BENSALEM, Pa. – Whenever the calendar strikes the final full week of January, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings have checked off another milestone weekend.

That’s because the Martin Luther King Weekend was full of big-time events nationwide and several clutch performances. Several teams shifted in the Elite 25 and two teams were added.

Rejoining the Elite 25 is No. 17 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.). The Monarchs are 16-2 and left behind a disastrous 2-2 showing at the Nike Tournament of Champions in December. Coach Sue Phillips has her primed for the postseason, which begins in a few weeks.

No. 24 Roland Park County Day (Baltimore) is one of the top teams on the East Coast and have played an exemplary schedule and recorded key wins. The lone loss was in December to No. 1 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 64-53. The Reds are the top team in the IAAM A Conference with a 7-0 mark and beat crosstown rivals St. Frances Academy last week. Expect those two to meet again at least twice more this season.

This weekend two events have piqued my interest.

First, there is the Raatz Fence O’Shea Basketball Challenge at Mercy Academy in Louisville, Ky. The two-day, 13-game event starts Friday night with four games. Three Elite 25 teams will be in action. Click here for the schedule. Teams from the Midwest and mostly Kentucky will fill the gym. 

Our main man Mark Lewis will be in Louisville for the coverage. Lewis is the top girls’ analyst in the game. He’s also a well-known shutterbug. 

Back in Bronx, New York, the historic Gauchos Gym (blocks from Yankee Stadium) will host the The Mecca, tipping on Friday for 20 games in three days. Four teams from the Elite 25 will be in the house. The latest schedule is here.

Both events will influence the Elite 25 rankings.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return on January 30. There are plenty of events each weekend, until the state tournaments begin, that will dictate how the rankings are shaped. The MLK national events are one of the most influential run of games before most schools head into the postseason.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from showcase events and key matchups this season. Blue Star Media will keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ basketball world.

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, January 23, 2019

1. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (18-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: It was a light week for the nation’s top team, beating Holy Cross (Kensington, Md.), 94-26. It was 21-2 after one quarter and the Lady Mustangs cruised. G Aliyah Matharu struck for a game-high 23 points, sinking a trio of three-point field goals. The No. 1 ranking was on the line Tuesday when No. 4 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) visited Prince George’s County for the first of two regular season meetings in the challenging Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

2. Miami (Fla.) Country Day (16-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Spartans are in position for a bid to the GEICO Nationals in New York in late March. Last weekend, they went to Philadelphia and crushed then-No. 24 Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.), 74-56, and Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 63-43. Four games remain in the regular season.

3. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (18-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: In anticipation of the showdown with No. 1 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) on Jan. 22, the Cadets trounced Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 60-40, and Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 65-51. Super sophomore Azzi Fudd totaled 38 points in two games and North Carolina-bound C Malu Tshitenge-Mutombo had 19 vs. Carroll.

4. Africentric Early College, Columbus, Ohio (14-0)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Lady Nubians won two lopsided games and had a huge national matchup canceled at the Classic in the Country in Berlin, Ohio due to weather concerns. The next challenge is at Newark on Jan. 30.

Another road trip to the Classic in the Country in Berlin, Ohio features a matchup with Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) on Saturday evening.

5. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (23-3)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: For the second straight weekend, the Lady Tigers are back in New York for an event. This time they play at The Mecca (Bronx) against South Shore (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Saturday and Saint Laurent (Canada) Sunday.

6. Centennial, Las Vegas (16-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Lady Bulldogs had a spectacular weekend, winning three times against California schools. In Stockton, Calif., they drilled Etiwanda, 75-41, and Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 77-55. Taylor Bigby tossed in 19 points in the former and Arizona State-bound Eboni Walker had 18 in the latter win.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (22-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: A four-win week was punctuated by decisions over then-No. 10 Windward School (Los Angeles), 66-57, and Poly (Long Beach), 62-48. The Trail Blazers have three games this week and only four left in the regular season. Saturday’s key matchup with No. 19 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) is a great taste of the postseason.

8. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (29-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Defeated Everman, 70-31, and Seguin (Arlington), 81-23, upping the mark to 9-0 in District 5-5A.

9. Westridge Academy, Kernersville, N.C. (16-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Coach Delaney Rudd brings his team north to Bronx, New York for the Mecca Challenge.

10. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (11-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Michigan’s top-ranked team coasted to a pair of wins, including a 54-39 decision over Pewamo-Westaphalia. 

