Minnesota and Massachusetts get their league seasons going and Connecticut gets going in earnest.
We have several pretty important games this weekend, with seedings at HS Nationals being on the line, and more. besides:
SOC Raptors play Thunder Rugby in what appears to be a winner-take-all play-in for Nationals. Both teams are 0-2 against their other rivals in SoCal and so the final spot should be contested between these two. Meanwhile, San Diego Mustangs and Belmont Shore, having both beaten SOC and Thunder, are also playing in a game that likely decides the top team in SoCal's HS Club competition, and also likely decides who will get a stronger seed at Nationals.
In most HSNC seasons, teams are pushing to be among the top three. Generally those spots are considered better than the dreaded #4 vs #5 clash, which is usually though to be the toughest ask. However, last year every first-round game was within a try, so maybe the seedings don't matter so much.
Danville vs De La Salle and Granite Bay vs an always difficult Marin highlight the Northern California weekend. In Texas they decide the single-school champs with Dallas Jesuit vs Strake Jesuit.
Gonzaga hosts their annual tournament and this one has St. Anthony's from South Africa and Shawnigan Lake from Canada to spice things up. Sprinkled in there are fixtures such as Gonzaga vs Staples, Staples vs New Orleans Jesuit, and Charlotte Cardinals vs Fort Hunt.
St. Ignatius plays St. Edward in the big rivalry game in Cleveland. It's also a chance to see a slightly more healthy SIHS in action, and those self-same Wildcats will be trying to put in a good showing in part because of those pesky HS Nationals seedings. Meanwhile, St. Edward has found some improved performances and, hosting on Senior Night, will be looking for an upset.
In Connecticut, Greenwich has their own tournament with Berks out of Pennsylvania, among others, in attendance. After beating Fairfield Prep and Staples, Greenwich could lay claim to a prominent seed at Nationals. This tournament, plus April 29 vs Aspetuck and May 13 vs Xavier will tell us more.
