FLYING HIGH: No. 1 Montverde Academy (FL) move into Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings top spot; No. 2 Etiwanda (CA) three-peat for CIF Open Division championship

BENSALEM, Pa. – There is a new team atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings. Montverde (Fla.) Academy has ascended the Elite 25 and is two wins from clinching the national championship.

Sound familiar?

No. 2 Etiwanda (Calif.), the defending Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions, are lurking in the shadows and waiting for the Eagles to drop a game.

And that could occur at the CHIPOTLE High School Nationals when the prestigious annual postseason tournament gets underway for a two-day run starting on Friday, April 4 at Southeastern Hamilton High School in Fishers, Indiana. The field is composed of three Elite 25 teams from the top-10 and one interloper from Texas. Apparently, several eligible teams opted out when offered and others (even from the Elite 25) decided to play at a club event next week in New Jersey. Different strokes for different folks.

No. 5 Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) and No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) would have a chance to scale the mountain if they win CHIPOTLE Nationals. Etiwanda is in the mix and so is No. 4 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.). The final rankings will drop Monday, April 7, reflecting the results from Indiana at a recognized national event.

The CHIPOTLE girls’ semifinals are set for Friday, April 4, starting at 10:30 a.m. on ESPNU and the boys’ semifinals starting at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The tournament culminates on Saturday, April 5 with both championship tilts.

For the brackets, teams and more information click here. We will preview this event on Wednesday, April 2. The four-day boys tournament begins the same day with two opening round games starting at 6:15 p.m. EDT. The boys’ quarterfinals follow on Thursday, April 3 starting at 2 p.m. on ESPN2. The boys tournament feature 10 teams over four days.

This week, the Elite 25 welcomed state champions from Kentucky. No. 21 Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.) captured the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen  Tournament for the fifth straight year and ninth in program history. The Valkyries were down three points in the final seconds but pulled one out of the fire with a combination of forced turnovers and made free throws. Kudos, ladies and coaches at Sacred Heart.

Otherwise, six teams went up and six went down while 12 were static. No. 8 Bradley Central (Cleveland, Tenn,) gets a four slot bump after winning a third straight Class 4A state championship in impressive fashion. No. 12 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) dipped eight positions. Elite 25 teams have won 19 postseason chips with four teams bagging two apiece. Only four teams are still competing in the postseason with three at the CHIPOTLE Nationals next month and one this week in Missouri.

The best event this week is the Missouri State High School Athletic Association Class 6 semifinals at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. No. 14 Incarnate Word Academy (Bel Nor) plays Cor Jesu (St. Louis), 2 p.m. CT, and Kickapoo (Springfield) meets Staley (Kansas City), 4 p.m., on Wednesday, March 19. The final is Thursday, March 20 at 6 p.m. The remainder of the weekend features the Class 4 and 5 semifinals and final back at the Mizzou Arena.

Incarnate Word (27-2) aims for an eighth straight state championship under coach Dan Rolfe.

To get the Show-Me Showdown tickets click here.

March Madness

The NCAA Women’s Selection Show aired on ESPN on Sunday. Of course, there were teams that made it and others that were slighted. Happens each year, so get used to it.

Don’t drill down too deep into the brackets to assemble your Final Four, which will be held in Tampa, Fla.

If you are filling out a bracket, Liberty, Iowa State, Utah or Harvard might be worth a round or two. Reaching the regional semifinals would earn big-time points.

Final Four: UConn, Notre Dame, South Carolina and UCLA. It sounds chalky but that’s the nature of the women’s tournament. We’ll have more updates next week with a deeper dive heading into the Spokane 1 and 4 and Birmingham 2 and 3 regions. Methinks South Carolina captures the title but UConn is ravenous for another. They will meet on Sunday, April 6 at the Amalie Arena—that’s a prediction.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return on Wednesday, March 26. There are only three rankings remaining. Two rankings remain.

Feeling benevolent? Life is beginning 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. Be strong California.

Spring or vernal equinox arrives Thursday, March 20 at 5:01 a.m. EDT. Enjoy the warm weather and outdoor activities.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 19, 2025

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

Previous rank: 2.

The Lowdown: Idle. The Eagles won’t play until the CHIPOTLE Nationals semifinals on Friday, April 4 in Fishers, Ind. The national championship is on the line.

2. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-5)*

Previous: 3.

The Lowdown: Won the CIF Open Division state championship for a third straight year, defeating No. 7  Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 75-59, in the final. Junior guard Arryn Finley scored 20 points, sinking 8-of-9 shots and broke away from a 37-31 lead at halftime with a big third quarter. Grace Knox had 10 points and 12 rebounds. In the SoCal Open Division final, the Eagles defeated No. 1 Ontario Christian, 67-62, after dropping the previous two matchups this season. Aliyahna Morris scored 19 points and Finley had 16 points. Season complete.

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

Previous: 1.

