Blue Devils are tops ... for now

Springbrook boys are team to beat in 4A West

Senior guard C.J. Garner has led the charge for Springbrook (19-2), using his speed to get to the basket, and quick passes to get the ball to forward Jamal Olasawere in the paint. They have also picked the right time to start clicking on the defensive end of the court, as the Blue Devils will get a first-round bye but will draw a tough quarterfinal game. Springbrook will have to face off against the winner of Friday night’s game between No. 8 Walter Johnson (13-8) and ninth-seeded Whitman (7-14).

‘‘All season long, we have been zeroing in on the team in front of us,” Crowell said. ‘‘That is what we are going to continue to do.”

The Wildcats, though, might be just the kind of opponent that could give Springbrook fits, thanks in part to the play of their triumvirate of forward Carl Yaffe and guards Nash Oh and Matt Grady, who combine to average almost 45 points per game.

In fact, Whitman has first-hand knowledge of just how scary the Wildcats are — it has lost both games against them this season, by a combined three points. Both those losses came at the buzzer, and showed a weakness. The Vikings have lost 10 games this season by five points or less.

Whitman does have a recent history of success to draw on, as it is just two years removed from its Class 4A state championship, and still has a member of that team on its current roster in senior Mike Lee. Another team that has experience under its belt is No. 10 Sherwood (13-8), winner of the 4A title a year ago. The Warriors stumbled early, but now, winners of four of their last five games, are heating up heading into the playoffs.

The Warriors will have to get by Gaithersburg (5-16), which drew the seventh-seed, in the opening round. Then, a quarterfinal game against No. 2 Magruder (16-5) looms. Though the Colonels lost to Sherwood in last year’s state final, and again once earlier this season, they feel like they might be rounding into form heading into the playoffs.

‘‘Our goal at the beginning of the year was to get the first or second seed,” Magruder coach Dan Harwood said. ‘‘We fortunate that we were able to do that again this season.”

With all five starters in their senior year, including leading scorer Stefan Fields, experience might be the key.

Wootton (16-6) is the 4A West Division champion and the region’s third seed. The Patriots will play a quarterfinal game against either sixth-seeded Blair (3-17) or No. 11 Blake (12-8). Unlike Magruder, the Patriots do not have much past success to draw on, but this year they have surged.

‘‘It has been a natural progression,” Wootton coach Chris Bohlen said. ‘‘Last year we put together a winning record and then we stepped up our level of competition. The next step is keeping focused despite the attention.”

One team that will try to keep focus is Quince Orchard (14-8), which kept the fourth-seed despite its loss to Springbrook on Saturday. If the Cougars are to get to the semifinals for a potential rematch with the Blue Devils, they will have to take care of No. 13 Northwest (1-19) in the first round, and then the winner of the first round game between fifth-seeded Richard Montgomery (6-14) and No. 12 Churchill (11-8).

In an especially balanced season in the 4A division of Montgomery County basketball, the 4A West Region, with its all-Montgomery County cast, may just come down to the little things.

‘‘The field is full of teams that could be a dark horse,” Walter Johnson coach Bill Morris said. ‘‘This should be an interesting tournament. There are a lot of teams that could surprise people.”

4A West Region Boys Basketball playoffs

Contenders: Springbrook (19-2), Magruder (16-5), Wootton (16-6), Quince Orchard (14-8)

Darkhorses: Sherwood (13-8), Walter Johnson (13-8)

Players to watch: C.J. Garner, Springbrook (21.3 ppg), Jamal Olasawere, Springbrook (15.5 ppg), Stefan Fields, Magruder (16.7 ppg), Chris Cohen, Wootton (14.0 ppg), Neil Kosculiek, Quince Orchard (17.9 ppg), Carl Yaffe, Walter Johnson (14.5 ppg), Nash Oh, Walter Johnson (14.8 ppg), Dillon Borgida, Whitman (15.1 ppg), Dominique Hansbury, Richard Montgomery (10.0 ppg), Bo Holston, Sherwood (14.7 ppg), Chase Hicks, Churchill (14.6 ppg), Antoine Johnson, Gaithersburg (12.7 ppg)