The wait is over. After three grueling sessions, the MADE Hoops Girls East Winter Circuit culminates this weekend at The York Expo Center in York, PA.
With championship trophies for five divisions on the line, here is everything you need to know heading into the final weekend of action.
The Heavy Hitters: 8th Grade Pink Division
All eyes are on the Pink Division, where the quest for a three-peat meets a “clash of the titans.” Top Notch Lady Ballers have dominated the last two years as 6th and 7th graders and are looking to close their middle school careers with a historic third straight title. Ari Walker, Amber Lewis and LeLe Lopez have been among the top performers on a deep and talented squad.
However, the road is steeper than ever:
- Exodus NYC: Currently 11-0 and led by dynamic players like Amari Price and Lolo Anderson, they are playing with a chip on their shoulder after a narrow finish last season.
- Philly Rise: Stacked with Talent, Rise has compiled a 10-1 record and hasn’t dropped a game since December 20. Sofia Rude, Mia Lawson and Nylah Quattlebaum have been among their most consistent performers.
- Philly Youth Basketball (PYB): Sitting at 9-2, PYB brings a gritty, defensive-first identity that has suffocated opponents all winter. Offensively, their guards have been fearless and come up big in clutch situations.
- Team Thrill: Thrill boasts some of the best perimeter talent on the circuit, and Londyn Carter, Braylin Booker and Aubree Singletary have the ability to take over games.
- The Spoilers: Don’t sleep on Dropoff Elite, Fairfax Stars, Germantown Lady Panthers, Jersey Gemz or MD23 Elite, all of whom have the depth to ruin a perfect season in the bracket rounds. Dropoff opens up against TopNotch, and picked up a win in their last meeting on February 7.
The Proving Ground: 8th Grade Lavender Division
The 8th Grade Lavender Division has been ultra competitive all winter, and this weekend will be no different. NJ Scholars (10-1) and CT Focus (8-1) come in the hottest, with PW Bulldogs (9-2) and Castle Athletics (8-3) firmly in the title picture as well.
- With a versatile group led by Sophia Wolochow, the Scholars have been dominant, with only one of their wins coming by fewer than double-digits.
- The only team that might be hotter right now is CT Focus, which handed Scholars their first loss at Session 3, 62-52. Guards Lailah Johnson, Reginay Schofield, Mia Vargas and Suri Vargas have given defenders fits all winter long.
- Watch out for a dangerous Jersey Aces (7-4) squad lurking with the trio of Kailyn Dunbar, Ella Pestano and Kylie Hibbert.
7th Grade: The Circuit’s Deepest Bracket
The 7th Grade division has been the most unpredictable. Harper U has looked dominant while going 8-0 into the final weekend, but the gap between the top five teams is razor-thin. NY Gauchos and DC Blue Devils come in 9-2, Exodus 9-1 and Team Durant 7-1.
- Players to Watch: Keep an eye on guards Sahana Srinivas and Mila Petersen of Loudoun Flexx Jr. EYBL, whose speed and high-IQ play have dictated the tempo of the circuit, and Nicole Aiyedun (NY Gauchos), a physical force in the paint.
- The Contenders: Team Durant and the NY Gauchos (both 7-1) are primed for a deep run. DC Blue Devils come in on a 7-game winning streak, with their last loss coming back on December 21.
- The Sleepers: MD23 Elite may have four losses, but its 8 wins are among the best in the division and they’ve won six in a row. Don’t be surprised if they send somebody home early.
6th & 5th Grade: The Future is Now
In the younger divisions, a new rivalry has reached a fever pitch.
- 6th Grade Showdown: Castle Athletics (11-0) and Unity Legends (10-1) have emerged as the “big two.” Castle’s Madison Bravo has been lights-out from the perimeter and Olivia Jean-Baptiste has dominated inside, while Unity’s Aniyah Washington and Sloane Smith have proven tough to handle in the halfcourt or in transition. Castle triumphed in their meeting at Session 3 to remain the Division’s lone unbeaten – are they on track for rematch?
- Keep an eye on Exodus 2032, which comes in 8-2 and riding a 7-game win streak behind the trio London Sales, Paris Sales and Payton Austrie.
- Team Takeover 2032 forward Anna Andrews has the ability to lead her 7-2 team on a deep run.
- 5th Grade Dominance: Exodus has emerged as the clear favorite, but the Virginia Diamonds, Team PA and Maryland Belles have shown enough flashes of brilliance to suggest an upset is possible if the pressure of Championship Sunday kicks in.
MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alana Vardilos, Gauchos
Ariel Chavez, Unity Legends
Braelyn Roles, Team Melo
Brooklyn Rausch, Jersey Gemz
Bryanna Baker, Miami Suns
Chisara Ezeocha, MD23 Elite
Claire Tracy, Loudoun Flexx
Cora Paré, Maine Firecrackers
Dakota Washington, GLP
Dezi Thomas, Team Melo
Eden Dixon, MD Sting
Ellianna Tressler, Team PA
Emma De Conti, Loudoun FLEXX
Giana Byard, Philly Rise
Grace Alciné, Dropoff Elite
Heavayah Payton-Rose, Virginia Diamonds
Jazelle Tout-Puissant, Exodus
Jemma Congemi, Lady Prestige Elite
Joelys Montas, Riverside Hawks
Juliana Capello, Castle Athletics
Juliany Torres, NY Gauchos
Kaitlyn Yung, Team Durant
Kalyn Brown, Boo Williams
Kennedi Creary, MD23 Elite
Kylie Hibbert, Jersey Aces
Loriele Nix, GLP
Madison Hawkins, GLP
Madison Myrick, Harper U
Madisyn McHenry, Virginia Diamonds
Maleah Singletary, Exodus
Margaret Kauffman, DC Blue Devils
Mia Lawson, Philly Rise
Mia Vargas, CT Focus
Mikaela Ghimenti-Mendouga, Team Durant
Mya Citizen, Virginia Elite
NylaMari Johnson, PYB
Olivia Jean-Baptiste, Castle Athletics
Sienna Anderson, Fairfax Stars
Taya Adams, NJ Scholars
Marcus Helton is the Director of Written Content at MADE Hoops and oversees the MADE Society Team. A Maryland resident and the founding Editor-in-Chief of DMVelite, Marcus brings years of scouting and journalistic experience. Connect with him on X at @MarcusHelton.
