BENSALEM, Pa. – It’s time to cut right to the chase with the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings: There are no additions this week.

So that means we’ll delve into the GEICO High School Nationals. With the four invitations getting handed out in less than a month, Minnesota won’t sending a team. Last week, the Minnesota High School League told Paragon Marketing Group no way will it allow teams such as No. 6 Hopkins (Minnetonka), who is in line to win a second straight Class 4A championship. Hopkins would have been an attractive addition to the four-team field with Paige Bueckers, a Connecticut recruit who is the odds on favorite to be the national girls’ player of the year. The Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) boys were also in the running but that’s out.

Teams from Nevada, Maryland, District of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, Washington, Florida, Georgia and Utah are in the running. If my ballot were cast today it would include Westlake (Atlanta, Ga.), Lake Highlands Prep (Orlando, Fla.), St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) and either Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) or Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.). The latter two teams are slated to meet next week at the National Association of Christian Athletes national tournament. The winner of the NACA would get the fourth invitation. St. Frances strengthened its case last weekend winning a fifth consecutive IAAM A Conference championship.

Perhaps the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion can make a second appearance in as many years. But that seems to be longshot.

The GEICO Nationals will be played April 3 and 4 at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, N.Y.

OK, that’s a wrap.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from showcase events, postseason tournaments and key games all season. We’ll keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ hoop world.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings return on February 26.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 19, 2020

1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (23-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Makira Cook connected for 15 points (with three 3-pointers), 7 assists and 5 steals and Laila Phelia had 15 points and the Cougars showed no signs of slowing down to wallop Withrow (Cincinnati), 88-12, in the Cincinnati 3 Sectional first round. The Cougars faced Northwest (Cincinnati) on Tuesday and the semifinals are Monday back at nearby Sycamore High School.

2. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (22-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Idle. Next is the National Association of Christian Athletes Division 1 tournament, starting Feb. 26 in Dayton, Tenn.

3. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (27-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Torreys carry an 11-game win streak into the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division playoffs that tip Saturday entertaining Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are Feb. 26 and the final on Feb. 29.

4. Cypress Creek, Houston (36-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: In Class 6A, Region III, the Cougars beat Lamar (Houston), 91-22, in a bi-district playoff game. Next is Fort Bend Dulles in the Area playoffs.

5. Southeast Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C (23-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Perfection means a 12-0 mark in the Cap-7 Conference for the 12^th consecutive year. Last week, the Lady Bulldogs too down Raleigh rivals Sanderson, 54-32, and Leesville Road, 49-31.

6. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (23-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: There’s no stopping the Royals after lopsided wins by 24, 27 and 59 points. Two games are left in the regular season, which concludes hosting crosstown rivals Minnetonka Friday night. UConn-recruit Paige Bueckers is playing like the national player of the year, orchestrating the offense at 21.4 points and 9.1 assists per game. Last week, she was added the Jordan Brand Classic roster for senior all-star game to be played in Chicago on March 27.

7. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (24-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: In last week’s lone game, the Tigers crushed Harpeth Hall (Nashville), 59-26. The regular concludes with two regional games this week.

8. Northwestern, Kokomo, Ind. (28-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Tigers are two wins from capturing the Class 4A state champion after winning it all in 3A last year. They first need to take care of business Saturday against Penn (Mishawaka) in the Semistates. The final is schedule for Feb. 29 in Indianapolis. Last weekend, the Tigers drilled Fishers, 67-40, and Homestead (Fort Wayne), 72-35, in the Marion Regional.

9. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (24-3)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: It was a memorable Senior Night for Ivey Kaylah, who tossed in 20 points, and classmate Synia Johnson added 11 in a 69-57 victory over Maret (Washington, D.C.). Earlier in the week, the Lady Crusaders thumped Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 65-32, behind Elizabeth Martino’s 14 points. Next is the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I Tournament next week in Dayton, Tenn.

10. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (20-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Lady Crusaders topped Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.), 75-52, and Truman (Bronx), 75-44. The regular season wraps up with Staten Island (N.Y.) Academy Saturday.

11. Duncanville, Texas (34-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Pantherettes needed a 22-10 fourth-quarter showing to hold off Mansfield Summit, 65-47, in the Class 6A, Region 1 bi-district playoff game.

