By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

First round  BOYS | GIRLS

Second round  BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

Here are summaries of the girls regional semifinals (national quarterfinals):

WEST REGIONAL

DeSoto TX 71, Valor Christian CO 65

Just like in last year’s quarterfinals, DeSoto was pushed to the limits by Valor Christian, but even the best 4x400-meter relay in Colorado state history wasn’t enough to get past another sub-3:40 effort from Texas’ UIL 6A state champions with the meet on the line. Valor Christian, which suffered a 72-62 setback last year, held a 10-point edge in the field events in the rematch, including an unopposed sweep in the pole vault. But it wasn’t enough to maintain the advantage, as DeSoto outscored Valor Christian in the eight individual track races and swept both relays, including a national high school record in the 4x100. Although Valor Christian countered DeSoto’s sweep in the 100-meter dash from Ja’Era Griffin, Mia Abraham and Destiny O’Neal by taking the top three spots in the 3,200 with Taylor Whitfield, Keely Jones and Ashley Jones, and the teams were even in the 200, 400, 800 and 1,600, a big momentum shift came in the two hurdles events. DeSoto had Jayla Hollis and Jalaysi’ya Smith finish in front of Anna Hall in the 100-meter hurdles, along with managing to place second and third behind Hall in the 300 hurdles. DeSoto received a big boost again from Brianna Washington in the shot put and discus throw, in addition to Rebecca Anderson emerging victorious in the triple jump. Sadie McMullen won the long jump and Hall prevailed in the high jump, but they weren’t enough to prevent DeSoto from advancing to a fourth consecutive semifinal.

Buchanan CA 81.5, Chandler AZ 54.5

For the first time since an 88-47 loss to Miami Northwestern FL in the inaugural championship showdown in 2016, Chandler endured defeat, bringing an end to the most impressive stretch by any program – boys or girls – in tournament history. Chandler had won 16 of its previous 17 tournament matchups, including 12 in a row since the finals setback three years ago, earning a measure of revenge against Miami Northwestern in 2017 and knocking off Western Branch VA last year to become the only two-time champion, regardless of gender. After Chandler and DeSoto TX squared off the past three years in the regional final, Buchanan became the first California girls program to reach the national semifinals. Although Chandler swept the 400 meters, Buchanan countered with an unopposed sweep in the pole vault, contributing to a 19-point advantage in the field events. Buchanan won the long jump with Helen Chu, the triple jump with Haley Abirached, the high jump with Hannah Butler and the shot put with Maren Butler. Only a narrow victory in the discus by Chandler’s Ciera Jackson prevented the Bears from winning every field event. Shelby Daniele also came through big for Buchanan in the 100 and 200, along with Aleeza Hassan and Alexa Dandridge taking first and second in the 300 hurdles after Adora Adams won the 100 hurdles for Chandler. Although Morgan Foster won the 800 meters for the Wolves, perhaps the most significant points came for Buchanan in the 1,600 and 3,200, with Meagen Lowe and Corie Smith taking the top two spots in the longer race along with placing first and third in the former.

EAST REGIONAL

St. Thomas Aquinas FL 80, Union Catholic NJ 56

For all its dominance in New Jersey and success against Northeast rivals, it’s been a different story for Union Catholic when it comes to competing against Southeast programs, especially teams from Florida. After a second-round defeat against Marietta GA last year, Union Catholic was back in the quarterfinals for a third time in tournament history, resulting in another setback to a Florida power, following losses to Miami Northwestern in 2016 and 2017. St. Thomas Aquinas rebounded in impressive fashion from a 42-point loss to Western Branch VA in last year’s quarterfinals to advance to the final four for the first time, sweeping the 100 and 200 meters, along with the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. Union Catholic benefited from an unopposed sweep in the triple jump to secure a two-point advantage in the field events, including victories by Hope Handlin in the pole vault and Khamil Evans in the shot put. But Eddiyah Frye won the long jump for the Raiders, in addition to contributing to the sweeps of both hurdling events, along with Emelia Chatfield and Alexis Glasco. The sprint corps of Zahria Allers, Rondajai Thompson, Jermecia Brown and Zatoria Thompson helped St. Thomas Aquinas secure victories in the 100, 200, 400 and 4x100 relay, allowing the Raiders to offset a 4x400 victory from Union Catholic, along with Leena Morant and Jerika Luefrano combining to win the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 for the Vikings. Aimee Inoa and Sandy Denis produced significant points in the discus throw for St. Thomas Aquinas, which also had Hannah Lowenstein and Zatoria Thompson take the top two spots in the high jump.

Miami Northwestern FL 83, Campbell GA 44

For the first time in girls tournament history and only the second occasion in the event’s four-year existence – The Woodlands defeat Manvel in an all-Texas battle in the 2017 boys semifinals – there will be two programs from the same state squaring off to advance to the national championship. Miami Northwestern again demonstrated its strength in the field events to earn a fourth consecutive trip to the semifinals to take on first-time regional finalist St. Thomas Aquinas. The Bulls won every field event that was contested, including an impressive sweep in the discus throw from Alyssa Richard, Summer Mosley and Chaniya Dawson, to go along with Stephanie Jobe taking the high jump, Christon Kingcade prevailing in the long jump, Dascha Robinson securing the triple jump and Richard adding another victory in the shot put. Although sophomore Mekenze Kelley was a bright spot for Campbell – which joined Marietta from last year as the only Georgia girls programs ever to advance to the quarterfinals – with wins in the 200 and 400 meters, along with contributing to a 4x400 relay victory, the only other triumph the Spartans could manage was junior Ashton Lindley in the 300 hurdles. Miami Northwestern swept the 100-meter dash with Jacoria Burton, Lamaria Washington and Kingcade, along with Markalah Hart capturing the 100 hurdles, in addition to holding off Campbell in a tight 4x100 relay battle. The Bulls also received a combined sweep of the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 victories from Le’nai Hunter and Nina Burgos.