ABOVE THE FRAY: No. 2 Montverde Academy (FL) captures second straight GEICO Nationals crown; five Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings off to State Champions Invitational

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The cream always rises at the GEICO High School Nationals. And indeed, it did last weekend when No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy went back-to-back at the prestigious national girls’ tournament at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State University.

Three teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls ‘rankings played in the GEICO Nationals and Monteverde beat two of them.

The three tournament games were close but the Lady Eagles, who concluded the season at 26-1, proved to be better than the rest. In the final, the Lady Eagles topped No. 3 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 60-54, in the final.

Montverde trailed by 16 points in the third quarter but went on a 40-18 tear over the final 11 minutes to wrap it up.

Kudos to coach Special Jennings and her team. Well done, ladies!

The GEICO National all-tournament team: Sahnya Jah (MVP) and Cori Allen, Montverde; Ava McKennie, McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.); Jordyn Palmer, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.); and Kate Kowal, Long Island Lutheran.

Kowal, a 6-5 junior center originally from Ukraine, posted a GEICO Nationals record (boys or girls) 38 points in the semifinal win over McDonogh. She managed only eight points in the final.

Palmer, an eighth grader, showed why she is a future All-American and likely member of a USA Women’s Basketball age-level team. This summer she’ll play for the Philadelphia Rise U16 club team on the Nike EYBL circuit.

This week there is no movement in the Elite 25 rankings and no newcomers.

However, that could change starting Thursday afternoon in our nation’s capital. Here’s why.

State Champions Invitational

The second annual State Champions Invitational is ready to go. The new wrinkle this year is a six-team bracket, five of which are in the Elite 25 rankings and another from the Far West Region. The tournament will be played Thursday through Saturday on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Teams needed to win their state tournament to earn an invitation.

All games will be streamed live or broadcast on ESPNU.

The schedule (All times Eastern Daylight Time):

Thursday

2 p.m.: No. 6 Centennial (Las Vegas) vs. No. 23 Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.), ESPN+
4 p.m.: No. 20 Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.) vs. Desert Vista (Phoenix), ESPNU

Friday
12 p.m.: Morris Catholic/Desert Vista winner vs. No. 19 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), ESPN+
2 p.m.: Centennial/Dr. Phillips winner vs. No. 7 Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.), ESPNU

Saturday

10 a.m.: Championship game, ESPNU.

USA Basketball

Last week, it was announced by USA Basketball announced today the 2023 USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team coaching staffs. Head coach for the 2023 USA Women’s U19 World Cup Team is Joni Taylor of Texas A&M, assisted by DeLisha Milton-Jones of Old Dominion and Teri Moren of Indiana.

Leading the 2023 USA Women’s U16 National Team is Dan Rolfes of top-ranked Incarnate Word Academy (Bel Nor, Mo.) with assistants Bobbi Morgan of Division III Ursinus and Trenia Tillis-Hoard of Tyler Junior College.

Rolfes will make his USA Basketball head coaching debut. He previously was a court coach for the 2017 USA Women’s U16 National Team. A 2018 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Rolfes has led Incarnate Word to 12 state championships, including six consecutive titles from 2017-2023. Under Rolfes, the program has won 100 consecutive games.

 “I am incredibly honored and elated to be representing our country as the head coach of the USA Women’s U16 National Team,” Rolfes said. “I never imagined I would get this prestigious opportunity to carry on the success of USA Basketball. I am ready to get to work alongside the best players and coaches in the country.”

That’s a wrap for the penultimate week of the high school season.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return April 10.

Remain safe. Happy Easter and Passover! Both high holy holidays will be celebrated this week.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, April 5, 2023

1. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (32-0)*

Previous: 1.

Low-down: Won a sixth straight state championship  by annexing the Class 6 title. Season complete.

