HOLIDAY VERSION 1.0: No. 2 LuHi (NY), No. 13 Shabach Christian (MD) earn cred in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings; No. 1 Sierra Canyon (CA) wins big in Las Vegas

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Let’s get right to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings.

The Elite 25 Holiday Version 1.0 focuses on the pre-Christmas tournaments and all of the ramifications. It also gives a few teams from the lower portion of the rankings a second chance especially when they are scheduled to play quality teams.

The grandmother of all girls’ tournaments annually is the Nike Tournament of Champions in Mesa, Ariz., where teams from the Elite 25 played earlier this week. Three teams won bracket titles with No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) capturing the Vincent Cannizzaro Bracket with four impressive wins. The Crusaders go from the East Region rankings to near the top of the Elite 25. Kudos, Crusaders!

No. 13 Shabach Christian Academy (Landover, Md.) was on the brink of expulsion from the Elite 25 but has rallied to a 10-3 record and annexed the Claire Droesch Bracket in Arizona. We’d like to thank coach Sam Caldwell for the photo on this post.

No. 16 Centennial (Las Vegas) on the John Anderson Bracket with a blowout win in the championship game.

So, there is a bit of shakeup in the Elite 25. Five teams enter the rankings, five teams (including No. 1 Sierra Canyon School of Chatsworth, Calif.) remained in the same position from the previous rankings while shifted. No. 11 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) and No. 12 Conway (Ark.) rose 11 slots while DeSoto (Texas) dipped 14 spots.

The newcomers to the Elite 25 include No. 2 Long Island Lutheran, No. 15 Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.), No. 16 Centennial, No. 19 Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.), No. 20 Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.) and No. 22 Example Prep (Frankfort, Ill.). Morris Catholic is a team that we’ve monitored since last winter. The Crusaders play one of the top non-conference and national schedules ever from the state of New Jersey. It’s about time!

That’s a wrap for this week. Up next is Elite 25 Holiday Version 2.0 (post-Christmas).

Okay, time to finish up Christmas shopping in the Florida sun (and chill) today and do some wrapping of my own (sorry for the pun, couldn’t resist).

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Jan. 4, 2023. They will continue nonstop weekly until the end of the season in April. That’s a long haul ahead for the boys’ and girls’ rankings but check in regularly here and follow me on Twitter at @clawlor.

Finally, it is our sincere wishes that you and your family have a prosperous Happy New Year and pray your Christmas or Hannukah is full of joy. Please remain safe and stay warm with the latest Artic blast choking much of the nation.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Dec. 23, 2022

1. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Won Tarkanian Classic Diamond Division in Las Vegas, waxing Putnam West (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 73-33, in the final. USC-bound Juju Watkins posted a double-double with 31 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals and junior MacKenly Randolph had 15 points and 8 boards. The Trailblazers have several quality wins and an average margin of victory at 25 points per game.

2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (9-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: It’s been a meteoric rise for the Crusaders and winning the Nike Tournament of Champions Vincent Cannizzaro Bracket, defeating No. 8 La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day, 63-50, in the final. The Crusaders won four games in four days to earn the prestigious chip in Mesa, Ariz. Kayleigh Heckel had 22 points and 7 assists, junior forward Ka’Shya Hawkins had 14 points 8 rebounds, Kate Koval had 10 points and 9 boards and junior guard Syla Swords manufactured 8 points, 8 rebound, 6 assists and 4 steals. The Crusader will take a well deserved holiday break, resuming play on Jan. 8.

3. Etiwanda, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Eagles enter the West Coast Jamboree in the East Bay on Dec. 28 with an unblemished mark and winning by an average of 43 points per game. That’ll change because competition at the Northern California annually is off the charts.

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

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Red Knights won the Iolani Classic in Honolulu in impressive fashion. After a nine-day layoff they face Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis) on Dec. 26. Nebraska-bound C Natalie Potts is averaging 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

5. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (7-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Placed third at the Nike TOC Vincent Cannizzaro Bracket with a 3-1 mark in Mesa, Ariz.

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

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Lady Royals have cruised to six straight wins to open the term. Their closest game was 10 points. Up next are two games at a local holiday tournament on  Dec. 28 and 29.

7. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (10-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Eagles carry an 18-game win streak over parts of two seasons into the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational She Got Game Bracket and face Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) on Dec. 28 in the first round. The semifinals are Dec. 29 and the final round is Dec. 30.

8. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (13-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Finished second at the Nike TOC Vincent Cannizzaro Bracket.

9. Hazel Green, Ala. (14-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won the Gulfport Shores (Ala.) Holiday Beach Bash, defeating Daphne (Ala.), 64-31, in the final. Coach Tim Miller earned his 700th victory after capturing the championship game. The Lady Trojans host the Ball N Prep National Girls Showcase from Dec. 27-29.

10. South Bend (Ind.) Washington (14-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Panthers are coasting heading into Christmas but did have two close games in recent weeks. Indiana’s top-ranked team regardless of classification will play in the Lady Tiger Classic in Warsaw, Ind., with pool play on Dec. 29 with Columbia City and Winchester. The final is Dec. 30.

11. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: North Carolina State-bound guard Zoe Brooks flipped in a game-high 22 points when the Lady Lancers crushed Long Branch, 91-33. She’s averaging 22.0 points after four games. Vianney plays New Providence and Westfield next week.

12. Conway, Ark. (9-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Wampus Cats have won two straight after a 70-55 loss to No. 18 South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas) and play Red Oak (Texas) in the first round of the 72nd Sandra Meadows Classic (Duncanville, Texas) on Dec. 28. The tournament runs Dec. 28-30.

13. Shabach Christian Academy, Landover, Md. (10-3)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won the Nike TOC Claire Droesch Bracket championship, edging Crestwood Prep (Toronto, Ont.), 42-41, in the final. The Eagles had a shaky start to the season but have righted the ship heading into the holidays.

14. Hoover, Ala. (17-0)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Lady Bucs have 34 consecutive games over the last two seasons and take that mark into the Ball N Prep National Girls Showcase from Dec. 27-29 in Hazel Green, where they will play three games.

15. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (11-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Golden Eagles remained unbeaten after a 50-45 win over Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) on Dec. 10. After that 17-day respite, coach Craig Campbell’s squad faces United South (Laredo, Texas) on Dec. 27 in the first round of the KSA Tournament in Orlando, Fla.

16. Centennial, Las Vegas (5-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Nike TOC John Anderson Bracket, defeating Carondelet (Concord, Calif.), 60-36, in the final. Coach Karen Weitz, one of the nation’s premier basketball coaches, is winner and her teams have been in the Elite 25 girls’ rankings for decades. By the way, she’s juggling both the boys’ and girls’ head gigs these days at the Nevada powerhouse.

17. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (9-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Placed fifth in the Nike TOC Vincent Cannizzaro Bracket with a 3-1 record in Mesa, Ariz. Freshman McKenna Woliczko was named all-tournament.

18. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (12-4)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: All four losses are to Elite 25 teams ranked in the top-10 but the Warriors are the favorites in Texas Class 6A.

19. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (9-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Split four games at the Nike TOC Vincent Cannizzaro Bracket, finishing in sixth place. The two-time Kentucky state champion Valkyries visit Frederick Douglass (Lexington) on Dec. 29.

20. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Coach Billy Lovett has a team that can flat-out ball with the best of them. The Crusaders recorded an impressive 72-69 win over Rutgers Prep (Somerset) with a fourth quarter rally. The Pauldo twins Mya (17 points) and Mia (16) teamed to score 33 points. It could be a preview of the NJSIAA Non-Public B state final in March. Up next is Clayton (N.C.) in the first round of the John Wall Holiday Invitational Wonderland Girls Bracket on Dec. 27 in Raleigh, N.C.

21. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (9-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Finished third at the Tarkanian Classic Diamond Bracket, beating Coeur d’Alene (Idaho), 65-55. Th Monarchs wet 3-1 at the Nevada event.

22. Example Prep, Frankfort, Ill. (7-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Eagles placed third at the Nike TOC Claire Droesch Bracket with a 3-1 record.

They feature a Division I lineup with Jasmine Brown (Mississippi State), Kenise Johnson (Iowa), Erin Henry (UIC), Madisyn Saracco (Southern Illinois) and Lisa Thompson (DePaul). Up next is three games in the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational Ben T. David Bracket beginning with Fort Myers (Fla.) on Dec. 28 in Wesley Chapel, Fla.

23. Duncanville, Texas (11-4)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Pantherettes may not be eligible for the UIL Class 6A postseason but sit in first place of District 8-6A with a 3-0 and a national schedule to keep them busy. Up next is the Sandra Meadows Classic on their home court with a loaded field. For now, the Pantherettes remain in the Elite 25 but that could change in a hurry.

24. Bedford (Ind.) North Lawrence (13-2)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Stars look for redemption at the Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic with Marian (Mishawaka) in the semifinals on Dec. 29. The final is later that day against East Central (Saint Leon) or Noblesville.

25. DeSoto, Texas (11-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Defeated Skyline (Dallas), 37033, for a third straight win.

Dropped: No. 10 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.); No. 12 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.); No. 20 Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.); No. 24 Holy Innocents’ Episcopal (Atlanta) and No. 25 South Shore (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (7-4)
2. Spring-Ford, Royersford, Pa. (8-0)
3. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (6-4)
4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)
5. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (2-1)

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

Midwest

1. Zionsville, Ind. (14-0)
2. Hersey, Arlington Heights, Ill. (13-1)
3. Fremd, Palatine, Ill. (12-0)
4. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (7-1)
5. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (9-2)

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

Southland

1. Pearland, Texas (18-1)
2. Summer Creek, Houston (17-1)
3. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (10-3)
4. Tupelo, Miss. (12-0)
5. Edmond (Okla.) North (7-0)

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

Far West

1. Garfield, Seattle (5-0)
2. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (7-3)
3. Desert Vista, Phoenix (9-3)
4. Carondelet, Concord, Calif. (13-2)
5. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (5-0)

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

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 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.