BENSALEM, Pa. – The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings in play-off mode for the rest of the way. With states such as California, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia and Texas already going strong, the postseason gains momentum and closes with a quick burst.

This weekend the Indiana semistates will be played in four classifications, including two teams from the Midlands Region. The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament tips this week and the Philadelphia Catholic League plays its championship game on Monday at the famed Palestra in Philadelphia.

Well, the Elite 25 has its first state tournament champion—likely the first of many—as No. 11 Konawaena (Kealakekua, Hawaii) won their second straight Division I crown. It was the Wildcats’ seventh title in 13 years. That’s a great job by coach Bobby Awa’s squad!

No. 17 Ribault (Jacksonville, Fla.) is the week’s lone debutant in the Elite 25. The 27-1 Trojans cruised the Class 5A semifinals and are considered Florida’s top team regardless of the classification. What that means today is the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament committee will be closely watching their progress this week at the state championships in Lakeland, Fla. A state title would assuredly punch a ticket to the Big Apple in April.

No. 6 National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.) is likely to receive an invite, but the other two are up in the air. Expect a pool of teams from South Carolina, Utah, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina to be under consideration to fill out the four teams.

The Elite 25 girls’ rankings will appear again on February 24. The boys are back at you on February 23.

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 coming to a close. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings, Feb. 17, 2016

1. St. Mary’s Stockton, Calif. (22-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: There wasn’t much drama during a 27-8 first-quarter showing en route to beating Christian Brothers (Sacramento), 94-29. Now the Rams shift to a rare local rivalry since they started playing an independent schedule this season, but Lincoln (Stockton) was no pushover on Tuesday. Next is the CIF Sac-Joaquin sectional tournament.

2. Duncanville, Texas (33-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Pantherettes had a Class 6A Region I bi-district playoff on Tuesday with Southlake Carroll in Arlington. Cathy Self-Morgan looks for the program’s first state title since going back-to-back in 2012 and ’13.

3. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (21-0)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Saints jumped to a 20-point lead after one period and coasted past St. Hubert (Philadelphia), 73-33, in the quarterfinals of the Philadelphia Catholic League Tournament. Alisha Kebbe and Kamiah Smalls each scored 13 points. Next is Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) on Tuesday in the semifinals at Philadelphia University.

4. Centennial, Las Vegas (26-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Two overwhelming victories pushed the Bulldogs’ record 8-0 in the Northwest League. The Bulldogs are in it to win it and defending their Division I state championship won’t be easy. They opened the Sunset Region Tournament on Tuesday against Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas) in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are Thursday and the final is Friday. A meeting with No. 15 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) is likely in the region final, but not the last of the postseason.

5. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (27-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Panthers carry a 13-game win streak into the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament, which tips off later this week. They also clinched a third consecutive WCAC regular season title with three wins.

6. National Christian Academy, Fort Washington, Md. (24-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Mykea Gray had 24 points, pacing the Eagles over Life Center Academy (Burlington, N.J.), 64-57, in overtime. The Eagles finish up the regular season and then are scheduled top play in back-to-back national postseason tournaments in Tennessee and South Carolina.

7. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (32-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Junior G Chasity Patterson scored 24 points leading the Mustangs over Alvin, 88-35, in a Class 6A Region 3 bi-district playoff game. Now it’s on to the Area playoff. In the regular season, Patterson poured in 30 points in a 91-22 win over Sterling (Baytown).

8. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (31-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Lady Wolves crushed Seagoville, 77-20, in a Class 5A Region II bi-district playoff game. Chennedy Carter contributed 20 points and 8 rebounds.

9. Miramonte, Orinda, Calif. (24-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The final two regular season games are at Los Lomas (Walnut Creek) on Friday and Pinewood School (Los Altos Hills) on Saturday.

10. Cicero (N.Y.)-North Syracuse (20-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The North Stars play Rome Free Academy on Tuesday in the Class AA Section III quarterfinals. The semifinals are Sunday. Amani Free and McKayla Roberts scored 15 points apiece in a 66-35 win over Fayetteville-Manlius to complete a 16-0 league record.

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

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Wildcats are champions for a seventh time in 13 years, annexing a second straight Division I state championship,, topping Maryknoll (Honolulu), 44-34, in the final. G Chanelle Molina, a Washington State signee, closed out a brilliant career with 24 points as the five starters logged all 32 minutes apiece. It was tight throughout as the Wildcats used a 14-7 run in the final period to pull away. Season complete.

