By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

First round  BOYS | GIRLS

Second round  BOYS | GIRLS

Regional semifinals  BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

Here are summaries of the girls regional finals (national Final Four):

WEST REGIONAL FINAL

DeSoto TX 73.5, Buchanan CA 62.5

Perhaps the most talented girls program in the country never to reach a final in the previous three years of the event’s existence, DeSoto didn’t have an opportunity to knock off nemesis Chandler AZ – winner of their past three matchups in the regional finals, including two by less than 10 points – but it didn’t matter to the Fighting Eagles, who joined the boys squad from The Woodlands in 2017 as the only Texas teams to advance to the tournament championship. Although California state champion and first-time semifinalist Buchanan swept the 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters and triple jump, along with earning an unopposed sweep in the pole vault, DeSoto showcased its strengths by sweeping both hurdling events, in addition to the 400 meters, as well as winning both relays with a national high school record 44.24 in the 4x100 and another sub-3:40 effort in the 4x400. Even though Buchanan outscored DeSoto by 17 points in the field events, the Fighting Eagles earned significant wins from Brianna Washington in the shot put and discus throw, along with Mia Abraham in the long jump. The Bears got victories from Haley Abirached in the triple jump and Hannah Butler in the high jump, along with the aforementioned unopposed sweep in the pole vault. But despite Meagen Lowe sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, contributing to Buchanan scoring 23 points in the three distance events along with the support of Corie Smith, Kaylee Elliott and Rachel Culver, the Bears only managed four additional points from Shelby Daniele in the 100 and 200 meters, with DeSoto’s sprint, hurdle and relay depth too much to overcome. Rosaline Effiong won the 200 and 400, with Ja’Era Griffin taking the 100 for the Fighting Eagles, who swept the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles relying on the combined efforts of Jayla Hollis, Jalaysi’ya Smith, Lauren Perry, Taylor Armstrong and Heavan Kennedy.  

EAST REGIONAL FINAL

St. Thomas Aquinas FL 76, Miami Northwestern FL 60

Miami Northwestern had not only ruled Florida, but established itself as one of the most dominant teams in the country since the event’s inception, winning the inaugural girls title in 2016 and advancing to the championship again in 2017, before falling to Western Branch VA in last year’s regional final. But 4A state winner St. Thomas Aquinas finally upstaged the 3A dynasty of Miami Northwestern to advance to the championship after reaching the quarterfinals last year. Although the Bulls demonstrated again why they boast one of the strongest collections of field-event athletes in the nation by outscoring St. Thomas Aquinas by a 10-point margin, the Raiders responded by sweeping both relays on their way to accumulating 54 points on the track. Alyssa Richard, Summer Mosley and Chaniya Dawson combined to sweep the shot put and discus throw for Miami Northwestern, which also achieved an unopposed sweep in the triple jump. But St. Thomas Aquinas earned an unopposed sweep in the pole vault, in addition to Zatoria Thompson and Hannah Lowenstein taking the top two spots in the high jump and Eddiyah Frye winning the long jump. St. Thomas Aquinas held a 19-17 edge from the combined results of the 100, 200, 400 and 800, with Miami Northwestern’s Jacoria Burton and Lamaria Washington taking the top two spots in the 100, only to be countered by St. Thomas Aquinas’ Zaharia Allers and Rondajai Washington in the 200. Washington added a victory in the 400 for the Raiders, with Le’nai Hunter securing the 800 for Miami Northwestern. But St. Thomas Aquinas received important victories in the 1,600 and 3,200 from senior Kerrigan McGreevy against Miami Northwestern senior Nina Burgos, along with a crucial double in the 100 and 300 hurdles from junior Emelia Chatfield, who prevailed over Bulls’ junior Markalah Hart to outscore Miami Northwestern in those four events by a combined 14 points, which wound up being the almost the entire final overall margin.