EMPIRICAL: No. 9 Mater Dei (CA) Monarchs rise six spots in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings; No. 18 Corona Centennial (CA) Huskies debut with UCLA-commit Londynn Jones scoring at-will

BENSALEM, Pa. – This week the action is concentrated on California. There are two teams in the in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings after a tumultuous opening three weeks to the spring season.

A week ago, we were eyeballing St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) with its recently hired coach Alle Moreno. The Rams, no strangers to the Elite 25 rankings and winners of eight California Interscholastic Federation and 24 sectional championships, were fresh off a big-time 73-63 win over then-No. 16 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose). Earlier this week, the Rams lost to unbeaten Clovis West (Fresno) and we needed to rethink the latest addition.

It did not take long to realize No. 18 Corona (Calif.) Centennial–from the Inland Empire–filled that slot with a perfect 7-0 and a ringleader named Londynn Jones, who is averaging 24.6 points after transferring from crosstown Santiago (Corona). Jones, a junior and UCLA pledge, will be under serious consideration for the 2022 McDonald’s All American Game. The Huskies enter the week as California’s No. 2 week and made enough noise to get a nod for the opening left when Mitty lost its opener to St. Mary’s.

Speaking of St. Mary’s, Moreno, a SM alumna (Class of 2010) and standout at Sacramento State, was the San Jose State associate head coach but opted to return home after her former prep coach Tom Gonsalves was let go. Expect the Rams to be ranked preseason by Blue Star Media and remain a fixture on the national scene.

St. Mary’s and Mitty are ranked in the Far West Region.

No. 9 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) zooms up six spots after a lickety-split 12-0 opening. The Monarchs are good shape to claim another Trinity League title and more.

That’s because the CIF-Southern Section okayed playoffs, which must be completed by June 12. Additionally, the Southern Region postseason needs will end by June 19. The regional playoffs will include the City Section but no state tournament for a second straight year. Besides hoops, there are playoffs for baseball, softball, boys’ volleyball, tennis and golf. It’s been a long year, this is just reward for all student-athletes, especially the seniors. Honestly, the spring season is perfect segue into the summer travel season that is ramping up nationwide.

In addition to the Golden State, games are going strong in Washington and the playoffs tip this week in New Mexico. Oregon gets started later this spring. Last weekend, West Virginia crowned four champions: Class AAAA-Huntington; Class AAA-Nitro; Class AA-Wyoming East (New Richmond) and Class A-Tug Valley (Williamson).

Congratulations to all the winners from the Mountain State.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on May 19. We wish a Happy Mother’s Day to many moms, grandmothers and godmothers. You ladies are the best.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for our staff updates. We’ll keep you abreast of what’s breaking in girls’ basketball. For now, get vaccinated, practice social distancing and mask up. We’re aiming for immunity in every community.

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, May 5, 2021

1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (28-0)* @

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Cougars are two-time Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. Won the Ohio Division I state championship.

2. Westlake, Atlanta (21-0)* !

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won GEICO High School Nationals championship and Georgia Class AAAAAA title.

3. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (29-0)*

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Won Class 6 state championship.

4.  Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (11-1)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Completed an undefeated regular season and advanced to the GEICO Nationals title game.

5. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (19-1)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won FHSAA Class AAAA state championship and earned an invitation to the GEICO Nationals.

6. DeSoto, Texas (28-2)* #

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won first-ever UIL Class 6A state championship. Earlier this week, 6-4 junior Amina Muhammad committed to the Texas Longhorns.

7. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (14-0)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: In lieu of no state playoffs, the Lady Lancers won the Shore Conference Tournament Pod A title.

8. Cypress Creek, Houston (32-1)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Advanced to the UIL Class 6A state final.

9. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-0)^

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: The Monarchs have been dominant and it’s not even close. Last weekend, they clubbed powerhouse Poly (Long Beach), 77-24. Stanford-bound Brooke Demetre pumped a game-high 17 points, making 6 of 12 shots. Demetre also earned her first call-up to the USA U-19 national team trials in June. The Monarchs moved to 4-0 in the Trinity League, defeating Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 100-29. This week’s challenge is Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove) Thursday night. And there will be CIF-Southern Section playoffs this spring.

10. Hazel Green, Ala. (36-1)*

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship.

11. Hoover, Ala. (32-1)*

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Won third Class 7A state championship since 2017.

12. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (11-0) #

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: In good news, the Pioneers’ 59-game win streak was restored by the Michigan High School Athletic Association and turned a forfeit from the Division 2 district final into a “no play.” Edison was forced to quarantine before the district final over COVID-19 concerns. Coach Monique Brown’s team now needs 19 games to equal the state win streak of 78 games and will have a good chance of getting it in the 2021-22 season.

13. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (17-0)*

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship.

14. Chaska, Minn. (18-0)*

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Won Class AAAA state championship.

15. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (16-1)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Advanced to Class AAAA semifinals where it saw its win streak snapped at 78 games.

16. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (13-0)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Won the Skyland Conference Blue Division Tournament. There were no playoffs this season in New Jersey.

17. Winston Salem Christian, Winston-Salem, N.C. (25-1)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Independent School National Tournament final.

18. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (7-0)^

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: California’s second-ranked team are 3-0 in the Big VIII after beating Roosevelt (Eastvale), 90-63. At 5-6 junior Londynn Jones, a UCLA recruit, is averaging 24.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.7 steals in seven games. In an 85-42 thrashing of The Bishop’s School (La Jolla) last weekend, Jones bucketed a season-high 35 points, sinking 13 of 24 shots, including nine 3-pointers. The Huskies have a real challenge at state ranked La Jolla Country Day Friday evening. Despite the abbreviated season, there will be CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

19. Cardinal Newman, Columbia, S.C (18-1)*

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Won third consecutive SCISA Class AAA state championship.

20. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (14-3)*

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Won the Insider Exposure Independent School National Tournament.

21. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (26-1)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship and earned an invitation to the GEICO Nationals.

22. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (17-2)*

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Won PIAA Class AAAA state championship and Philadelphia Catholic League crown.

23. Converse (Texas) Judson (26-2)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Advanced to the UIL Class 6A semifinals and won Region IV title.

24. Newark, Ohio (29-2)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Ohio Division I state final, falling to top-ranked Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) in double overtime.

25. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-2)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Played in the Independent School National Tournament.

Dropped: No. 16 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)*
2. 2. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (27-1)*
3. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (14-1)
4. Madison, Vienna, Va. (16-1)*
5. St. Elizabeth, Wilmington, Del. (14-0)*

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

Midwest

1. Pius X, Lincoln, Neb. (25-0)*
2. Crown Point, Ind. (25-1)*
3. Germantown, Wis. (29-1)*
4. Northwest, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (23-0)*
5. Kenwood Academy, Chicago (13-0)

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

Southland

1. Norman, Okla. (19-0)*
2. Duncanville, Texas (28-3)
3. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (26-2)*
4. Cedar Park, Texas (27-1)*
5. Vance, Charlotte N.C. (12-0)*

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

Far West

1. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (8-0)^
2. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (2-1)^
3. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (1-1)^
4. Windward School, Los Angeles (4-1)^
5. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (16-1)

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

@ Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

* Won state championship or national tournament title

 ! GEICO High School Nationals champion

 # Includes “no call” game erasing a previous and/or forfeit loss due to coronavirus

^ Currently playing a spring season

Records are through Monday

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 nationwide. 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.