ELITE EAGLES: No. 1 Etiwanda (CA) girls repeat as Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions on strength of CIF Open Division chip

BENSALEM, Pa. – There is something to be said about being the best team in the best state for girls’ basketball. The Etiwanda High School Eagles of California proved that tough scheduling and the mantra of real estate –location, location, location—still matters.

For the second consecutive year, the No. 1 Eagles are Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. The opening at the top allowed the Eagles to ascend the Elite 25. Last weekend, it was known the CHIPOTLE High School Nationals would influence who will win the national championship. And, true to form, the 17^th annual national event held in Fishers, Indiana did not disappoint. Montverde (Fla.) Academy came into the tournament atop the Elite 25 and needed to successfully navigate a talented four-team bracket. Two games within 24 hours. The Eagles were in the driver’s seat but coughed up a double-digit lead late and lost 80-78 in overtime to No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

Meanwhile, the Eagles (28-5) sat back after capturing the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division championship for the third straight year. Coach Stan Delus’ team started atop the Elite 25 preseason rankings back in October. They had a rough patch, losing three consecutive games in November to nationally ranked teams and went into the New Year with four losses.

The Eagles pulled it together in January and lost for the second time to No. 2 Ontario Christian in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs but avenged that loss by winning the SoCal Region final and then the state title over No. 9 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 75-59.

As for the final week, the Elite 25 looks different in the top-6. Nineteen teams remained the same; two dropped and four moved up. Elite 25 teams bagged 21 postseason titles by 17 teams. Four had multiple titles.

Congratulations to Etiwanda and all the Elite 25 teams on a great season. We’ll be back before you know it.

McDonald’s Games Recap

Seven boys players who participated in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Tuesday, April 1 in Brooklyn, New York, had a quick turnaround and headed off to the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

As for the game, the West boys beat the East, 105-92, as Darryn Peterson of No. 4 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) was named Most Valuable Player. Peterson, a Kansas recruit, popped in a game-high 18 points, connecting on 7 of 14 shots and snared 7 rebounds.

Cameron Boozer of No. 1 Columbus (Miami) was East co-MVP after securing a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Houston commit Isiah Harwell of No. 19 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) shared the honors for the East with 16 points and 4 rebounds.

A.J. Dybantsa of Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah), who is a BYU signee and the nation’s No. 1 recruit according to some services, had 17 points and 5 rebounds for the West.

The 22^nd McDonald’s girls’ game Sienna Betts of Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) contributed 16 points and 7 seven rebounds as the West toppled the East, 104-82, in the opening game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Brynn McGaughey of Central Valley (Spokane Valley, Wash.), a Washington commit, flipped in 17 points in the win.

Four McDonald’s girls also jetted out Wednesday, April 2 for the CHIPOTLE National. Two each from No. 5 Montverde (Fla.) Academy and No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) pulled double duty last week.

The West jumped to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter and that was it.

Hailee Swain of  No. 23 Holy Innocents’ Episcopal (Atlanta) topped the East with 13 points and ZaKiyah Johnson of No. 21 Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.) and Nyla Brooks of Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.) scored 11 apiece.

Elsewhere, things are starting to take shape in southern California. Since the wildfires ravaged the surrounding Los Angeles area in early January, the locals have been displaced and are picking up the pieces of their lives.

We’ve vetted a few places that will make a difference.

Consider donating here to the Red Cross to assist the relief efforts or to The Salvation Army. No dollar amount is too small and prayers are always welcome. Here’s another one called Fire Aid.

Stay strong California.

Additionally, listen to this ditty by world renown singer Sia promoting a great cause. You should be familiar with it and it’s only 30 seconds. According to the Humane World for Animals (formerly called The Humane Society of the United States), they hope to “create a more humane world where dogs and cats are safe from cruel puppy mills and the horrific meat trade; where wild animals are protected, farm animals no longer suffer in extreme confinement, and no animals are used in painful and unnecessary lab experiments.”

If you like, donate here.

Well, that’s it for another year of the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings. We’ve highlighted and presented you the best of the best high school teams in football, girls volleyball and boys and girls basketball and it’s been a blast. Really!

Many thanks to our Editor-In-Chief Mike Flynn for his efforts across the board and allowing a forum for high school athletics. We attempt to bring stories of interest, breaking news, USA Basketball, McDonald’s All Americans, Nike Hoop Summit and much more. However, we hang our hat on the Elite 25 rankings. We are proud of the flagship column.

The grind of pulling off the rankings weekly from August until early April is a labor of love. Chasing football or basketball scores from the West Coast on a Saturday night in the Eastern Time Zone can be challenging. You awake Sunday morning, assess what occurred, disseminate information and it pull together for our loyal readers. We’ll be penning a weekly column with news and notes from around the nation throughout the remainder of the spring and summer.

And, yes, we do it all for you. There are millions of high school sports fans nationwide and globally. Our numbers or click rates have increased during the 2024-25 school year with three months left. That’s awesome.

As we mentioned earlier in this column, there will be a new weekly column and social media posts on X. We aren’t going away but reporting national items of interest in recruiting, national summer circuit events and camps, and exploits from USA Basketball. The world of grassroots sports does not rest. It may pause occasionally but there’s always motion. Our goal is to keep the clicks coming to the site and engage and inform folks in the coming months.

Personally, it was a difficult year.

My brother, Zach, passed away unexpectedly last summer. He was my best friend. Zach loved high school sports and followed my stories and travels since my Scholastic, Inc. years. Zach loved New York sports teams Rangers, Yankees, Giants and Knicks. He was a Florida State grad and followed the Seminoles in all sports but mostly football and baseball. Zach developed a love for global soccer and was a loyal Chelsea FC supporter (like me) or “True Blue.” Zach was a strong believer in Jesus Christ and carried a Bible with him. He listened to heavy metal (Metallica, Motorhead, AC/DC, Rush, Scorpions, GNR, LA Guns, Motley Crue, Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden to name a few) and worked as a private investigator and bartender in both Rochester, N.Y., and Hollywood, Fla. In both locations, he left many broken-hearted friends.

