Chris Bohlen (HC) – Landon Photo: Bradley Steiner (IG)
Title: CHSL 2025 First Round Playoff Preview
By: Mamadou Bah
On Wednesday, the 2025 CHSL Playoffs tip off, with DeMatha set to defend their title and chase back-to-back championships in what promises to be a thrilling postseason showdown.
Seeds 1 through 8 have received a first-round bye, including undefeated Clinton Grace (8-0) and the defending champions DeMatha.
As the road to the championship begins, let’s look at some key first round matchups to watch from seeds 9 through 24 as we beginning this year’s edition of CHSL Playoffs
(11) Landon vs (22) JFK
In an earlier regular season matchup that ended in an overtime thriller, the higher seed– No. 11 Landon– edged out a 72-70 victory. JFK’s All-Star guard Gabe Colson poured in 33 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Landon’s balanced scoring attack, led by standout incoming freshman Yusuf Zaid.
With JFK getting another shot at Landon and a chance to pull off the upset, they’ll need more players to set up on both ends of the floor– especially in scoring and defensive intensity. Keep an eye on 2026 forward Mike Wright, who could be poised for a breakout performance.
For Landon, the key to advancing will be sticking to their identity: playing unselfish, team-oriented basketball. If they once again get contributions from multiple scorers, they’ll be tough to beat.
Expect this game to go down to the wire, delivering yet another electrifying, fireworks-filled finish.
(15) Bethel vs (18) Concordia Prep
In their inaugural CHSL season, both teams made an impressive statement— clinching playoff berths and proving they belong. Both teams finished with a strong 5-3 record and now look poised to make a deep playoff run in their first year on the big stage.
However, with the two squaring off in the first round, only one will get that chance to continue that dream–while the other sees a promising debut season cut short.
For Bethel to advance, they’ll need to continue leaning on new transfer and CHSL Player of the Season contender Andrew Maria, who leads the league in scoring with 25.3 points per game, along with 10.2 rebounds per game. His consistent production has been the driving force behind Bethel’s success and a key reason they’ve made it this far.
If Concordia Prep wants to keep dancing, they must lock in defensively and find an answer for Bethel’s offensive engine, Andrew Maria. Just as crucial, they’ll need to identify a reliable go-to scorer–something that’s been all season, as no player averaged double digit-points. That lack of a consistent offensive threat could become a major concern in late-game situations.
Expect the unexpected in this matchup– one smart game plan could tip the scales and send either team into the next round.
(13) St. Stephens & St. Agnes vs (20) Greenbelt
After missing the playoffs last season, both teams enter this year’s CHSL postseason hungry to make an immediate impact.
With a solid 6-2 finish, St. Stephens & St. Agnes experienced plenty of success over the course of the season. One of the more younger teams in this year CHSL, they’ll need to find a way to come together and gel as a unit. Led by veteran All-Star guard Julian Burgdolf, they’ll be counting on him to keep delivering the standout performances that have defined his season.
A small concern for this team, however, is their ability to win big. More often than not, their victories have come in tight, one or two possession games. Only two of their wins this season were by double digits– the largest being a 61-45 win over Glenleg County.
Arguably the most surprising team in the CHSL this season, Greenbelt has punched its ticket to the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Finishing with a solid 5-3 record, this squad is determined to make some noise– and could very well become this year’s Cinderella story.
With a team identity built around defense, expect Greenbelt to showcase a multiude of defensive schemes in an effort to disrupt their opponent’s rhythm. Featuring a lineup full of scrappy, high-energy guards— including 17 point per game scorer Donte Whitaker— Greenbelt is poised to come out aggressive from the opening tip. Look for them to set the tone as they aim to advance past the first round and make a deeper postseason run.