Here’s a look at which local girls’ basketball teams are one win away from state semis

Just one more win.

That’s what it will take to get to the state semifinals at this stage in the girls’ basketball season, and several South Florida high schools are well positioned as top seeds in their region, including Miami High in 7A; Pompano Beach Ely (6A); Plantation American Heritage (5A), Keys Gate (4A), Miami Country Day (3A) and Miami Christian (2A).

Among the teams looking to pull an upset — at least according to the seedings — is Norland, which will travel to American Heritage.

That short trip to Broward is of no concern to Norland coach Carla Harris.

“Lakeland isn’t in Miami, either,” Harris said in a reference to where the state championships are held annually. “We took a trip to South Carolina this season, and we have been preparing our girls to play on the road.”

Harris led Norland to state titles in 2009 and 2010, but the Vikings haven’t won a title since. Their last trip to state was in 2015. The last two years, Norland was knocked off in a regional final by Dillard, but those schools are in different classes this year.

Meanwhile, the Miami Country Day Spartans and the Miami High Stingarees — in that order — have reigned as the top teams in their county again this season.

The Spartans, who have won six consecutive state titles, went 26-2 last season and are “just” 20-9 in this campaign. While not as dominant this season, the Spartans have played a national-type schedule with five losses to out-of-state teams.

In January, the Spartans beat Miami High 50-33 to cement their status as the county’s top team.

Sydney Shaw, 5-9 sophomore guard, is considered Miami Country Day’s top talent and a certain Division I recruit. But despite being a gifted three-point shooter, her scoring average of 10.9 is lower than expected because the Spartans blow out so many teams, pulling their starters early and leaving Shaw with less playing time.

For example, MCD’s past four wins have come by the scores of 69-19, 64-16, 72-16 and 90-8.

MCD’s leading scorer is 6-0 junior forward Andrea Daley, who is averaging 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds. She’s highly athletic and tough to handle near the rim.

Meanwhile, Miami High, which has also played a national schedule, has a Player of the Year candidate in 5-11 senior forward Colleen Bucknor, a UCF signee. Bucknor is averaging 14.5 points and 14.0 rebounds.

“She’s a scorer, rebounder and rim-protector,” Miami High coach Sam Baumgarten said. “When our guards get broken down, it’s good to have her near the rim.”

Two other Stings seniors to watch are 5-5 combo guard Jeannie Scott, a versatile, old-school player; and Darria Whitley, a 5-7 wing who can defend anyone on the court.

In Class 2A, first-year head coach Chanel Davila, 31, has Miami Christian poised to win its first state title in girls’ basketball.

Davila inherited one starter from a Victors team that last year made it to the state semifinals, losing 53-50 to Bayshore Christian.

A former player at Goleman High and a walk-on at FIU, Davila has some weapons, including 5-6 junior guard Gabriela Bendeck, who leads the team with a 19.3 scoring average. Enjulina Gonzalez, 5-9 sophomore, averages 10.9 points and 10.0 rebounds; and Ambar Ramirez, a 5-5 junior, averages 8.6 and a team-best 3.1 assists.

Here’s a class-by-class look at the Miami-Dade and Broward county schools still alive in the chase for state titles:

CLASS 7A

▪ Game: No. 3 Krop at No. 1 Miami High.

▪ Outlook: Krop (14-11) will be heavy underdogs when it visits reigning GMAC champion Miami High (24-5). Krop made the GMAC tournament but got routed in the quarterfinals, losing 62-33 to Norland. But Krop upset second-seeded Cypress Bay 74-45 to get to the regional finals.

CLASS 6A

▪ Game: No. 7 Dillard at No. 1 Ely.

▪ Outlook: The top-seeded Tigers (25-6), who have won 15 games in a row, will now face tradition-rich Dillard (20-8). Ely, this year’s Broward County champ, beat Dillard 54-36 on Jan. 11. But the last time they played, it was a much closer game as Ely prevailed 53-49 on Feb. 8.

CLASS 5A

▪ Game: No. 2 Norland at No. 1 Plantation American Heritage.

▪ Outlook: Norland (22-6) routed Jensen Beach 75-25 on Tuesday and will now face Heritage (22-4), which eliminated Central, 46-29. For comparison purposes, Norland went 3-0 against Central this season, winning by 16 points in their most recent matchup. Norland, which lost the GMAC title game 59-53 to Miami High, is led by 5-5 junior point guard Jaiyah Harris-Smith, who leads the team in scoring (16.5). But the Vikings also boast 5-10 senior forward Ronaltha Marc, 5-8 senior three-point shooter Tamar Nijove and 5-7 senior defensive ace Jamyla Mensah-Bell.

CLASS 4A

▪ Game: No. 2 Cardinal Gibbons at No. 1 Keys Gate.

▪ Outlook: Keys Gate (23-5) has emerged as a power this season thanks to the play of 5-6 junior point guard Amari Hunter. The Knights eliminated fifth-seeded Delray American Heritage 58-52 on Tuesday. That avenged a previous loss by Keys Gate, which now takes on Gibbons (24-3).

CLASS 3A

▪ Game: No. 2 Westminster Academy at No. 1 Miami Country Day.

▪ Outlook: Westminster (21-4) has won 11 games in a row. But if the seeds hold, the Spartans will prevail and play a couple of tough opponents next: Carrollwood in the state semifinals and Father Lopez for the title.

CLASS 2A

▪ Game: No. 2 Grandview Prep at No. 1 Miami Christian.

▪ Outlook: Miami Christian (20-6) advanced by routing Lake Worth Christian 68-25. Next up for the Victors is Grandview Prep, a school Miami Christian blitzed 60-38 on Dec. 11. If form holds, Miami Christian will be heading to state next week.