March Madness isn’t just an NCAA basketball phenomenon — much of the high school hardwood action provided the same type of exciting hoops highlights as the boys and girls teams battled for sectional and state titles.
As the playoffs draw to a close, we’ve gone through basketball photos from around the country, picking our favorite images from the last few weeks.
These were our picks for the best photos…
Penn’s Josh Gate (23) and Joey Garwood (1) react to a made basket during the Penn-Hammond Central 4A high school basketball semifinal game Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Indiana. USAT
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Fairview High School senior Sarah Genuso scores a short jumper against the Blackhawks during a PIAA Class 4A basketball playoff game at Sharon High School on March 18, 2023. USAT
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Blackhawk High’s Cassie Potts, left, is guarded by Fairview senior Sarah Genuso during a PIAA Class 4A basketball playoff game at Sharon High School on March 18, 2023. USAT
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Southwood Knights guard Nathan Lehr (10) attempts a shot during the IHSAA 1A Semi-State boys basketball game, Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Lafayette Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Indiana. Southwood won 63-57. USAT
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Penn’s Maverick Brown (31) attempts a shot during the Penn-Hammond Central 4A high school basketball semifinal game Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Indiana. USAT
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South Fayette High School senior Maddie Weber (34) sinks a game-winning three-pointer to help beat Cathedral Prep 40-37 in a PIAA Class 5A quarterfinal playoff game at Sharon High School on March 18, 2023. Tori Mayes, senior defends the game. USAT
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Newman Catholic High School’s Elijah Gustafson (24) lifts the state trophy after the Cardinals beat McDonell Central Catholic High School during their WIAA Division 5 boys basketball state championship game Saturday, March 18, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison , Wisconsin Newman won the game 66-54.Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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Neenah High School’s Luke Jung (33) and Arrowhead High School’s Bennett Basic (14) battle for a rebound during a WIAA Division 1 boys state semifinal game Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Arrowhead won the game, 73-61, to advance to the state championship game.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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De Pere High School’s Zach Kinziger (4) blocks a shot by Kettle Moraine High School’s Will Stuckey (3) during a WIAA Division 1 boys state semifinal game Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Pere won the game, 55-44, to advance to the state championship game. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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De Pere High School’s Will Hornseth (13) dunks the ball against Kettle Moraine High School during a WIAA Division 1 boys state semifinal game Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. De Pere won the game, 55-44, to advance to the state championship game. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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Neenah High School’s Brady Corso (12) shoots against Arrowhead High School during a WIAA Division 1 boys state semifinal game Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Arrowhead won the game, 73-61, to advance to the state championship game. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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St. Mary’s Catholic High School’s Michael Fairweather (3) goes for a break against Kenosha St. Mary’s Catholic Academy. Joseph during a WIAA Division 4 boys basketball state semifinal game Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic won the game, 83-72, to advance to the championship game. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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Brillion High School’s Bennett Olson (12) shoots a 3-pointer against Lakeside Lutheran High School during a WIAA Division 3 boys state semifinal game Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Brillion won the game, 57-55, to advance to the championship game against West Salem High School.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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Rattan’s Jace May shoots over Okarche’s PK Harris during the Class A boys state basketball tournament between Rattan and Okarche at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. USAT
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Edmond players celebrate after winning the girls high school basketball championship between Norman and Edmond North at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, March 11, 2023. USAT
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Archbishop Wood junior Ava Renninger carries the ball through the Villa Maria defense at Bensalem High School on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Archbishop Wood girls basketball defeated Villa Maria Academy in the second round of the PIAA Class 5A championship, 42-29. USAT
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Brandywine players celebrate with the trophy after Brandywine-Centreville High School’s Division 3 basketball game Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Coloma High School in Coloma, Michigan. USAT
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The Delone Catholic Squirettes starting five smile for the camera before the game against the Allentown Central Catholic Vikings. They met at Cedar Crest High School in the PIAA Class 4A state basketball playoffs. The Vikings beat the Squires 51-37. USAT
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Head coach Tim Costi carries the Hamlin High School girls basketball championship trophy after they beat Wagner 58-55 in the Class A state championship game on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the Watertown Civic Arena. USAT
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Archbishop Wood senior Delaney Finnegan jumps to shoot before fouling out at Bensalem High School on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Archbishop Wood girls basketball defeated Villa Maria Academy in the second round of the PIAA Class 5A championship, 42-29. USAT
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East Lansing’s Jace Branson dunks as Battle Creek Central’s Ke’Marion Tucker, right, looks on during the fourth quarter Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at DeWitt High School. USAT
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Millis High School’s Kyra Rice goes for a rebound against Hoosac Valley in the state Div. 5 Semifinals at Springfield High School of Science and Technology March 15, 2023 USAT
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Archbishop Williams’ Josh Campbell dunks the basketball during a game against Cardinal Spellman at Scituate High School on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. USAT
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Battle Creek Central’s Kierre Young, left, shoots as East Lansing’s Cameron Hutson defends during the third quarter Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at DeWitt High School. USAT
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Greensburg Central Catholic freshman Erika Gribble, left, guards Maplewood High junior Savannah O’Hara during a PIAA Class 2A second-round basketball playoff game at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock on March 14, 2023. USAT
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Archbishop Wood senior Gus Salem shoots a 3-pointer over CB East’s Jacob Cummiskey at Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Archbishop Wood boys basketball defeated CB East in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A championship, 61- 37. USAT
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Highlands’ Bradyn Foster tries to block a shot by Lincoln Park’s Meleek Thomas during Tuesday’s PIAA Class 4A playoff game at North Allegheny High School. USAT
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Sandusky’s Ally Jansen drives the baseline during the Wolves’ 34-32 loss to Madison Heights Bishop Foley in a Division 3 quarterfinal at West Bloomfield High School on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. USAT
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Abington senior Sayre Worley looks to shoot at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Abington girls basketball defeated Springfield in the second round of the PIAA championships 40-35. USAT
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Holland Christian’s Camryn VandenBosch looks to the basket as she dodges a West Catholic defender on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Hopkins High School. USAT
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Fowler’s Avery Koenigsknecht, right, celebrates her three-pointer against Kingston with teammates, left, Emma Riley and Taylor Weber during the fourth quarter Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Elizabeth Ann Johnson Memorial High School in Mount Morris. USAT
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Marshall senior Zavion Russ shoots during a game against Hamilton at Vicksburg High School on Monday, March 13, 2023. USAT
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Griswold senior Jacob Strain shoots over Weaver guard John Paul Jones during the Wolverines’ 62-59 win Monday at Griswold High School. USAT
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Waupun High School’s Gracie Gopalan (21) is fouled while shooting against Milwaukee Academy of Sciences’ Parker Johnson (24) and Milwaukee Academy of Sciences’ Lalani Ellis (0) during their WIAA girls basketball semifinal game Division 3 on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
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East Lansing’s Cameron Hutson, left, is fouled by Kalamazoo Central’s Quay Calvin during the third quarter Monday, March 13, 2023, at DeWitt High School.
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Immaculate Heart Academy vs. Saddle River Day in the Bergen County girls basketball final at Fair Lawn High School on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Senior Jessica Carter (35) holds the trophy high as Saddle River Day celebrates the win over IHA.
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Laconia High School’s Reece Keel (23) lifts the trophy after defeating Aquinas High School during their WIAA Division 4 girls basketball championship game Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
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Newburgh’s Deondre Johnson (11) in action against North Rockland during the Class AA boys regional playoff game at Yorktown High School, March 11, 2023. North Rockland won the game 53-46.