Go-To 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 6, 2013

BENSALEM, Pa. – In a late season shocker, the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 high school girls’ basketball has a new No. 1. Last week the news of the O.C., saw previous top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) knocked from its lofty perch. After winning the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions elite bracket in the December, the Monarchs met their match—no less on their home court—in a loss to Etiwanda, 73-72.

Enter a new No. 1 from the Lone Star State.

Then Etiwanda dropped the CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA final to No. 22 Corona Santiago, 70-65, in the final. Go figure. The win places the Sharks in the Go-To 25 rankings and relegates Etiwanda into the Far West regional. The Southern California Region playoffs will shake things out in the coming weeks. With the loss, Mater Dei tumbles nine slots.

That means No. 1 Duncanville (Texas), the two-time Class 5A champions, inherit the top spot. The Pantherettes claimed the storied program’s eighth state title in a 59-36 thrashing of Cibolo Steele. So, barring anything crazy, Duncanville will stay at No. 1 in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings. That means National Championship. At 42-0, Duncanville enters the 2013-14 season with a 70-game win-streak and should be top-ranked to start the season. Hopefully the Pantherettes will leave the state for meaningful national games. No. 2 St. Mary’s (Phoenix), a three-time state champion, was also considered for No. 1 but lost to Mater Dei.

There was a shakeup in the Go-To 25 rankings as four teams enter, headed by  No. 12 Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.), which captured the Class 4A chip with two impressive wins last weekend in Normal. No. 22 Corona Santiago earned its way into the rankings as did No. 23 Southwood (Shreveport, La.) and No. 25 Life Center Academy (Burlington, N.J.). Southwood plays Saturday for Louisiana’s 5A title against Natchitoches Central at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe. This will be an epic matchup. Last year Southwood disappointed in the states but is out for redemption. Life Center bagged the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I Tournament in Dayton, Tenn., beating nationally ranked New Hope Christian Academy (Thomasville, N.C.), 54-51. Winning the NACA’s top bracket is difficult and prestigious. Teams must have depth, needing four wins in three days. Life Center is expected to receive a bid to the upcoming National High School Invitational, which tips April 5 at Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, Md. Additionally No. 11 Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) is expected along with regionally ranked Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) and Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.), rounding out the four-team field. Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.) won it last year.

Hope to see you at a game soon. Enjoy a game in your area this weekend. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead this weekend, it’s back to Daylight Savings Time. Gotta love it. The warm weather is on the horizon—hopefully not too distant—and the summer travel season will start heating up during the live period next month. – Christopher Lawlor

Go-To 25 girls’ basketball rankings, March 6, 2013

1. Duncanville, Texas (42-0)**

Previous ranking: 3.

Low-down: The Pantherettes became the first team in 11 years to repeat as Class 5A champions, beating Cibolo Steele, 59-36, in the final. SMU-bound F Kiara Perry earned MVP honors, posting 20 points and 13 rebounds. Coach Cathy Self-Morgan’s team won the eighth crown in program history and her fifth overall. The Pantherettes return several key players and carry a 70-game win streak in next season.

2. St. Mary’s, Phoenix (29-1)**

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won Division I championship for third straight state title. Season complete.

3. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (32-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Lady Warriors are headed back to the Class AAA state tournament after crushing White County (Sparta), 74-32, in the Sectional final. Alexa Middleton’s game-high 27 points paced an offense, which sank 11 three-pointers. The Lady Warriors carry a 55-game win streak into Wednesday’s state quarterfinals against Brentwood at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center. Also beat Blackman (Murfreesboro), 61-49, in Region 4-AAA final.

4. Marion County, Lebanon, Ky. (34-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Played Tuesday LaRue County (Hodgenville) in the 5^th Region championship. Beat Elizabethtown, 65-43, in semifinals.

5. Windward, Los Angeles (30-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won the CIF-Southern Section Division IV-AA crown, defeating Serra (Gardena), 85-57. Emily Surhoff netted 26 points, sinking 10 of 13 shots, and Courtney Jaco added 10 points and nine rebounds. Now it’s the CIF Southern California Open Division Tournament on March 12. The final is March 16.

6. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel-Nor, Mo. (27-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won Class 4, District 5 title, topping Miller Career (St. Louis), 82-62, in final. In the semifinals, Napheesa Collier (23 points) and Nia Roth (18) combined for 41 points in an 81-31 win over McCluer South-Berkeley (Ferguson), 81-31. Up next is the Class 4 first round vs. MICDS (St. Louis) on Wednesday. The winner gets St. Dominic (O’Fallon) or Kirksville Saturday in quarterfinals.

7. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (30-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Junior F Stephanie Amichia had 14 points and 17 rebounds in a 57-40 win over North Cobb (Kennesaw) in the Class AAAAAA semifinals. Up next is rivals Norcross in the championship game Saturday at the Macon Centroplex.

8. Bedford (Ind.) North Lawrence (28-0)**

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Stars completed an unbeaten season, winning their third state championship in a 54-51 win over Fort Wayne South in the Class 4A final. Sophomores Alexa Bailey and Dominique McBryde scored 19 points apiece. Season complete.

9. St. John’s, Washington, D.C. (30-1)**

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Cadets won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, edging regionally ranked Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 67-66. Notre Dame-bound Lindsay Allen scored 28 points, including 16 of 16 from the foul line, and snared 11 boards. Allen’s two free throws with 31.5 seconds left increased the lead to 65-62. Sophomore Amari Carter added 19 points. Up next is the Bishop Walsh Tournament this weekend in Cumberland, Md.

10. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (28-1)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: The Monarchs reign is over after getting upset by Etiwanda, 73-72, in the CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA semifinals. Up next are the Southern California Region Open Division playoffs Friday against Stockdale (Bakersfield).

11. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (29-3)**

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won third straight Class 8A championship. Expect the Panthers to earn a third straight invite to the National High School Invitational in April. Regular season complete.

12. Marian Catholic, Chicago Heights, Ill. (33-1)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Kauai Bradley’s putback as the buzzer sounded gave the Spartans a 48-47 win over Rolling Meadows in the Class 4A final. Junior G Ashton Millender scored 12 points as the Spartans closed the season on a 19-game win streak. Season complete.

13. Shabazz, Newark, N.J. (28-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Advanced to the Group 2, North Section 2 final, toppling Ridgefield Park, 50-23, in the semifinals. Also thumped Caldwell, 61-42, in the quarterfinals. The final against Lincoln (Jersey City) was played Tuesday. Zaire O’Neill totaled 42 points and 27 rebounds in the two games.

14. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (23-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Jordan Reynolds and Kailee Johnson combined for 51 points in a 74-39 victory over Roseburg in the second round of the Class 6A Tournament. Up next is Westview (Beaverton) in 6A quarterfinals Thursday afternoon at Portland’s Rose Garden.

15. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won the CIF-North Coast Section Division III Tournament, thumping Miramonte (Orinda), 77-48. Up next is Brookside Christian (Stockton) Friday in the CIF Northern California Open Division first round. The final is March 23 in Sacramento.

16. Martin Luther King, Detroit (20-0)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: LaQuita Hart struck for 12 points in a 46-35 win over Cass tech (Detroit) in the Class A, District 20 final. The Crusaders opened the Regional 7 playoffs Tuesday against Livonia Stevenson.

17. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (29-0)**

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won Class 4A championship for the second straight year, beating Dorman (Roebuck), 46-43. Rose Robinson sank four free throws in the final 10 seconds to complete the fourth-quarter rally in Columbia. South Carolina-bound C Alaina Coates dropped in 10 points and cleared 17 rebounds and junior Morgan Williams scored 18 points. Season complete.

18. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (27-1)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Advanced to the Class 4A, Section 6 final, beating Robbinsdale Cooper, 82-70, in semifinals. Northwestern-bound Nia Coffey produced 32 points and 18 rebounds. Up next is Minnetonka on Wednesday in the final.

19. Pflugerville, Texas (38-1)*

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Upset by Cibolo Steele, 69-60, in Class 5A state semifinals. The Panthers played without the starting backcourt of  Amy Staha and Brenisha Payne, both injured in the regional playoffs. The team has gone 77-2 in the last two seasons. Season complete.

20. Science Hill, Johnson City, Tenn. (33-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Defeated Farragut (Knoxville), 68-60, in Class AAA Sectional final. Shy Copney had 22 points and nine rebounds. Up next is Bradley Central (Cleveland) at the state tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday in Murfreesboro.

21. Twinsburg, Ohio (26-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Tigers won their 40^th straight game and 70^th against teams from Ohio, defeating Hudson, 55-52, in the Division I Division I Akron District final. Purdue-bound Ashley Morrissette flipped in 17 points and George Mason recruit Char-dell Dunnigan added 13. Played Midpark Tuesday in regional semifinals.

22. Corona (Calif.) Santiago (29-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Sharks won the CIF-Southern California Division I-AA championship, defeating regionally ranked Etiwanda, 70-65. Crishae Rowe scored a game-high 25 points. Up next are the CIF Southern California Region Open Division semifinals on March 12 after receiving a bye.

23. Southwood, Shreveport, La. (32-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Defeated Denham Springs, 44-35, in Class 5A semifinals. Up next is Natchitoches Central Saturday in final at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe.

24. Fairmont, Kettering, Ohio (23-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Firebirds play Mason on Wednesday in the Division I regional semifinals in Dayton after winning the Harrison 1 District title.

25. Life Center Academy, Burlington, N.J. (28-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I Tournament in Dayton, Tenn., beating nationally ranked New Hope Christian Academy (Thomasville, N.C.), 54-51, in final. Aliyah Jeune tallied 14 points and sister Ashli Jeune had 13. Elo Edeforioka added 10 points. Crystal Simmons joined Edeforioka and the Tournament’s Offensive Player Aliyah Jeune on the all-tournament team. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 13 Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.);  No. 20 New Hope Christian Academy (Thomasville, N.C.); No. 23. Troy (Fullerton, Calif.);  (26-3); No. 24 Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio); and No. 25 Edwardsville (Ill.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (25-5)

2. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (30-1)

3. Lake Taylor, Norfolk, Va. (27-1)

4. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (27-1)

5. McAuley, Portland, Maine (22-0)**

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

Midlands

1. Notre Dame, Quincy, Ill. (30-0)**

2. Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South (20-1)

3. Edwardsville, Ill. (30-1)*

4. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (35-2)*

5. Lincoln (Neb.) Southeast (24-3)**

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

South

1. Dillard, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (28-2)**

2. Bay, Bay St. Louis, Miss. (35-0)

3. Ensworth, Nashville, Tenn. (27-1)**

4. Hoover, Ala. (28-4)**

5. New Hope Christian Academy, Thomasville, N.C. (31-2)*

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

Far West

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-3)

2. St. Mary’s Stockton, Calif. (29-2)

3. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (22-2)

4. Reno, Nev. (27-3)**

5. St. Mary’s, Albany, Calif. (29-4)

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

** Denotes state champion or national tournament champion

* Season complete

Records are though Monday.

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Girls Basketball Rankings are released weekly 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 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. Follow him on Twitter at clawlor or BlueStarMedia1, and www.bluestarmedia.org.