Archbishop Wood (PA) claims PIAA Class 5A state championship and West Bloomfield (MI) secures MHSAA Division 1 chip; Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings remain stable

BENSALEM, Pa. – Since there were only three states still conducting state tournaments, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings are out three days early for the third week in March.

And the two of the states still alive were Alaska and Pennsylvania. The Class 4A and 3A finals were played in Anchorage, Alaska and there were six classifications up for grabs in Hershey, Pa., or about 4,300 miles apart. Michigan made it three.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association featured Class 6A and 5A, or the largest two, because those winners had a chance to slide into the Elite 25. However, there are no additions to the Elite 25 this week but expect change for the final rankings because a major national tournament will surely jostle the order.

And Philadelphia area teams stand a strong chance of entering the Elite 25.

Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) won the Class 5A chip and archrival Cardinal O’Hara claimed Class 6A. Both teams are members of the uber competitive Philadelphia Catholic League with Wood capturing the league title in February. Wood defeated Cathedral Prep (Erie), 37-27. Emily Knouse scored 12 points and Lauren Greer added 10 for the Vikings (26-5), who won for a fourth straight year under coach Mike McDonald. O’Hara (26-4) won another low scoring game to defeat Spring-Ford (Royersford), 42-26.  Joanie Quinn tallied a game-high 16 points and Molly Rullo added 13 for the winners.

 In Anchorage, Alaska, two large-classification teams were crowned champions last Saturday with Wasilla in Class 4A and Grace Christian (Anchorage) in Class 3A.

On the campus of Michigan State in East Lansing, four state titlists emerged. West Bloomfield improved to 27-1, beating Gland Blanc, 60-30, in the Division 1 final. Other Michigan champions included Edison Public School Academy (Detroit) in Division 2; Arbor Prep (Ypsilanti) in Division 3 and Ishpeming in Division 4.

Congratulations to all the newly minted state champions.

With all girls’ state championships history, the CHIPOTLE High School Basketball Nationals and the next week’s McDonald’s All-American Games on April 2 take center stage.

The McDonald’s All American Games will be played inside the Toyota Center in Houston on April 2. The Jam Fest with the slam-dunk and 3-point competitions were held on April 1.

The McDonald’s All American Girls Game will air on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2 and the boys will immediately follow on ESPN at 9 p.m.

Girls rosters

East

Mikayla Blakes, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.); Kendall Dudley and Zania Socka-Ngueman, Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.); Joyce Edwards, Camden (S.C.); Kayleigh Heckel, Syla Swords and Kate Koval, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (N.C.); Madisen McDaniel, Bishop McNamara, (Forestville, Md.); Olivia Olson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.); Sarah Strong, Grace Christian School (Sanford, N.C.); Berry Wallace, Pickerington (Ohio) Central.

Coach: Fran Burbidge, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.)

West

Imari Berry, Clarksville (Tenn.); Jaloni Cambridge (G): Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Justice Carlton, Seven Lakes (Houston); Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); Avery Howell, Boise (Idaho); Jordan Lee, Saint Mary’s, (Stockton, Calif.); Alivia McGill, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.); Me’Arah O’Neal, Episcopal (Houston); MacKenly Randolph, Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.); Arianna Roberson, San Antonio (Texas) Clark; Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda (Calif.); Allie Ziebell, Neenah (Wis.).

Coach: Ann Fritz, Blue Valley (Kan.) North.

Seven players, including six from the East roster, played in the McDonald’s Game and will have the quick turnaround for the CHIPOTLE Nationals in Indiana.

Chipotle Nationals

The three-day national championship event tips off on April 4 at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Ind. The semifinals are April 5 and the finals are April 6. Defending champions are Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) boys and Montverde (Fla.) Academy girls.

All eight boys teams are ranked in the Elite 25. Ditto for the girls’ field.

All games will be broadcast on the ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU).

The girls’ schedule (All times are Eastern; seed number precedes each team):

Thursday

10 a.m.: 3-IMG Academy vs. 6-Grace Christian (Sanford, N.C.)

12 p.m.: 4-Montverde Academy vs. 5-Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)

Friday

Semifinals on ESPNU

10:30 a.m.: 1-Long Island Lutheran vs. Montverde or Sidwell

12:30 p.m.: 2-Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs. IMG or Grace Christian

The final is Saturday at 10 a.m. on ESPN.

In Missouri, No. 5 Incarnate Word Academy (Bel Nor) coach Dan Rolfes is still hospitalized, according to his family and the all-female Catholic school in St. Louis held a prayer service last Wednesday.

