DOCTOR’S IN THE HOUSE: No. 23 Dr. Phillips (FL) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings; No. 1 Incarnate Word Academy (MO) wins sixth straight title

BENSALEM, Pa. – When you think dominance on the court, there lopsided score lines, quality coaching and a team unity.

That’s No. 1 Incarnate Word Academy of Bel Nor, Missouri. For the sixth consecutive year, the Red Knights annexed a Missouri state championship this time in impressive fashion. It was the program’s 13th overall title.

Coach Dan Rolfe’s team was perfect for the second straight season after winning the Missouri Class 6 girls’ basketball title on Saturday. In the two state games, the Red Knights won by 38 and 27 points. With a sparkling 32-0 record, Incarnate Word Academy stretched its win streak to 100 games.

100!

Last time we checked, it’s perfect score on a test. They last lost on Feb. 8, 2020. Kudos to the coaches and players for the accomplishment. A complete team.

As for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings, No. 23 Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.), which won the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A state crown last month, slides in as the lone debutant. The Panthers went 30-1 but aren’t done with their season. More later in this column.

This week there is just one newcomer and the Elite 25 order from the previous week did not change. Elite 25 teams have won 16 state or major conference championships. No. 3 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) goes for the New York State Federation Class AA title this weekend at Shaker High School in Latham. It won’t be easy with PSAL champion South Shore (Brooklyn) awaiting in Saturday’s semifinal. The final is Sunday afternoon.

State Champions Invitational

Last week, Paragon Marketing and ESPN family of networks revealed the brackets for the second annual State Champions Invitational. The new wrinkle this year is a six-team bracket, five of which are in the Elite 25 rankings and one from the Far West Region. The tournament will be played April 6-8 on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Teams needed to win their state tournament to earn an invitation.

The schedule (All times Eastern Daylight Time):

April 6

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

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

April 8

10 a.m.: Championship game, ESPNU.

WOW Factor!

Finally, a shoutout to Nicole Melious of Susan Wagner (Staten Island, N.Y.) she concluded her brilliant interscholastic career with 20 points but school lost in the New York City Public Schools Athletic League Class AA final to seven-time champion South Shore (Brooklyn), 77-36.

Melious, who lost one year when the PSAL cancelled its season (2020-21) due to COVID restrictions, finished with 3,140 career points to become the PSAL’s all-time leading scorer (boys or girls) and No. 1 in New York City. She is New York State’s No. 3 scorer.

This season she averaged a national best 42.1 points, scoring 1,139 points. The La Salle University recruit also averaged 11.2 rebounds and 8.0 assists.

Well done, Nicole! You brought new meaning to the Wow Factor.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return March 29. We’ll be in Florida in preparation for the GEICO High School Nationals. More on that quality national event next week.

There are only a few states conducting girls’ state tournament remaining. Alaska, New York and Pennsylvania are still going, so should you.

Stay safe.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 22, 2023

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

Previous: 1.

Low-down: Won a sixth straight state championship, defeating Rock Bridge (Columbia), 57-30, in the Class 6 final. Nebraska-bound center Natalie Potts had 17 points and 9 rebounds and Kaylynn Janes scored 19 points, sinking 5 of 6 3-pointers. In the semifinals, the Red Knights defeated Raytown, 67-29. Nevaeh Caffey scored 18 points and Potts added 16 points and 6 rebounds. The Red Knights were up 22-7 after one quarter and never looked back. Season complete.

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (24-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Idle. Next up is the GEICO High School Nationals semifinals on March 31 in Fort Myers, Fla.

3. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (20-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Idle. The Lady Crusaders play South Shore (Brooklyn) Saturday in the New York State Federation Class AA semifinals in Latham (near Albany). The final is Sunday.

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: Last week, Juju Watkins, a USC recruit, was named Gatorade’s national player of the year. 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 on April in Washington, D.C. Regular season complete.

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 April 7 in Washington. Regular season complete.

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 (24-3)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 6A state championship. The Knights will next play in the State Champions Invitational from April 6-8 in Washington, D.C. Regular season complete.

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 from April 6-8 in Washington. D.C. Regular season complete.

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. (22-4)**

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Idle. The Moose are headed to the GEICO Nationals next weekend in Florida.

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

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won FHSAA Class 7A state championship. Up next is the State Champions Invitational from April 6-8 in Washington, D.C. Regular season complete.

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: No. 23 Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Md. (23-2)*
2. Lansdale (Pa.) Catholic (26-2)*
3. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (26-7)*
4. Georgetown Visitation, Washington, D.C. (24-6)*
5. Andover, Mass. (26-0)*

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. Iolani School, Honolulu (20-5)*

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

Records through Monday’s games

* 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.