Here’s a look at the area’s top high school girls’ basketball teams

The high school basketball playoffs have begun.

Last week, The Inquirer broke down the top area boys’ basketball teams, and now we’ll evaluate some of the top girls’ squads.

Here are the schools to watch out for through February and March:

» READ MORE: Sizing up the top Philly area high school boys’ basketball teams

Westtown (24-3) is ranked No. 25 in the nation by Sports Illustrated and No. 1 in the state. On Friday night, the Moose secured their fifth straight Friends Schools League championship over Friends’ Central after going unbeaten in league play.

They’ve been a dominant force all season, even against some of the area’s other top teams, including Audenried, Archbishop Carroll, Neumann Goretti, and Perkiomen Valley. The Moose defeated all by 20 points or more.

A large part of it has to do with the roster. Jordyn Palmer, last year’s Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, is just a sophomore who surpassed 1,000 points this season. She’s considered ESPN’s No. 4 player in the class of 2027. Sophomore Jessie Moses is also a high-caliber recruit, ranked No. 15 by ESPN.

State playoffs in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association will begin on Feb. 18.

Audenried (15-7) will take on Dobbins in the second round of the Philadelphia Public League playoffs after securing a first-round bye and should make another run to a championship appearance.

The defending champions are led by Penn State-bound Shayla Smith, who’s a couple of games away from eclipsing the city record for career points. University City’s Shawnetta Stewart holds the title with 2,501 points, set in 1996.

Smith has had some dominant performances this season. She scored 34 points against Paul VI at the Bluestar Invitational on Jan. 5.

Neumann Goretti (18-3) went unbeaten in the Catholic League at 11-0 and enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. The Saints will look to capture their first league title since 2015.

Two players have surpassed 1,000 points this season: seniors Amya Scott and Carryn Easley. Neumann Goretti is also led by sophomore guard Reginna Baker, who’s averaging a team-high 15 points.

In the PCL quarterfinals on Thursday, the Saints will face No. 8 seed Conwell-Egan, whom the Saints beat, 81-26, in the final game of the regular season on Feb. 4.

After falling in the PCL final last season, Archbishop Carroll is looking to get back to the Palestra.

The Patriots (14-8) are seeded No. 3 and will take on No. 6 West Catholic in the PCL quarterfinals on Thursday. They’ve had strong wins this seasons against Friends’ Central and Imhotep Charter, but also suffered losses against Westtown and Audenried.

Junior guard Alexis Eberz has led the team in scoring, averaging 17 points, while her younger sister, Kayla Eberz is averaging 12.

» READ MORE: The Eberz sisters make up 60% of Archbishop Carroll’s starting five. For them, basketball is a family tradition.

Archbishop Wood, the defending PCL champion, is seeded second in the league playoffs. The Vikings (16-6) lost only once in the PCL regular season, against Neumann Goretti. They’ll face No. 7 Nazareth Academy on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Wood won its fourth consecutive PIAA Class 5A girls’ championship last season, and despite graduating a strong senior core, the Vikings are having another dominant year.

The team is led by senior Emily Knouse, who’s committed to St. Joseph’s. She surpassed the 1,000-point mark against Neumann Goretti on Jan. 31.

Perkiomen Valley (20-3) will play for the Pioneer Athletic Conference title on Tuesday night against Spring-Ford after the Vikings overwhelmed Phoenixville, 68-8, in the PAC semifinals on Feb. 6.

Last season, Perkiomen Valley won the PAC and District 1 championships. The Vikings also made a state quarterfinal appearance before falling to eventual state champion Cardinal O’Hara in Class 6A.

The Vikings went 10-0 in the PAC Liberty Division and had impressive wins over Lansdale Catholic and Archbishop Wood. Grace Galbavy (Wake Forest), Quinn Boettinger (Navy), and Bella Bacani (Jefferson) have been the core leaders.

Notre Dame (24-3) went 9-0 in the Inter-Ac and claimed its consecutive league crown by beating Springside Chestnut Hill Academy on Feb. 7.

It will wrap up the regular season on Wednesday against Baldwin. State playoffs in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association will begin on Feb. 18.