the top 25, and now will play H.D. Woodson, which was ranked earlier this season. Coach Mike Teasley ducks no one.
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Murry Bergtraum (New York) (19-0) The Blazers pretty much rule New York City, and thus the rest of the state so they'll venture into New Jersey to take on University on Friday.
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St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) (24-0) Last week, the Rams won two games by a combined score of 161-64; they beat this week's two opponents, 176-74 in the first round. But 17-3 Berkeley will provide a challenge on Saturday.
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Highlands Ranch (Colo.) (14-3) The Falcons were
down 12-8 at the end of the first quarter against Regis Jesuit on Tuesday, but then blew the Raiders off the floor the rest of the way for a 74-49 win. Alyssa Fressle, Jade Davis and Taylor Johnson all were in double figures.
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Ben Davis (Indianapolis) (21-1) The Giants begin the Indiana playoffs Friday against Decatur Central, a team they only beat by 10 last month. But if they get past the Hawks, Saturday's game should be a lot easier.
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Centennial (Circle Pines, Minn.) (19-0) The Cougars can be excused for lack of intensity as they roll through their relatively weak league. But they're already getting excited about seeing Minneapolis South and/or Hopkins in postseason.
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Hinsdale (Ill.) Central (27-1) The Red Devils have it all: Five solid starters, inside and outside threats, good defense and good coaching. They've got one more regular season game to get through before the playoffs start.
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Sapulpa (Okla.) (19-1) The Chieftains lost only to
Highlands Ranch in the Nike TOC, so as the Falcons move up, so does Sapulpa. And the Chieftains are rolling, outscoring two opponents 138-41 last week.
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DeSoto (Texas) (33-1) The Eagles' only loss came at Duncanville earlier this year, and they avenged that defeat on Tuesday at home. Vanessa Obafemi had 15 points to spark DeSoto.
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Dunbar (Lexington, Ky.) (25-1) The Bulldogs continue their tough schedule with Lexington (Ky.) Christian Friday, as the Lexington area alone is packed with good teams. Whoever wins the Kentucky state championship this year will have proven something.
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