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (26-1) %

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won a second consecutive GEICO High School Nationals championship, rallying to beat No. 3 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 60-54, in the final. The Lady Eagles closed on a 19-6 run to clinch the title. South Carolina-bound Sahnya Jah scored 15 of her game-high 20 points in the second half to spark the comeback and named the Most Valuable Player. In the semifinals, they beat No. 22 Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.), 58-51. Sah scored 14 points to stave off Westtown’s late comeback attempt. Season complete.

3. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (23-3)*

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Advanced to the final of the GEICO Nationals, falling to No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 60-54. Kayleigh Heckel topped LuHi with 17 points, Savannah Swords added 12 and Syla Swords had eight points and nine rebounds. In the semifinals, junior center Kate Koval had a tournament record 38 points and snatched 16 rebounds in a 76-65 win over McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.). Season complete.

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

Previous: 4.

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

5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (31-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Season complete.

6. Centennial, Las Vegas (24-1)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship. It was the program’s eighth straight Nevada state title and 14th overall. The Lady Bulldogs will play in the State Champions Invitational starting Thursday in Washington, D.C.

7. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (28-3)*

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won second consecutive District of Columbia State Athletic Association AA championship and will be the top seed in the State Champions Invitational, starting on Thursday in Washington.

8. Hoover, Ala. (35-1)*

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won a third straight Class 7A state championship. Season complete.

9. Hazel Green, Ala. (36-1)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won a state-record sixth consecutive Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

10. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (35-1)*

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won Class 3A state championship. Season complete.

11. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Advanced to CIF Open Division state final. Season complete.

12. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (36-3)*

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won third consecutive Mingua Beef Jerky Sweet 16 championship. Season complete.

13. Edmond (Okla.) North (29-0)*

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

14. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (30-4)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Season complete.

15. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-4)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Season complete.

16. Duncanville, Texas (26-5)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Season complete.

17. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (31-1)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Season complete.

18. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (30-2)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Season complete.

19. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (23-3)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 6A state championship. The Knights will next play in the State Champions Invitational from Thursday through Saturday in Washington, D.C.

20. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (27-3)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won the Non-Public B state championship. The Lady Crusaders will play in the State Champions Invitational this weekend in Washington. D.C.

21. The Webb School, Bell Buckle, Tenn. (32-4)*

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won Division II-A state championship. Season complete.

22. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (22-5)**

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Lost to No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 58-51, in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals in Fort Myers, Fla. The Moose had four in double-digit scoring: Jordyn Palmer 16, Grace Sundback 15 and both Jessie Moses and Savannah Curry with 10 apiece. Palmer was added to the all-tournament team. Season complete.

23. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (30-1)*

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won FHSAA Class 7A state championship. Up next is the State Champions Invitational from this week in Washington, D.C.

24. Bedford (Ind.) North Lawrence (27-3)*

Previous: 24.

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

25. South Bend (Ind.) Washington (27-1)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Lansdale (Pa.) Catholic (28-2)**
2. McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Md. (23-3)*
3. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (26-7)*
4. Georgetown Visitation, Washington, D.C. (24-6)*
5. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (25-5)*

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

Midwest

1. St. Michael (Minn.)-Albertville (29-3)*
2. Example Academy, Frankfort, Ill. (21-2)*
3. Pleasant Valley, Riverdale, Iowa (26-0)*
4. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (27-2)*
5. Kettle Moraine, Wales, Wis. (28-1)*

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

Southland

1. Clark, San Antonio (34-3)*
2. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (35-1)*
3. Brookwood, Snellville, Ga. (31-1)*
4. Germantown, Madison, Miss. (29-2)*
5. Conway, Ark. (28-5)*

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

Far West

1. Desert Vista, Phoenix (28-3)*
2. Clackamas, Ore. (26-4)*
3. Garfield, Seattle (23-1)*
4. Oakland (Calif.) Tech (30-5)*
5. Anchorage (Alaska) Christian (25-2)*

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

% Won GEICO High School Nationals championship

* Won state, national or major conference postseason tournament title(s)

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

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 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.