Does Eric Rueb want to make girls basketball division picks? No. Did he do it anyway? Of course.

If we’re being completely honest, I have zero interest in trying to make predictions for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Girls Basketball Division Tournaments.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Wow, Eric Rueb, some girldad you are; guess it’s OK to cover just boys sports and ignore the girls.” You would be wildly mistaken.

But, sure, let’s give this a shot. No way this backfires.

Eric Rueb’s RIIL Girls Basketball Division Tournament predictions

Division I

My favorite part of the D-I tourney is that there are some considerable matchup advantages to consider, but the scary part is that anyone can beat anyone and that hasn’t happened in Division I in a while.

In the preliminary round, I feel good (I think) about No. 6 Cranston West over No. 11 Classical and No. 7 La Salle over No. 10 Juanita Sanchez. Earlier this season, there was no situation in which I would take No. 5 Portsmouth over anyone, but the Patriots have turned things around and are now a team I don’t want to pick against, so I’ll take them over No. 12 Scituate. On Friday, I’m making the trip to see No. 8 Westerly against No. 9 South Kingstown and I’m taking the Bulldogs only because I don’t want to get booed by an entire gym on my birthday.

Everything No. 1 North Kingstown has I love, so I’ll ride with the Skippers over Westerly in the quarters. I picked against No. 2 Bay View everywhere last year and then the Bengals won the whole thing, so I’m sure they won’t mind seeing me take La Salle in an upset here.

No. 3 Barrington should take care of Cranston West, but I seem to remember the Falcons upsetting the Eagles at Barrington in the playoffs not long ago. After seeing what No. 4 Ponaganset did to Portsmouth earlier this season, I have to ride with the Chieftains (and it’s not just because they swallowed their whistles during rec games I was coaching this winter).

Two of the state's biggest dogs (or dawgs? Still not sure on the spelling) with battle with Jaelyn Holmes leading NK and Jaina Yekelchick leading Ponaganset, but the Skippers’ supporting cast plays with a little more confidence and that will be enough for them to get to the final. I’m taking Barrington over La Salle because the Eagles have enough offense that they can get the game to a pace the Rams won’t want to play.

I should pick North Kingstown to win, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Barrington in games against teams not named Bay View this fall. Give me the Eagles to take the Division I crown.

Division II

What Lincoln is to the D-II boys, Moses Brown is to the D-II girls. The Quakers started the season as the favorite and nothing has changed all season. They’re winning this tournament.

How will the rest play out? The preliminary round will be quick, because there’s only one game and after what I saw from Coventry in rec ball last weekend, I’m assuming there’s a few older siblings that can hoop, too, so I’ll take the No. 9 Oakers over No. 8 Tiverton.

The reason I don’t want to make picks is I’m completely terrified about how wrong I might be with the majority of these. Like this might be epically bad. I’m so confident in my picks to win Division II and IV that I’d almost agree to try to grow my hair back if they don’t (it’s a bad scene), but the other two tournaments and the games leading into all four finals have me terrified.

No. 1 Moses Brown will quickly dispatch Coventry in the quarterfinals. No. 2 Pawtucket should control pace and take down No. 7 Cumberland. The best game of the quarterfinals is going to be in Wood River Junction and somebody better play the song if my pick of No. 3 Chariho over No. 6 Smithfield happens. Defending D-II champion West Warwick is the No. 5 seed and I think the experience from last season plus its infusion of young talent gets it the upset over No. 4 Mount St. Charles (and it sets up my next pick).

The Quakers get their revenge on West Warwick and takes down the Wizards in the semifinals. I think Pawtucket is a better basketball team than Chariho, but I love the multisport athletes the Chargers have and I’ll take them to win here.

In the final, it’s Moses Brown, but I already said that.

Division III

This is the one tournament — boys included — in which I can talk myself into every team having a legitimate chance at winning. Having only seven teams helps — it seems like each team has a star who can put up numbers in a hurry and carry a team on her back.

Can’t imagine No. 2 Exeter-West Greewich was thrilled about getting matched up with No. 7 Lincoln, who has a star in Lauren Cipriano, who could throw up 40 in this game. I’ll take the Scarlet Knights — they’re more athletic at all five positions and they can shoot the lights out — but this game screams upset potential.

No. 3 North Smithfield should be an easy pick, but No. 6 Lincoln has sophomore Sarah Berube, who also has big-game potential. I’m going to stay with the Northmen, but again — wary.

My favorite matchup is No. 4 North Providence hosting No. 5 Toll Gate and, while I like the Cougars, I’m not picking against the Titans and Adeline Areson in this one simply because her comeback after missing last year makes for a good story.

Seeing one of the state’s biggest schools in Toll Gate take on one of the smallest in No. 1 Narragansett is an eyebrow-raiser, but this is a good matchup for the Titans. Areson could take over inside and I think she’ll have a game, but I’m going to pick the Mariners because their three-headed offensive attack will be too much for Toll Gate to handle.

If they played the semifinals in a larger gym, I’d take North Smithfield over Exeter-West Greenwich. Host Cranston East is comfortable for shooters and that’s what the Knights are, so I’ll take them over the Northmen.

The same goes for the final. Playing in Providence is going to be a nightmare for a team that wants to play bombs away from outside, so I’ll take Narragansett and its persistent defensive and pace-pushing guards to run away with the title.

Division IV

Well, this won’t take long.

It’s no disrespect to Division IV. Having a “developmental” division was something I was originally against, but I truly believe its one of the best things the RIIL did because it gives girls who aren’t introduced to the game a chance to play.

Unfortunately, those girls have to play against teams that do have players who began playing at a young age and it’s no surprise those teams all made the postseason.

There’s one quarterfinal game and I’ll take No. 4 Providence Country Day over No. 5 Block Island, but if the travel were reversed, I’d go with the Hurricanes.

In the semifinals, No. 1 Johnston will cruise past Providence Country Day. The other semifinal makes me genuinely happy as these are the two programs I believe are what this division is all about. I think Davies is the better team, but the better story in my head is Hope getting a chance to play for a title and, since stories are my business, give me the Blue Wave.

While I’d love to write about Hope’s incredible turnaround ending with a title, Johnston is the pick in what should be the program’s final game as a Division IV program.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Eric Rueb's predictions for the 2024 Girls Basketball Division Tournaments