No. 20 Holy Innocents’ Episcopal (GA), No. 25 Homestead (IN) land in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings with postseason looming

BENSALEM, Pa. – Following two weeks of no additions to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings there is movement and two newbies.

When the Elite 25 hit mid-January, teams took care of business as several showcase events took place and national matchups were the rule. True, there were a few upsets along the way but those challenged themselves with strong nonleague schedules built enough equity to remain.

The losses caught up to a pair of teams Texas and Florida. Florida is entering the district playoffs this week and Texas has another week before the bi-district pairings are set.

That opened the door for No. 20 Holy Innocents’ Episcopal (Atlanta) and No. 26 Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Both have been ranked in the Elite 25 in previous seasons but are debutants for 2021-22.

Holy Innocents’ is Georgia’s top team and nearly completed with the regular season. Next week the Golden Bears tip the Region 5 tournament. Coach Nichole Dixon’s team has won state titles three of the last six years with the last one in 2020.

Homestead enter the Class 4A sectional playoffs on a 17-game win streak. The Spartans feature Ayanna Patterson, a 6-foot-2 McDonald’s All American and Connecticut signee. Coach Rod Parker’s team are among the favorites in Indiana’s 4A tournament.

The top-8 teams remain intact, with Etiwanda (Calif.) locked into the top ranking. The winners this week were 12 teams, including that rose three slots. There were three teams that took hits, including No. 23 Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.) which plunged 10 spots. SHA lost in the semifinals of the Louisville Invitational Tournament but rebounded to win the third-place game.

As the state playoffs get underway, the ultimate destination for four teams will be the GEICO High School Invitational. A site has not been finalized but schools from Florida, Georgia, Utah, Washington, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina and Arizona will be under consideration.

Leading candidates for the national bracket include Sidwell Friends (D.C.), New Hope Academy (Md.), Montverde Academy (Fla.), DME Sports Academy (Fla.), Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), IMG Academy (Fla.), Holy Innocents’ Episcopal (Ga.), Woodward Academy (Ga.), Fremont (Utah), Centennial (Nev.), Pasco (Wash.), Valley Vista (Ariz.), Deer Valley (Ariz.) and Bishop McNamara (Md.).

It’s a start and by the end of the month, the teams will be selected. We’ll keep you abreast who are the leading teams to fill out the event.

McDonald’s All Americans

Last week, the girls’ roster for the McDonald’s All-American game was announced. The game will be played on March 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The boys’ game will air on ESPN at 9 p.m. EDT. The girls’ is on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

If you are interested, the POWERADE Jam Fest is slated for March 28 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

The roster is listed alphabetically:

Janiah Barker, Montverde (Fla.) Academy (Fla.); Raegan Beers, Valor Christian (Highland Ranch, Colo.); Lauren Betts, Grandview (Aurora, Colo.); Isuneh Brady, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.); K.K. Bransford, Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati); Paris Clark, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Talaysia Cooper, East Clarendon (Turbeville, S.C.); Timea Gardiner, Fremont (Plain City, Utah); Aaliyah Gayles, Spring Valley (Las Vegas);

Nev.); Chance Gray, Winton Woods (Cincinnati); Ashlon Jackson, Hardin-Jefferson (Sour Lake, Texas); Gabriela Jaquez, Camarillo (Calif.); Flau’jae Johnson Sprayberry (Marietta, Ga.); Ta’Niya Latson, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.); Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Classen SAS (Oklahoma City, Okla.); Indya Nivar, Apex (N.C.) Friendship; Maya Nnaji, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.); Kyla Oldacre, Mason (Ohio); Ayanna Patterson, Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.); Justine Pissott, Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic, Kiki Rice, Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.)

Grace VanSlooten, IMG Academy; Ashlyn Watkins, Cardinal Newman (Columbia, S.C.) and Ruby Whitehorn, Edison Early College (Detroit).

Seven players from the current Elite 25 rankings are represented.