He is missed by family and friends and has been reunited with my dad in heaven. Amen.

Thank you for another year of the Elite 25. We will return with the Elite 25 preseason football rankings in early August and the Net 25 girls’ volleyball later in the month. Keep up with me on X (@clawlor), where we pass along the latest in the world of high school sports and more.

Bye for now. Have a Happy Easter or Happy Passover. Those high holy days roll out over the next two weekends.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Final Girls’ Basketball Rankings, April 7, 2025

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-5)* !

Previous rank: 2.

The Lowdown: The Eagles are Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions for the second year in a row. Won the CIF Open Division state championship for a third straight year.

2. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (30-2)

Previous: 3.

The Lowdown: Advanced to the CIF SoCal Region Open Division final.

3. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (29-1)**

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: Won Maryland Private Schools Tournament and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (19-4) !

Previous: 6.

The Lowdown: Won CHIPOTLE High School Nationals championship.

5. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-2)

Previous: 1.

The Lowdown: Advanced to CHIPOTLE High School Nationals final.

6. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (27-4)**

Previous: 5.

The Lowdown: Lost in the CHIPOTLE Nationals semifinals to No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 64-61, in a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Moose played without All-America Jordyn Palmer. Won a fourth straight Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association AA state and fifth straight Friends Schools League championships.

7. Morris Catholic, Denville N.J. (28-0)*

Previous: 7.

The Lowdown: Won the NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship. It was the Crusaders’ third straight state title after winning the previous two in Non-Public B. Season complete.

8. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (35-1)*

Previous: 8.

The Lowdown: Won a third consecutive Class 4A state championship. Earlier this week, one of the nation’s top juniors committed to an ACC school. Six-foot guard Kimora Fields says she’ll sign with Clemson.

9. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (27-4)

Previous: 9.

The Lowdown: Advanced to CIF Open Division state championship after winning the NorCal title. The Monarchs will return a loaded team.

10. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-4)

Previous: 10.

The Lowdown: The Trinity League champions fell in the CIF-SoCal Open Division semifinals

11. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (33-1)

Previous: 11.

The Lowdown: Advanced to the CIF-NorCal Region Open Division final.

12. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 12.

The Lowdown: Won the Mission League title and advanced to the CIF-SoCal Open Division semifinals.

13. Johnston, Iowa (26-0)*

Previous: 13.

The Lowdown: Won a second consecutive Class 5A state championship.

14. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (29-2)*

Previous: 14.

The Lowdown: Won the Missouri state championship for an eighth consecutive time after securing Class 6 title. Indiana-bound Neveah Caffey was named Miss Show-Me Basketball.

15. Boswell, Fort Worth, Texas (39-2)*

Previous: 15.

The Lowdown: Won the Class 6A, Division II state championship.

16. Ridgeline, Millville, Utah (28-0)*

Previous: 16.

The Lowdown: Won the UHSAA Class 4A state championship for the third straight year.

17. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (27-3)**

Previous: 17.

The Lowdown: Won the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA state championship and Independent School League Division AA title.

18. Providence Academy, Plymouth, Minn. (32-0)*

Previous: 18.

The Lowdown: Won record-setting fourth consecutive Minnesota Class 2A state championship.

19. Lincoln, Dallas (39-2)*

Previous: 19.

The Lowdown: Won the UIL Class 4A, Division II state championship.

20. Winter Haven, Fla. (27-2)*

Previous: 20.

The Lowdown: Won the Class 7A state championship for the second straight season.

21. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (35-5)*

Previous: 21.

The Lowdown: Won a state-record fifth straight KHSAA State Championship.

22. Kenwood, Chicago (35-3)**

Previous: 22.

The Lowdown: Won the Illinois Class 4A state championship and Chicago Public League crown.

23. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (25-5)*

Previous: 23.

The Lowdown: Won the Class 3A-A Private School state championship and fifth overall state title.

24. Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga. (29-2)

Previous: 24.

The Lowdown: Finished runner-up in the GHSA 3A-A Private State Tournament and won the Region 8-AA title.

25. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (18-5)

Previous: 25.

The Lowdown: The Lady Crusaders will be one of the nation’s top teams in 2025-26.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (26-4)**
2. Bishop Ireton, Alexandria, Va. (28-6)*
3. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (28-0)*
4. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (25-6)**
5. Paul VI, Haddonfield, N.J. (27-1)

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

Midwest

1. Winton Woods, Cincinnati (27-0)*
2. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (23-6)*
3. Belleville, Mich. (28-1)*
4. Millard West, Omaha, Neb. (28-1)*
5. Kimberly, Wis. (29-1)*

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

Southland

1. Hoover, Ala. (32-4)*
2. Putnam City North, Oklahoma City (29-1)*
3. Ridge View, Woodstock, Ga. (31-1)*
4. Monterey, Lubbock, Texas (36-5)*
5. Tupelo, Miss. (29-4)*

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

Far West

1. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (25-3)*
2. Centennial, Las Vegas (23-2)*
3. Tualatin, Ore. (26-2)*
4. Clackamas, Ore. (27-3)
5. Central Valley, Spokane Valley, Wash. (27-0)*

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

! Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

 % CHIPOTLE High School Nationals Champions

* Won state, national or conference postseason tournament championship

[Editor’s note: Each asterisk represents a separate postseason title]

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December 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. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.