The Lowdown: Lost to then-No. 3 Etiwanda, 67-62, in the CIF SoCal Region Open Division final. Season complete.

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

Previous: 6.

The Lowdown: Season complete.

6. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (17-4)

Previous: 11.

The Lowdown: Regular season complete. The Ascenders will receive an invitation to the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April.

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

Previous: 5.

The Lowdown: Won the NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship, defeating then-No. 22 Paul VI (Haddonfield), 54-44, in the final. It was the Crusaders’ third straight state title after winning the previous two in Non-Public B. Mya Pauldo scored 21 points and ripped 5 rebounds. Last week, Mia Pauldo was named New Jersey’s Gatorade player of the year. Season complete.

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

Previous: 12.

The Lowdown: Won a third consecutive Class 4A state championship, throttling Bartlett, 70-28, in the final. The 42-point margin of victory by the Bearettes was the most in TSSAA state championship history, erasing a 99-year record. The fourth “Gold Ball” in the last seven years pushes the program’s total to nine overall, including the last four under coach Jason Reuter. Bradley’s three year run stands at 104-3. Sharpshooter Avary Brewer, a Samford recruit, scored 19 points, Tatianna Stovall and Kimora Fields had 14 apiece and Arkansas-bound Harmonie Ware added 12 and broke the 2,000-point barrier in a quarterfinal win over unbeaten Coffee County (Manchester), 53-44. All five starters were named to the all-tournament team. The Bearettes won 22 games by the “mercy rule” or running clock when the score became lopsided in the second half and were up 21-4 after one quarter. Season complete.

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

Previous: 9.

The Lowdown: Advanced to CIF Open Division state championship, losing to No. 2 Etiwanda, 75-59, in the final. Ze’Ni Petterson tossed in 17 points. In the NorCal Region Open Division final, the Monarchs edged then-No. 8 Clovis West (Fresno), 64-60. Freshman Maliya Hunter scored a game-high 17 points. Season complete.

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

Previous: 7.

The Lowdown: Season complete.

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

Previous: 8.

The Lowdown: Advanced to the CIF-NorCal Region Open Division final, losing to then-No. 9 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 64-60, in the final. The Golden Eagles were up 46-45 after three quarters, reaching the CIF Final Four for the sixth time in 10 years. Season complete.

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

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: Season complete.

13. Johnston, Iowa (26-0)*

Previous: 13.

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

14. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (27-2)

Previous: 14.

The Lowdown: Defeated Lutheran (St. Peters), 84-68, in the Class 6, District 3 final. The Red Knights also beat Troy Buchanan (Troy), 82-35, in the Class 6 state quarterfinals. Up next is Cor Jesu Academy (St. Louis) in the Class 6 semifinals on Wednesday, March 19. The final is the next day.

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

Previous: 15.

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

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

Previous: 16.

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

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. Season complete.

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

Previous: 18.

The Lowdown: Won record-setting fourth consecutive Minnesota Class 2A state championship, defeating Crosby-Ironton, 81-63, in the final. Kentucky-bound Maddyn Greenway poured in 40 points, drilling four 3-pointers, and added 6 steals, 5 assists and 5 rebounds; and Hope Counts, a Lipscomb recruit, doubled up with 23 points and 15 boards. Greenway made 16-of-27 shots and fired in 14 uninterrupted points in the first half when the Lions trailed 24-23. Greenway also scored 26 points when the Lions beat Minnewaska Area (Glenwood), 88-43, in the semifinals. The junior All-American posted a triple-double with 29 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in an overwhelming 84-50 win over New Richland in the quarterfinals. Greenway averaged 32.7 points in the three 2A state contests in Minneapolis. Season complete.

19. Lincoln, Dallas (39-2)*

Previous: 19.

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

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

Previous: 20.

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

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

Previous: Not ranked.

The Lowdown: The dynasty continued when the Valkyries won their state-record fifth straight KHSAA State Championship, defeating George Rogers Clark (Winchester), 65-60, in the final and returning to the Elite 25. Trailing by three points with 43.4 seconds left, a combination of three GRC turnovers and sinking eight straight free throws clinched it. LSU-bound guard ZaKiyah Johnson scored 21 points. The program has won nine state championships, coach Donna Moir being a part of all of them. She was a freshman on the 1976 winning team and the other eight state championships as a coach since 2002. Also beat Danville Christian, 60-44, in the semifinals; Cooper (Union), 78-61, in the quarterfinals and Johnson Central (Paintsville), 71-25, in the first round of the Clark’s Pump-N-Run Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Season complete.

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

Previous: 21.

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

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

Previous: 23.

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

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. Season complete.

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

Previous: 25.

The Lowdown: Season complete.

Dropped: No. 22 Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Paul VI, Haddonfield, N.J. (27-1)
2. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (24-6)*
3. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (28-0)*
4. Bishop Ireton, Alexandria, Va. (28-6)*
5. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (24-4)*

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. (25-1)
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.

Records through Monday

* 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.