SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings feature two new teams. There was some shifting among the Top 10 teams.

So, welcome No. 20 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and No. 24. Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) to the Elite 25. Both are dominant teams and have stellar resumes to back their work.

This weekend there’s a super-charged event at Mercy Academy in Louisville, Ky., where the Raatz Fence/O’Shea’s Basketball Classic tips off on Friday for a two-day, 12-game run of games.

There four games on Friday with the feature game between Mercer County (Ky.) and Incarnate Word Academy (Bel Nor, Mo.) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s eight-game schedule (starting at 10 a.m.) includes a real doozy with Elite 25 teams No. 13 Butler (Louisville) and No. 6 Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.) at 4:15 p.m.; that’s followed by Incarnate Word and Male (Louisville) at 6 and Mercy facing Columbus (Ind.) North at 7:30.

Not to be outdone, the New Heights Hoop Fest has two days of games at South Shore High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. There are 10 games, split evenly between boys and girls. Saturday’s two girls’ games are St. Joseph’s (N.Y.) vs. Capital Christian (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 11 a.m., and South Shore vs. Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx), 2:30. Sunday’s bill opens with three more girls’ matchups: St. Mary’s (Manhasset, N.Y.) vs. Curtis (Staten Island), 11 a.m.; Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) vs. Baldwin (N.Y.), 12:45 p.m.; and South Shore vs. The Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.), 2:30.

The next rankings are out on January 25. Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for updates from around the country. Our contributors work daily and have the pulse of the girls’ basketball scene many of them attended the MLK events nationwide. I was at the Hoophall Classic here and saw four girls’ games and have a story chronicling the evening at Springfield College’s Blake Arena. A special shout-out to goes to Greg Procino of the Hall of Fame, who put on a great show. He’s a tireless worker and is one of the country’s most influential people in the industry. If you have never been to the birthplace of basketball and are a fan of the game, you need to schedule a visit. This building oozes hoops and is a timeline for the evolution for the greatest game on the planet.

Back home please support your local high schools and any basketball events in your community or area. That’s giving back and watching some quality hoops in your back yard. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, Jan. 18, 2017

1. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (16-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Panthers just keep rolling. Last week they recorded wins in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference by 27 and 50 points. C Mikayla Vaughn, a Notre Dame recruit, totaled 39 points in the two games. Up next is a Jan. 24 date with No. 9 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) that determines first place.

2. Miami (Fla.) Country Day (21-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Crushed Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach), 57-31, at the MLK Super Showcase in Miami. The Spartans close out the regular season on Jan. 28 at IMG Academy (Bradenton).

3. Centennial, Las Vegas (19-2)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: No question the Lady Bulldogs made the biggest statement in the Elite 25 by knocking ranked teams then-No. 24 St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), 68-65, and then-No. 2 Clovis West (Fresno), 70-46, at the MLK Showcase in Stockton, Calif. Only six games remain in the regular season.

4. Monacan, North Chesterfield, Va. (12-0)

Previous: 5

Low-down: Megan Walker, a Connecticut commit and now a McDonald’s All-American Game selection, pumped in a game-high 33 points, making 13 of 24 shots, and the Chiefs defeated Forest Trail Academy (Kernersville, N.C.), 75-64, at the StateVa Classic in Highland Springs, Va. Walker was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

5. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (15-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Tennessee-bound PG Anastasia Hayes made it look easy, scoring 25 points and the Lady Warriors ripped then-No. 17 Norcross (Ga.), 69-50, at the Krossover Classic in Archer, Ga. Hayes was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago in March. The Lady Warriors play crosstown and district rivals Blackman Friday and then are off to Mississippi for intrastate event in Tupelo.

6. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (21-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: After two gritty league wins, the Lady Broncos doubled up Marquette Catholic (Michigan City, Ind.), 69-34, at the Chicagoland Subway Classic in Villa Park, Ill. Kaylee Bambule, an Ohio signee, netted 19 points, draining six 3-pointers.

7. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (15-2)

Previous: 2

Low-down: The Golden Eagles were thrashed by then-No. 6 Centennial (Las Vegas), 70-46, at the MLK Showcase in Stockton, Calif. Earlier this season, they beat Centennial by five points at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona.

8. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (9-1)

Previous: 4

Low-down: The lopsided league wins are coming fast and furious, This week Wolves won by 23 and 56 points.

9. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (13-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Defeated Elizabeth Seton (Bladensburg, Md.), 52-43, and Archbishop Carroll (Washington), 77-43, to remain unbeaten in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Finally the duel with top-ranked Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) is on tap for Tuesday.

10. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (12-2)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The winning streak hit seven games after defeating Mission Hills (San Marcos), 58-38, at the MLK Classic in Stockton, Calif.

11. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (10-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Jackrabbits capped off a 3-0 week, beating Bishop Feehan (Attleboro, Mass.), 62-48, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Jasmine Jones contributed 10 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists to earn game MVP honors. F Ayanna Cook, a Southern California recruit, was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago.

12. Seton Catholic Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (18-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Arizona’s top-ranked team peeled off three overwhelming victories by 90, 50 and 58 points. There are three games on the docket this week.

13. Butler, Louisville, Ky. (16-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Bearettes pushed the winning streak to 16 games, defeating Mercy Academy (Louisville), 58-35. Indiana-bound Jaelynn Penn flipped in 16 points. Up next is the Raatz Fence/O’Shea’s Classic in Louisville against No. 6 Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.) on Saturday.

14. Amarillo, Texas (26-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Sandies have a district showdown at defending champion Canyon on Friday. West Texas will be rocking!

15. Fayetteville, Ark. (16-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: A 3-0 week was capped by defeating Bentonville, 58-22. The Lady Bulldogs are unbeaten in Class 7A West.

16. North Central, Indianapolis (20-0)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Panthers defeated Center Grove, 70-44. They play twice this week and close out the regular season on Jan. 27 with Warren Central (Indianapolis).

17. Timberview, Mansfield, Texas (24-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Texas A&M-bound Chennedy Carter scored 21 points in each outing as the Wolves drilled Waxahachie and Lancaster. Carter was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago.

18. Duncanville, Texas (25-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Zarielle Green scored 12 points and Aniya Thomas and Starr Jacobs each added 10 points in a 52-43 win over DeSoto.

19. Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills, Mich. (9-0)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Yellowjackets stopped Hamady (Flint), 67-28, and won’t play again until Jan. 24 against Romulus. Destiny Pitts, a Minnesota commit, bucketed 18 of her game-high 25 points in the first half to knock off a previously undefeated club.

20. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (13-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Lady Hawks pounded two teams at the Music City Classic in Nashville, Providence Day School (Charlotte, N.C.), 62-38, and Memphis Central, 90-41. Last week, PG Jazmine Massengill verbally committed to the Tennessee Lady Vols. She is one of five Division I recruits on the squad.

21. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (15-2)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Lost to St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.), 45-33.

22. Norcross, Ga. (19-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Lost to then-No. 7 Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 69-50, but the Blue Devils bounced back to stop Woodstock, 76-46.

23. Destrehan, La. (22-0)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Wildcats won twice, allowing 22 total points, and have two more games this week in District 7-5A.

24. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (15-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Trailblazers have two games this week against Windward (Los Angeles) and Mission Hills (San Marcos).

25. St. Mary’s Stockton, Calif. (13-4)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Rams fell to then-No. 6 Centennial (Las Vegas), 68-65, at the MLK Showcase. Three of the Rams’ losses are against teams ranked in the top-10 of the Elite 25. They also beat Alemany (Mission Hills), 89-69. Junior F Aquira DeCosta recorded her 14th double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds. This is a make-or-break week with two powerful opponents, Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.), on tap.

Dropped: No. 25 Hazel Green, Ala.; and No. 25. Homestead, Fort Wayne, Ind.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Manasquan, N.J. (12-0)
2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (17-0)
3. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (10-3)
4. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (9-2)
5. Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, Del. (9-1)

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

Midwest

1. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (17-0)
2. Edwardsville, Ill. (19-0)
3. Rock Island, Ill. (22-1)
4. Homestead, Fort Wayne, Ind. (18-2)
5. Mason, Ohio (12-1)

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

Southland

1. Ribault, Jacksonville, Fla. (19-3)
2. Olive Branch, Miss. (21-1)
3. North Little Rock, Ark (15-1)
4. Fort Gibson, Okla. (11-0)
5. Deshler, Tuscumbia, Ala. (19-0)

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

Far West

1. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (16-1)
2. Mesquite, Gilbert, Ariz. (19-1)
3. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (12-3)
4. Central Valley, Spokane Valley, Wash. (13-0)
5. La Salle Catholic College Prep, Milwaukie, Ore. (9-2)

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

 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. 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 in April. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.