12. DeSoto, Texas (30-2)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Played Pearce (Richardson) Tuesday night in the Class 6A, Region 1 bi-district playoff game.

13. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (27-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Monarchs clipped Etiwanda, 54-50, in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division pool play opener. Pool A action resumes Wednesday hosting Etiwanda and then it’s off to No. 14 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) in what sure be for the right to play in the championship game on Feb. 28 at The Pyramid on the Cal State Long Beach campus.

14. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (25-4)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: In CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool A play, the Trailblazers captured a 60-53 win over Lynwood. Round-robin pool continues Wednesday with Etiwanda and Saturday versus No. 13 Mater Dei (Santa Ana). The final between the pool winners is Feb. 28 in Long Beach.

15. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (27-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: After two lopsided wins in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, the Panthers are set for the postseason. That means the WCAC Tournament quarterfinals are next with the quarterfinals Saturday in Hyattsville, Md. The semifinals and final are Feb. 23 and 24, respectively, at American University’s Bender Arena in Washington.

16. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (15-0)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Michigan’s top-ranked team knocked off state powerhouse Mercy (Farmington Hills), 59-41. They followed up that with a 67-62 victory at Lenawee Christian (Adrian). The action continued Tuesday with Cass Tech (Detroit) and at Heritage (Saginaw) Friday.

17. Amarillo, Texas (33-2)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Zayla Tinner scored 19 points to pace a balanced attack in a 72-39 victory over Abilene Wylie in the Class 5A Region I bi-district playoff game. Next is Eastlake (El Paso) Friday in the Area playoffs.

18. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (26-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Idle. The Class 4A sectional semifinals were Tuesday at Plainfield North. The final is Thursday.

19. Westlake, Atlanta (26-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The two-time defending Georgia Class AAAAAAA champions are off to a flying start after dispatching Etowah (Woodstock), 73-31, in the state first round. Next up is Archer (Lawrenceville) Wednesday in the second round.

20. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (19-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won the West Catholic League championship with a perfect 10-0 record. The CIF-Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs start Friday. The semifinals are Feb. 26 and the final is Feb. 28.

21. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (20-1)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Idle. The Lady Mikes open the Mercer County Tournament with Nottingham Wednesday. They also had an in-state showdown with Rutgers Prep (Somerset) on Tuesday.

22. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (24-5)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Lady Mustangs were tripped up by St. John’s College (Washington. D.C.), 68-64, in overtime in the regular season finale. The WCAC quarterfinals tip Saturday in Hyattsville, Md.

23. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (25-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Defeated Tarpon Springs, 77-37, in the Class 4A, Region 2 quarterfinals. The Highlanders played Bishop Moore (Orlando) Tuesday in the semifinals. The regional title game is Friday with the winner advancing to the state tournament.

24. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (25-3)*

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Won its fifth consecutive  IAAM A Conference championship, defeating St. Vincent Pallotti (Laurel), 55-51, in the final. Junior guard Aniya Gourdine collected 18 points and cleared 9 rebounds.

25. St. Joseph Central Catholic, Huntington, W.Va. (19-1)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Closed out regular season, defeating Blazer (Ashland, Ky.), 83-45. Next is the Class A state playoffs.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (21-7)
2. Poly, Baltimore (19-1)
3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (21-1)
4. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.Y. (19-3)
5. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (21-1)

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

Midwest

1. Fairmont, Kettering, Ohio (21-2)
2. Newark, Ohio (21-2)
3. Aquinas, La Crosse, Wis. (19-1)
4. Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (23-0)
5. Morton, Ill. (31-0)

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

Southland

1. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (26-1)
2. Hoover, Ala. (30-2)
3. Cherokee, Canton, Ga. (26-2)
4. Meridian, Miss. (27-1)
5. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (23-3)

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

Far West

1. Windward School, Los Angeles (23-4)
2. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (25-4)
3. Centennial, Las Vegas (20-6)
4. Cashmere, Wash. (21-0)
5. Woodinville, Wash. (23-0)

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

* Won state, national or recognized conference/league postseason tournament championship

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 Senior Writer 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.