Congratulations to all the players and coaches for the honor. Chicago is always a great host city. It promises to be a blast!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Feb. 9. Wednesday (Feb. 2) is Groundhog Day. Perhaps Punxsutawney Pete will see his shadow and spring will arrive early. That’s hope especially here in the Northeast, where the snow is piling up.

The regular season in Florida and Indiana concluded and the playoffs have started. Other states will have league or conference tournaments going this week too.

That’s it for January. February 1 is the Lunar New Year, a celebration for 15 days by millions worldwide.

Please stay safe, mask up and get vaccinated or a booster shot. In some states the coronavirus rates are falling daily; keep it up. Let’s hope it won’t curtail attendance at playoff games. Wednesday (Feb. 2) is Groundhog Day. Perhaps Punxsutawney Phil won’t see his shadow and spring will arrive early.

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 2, 2022

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (21-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Kennedy Smith poured in a career-high 44 points and freshman point guard Aliyahna Morris added 16 during an overwhelming 91-26 triumph over Chino Hills. Coach Stan Delus’ squad also crushed Bonita Vista (Chula Vista), 74-40.

2. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (15-0)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Defeated Westminster (Town & Country), 65-33, and MWAA rivals St. Joseph’s Academy (St. Louis), 75-25. One game was scheduled this week on Tuesday at STEAM Academy (Ferguson, Mo.).

3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (15-0)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Another busy week down the Jersey Shore for coach Dawn Karpell’s team, who beat Neptune, 83-42, Montclair Immaculate, 82-53 and Colts Neck, 79-19. They also clobbered Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.), 75-58, at The Mecca Girls’ High School Basketball Challenge in the Bronx, N.Y. The one-two punch of Madison St. Rose (29 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) and junior Zoe Brooks (23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) combined for 52 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The Lancers are scheduled to play Saddle River Day, New Jersey’s second-ranked team, on Sunday at the 2022 Coaches Choice Shore Conference Challenge.

4. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (15-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Quakers are amid a 14-day span where they have six league games. So, far they’ve recorded four wins. Two more are on the docket this week.

5. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (18-2)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: The Lady Lions had two games wiped out in New York City but managed to beat Maret (Washington, D.C.), 60-51. Two games this week, started with Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) on Tuesday and National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.) on Friday.

6. DeSoto, Texas (24-2)

Previous rank: 6.

The Low-down: The District 11-6A comes down to a matchup with Cedar Hill on Friday. Previously, the Eagles dusted Duncanville, 51-47, and Mansfield, 80-23. In the former game, the Eagles trailed 24-15 at halftime but unleashed a 19-7 blitz in the third quarter for a 34-31 edge. Sa’Myah Smith and Jiya Perry scored 12 points apiece in the comeback triumph.

7. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (20-0) #

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Defeated GGCL schools Seton (Cincinnati), 61-24, and St. Ursula (Cincinnati), 67-46. The Cougars ghghgh Lakota East (Liberty Township), 53-47. Notre Dame-bound guard K.K. Bransford clicked for 22 points. Dr. Scott Rogers picked up his 400^th coaching win last week and Bransford cracked the 2,000-career point barrier.

8. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (14-1)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Amaya Battle pumped in 20 points and teammates Maya Nnaji scored 19 and Nu Nu Agara had 15 in a, 84-71 win over St. Michael-Albertville. The Lady Royals are Minnesota’s top-ranked Class 4A team and played crosstown rivals Minnetonka om Tuesday for first place in the Lake Conference.

9. Cedar Park, Texas (27-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Lady Timberwolves continues to roll through the District 25-5A competition and are 11-0. The regular season is down to three games with the finale against Georgetown on Feb. 8.

10. Classen SAS, Oklahoma City (15-1)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Lady Comets were back in action after an 11-day layoff, beating Marshall (Oklahoma City), 86-26. Jordan Harrison bucketed a game-high 41 points (17-of-31 shooting for 55%) and Micah Gray added 17. The Lady Comets led it 31-3 after one quarter.

