River Ridge Knights

Record/ranking: 26-5, No. 1 seed from Region 4, ranked No. 1.

Coach: Jason Taylor

Top players: Mataya Gayle (17 points, 5.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds), Sophia Pearl (13.4 points), Kayla Cleaveland (14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds), Allie Sweet (7.2 points, 10.3 rebounds), Makayla Roberson (8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds). Gayle was named the Region 6 Player of the Year and has committed to Penn.

How they got there: def. Alexander 70-36, def. Blessed Trinity 65-47, def. Marist 62-43, def. Hughes 50-46.

Previous championships: None.

 

Lovejoy Wildcats

Record/ranking: 26-5, No. 3 seed from Region 3, ranked No. 2.

Coach: Cedric King

Top players: La’Nya Foster (29.2 points, 10.1 rebounds), Bryanna Preston (18.5 points, 6.8 assists 2.2 steals), Camiah Muldrow (9.8 points), Morgan Bone (7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds). Foster was named Region Player of the Year and has committed to play at Austin Peay. Preston is an elite junior who already has an offer from Tennessee.

How they got there: def. Riverwood 63-20, def. Veterans 73-53, def. Gainesville 79-34, def. Brunswick 73-62.

Previous championships: Two – 2018, 2022.

Game notes: This contest features the two top-ranked teams in the state – No. 1 River Ridge vs. No. 2 Lovejoy. … River Ridge beat defending Class 4A champion Marist in the third round. … Lovejoy beat Sequoyah by 16 points in the championship game last season. Bryanna Preston scored 13 points in the championship game and La’Naya Foster had eight points and 11 rebounds.