BENSALEM, Pa. – The latest Blue Star Media girls’ basketball rankings are out. The next rankings will be released March 4.
Check back periodically at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from events nationwide and other tidbits evolving from the game. Half the nation is playing postseason basketball. It goes quickly so support your local high school.
We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 25, 2014
1. Duncanville, Texas (34-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: The Pantherettes take a 104-game win streak into Friday’s Class 5A state semifinal game against San Antonio Wagner.
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (23-1)
Previous: 2.
Low-down: Idle. Next up is Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) on Wednesday in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division quarterfinals.
3. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (28-1)
Previous: 3.
Low-down: Won District 7-AAA, beating Oakland (Murfreesboro), 60-37.
4. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel-Nor, Mo. (24-1)
Previous: 4.
Low-down: Super junior Napheesa Collier had 20 points and 12 rebounds in a 69-26 win over Cor Jesu (St. Louis).
5. Windward School, Los Angeles (23-2)
Previous: 5.
Low-down: Idle. Play Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division quarterfinals Wednesday.
6. Miami Senior High, Miami, Fla. (31-1)*
Previous: 6.
Low-down: MVP Beatrice Mompremier chalked up 13 points and 15 boards helping the Stingarees win the Class 8A championship against Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie), 49-33. Season complete.
7. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (23-1)
Previous: 7.
Low-down: Advanced to Class 4A Southeastern Conference Tournament final, beating Porter Ridge (Indian Trail), 79-21.
8. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (22-2)
Previous: 8.
Low-down: Idle. Play Chaminade (West Hills) in CIF-Southern Section Open Division quarterfinals.
9. Manvel, Texas (36-2)
Previous: 9.
Low-down: Won the Class 5A, Region 3 title, advancing to Friday’s state semifinals in Austin.
10. New Hope Christian, Thomasville, N.C. (30-0)
Previous: 10.
Low-down: This weekend the Phoenix will play in the National Association of Christian Athletes National Tournament in Dayton, Tenn.
11. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (24-0)
Previous: 11.
Low-down: The Saints won the Philadelphia Catholic League championship, defeating rivals Archbishop Wood (Warminster), 55-46. It was the program’s first title in 36 years. Next up is Imhotep Prep (Philadelphia) in the Class AA city championship game.
12. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (21-2)
Previous: 12.
Low-down: Closed out the regular season with two lopsided wins. Also received a first round bye in the Class 5A Rhonda Blanford-Green Regional tournament.
13. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (20-2)
Previous: 13.
Low-down: Banned from the postseason and forced to forfeit all 20 wins for recruiting players from other districts. Season complete.
14. Shabazz, Newark, N.J. (24-1)
Previous: 14.
Low-down: Won sixth straight Essex County Tournament. The Group 1 sectional tournament opens next week.
15. Sparkman, Harvest, Ala. (32-2)
Previous: 15.
Low-down: The Senators played in the Class 6A state semifinals on Wednesday against Blount (Prichard) in Birmingham. After a 9-2 start, the Northeast Regional champions have won 23 straight games.
16. Fairmont, Kettering, Ohio (23-2)
Previous: 16.
Low-down: The Firebirds play Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) in Division, Harrison District 3 final.
17. Rock Bridge, Columbia, Mo. (20-3)
Previous: 17.
Low-down: The Bruins will open the Class 5A, District 9 tournament in the semifinals on March 6.
18. Whitney Young, Chicago (27-3)
Previous: 18.
Low-down: Captured a Class 4A regional title with two easy wins. Played North Lawndale (Chicago) Tuesday in the sectional semifinals.
19. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (25-1)
Previous: 19.
Low-down: The Wildcats have a Class 4A state quarterfinal game Saturday at No. 21 Bedford North Lawrence.
20. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (21-5)
Previous: 20.
Low-down: Played Tuesday in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Division I against Merced after receiving a first-round bye.
21. Bedford North Lawrence, Ind. (23-1)
Previous: 21.
Low-down: The Stars have a rematch against No. 19 Lawrence North (Indianapolis)—looking to average their lone loss—in the state tournament.
22. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (21-3)
Previous: 22.
Low-down: Chania Ray (22 points) and Chloe Jackson (17) combined for 39 points in a 70-59 win over Damascus.
23. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (25-2)
Previous: 23.
Low-down: Won the Region 4-AAAAAA championship. Now the sights are set on the state tournament.
24. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (20-3)
Previous: 24.
Low-down: The Royals play Thursday in the New York Catholic High School Athletics Association AA semifinals against Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn). The final is Saturday.
25. Salmen, Slidell, La. (30-1)
Previous: 25.
Low-down: After capturing their first two playoff games, the Spartans play Ellender (Houma) in the Class 4A quarterfinals Friday. The semifinals are March 4 and the final follows on March 6 in Lake Charles.
Dropped: None.
High-Fives by Region
East
1. Nazareth Regional, Brooklyn, N.Y. (19-5)
2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (17-2)
3. Eleanor Roosevelt, Greenbelt, Md. (20-0)
4. Cosby, Midlothian, Va. (16-0)
5. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (24-1)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midlands
1. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (29-2)
2. Edwardsville, Ill. (27-1)
3. Martin Luther King, Detroit (18-1)
4. Iowa City, Iowa (23-0)
5. Eastview, Apple Valley, Minn. (22-1)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
South
1. Plano (Texas) West (27-5)
2. Horn Lake, Miss. (24-1)
3. Elizabethtown, Ky. (22-4)
4. Science Hill, Johnson City, Tenn. (31-0)
5. Blount, Prichard, Ala. (31-3)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (23-4)
2. Riverton, Utah (22-0)
3. Dobson, Mesa, Ariz. (30-2)
4. South Medford, Medford, Ore. (22-3)
5. Lynnwood, Bothell, Wash. (22-1)
Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Records through Sunday.
*Denotes a state champion
About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 High School Girls’ 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 8, 2014. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