12. Canyon, Texas (29-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: The Eagles rolled Lubbock, 76-28, in the Class 5A Region I bi-district playoff. Next is El Paso schools Horizon or Chapin in the Area game.

13. St. Francis, Alpharetta, Ga. (27-1)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won the Class A, Region 6 tournament, beating Fellowship Christian (Roswell), 83-37, in the final.

14. Bellevue, Wash. (22-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Defeated Mercer Island, 65-35, and Lake Washington, 80-35, in the 3A KingCo tournament.

15. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (27-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Skylar Jackson pumped in 18 points and the Gaels pounded Durango (Las Vegas), 68-32, completing an 8-0 mark in the Southwest League. The quest for a Division I state title started Tuesday against Cimarron-Memorial (Las Vegas) in the Sunset Region quarterfinals.

16. Olive Branch, Miss. (25-1)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Coach Blake Jones’s club rebounded from a loss with a 64-53 triumph over Byhalia. The Region 1 Tournament opened Tuesday, continuing on Friday, while the Class 6A states follow, starting on Feb. 22 and 26.

17. Ribault, Jacksonville, Fla. (27-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Class 5A, Region 1 championship, defeating Rickards (Tallahassee), 66-32, in the final. Day’neshia Banks fired in a game-high 30 points as the Trojans took a 21-1 lead in the first quarter. Next is the Class 5A state semifinals against Dunbar (Fort Myers) Thursday at the Lakeland Center. The winner gets Lecanto or Bishop Moore (Orlando) for the title.

18. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (18-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The regular season concludes Saturday at St. Ignatius (San Francisco).

19. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (23-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Following a rare loss in District 7-AAA, the Lady Blaze peeled off four straight wins to finish the district play with an 11-1 mark.

20. Lynnwood, Bothell, Wash. (21-0)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Oregon State-bound Mikayla Pivec pumped in a game-high 31 points and the Chimeras topped Edmonds-Woodway, 56-44. The 3A Northwest District 1 tournament plays out this week.

21. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (27-3)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Lady Crusaders edged Life Center Academy (Burlington, N.J.), 58-51. Maryland-bound Kaila Charles and Mangela Ngandjui had 18 points and 11 rebounds apiece.

22. Highlands Ranch, Colo. (20-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Leilah Vigil’s 16 points paced four players in double figures when the Falcons downed Douglas County (Castle Rock), 91-38. Thursday it’s crosstown rival Rock Canyon visiting in the regular season finale.

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

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Jackrabbits enter the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Tournament as Moore League champions. The opening assignment is Fairmont Prep (Anaheim) on Saturday with the winner going to the quarterfinals with Troy (Fullerton) or Alemany (Mission Hills) on Feb. 24.

24. Wenonah, Birmingham, Ala. (29-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Dragons won the Class 5A, Area 9 tournament title. Faith Reynolds bucketed 25 points and Kaitlyn Rodgers had 7 points and grabbed 21 boards in a 56-43 win over Ramsay (Birmingham) in the Area 9 final. In the Northwest Sub-Regional, the Dragons drubbed Parker (Birmingham), 82-13. Next up is Columbia (Huntsville) in the semifinals on Saturday at Wallace State in Hanceville.

25. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (27-2)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Senior Night was a rousing success as the Lady Broncos defeated St. Francis (Wheaton), 86-58. Next is Conant (Hoffman Estates) in the Class 4A Elk Grove Village Regional semifinals. The final is Friday. The Schaumburg Sectional tips off on Monday.

Dropped: No. 23 Heritage, Saginaw, Mich.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Villa Maria Academy, Erie, Pa. (22-0)
2. Forestville, Md. (16-2)
3. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (21-0)
4. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (20-1)
5. Norwin, Irwin, Pa. (22-0)

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 (26-1)
2. Wadsworth, Ohio (21-1)
3. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (22-1)
4. Homestead, Fort Wayne, Ind. (26-2)
5. Fremd, Palatine, Ill. (24-2)

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

Southland

1. Providence Day School, Charlotte, N.C. (24-2)
2. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (27-3)
3. Central, Memphis, Tenn. (28-1)
4. Argyle, Texas (28-1)
5. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (23-4)

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

Far West

1. Brea (Calif.) Olinda (23-2)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (24-3)
3. Central Valley, Veradale, Wash. (22-0)
4. Chaminade, West Hills, Calif. (23-4)
5. Seton Catholic Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (28-1)

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

* Won a state, national or conference 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.