11. Rock Bridge, Columbia, Mo. (15-0)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Defeated crosstown rivals Hickman, 50-35. This week it’s a road trip to the St. Louis area for the Webster Grove Winter Challenge.

12. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (19-2)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: The Torreys coasted to victories in three games by 61, 50 and 68 points over area competition.

13. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (21-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The deuces were wild last week when the Blazers defeated Viewpoint (Calabasas), 72-32. Junior Juju Watkins’ double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds was supported by MacKenly Randolph’s 19 points and 11 board. Only two games remain with the regular-season finale on Friday versus Crossroads School (Santa Monica).

14. Hazel Green, Ala. (27-0)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Lady Trojans enter the final week of the regular season and played Lee (Huntsville) on Tuesday with a 51-game win streak. Next week they host the Class 6A, Area 16 tournament will be played from Feb. 7-11.

15. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (17-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Monarchs have won eight straight games and are 6-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League.

16. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (17-0)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Two games are left in the regular season following a 75-70 victory over Olmstead Falls. In a matchup of the top two teams in northeast Ohio, Lanae Riley, a forward who signed with Middle Tennessee State, came up big with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 8 rebounds. Emma Rasmussen help salt away the game sinking 3-of-4 free throws in the final 20 seconds.

17. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (18-3)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: In the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, the Eagles swept two opponents, Charlotte (Punta Gorda), 68-48, and then-No. 22 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando), 59-51. Against LHP, Janiah Parker scored 14 points and it was an 18-11 third-quarter run that gave MVA separation from a 28-27 lead at halftime.

18. DME Sports Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (20-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Lost to IMG Academy (Bradenton), 65-58. The rematch is Feb. 5.

19. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (5-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Pioneers had an easy time in a 60-47 win at Parma Western following a 15-day layoff. The schedule includes two games with Illinois teams Bolingbrook on Friday and Joliet West on Saturday.

20. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (19-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Georgia’s top-ranked team regardless of class enters the Elite 25. The Golden Bear are unbeaten in Private Class A-Region 5 with three games left.

21. Hoover, Ala. (27-3)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Reniya Kelly’s 21 points were enough to defeat Meridian (Miss.), 61-41, at the Robertson’s Sportswear Classic in Tupelo, Miss. Layla Etchison scored 15 points and Aniya Hubbard added 10. The Lady Bucs close out the regular season at Spain Park (Hoover) on Friday.

22. Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. (19-2)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Three wins for the Lady War Eagles which stretched the win streak to eight games with three remaining in the regular season. After that it’s the Region 3-AAAAA.

23. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (20-2)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Placed third in the Republic Bank Louisville Invitational Tournament.

24. Carondelet, Concord, Calif. (18-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The grind of four games in five days caught up with the Cougars, who dropped a 64-60 decision to San Ramon Valley (Danville). The Cougars bounced back two days later with a 62-17 win over Foothill (Pleasanton).

25. Homestead, Fort Wayne, Ind. (21-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Spartans enter the playoffs on a 17-game win streak. They will play New Haven or Columbia City on Friday in the Class 4A Hunting North Sectional. The sectional final is Saturday.

Dropped: No. 22 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) and No. 24 Duncanville (Texas).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (14-0)
2. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (9-4)
3. South Shore, Brooklyn, N.Y. (17-0)
4. Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh (18-0)
5. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (16-1)

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

Midwest

1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (21-2)
2. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (26-1)
3. Johnston, Iowa (16-0)…mon
4. Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (18-0)
5. Franklin, Ind. (22-1)

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

Southland

1. Conway, Ark. (20-1)
2. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (17-0)
3. Argyle, Texas (30-0)
4. Summer Creek, Houston (30-2)
5. Bullitt East, Mount Washington, Ky. (20-3)

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

Far West

1. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (22-5)
2. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (16-2)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (19-4)
4. Beaverton, Ore. (14-1)
5. Pasco, Wash. (15-0)

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

Records through Monday’s games

# Includes a forfeit win

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 Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.