The No. 1 St. Frances girls basketball team closes out its regular season this week with a strong tune-up for the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference tournament that begins Monday.

The Panthers are going for a seventh straight title, but before they focus on that, they have to face two tough opponents in the next three days: No. 4 Seton Keough on the road tomorrow night at 6 and No. 3 City at home Friday night at 5:30.

These Panthers may not be as tall or as deep as other recent St. Frances teams, but they are mighty quick and that’s helped them to a 20-1 record with nine wins over teams ranked in The Baltimore Sun’s Top 15. They’ve already beaten No. 2 Western, Seton Keough, and No. 5 Arundel. The closest margin was 11 points against Arundel.

Coach Jerome Shelton uses a four-guard approach. Shatyra Hawkes, Deanna Harmon, Tasia Bristow and Tanira McClurkin are as quick as anyone on the local girls basketball scene. Inside, 5-foot-10 Briana Hutchen plays much taller than her height and the Panthers get some good minutes off the bench from 6-foot-2 Sophy Ngobeni and 5-foot-11 Raizel Benn.

If you haven’t had a chance to see these girls play, try to get to one of these last few games. You won't be disappointed.

--Katherine Dunn