CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT: Connecticut flyers debut in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings; No. 2 Mater Dei (CA) keeps winning

BENSALEM, Pa. – The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings is a reward based system. Play a strong schedule and a team gets the fruit of its labor.

This week two schools have been added and the common thread is strength of schedule. The shining example is No. 23 Capital Prep (Hartford, Conn.), which has made the most of limited scheduling wiggle room. Connecticut schools traditionally have two or three free games each year and Capital has sought more. The Trailblazers (13-1) have played teams from Florida, Oregon, Maryland, New York and New Jersey and are 3-1 in those games with one remaining. Kiah Gillespie, a Maryland recruit, is a McDonald’s All-American and junior Desiree Elmore has committed to Syracuse. Capital went 27-0 last year and is on target to win the Class L state title in March.

In Kansas, No. 24 Maize (near Wichita) is the state’s top-ranked Class 6A team. Maize won the Glacier’s Edge Tournament in Emporia, beating then-No. 25 Leavenworth in the final. The two could meet again in the postseason.

Florida has moved into the regional phase, meaning teams need five more wins to bag state championships. Hawaii has its island tournaments this weekend and the state finals are Feb. 10-13 in Honolulu.

Speaking of big tournaments, four slots remain open for the 2015 Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament on April 3 and 4 in New York. Florida schools No. 10 Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) and No. 18 Miami Country Day appear on the radar but must win out. The tournament committee is also reviewing schools in Washington, Utah, North Carolina, South Carolina and District of Columbia. Maryland schools such as regionally ranked McDonogh School (Owings Mills) and Roland Park Country Day (Baltimore) still have work.

We’ll keep you abreast of all the tournaments as they unfold.

Check back periodically at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from showcase events all season. Our staff will be busy until early April. If you know of a story idea about a player, coach, team or event, please reach out through our website. Follow me on Twitter: @clawlor.

For those of you in the Northeast and Midwest, stay warm and safe as snow chokes the roads and plummeting temperatures are squeezing the mercury. Just think: the warm weather is less than two months away but for now stay safe and warm. The next Elite 25 girls’ rankings will appear Feb. 11. Hope to see you at a game soon; please support your local high school teams. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, Feb. 4, 2015

1. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (17-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low down: Last week, the Saints defeated Bishop McDevitt (Wyncote), 64-19, but that was it. Heavy snowfall postponed a game that needs to be played. The South Philadelphia school is back in action Tuesday with Lansdale Catholic. The Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs are less than two weeks away with Cardinal O’Hara, Archbishop Carroll and Archbishop Wood the main challengers for the defending champions.

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (21-1)

Previous: 2.

Low down: The nation’s No. 1 recruit, Connecticut-bound Katie Lou Samuelson, was named to the McDonald’s All-American Game on April 1 in Chicago. The Monarchs ripped through three Trinity League foes and host Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza.

3. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (21-2)

Previous: 3.

Low down: The only two victories over Stewarts Creek and LaVergne this week stand in the way of a perfect 12-0 record in District 7-AAA. After that it’s playoff time for the Blaze.

4. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (21-1)

Previous: 4.

Low down: Things are getting quite ugly in the Tri-City League with the Rams cruising to lopsided score lines. The latest two-game stretch saw them outpoint opponents, 193-68. It will only get uglier before the sectional playoffs will mercifully ends the onslaught. The season finale against Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) on Feb. 14 will serve as a postseason tune-up.

5. Bedford North Lawrence, Ind. (20-0)

Previous: 5.

Low down: Routed Bloomington North, 87-22. The Stars finish the regular season with Bloomington South on Tuesday and Seymour on Thursday.

6. Whitney Young, Chicago (22-1)

Previous: 6.

Low down: The Dolphins advanced to the Chicago Public League Windy City quarterfinals, beating King, 67-20, and Simeon, 88-63. DePaul-bound Tanita Allen totaled 26 points in two wins, Isabela Spignola and Finess Dickson each had 11 points against King and Kiara Lewis had 20 points and 10 rebounds vs. Simeon. Also beat Trinity (River Forest), 60-49, pushing the home win streak to 136 games. Lewis contributed 25 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

7. Chaminade, West Hills, Calif. (18-2)

Previous: 7.

Low down: In the their lone game, the Eagles stopped Notre Dame Academy (Los Angeles), 78-55. Thursday’s game with Alemany (Mission Hills) is must-see hoops in

8. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (19-1)

Previous: 8.

Low down: The Mustangs are unbeaten against in-state teams. McKenna Haire’s 16 points paced the attack in a 66-47 victory over Butler (Charlotte).

9. Ridgeway, Memphis (19-0)

Previous: 9.

Low down: Defeated Memphis schools Wooddale, 64-26, and Kirby, 71-39. Two games left, with the season ending on Feb. 10.

10. Dillard, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (25-1)

Previous: 10.

Low down: Three players led by junior Jacaira Allen’s 18 points hit for double figures during a 54-26 pasting of American Heritage (Plantation) to capture the District 16-5A crown. Jamesha Paul netted 10 points and Courtney Parson had 12. The two teams could meet for a fourth time this season in the regional semifinals. Up next is Palm Bay (Melbourne) in the Region 4 quarterfinals on Thursday.

11. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (18-0)

Previous: 11.

Low down: The only action saw the Cavaliers overwhelm Kempsville (Virginia Beach), 91-19. Friday’s rematch at Maury (Norfolk) is highly anticipated in the Tidewater area.

12. Marian, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (12-1)

Previous: 12.