11. Maine West, Des Plaines, Ill. (23-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Junior G Dylan Van Fleet pumped in a game-high 18 points and Saint Louis-bound Rachel Kent added 15 in a 70-50 win over Kenwood (Chicago) at the Derril Kipp Games in Villa Park, Ill.

12. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (17-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: First-year coach Amy Josephson has her team playing well, improving to 7-0 in District 7 play. The Lady Warriors played at Alabama powerhouse Hazel Green on Jan. 22 and play on Saturday at the Raatz Fence O’Shea Basketball Classic in Louisville, Ky.

13. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (14-1)

Previous: 16. 

Low-down: It took a 14-3 fourth-quarter blitz to subdue Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis), 52-43. Kiki Britzman netted 14 points, making two 3-pointers and all six free throws. The Red Knights travel to Louisville, Kentucky this weekend for the Raatz Fence O’Shea’s Basketball Classic for two games.

14. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (20-1)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Beat Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee), 75-35.

15. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (9-4)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Royals needed overtime to defeat Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 69-66, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., as Ohio State-bound Kaelynn Satterfield was named the game’s MVP. Game at No. 25 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) was postponed.

16. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (14-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Dr. Scott Rogers’ team went an impressive 2-0 at the Classic in the Country in Berlin, Ohio. Because of weather concerns the Cougars were rescheduled to play No. 21 Hamilton Heights Christian (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and won 59-51. Iowa-bound Gabrielle Marshall dropped in 23 points. Also, freshman K.K. Bransford led three MND players in double figures with 14 points in a 59-32 wipe out of Cornerstone Christian (Willoughby, Ohio).However, the week did not start out so well, losing to Centerville, 70-56. Three games dot the schedule this week.

17. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (16-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Monarchs return to the Elite 25 after an iffy December. Stanford-bound Haley Jones, considered a frontrunner for national player of the year honors and a shoo-in for the McDonald’s All American Game, bucketed a season-high 43 points in an 89-26 triumph over St. Francis (Mountain View). Also rolled past Carondelet (Concord), 80-58, a key Northern California matchup. Six games are left in the regular season.

18. Pinewood School, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (15-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Three games are on tap in the WBAL-Foothill this week.

19. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (19-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Three wins last week and three more games this week is capped on Saturday against No. 7 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth).

20.  Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (11-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: After a 16-day layoff, the Lady Cavaliers returned by crushing Cosby (Midlothian), 76-36 and Bayside (Virginia Beach), 92-41.

21. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (16-2)

Previous: 13. 

Low-down: Split two games at the Classic in the Country (Berlin, Ohio), losing to No. 16 Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 59-51, but needed two overtimes to stop Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio), 61-59. In the latter, Trinity Brady and Tineya Hylton each threw in 14 points and 6-7 junior Kamilla Cardoso added 14 points and 14 boards. The Lady Hawks will play this weekend at the Raatz Fence O’Shea Basketball Classic in Louisville, Ky.

22. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (18-3)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Lady Crusaders host No. 5 New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) on Jan. 29 in a DMV showdown.

23. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (11-1)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Lady Lancers play regionally ranked Saddle River Day (Saddle River) Sunday in a game that will determine the top New Jersey team.

24. Roland Park Country Day, Baltimore (17-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Reds defeated then-No. 22 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 62-46. Their lone loss was to top-ranked Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.). The reverse fixture with SFA is Jan. 30 on the road.

25. Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, Pa. (18-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Elle Stauffer scored 25 points and cleared 6 rebounds but it wasn’t enough in a 74-56 loss to No. 2 Miami (Fla.) Country Day. The Lady Patriots remain in the Elite 25 having won the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic Platinum Bracket in New Orleans. The attention shifts to closing out the Inter-Ac with a perfect mark.

Dropped: No. 10 Windward School (Los Angeles) and No. 22 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Franklin, Somerset, N.J. (10-0)

2. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (14-1)

3. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (16-0)

4. Cathedral, Boston (10-0)

5. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (16-0)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midwest

1. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (16-0)

2. Beaver Dam, Wis. (15-1)

3. Derby, Kan. (8-0)

4. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (16-0)

5. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (20-1)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (17-0)

2. Westlake, Atlanta (19-0)

3. Hazel Green, Ala. (25-2)

4. Cedar Hill, Texas (28-4)

5. Scott County, Georgetown, Ky. (19-1)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (12-3)

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (21-3)

3. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (14-2)

4. Mount Spokane, Mead, Wash. (16-0)

5. Southridge, Beaverton. Ore. (12-3)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Girls’ Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Senior Writer Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.