BENSALEM, Pa. – Now the real fun begins.

It’s down to the nitty-gritty for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings, as Arizona, Nevada and Indiana will crown state champions this weekend. Texas, Illinois and Washington will have their major brackets filled with the state finals to follow.

Exciting times? You bet!

There was one addition to the Elite 25.

No. 25 Providence Day School (Charlotte, N.C.) re-enters the rankings after winning its seventh straight North Carolina Independent Schools 3A championship. That’s 11 state titles in the last 12 years. But the season may not be over for the school from the Queen City.

There’s talk the Chargers will get invited to the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament, which starts April 1 in New York City. Seems they will join undefeated No. 5 National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.) and No. 15 Ribault (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the four-team bracket. Schools from Florida, Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina and Utah are under consideration for bids. Nothing is final until early March.

Two influential conference tournaments were decided Monday.

In Philadelphia, it was a Manic Monday for No. 10 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), which saw their 53-game win streak halted in a 40-36 upset to Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) in the Philadelphia Catholic League final at the Palestra. The defending state champion Saints trailed the entire contest, but slip only seven spots with the Class AA playoffs set to commence next week.

In Washington, No. 3 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) is a dynasty after annexing their third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title on Monday. The Panthers aim for a decade of dominance when they play in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state tournament tipping off next week.

The Elite 25 girls’ rankings will appear again on March 2. The boys return on March 1.

Check back periodically at www.bluestarmedia.org for updates and columns all season long. Our staff is always attending events and keeping you abreast of the latest issues. We hope to see you at a game soon, so get out there because the playoffs are underway and season is drawing to a close. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings, Feb. 24, 2016

1. St. Mary’s Stockton, Calif. (23-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Rams completed a perfect regular season and shift their focus to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinals, where they play Modesto Christian or Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) on Thursday. The semifinals are March 1 and the final is March 5 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.

2. Duncanville, Texas (34-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Sophomore Zaielle Green scored 17 points lifting the Pantherettes over Flower Mound in the Class 6A Region I Area playoff game. Next is the Region I quarterfinals Tuesday against Plano.

3. Centennial, Las Vegas (29-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Bulldogs won a sixth straight Division I Sunset Region championship, defeating then-No. 15 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 71-56. The teams have for 14 consecutive years in the region final. Justice Ethridge scored 21 points. Next is the Division I state tournament Thursday against Reno at the University of Nevada’s Lawlor Events Center. The winner gets Bishop Manogue (Reno) or Liberty (Henderson) Friday in the final.

4. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (30-1)*

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Panthers won their third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament crown, defeating St. John’s (Washington, D.C.), 70-61. Pittsburgh-bound Jasmine Whitney was named game a co-player of the game.

In the semifinals, the Panthers took a 21-8 lead into the second quarter en route to a 70-60 win over Elizabeth Seton (Bladensburg, Md.).

5. National Christian Academy, Fort Washington, Md. (25-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Closed out regular season with a 73-11 win over Richard Wright (Washington, D.C.). Shannon Dozer and Raven Riley each scored 13 points. The Eagles will travel to the National Association of Christian Athletes Tournament in Dayton, Tenn., starting Wednesday for four days.

6. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (33-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: After a slow start, the Mustangs rolled to a 56-30 rout of Clear Lake (League City) in the Class 6A Region 3 Area playoff game. They played Manvel in the Region 3 quarterfinals on Tuesday in Houston, with winner playing in the semifinals on Friday.

7. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (33-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Lady Wolves move on after dispatching rival Mansfield Legacy, 78-49, in the Class 5A Region II quarterfinals. Chennedy Carter (24 points) and Trelynn Tyler (20) teamed for 44 points. Next is Liberty (Frisco) or McKinney North in the semifinals at Garland.

 8. Miramonte, Orinda, Calif. (26-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Matadors closed out the regular season with an impressive 73-57 victory over Pinewood School (Los Altos Hills). The CIF-North Coast Sectional playoffs tip off this week.

9. Cicero (N.Y.)-North Syracuse (22-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The North Stars crushed Proctor (Utica), 75-36, in the Class AA Section III semifinals and Rome Free Academy, 56-29, in the quarterfinals. Beth Bonin had 22 points with four 3-pointers, and Samantha Tortora netted a season-high 20 (also four 3s) in the semifinals. Next is the sectional final with West Genesee (Camillus) on Sunday in Syracuse.

10. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (23-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Upset by Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 40-36, in the Philadelphia Catholic League final. In the semifinals, the Saints defeated Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), 60-34. Additionally, Alisha Kebbe and Kamiah Smalls were named first team all-league, with Kebbe tabbed as Most Valuable Player.

11. Konawaena, Kealakekua, Hawaii (24-1)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won second straight Division I state championship. Season complete.