Following IWA’s Class 6 semifinal win over Rock Bridge (Columbia) on March 10, Rolfes was taken to the hospital with a medical emergency that turned out to be a heart attack. Despite the absence of their coach the Red Knights managed to put away Kickapoo the next day for a fourth straight unbeaten season and 12^th state title under the Rolfes.

IWA players wrote “Play4Rolfes” on the inside of their forearms and fans flashed held posters stating, “WE LOVE DAN,” “PLAY 4 DAN” and “WE LOVE YOU COACH DAN.”

According to reports, the coach and athletic director was recovering from liver surgery and battling kidney failure and has been put on dialysis.

IWA has won a nation’s best 131 consecutive games heading into the 2024-25 season.

Our prayers are with Dan and his family.

That’s a wrap for the third week in March. Enjoy the March Madness Sweet 16 games this week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings will return on April 8. That will be the final rankings for the season and reflect any changes from the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

Be sure to follow us on X at @clawlor. We appreciate your readership and clicks. If you like what you read, please send it out on social media or direct message us via X.

Next weekend, it’s High Holy Days for Christians with Easter Sunday on April 7. God’s blessings to all that celebrate this significant Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 27, 2024

1. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-1)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Idle. The Chipotle Nationals in Brownsburg, Indiana from April 4-6 is next.

2. Etiwanda, Calif. (32-3)*

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won second straight CIF Open Division state championship. Season complete.

3. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (30-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Advanced the CIF Open Division final and won the CIF NorCal Open Division chip. Season complete.

4. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (26-2)**

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools championship for the third straight year and Friends School League championship for the fourth straight time. Season complete.

5. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (31-0)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won Class 6 state championship for fourth straight undefeated season and the seventh consecutive title for the program. The win streak is 131 games in a row. Season complete.

6. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (32-0)*

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAAAAAA state championship. The Rams are off to the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April.

7. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (38-0)*

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

8. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (31-3)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Southern Region Open Division final. Season complete.

9. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (27-1)*

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Won second consecutive Non-Public B state championship. Season complete.

10. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (23-3)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Regular season is complete but the CHIPOTLE Nationals are up next.

11. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (29-1)*

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Won Ohio Division II state championship. It was the third straight state title for the Lady Cavaliers. Season complete.

12. Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga. (30-2)*

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAA state championship. Season complete.

13. Duncanville, Texas (35-4)*

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship for the program’s 12^th state championship and the first since 2020. Season complete.

14. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (34-1)*

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won Division I Class 4A state championship. It was the Bearettes’ second straight title and third in six years. Season complete.

15. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (30-1)*

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Won Indiana Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

16. Hazel Green, Ala. (32-4)*

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship for the program’s seventh straight state title. Season complete.

17. Johnston, Iowa (26-0)*

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Won its third state championship in five years, annexing the Class 5A state chip. Season complete.

18. Grace Christian, Sanford, N.C (30-0)*

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won NCISAA 3A state championship. A trip to Indiana for the CHIPOTLE Nationals is next.

19. DME Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (20-7)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Season complete.

20. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (21-4)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Regular season is complete but the CHIPOTLE Nationals are up next.

21. Frisco (Texas) Liberty (34-7)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship for the second straight year. Season complete.

22. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (33-4)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

23. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (26-5)**

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Won District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA title and a third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

24. DeSoto, Texas (27-6)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Advanced to Class 6A, Region II final. Season complete.

25. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (25-6)*

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Won Independent School League AA championship. The CHIPOTLE Nationals are up next.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (26-5)*
2. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (28-5)*
3. Christ the King, Middle Village (29-3)**
4. Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic (26-5)*
5. McDonogh, Owings Mills, Md. (25-4)*

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

Midwest

1. West Bloomfield, Mich. (27-1)*
2. Minnetonka, Minn. (29-2)*
3. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (32-4)
4. Millard West, Omaha, Neb. (27-1)*
5. Olmstead Falls, Ohio (26-3)*

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

Southland

1. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (31-7)*
2. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (27-4)*
3. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (25-5)*
4. Neshoba Central, Philadelphia, Miss. (33-1)*
5. Putnam City West, Oklahoma City (27-1)*

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

Far West

1. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (31-3)
2. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (28-5)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-8)
4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-4)*
5. Iolani School, Honolulu (26-3)*

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

 * Won state, national or conference postseason tournament championship

[Editor’s note: Each asterisk represents a separate postseason title]

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December until the conclusion of the high school season in April. 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. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.