Circle These Dates: The Must-Watch Games of the 2026 Girls Season
From a title-game rematch to a four-team battle for seeding, these are the games that could shape the 2026 girls playoff picture.
The 2026 girls high school season is a single round robin with only eight playoff spots, so every game matters. Here are the games to circle on your calendar.
The Rematch: Academy at St. John's Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 PM, St. John's School
Nothing on the schedule tops this one. Last season's final was decided by a single point, with St. John's edging Academy 58-57. The winner should have the inside track to the No. 1 seed. It also comes late in a short regular season for the Knights, who play their last game Nov. 24 before several players leave for the U15 tournament.
The Battle for Seeding St. Paul at JFK, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 5:30 PM St. Paul vs Guam High, Saturday, Nov. 14, 5:30 PM Southern vs JFK, Friday, Nov. 20, 7 PM Guam High vs Southern, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 5:30 PM Guam High vs JFK, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 5:30 PM St. Paul vs Southern, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 5:30 PM
St. Paul, JFK, Guam High and Southern finished third through sixth last season, just two games apart. All six games among them come between Nov. 4 and Dec. 1, and because head-to-head breaks ties, this group could sort itself out on the court. St. Paul brings full-court pressure and a go-to scorer in Darian Godoy. Lana Quinata leads Southern, JFK has a deep group under coach Rey Serafico, and Eli Johnson heads a new-look Guam High lineup.
The Playoff Race Notre Dame vs Okkodo, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 PM Notre Dame vs GW, Saturday, Nov. 7, 7 PM Sanchez vs Okkodo, Friday, Nov. 20, 7 PM GW vs Sanchez, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7 PM
Okkodo, Sanchez, GW and Notre Dame all have a real path to the postseason, and they play each other along the way. Okkodo has Emily Duenas back, Sanchez plays team basketball under coach Arvin Domingo, GW brings new coach Reggie Guerrero's hustle, and Notre Dame pairs talented freshmen with senior Naomi Blas. Each of these games is a chance to win a game and a tiebreaker at the same time.
Up and Coming: Tiyan vs Harvest Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7 PM, Tiyan High School
Tiyan and Harvest are two of the league's building programs, and both have a shot at the playoffs with eight spots available. Tiyan, in its third year under coach Joylyn Pangilinan, is led by captains Asia Alisasis and Nya Babas, with Amiah Rosario back as a scorer. Harvest gets early chances to make noise against Okkodo on Nov. 10 and Sanchez on Nov. 13. When the two meet on Dec. 1, the game could carry real playoff weight.
Follow every game with live scores and standings on The ScoreBench, and check back every Sunday for our Week Ahead preview of the games to watch.
Standings, schedule and scores: 2026 Girls High School Basketball →