12. Canyon, Texas (30-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: The Eagles played Tuesday in the Class 5A Region I quarterfinals against Palo Duro (Lubbock) after thrashing Chapin (El Paso), 73-28, in the Area playoffs.

13. St. Francis, Alpharetta, Ga. (28-1)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Coach Aisha Kennedy’s team opened the Class A Private tournament with an easy 80-23 win over First Presbyterian Day (Macon) and face Mount Paran Christian (Kennesaw) in the quarterfinals.

14. Bellevue, Wash. (25-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won Class 3A SeaKing District 2 tournament championship, downing Bishop Blanchet (Seattle), 67-53, in the final. The regional playoff game with Wilson (Tacoma) is next.

15. Ribault, Jacksonville, Fla. (29-1)*

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Lady Trojans are state champions for the 11th time. Junior Rennia Davis posted a double-double with 20 points and 11 boards and classmate Day’neshia Banks did the same with 19 points and 12 rebounds in a resounding 60-37 victory over Bishop Moore (Orlando) in the Class 5A final. A 12-2 third-quarter run allowed the Trojans to pull away from their 28-22 halftime lead. In the semifinals, the Trojans used a 22-6 tear in the third quarter to defeat Dunbar (Fort Myers), 51-44. Rennia Davis contributed a double-double with 26 points (10 of 15 shooting), 11 rebounds and 5 steals. Regular season is complete.

16. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (20-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Monarchs went 12-0 to capture the West Catholic Athletic League title.

17. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (25-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won a third-straight District 7-AAA, toppling rival Oakland (Murfreesboro), 57-44, in the final. Connecticut-bound PG Crystal Dangerfield struck for a game-high 24 points. Also clipped Stewarts Creek (Smyrna), 54-43, in the semifinals.

18. Lynnwood, Bothell, Wash. (23-0)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won the Class 3A Northwest District 1 tournament, beating Arlington, 60-22, in the final.

19. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (29-2)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Lost to No. 4 Centennial (Las Vegas), 71-56, in Division I Sunset Region final. Raychel Stanley topped the Gaels with 19 points and Madison Washington added 17. Season complete.

20. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (30-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Lady Crusaders carry a six-game win streak into the National Association of Christian Athletes National Tournament in Tennessee. They will participate at Bishop Walsh Girls Invitational Tournament from March 3 to 5 in Cumberland, Md.

21. Highlands Ranch, Colo. (22-1)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Coach Caryn Jarocki’s club rolled to the Continental Conference crown with a 10-0 record and now set their sights on the Class 5A state tournament but must wait for Arvada West or Fort Collins winner on Friday in the second round.

22. Poly, Long Beach, Poly, Calif. (23-3)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The unbeaten Moore League champions topped Fairmont Prep (Anaheim), 61-13, in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Tournament first round and now face Troy (Fullerton) in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The semifinals are Saturday.

23. Wenonah, Birmingham, Ala. (30-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Dragons will play Ramsay (Birmingham) in the Class 5A Northwest Sub-Regional final. In the semifinals, they stopped Columbia (Huntsville), 72-28.

24. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (30-2)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Lady Broncos doubled Bartlett, 64-32, in the Class 4A Schaumburg Sectional semifinal. Next is Geneva in the sectional final on Thursday, with that survivor playing Monday in the Hoffman Estates Super-Sectional. The Lady Broncos also won the Elk Grove Regional title, beating crosstown Glenbard East (Montini), 79-17.

25. Providence Day School, Charlotte, N.C. (27-2)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Chargers re-enter the Elite 25 following 42-21 victory over Ravenscroft (Raleigh) to capture their seventh straight North Carolina Independent Schools 3A championship. The Chargers have now won 11 state titles in the last 12 years. Janelle Bailey scored 15 points and Erin Whalen had 11 as both players were named to the all-state team. The season might not be over. Perhaps an invite to the Dick’s Nationals could be forthcoming. Regular season is complete.

Dropped: No. 16 Olive Branch, Miss.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Villa Maria Academy, Erie, Pa. (23-0)
2. Forestville, Md. (18-2)
3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (24-1)
4. Norwin, Irwin, Pa. (23-0)
5. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (23-1)

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

Midwest

1. Columbus (Ind.) North (27-1)
2. Wadsworth, Ohio (23-1)
3. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (24-1)
4. Fremd, Palatine, Ill. (26-2)
5. Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills, Mich. (18-1)

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

Southland

1. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (29-3)*
2. Argyle, Texas (30-1)
3. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (25-4)
4. Olive Branch, Miss. (27-2)
5. Mandeville, La. (29-1)

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

Far West

1. Brea (Calif.) Olinda (24-2)
2. Central Valley, Veradale, Wash. (24-0)
3. Chaminade, West Hills, Calif. (24-4)
4. Seton Catholic Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (29-1)
5. Mission Hills, San Marcos, Calif. (25-3)

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

* Won state, national or conference/league postseason tournament championship

 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 in early 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, administrators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.