Low down: First place is on the line in the Catholic League Central Division on Tuesday in the rematch at Mercy (Farmington Hills). Last week, win over Powers Catholic (Flint), 68-43, and Regina (Warren), 60-18, demonstrated the emphasis placed on defense.

13. Cypress Woods, Cypress, Texas (24-1)

Previous: 13.

Low down: The defense was stifling allowing only 58 points in two runaway victories. The regular season is down to three games, including two this week.

14. Elizabethtown, Ky. (24-2)

Previous: 15.

Low down: Won the prestigious Republic Bank/Coca-Cola Louisville Invitational Tournament, defeating Butler (Louisville), 62-49,, in the final. Coach Tim Mudd’s team avenged a loss to Butler, who beat E-Town in last year’s state championship game, and moved 19-0 versus Kentucky competition. Junior Erin Boley, a Notre Dame recruit, flipped in 25 points to earn the LIT’s top offensive player. Jada Stinson had 10 points and Louisiana Tech-bound Reauna Cleaver had 9 points and cleared 10 rebounds.

15. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (19-2)

Previous: 16.

Low down: Pittsburgh-bound G Tania Lamb scored 19 points and Danae Miller had 12 in a 58-54 non-league win over Alemany (Mission Hills). The Jackrabbits are back at it this week with three games, only four remain before the sectional tournament.

16. Olive Branch, Miss. (24-1)

Previous: 17.

Low down: The Conquistadors travel to 22-1 Horn Lake on Tuesday in a throwdown, showdown game that will determine the Class 6A Region 1 winner. They won the first game by 10 points last month.

17. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (22-2)

Previous: 18.

Low down: C Jonquanae Cole, a North Carolina State commit, tallied 20 points in a 70-33 victory over Holy Cross (Kensington, Md.). The Panthers improved to 10-0 in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference with four games left on the docket.

18. Miami (Fla.) Country Day (25-2)

Previous: 19.

Low down: Won the District 15-3A tournament, defeating Sagemont (Weston), 61-29, in the final. Five more wins to secure the state championship. Up next the Spartans host Marathon on Thursday in the Region 4 quarterfinals.

19. Desert Vista, Phoenix (21-3)

Previous: 21.

Low down: Three wins push the Thunder past 20 victories but none more satisfying or gratifying than a 54-52 decision at Gilbert. The regular season is capped Friday at Basha (Chandler). California-bound post Kristine Anigwe was named to the McDonald’s All-American Game.

20. Braintree, Mass. (13-0)

Previous: 22.

Low down: The Wamps took control of the Bay State Conference, hammering Walpole, 78-47. Molly Reagan and Ashley Russell teamed for 37 points and Bridget Herlihy  had 14 points and 9 rebounds. The congested week has the Wamps playing three times in five days, capped on Friday hosting Framingham.

21. South Forsyth, Cumming, Ga. (21-2)

Previous: 23.

Low down: The War Eagles have two games this week, finishing the regular season at rivals North Forsyth (Cumming) on Friday.

22. Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (19-1)

Previous: 24.

Low down: Katie (25 points) and Kelly (14) Jekot teamed for 39 points to defeat previously undefeated Central Dauphin East (Harrisburg), 57-52. The Eagles forced 19 turnovers, producing 12 points. Also Kelly (20 points) and Katie (18) combined for 38 points in a 57-31 victory over Parkland (Allentown). The Eagles are now tied for first place in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division.

23. Capital Prep, Hartford, Conn. (13-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: The Trailblazers made a statement for the second time in three weeks, beating then-No. 20 Potter’s House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.), 77-67, at the Mecca Challenge in Bronx, N.Y. Maryland-bound Kiah Gillespie paced the high octane fueled offense with 32 points and 25 rebounds along with junior Desiree Elmore’s 28 points and 22 boards. Last week, Gillespie was named to the McDonald’s All-American Game

24. Maize, Kan. (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: Kansas’ top-ranked Class 6A club knocked off then-No. 25 Leavenworth, 44-43, to capture the Glacier’s Edge Tournament in Emporia. Wyoming-bound Daley Handy sank two free throws with 3.7 second left to rally the Eagles. Keiryn Swenson, an Arkansas recruit, had 11 points and Handy added a game-high 18 points and grabbed eight boards.

25. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (20-1)

Previous: 14.

Low down: Upset by Heritage Christian (Indianapolis), 53-51. The regular season concludes this week with Franklin Central and Noblesville.

Dropped: No. 20 Potter’s House Christian, Jacksonville, Fla.; and No. 25 Leavenworth, Kan.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Stonewall Jackson, Manassas, Va. (21-0)

2. Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, Del. (14-1)

3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (14-1)

4. Central Dauphin East, Harrisburg, Pa. (18-1)

5. McDonogh, Owings Mills, Md. (20-2)

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

Midlands

1. Archbishop Alter, Kettering, Ohio (18-0)

2. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (17-1)

3. Martin Luther King, Detroit (13-0)

4. Pius XI, Milwaukee (17-0)

5. Benson, Omaha, Neb. (17-0)

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

South

1. Salmen, Slidell, La. (19-3)

2. Ribault, Jacksonville, Fla. (25-2)

3. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (23-0)

4. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (20-1)

5. North Little Rock, Ark. (19-1)

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

Far West

1. Gonzaga Prep, Spokane, Wash. (18-0)

2. Konawaena, Kealakekua, Hawaii (26-1)

3. Miramonte, Orinda, Calif. (19-2)

4. ThunderRidge, Highlands, Colo. (15-2)

5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (16-4)

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

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ High School 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 April 4. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.