BENSALEM, Pa. – Just over a month into the season and there’s third new No. 1 in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings.

No. 17 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) was the preseason No. 1, but faltered, and then No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) inherited the mantle from the Royals only to abdicate with a loss at the Nike Tournament of Champions.

This leads to a third different team at the top.

So, introducing the latest No. 1 … drum roll, please … Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.). The Lady Mustangs are for real and have claimed victories over four Elite 25 teams and won two holiday tournament crowns. Coincidentally, McNamara is a member of the same league, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, that of No. 5 St. John’s and regional power Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.). Expect all three to play each other at least two times and perhaps a third in the WCAC Tournament.

Suffice it to say it was a December to remember!

Which brings us to latest additions, an annual happening when the dust clears following the holiday tournament slate.

Four newcomers check into the Elite 25 after top-notch performances in the month of December. Making the biggest splash is No. 2 Miami (Fla.) Country, going from an unknown in the early season to national title contender after capturing the Nike Tournament of Champions Clare Droesch Bracket championship on Dec. 22 in Phoenix. The Spartans knocked off four nationally ranked teams en route to the most prestigious holiday tournament title on the girls’ side.

Also welcome No. 11 Westridge Academy (Kernersville, N.C.), No. 13 Maine West (Des Plaines, Ill.) and No. 21 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.). All three earned there way into the Elite 25 by scheduling aggressively and winning.

This weekend marks the annual Blue Star Elite Invitational at Thomas Jefferson University (formerly known as Philadelphia University) Sunday in Philadelphia. There are 16 games with two courts going simultaneous in the Gallagher Center at 4201 Henry Avenue. Teams from six states and District of Columbia, mostly from the Middle Atlantic, are featured at the all-day event with several Elite 25 teams competing.

The standout games include: Manasquan (N.J.)-Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 12:45 p.m.; New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)-Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 2; St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)-St. John’s College (Washington), 2:15; Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.)-Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield, Pa.), 3:30; Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia)-St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 3:45; Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)-Manchester Township (Lakehurst, N.J.), 5:15; Roland Park Country Day (Baltimore)-Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic, 6:45.

The day tips at 9:30 a.m.; fans are urged to arrive early and have a ball. It’ll be a long day that will impact the Elite 25 rankings.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.orgfor staff updates from showcase events and key games all season. We will keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ hoop world.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return January 9 and for the duration of the season, capped by the state tournaments and the GEICO Nationals that are held in New York.

Happy New Year to all! We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, January 2, 2019

1. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (12-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Low-down: The Lady Mustangs left little doubt they are the nation’s top team after a remarkable run in December. Madison Scott was the Most Valuable Player and Jalia Brown-Turner was all-tournament after dispatching No. 14 Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 84-43, in the CresCom Bank Holiday Invitational final in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Last week, they won the Title IX Classic title in Washington, D.C., with Brown-Turner, a North Carolina State signee, earning MVP honors. The league schedule intensifies against powerhouse Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) and then there’s the first meeting with No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington) on Jan. 22.

2. Miami (Fla.) Country Day (11-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Coach Ochiel Swaby’s team had the best holiday season nationally by capturing the Nike Tournament of Champions Clare Droesch Bracket and followed that up by winning the Naples (Fla.) Holiday Shootout American Division.

3. Africentric Early College, Columbus, Ohio (9-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Ohio’s top-ranked Division III squad edged Schlarman (Danville, Ill.), 45-35, in the Braggin’ Rights Classic final in Cincinnati. The Lady Nubians are off to Kenwood (Chicago) this weekend.

4. Windward School, Los Angeles (13-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Lost by a point to No. 2 Miami (Fla.) Country Day in the Nike TOC Clare Droesch Bracket final. The schedule resumes Thursday against Central (Fresno).

5. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (12-1)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: After a 3-1 showing (for fifth place) at the Nike Tournament of Champions Clare Droesch Bracket prior to Christmas in Phoenix, the Lady Cadets defeated Paint Branch (Burtonsville, Md.), 72-57. The challenging schedule picks up on Sunday afternoon at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia against No. 19 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) at the Blue Star Elite Invitational in Philadelphia.

6. Pinewood School, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Coach Doc Scheppler’s squad is on a roll, winning another tournament. The Panthers topped Salesian College Prep (Richmond, Calif.), 47-37, to capture the West Coast Jamboree Platinum Division. Stanford-bound Hannah Jump earned Most Valuable Player honors but it was sophomore Annika Decker scoring 14 points to pace the offense in the final. Previously they won the Iolani Classic in Hawaii prior to Christmas.

7. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (17-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Lady Tigers went 3-1 for third place in the Nike TOC Clare Droesch Bracket, edging No. 17 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), 50-49. They also won the Boo Williams Christmas Tournament in Hampton (Va.). Two of the three losses this season are to Elite 25 teams.

8. Centennial, Las Vegas (10-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Went 3-1 at the Nike TOC and came home to win the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. The Lady Bulldogs are off to the California for two games, including a matchup with No. 4 Windward School (Los Angeles) on Saturday

9. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (15-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Trailblazers went 3-0 at an event in Portland, Ore., but will be eyeing a showdown with No. 4 Windward (Los Angeles) on Jan. 15.

The Trailblazers are California’s top team and have played like it with eight lopsided victories. Coach Alicia Komaki takes her team to the Tarkanian Classic this week in Las Vegas.

10. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (24-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won the Mansfield Spring Creek BBQ Tournament. The Lady Wolves are the top-ranked team in Texas’ Class 5A and will round out the schedule playing in District 5-5A.

11. Westridge Academy, Kernersville, N.C. (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Coach Delaney Rudd’s team cannot be ignored in the national scope after a stellar showing at the Title IX Classic Bob Headen Bracket in Washington, D.C.

12. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (12-1)

Previous: 12. 

Low-down: Won the Big South Shootout this week in Duluth, Ga.

13. Maine West, Des Plaines, Ill. (18-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Illinois’’ top-ranked Class 4A team won the Dundee-Crown Tournament for the third straight year to remain undefeated heading into January.

14. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (12-1)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The lone loss is to No. 1 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 84-43, in the CresCom Bank Holiday Invitational in South Carolina.

15. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (11-1)

Previous: 16. 

Low-down: Won the Visitation Christmas Tournament, beating Parkway Central (Chesterfield), 59-30, in the final. Rickie Woltman and Marisa Warren each tossed in 14 points.

16. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (15-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won the Deep South Classic, beating Brookwood (Snellville), 49-42, in the final.

17. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (4-4)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Royals split four games at the Nike TOC in Arizona. They resume play after a holiday break on Friday against Ossining (N.Y.) at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

18. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (7-0)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Michigan-bound Michelle Sidor is filling it up this season, averaging 33.1 points per game and has drained 28 3-pointers in seven games. Sidor recently became Bergen County’s all-time leading scorer and is taking aim at 3,000 career points. The Rebels have showdowns against state-powers Manchester Township (Lakehurst) Friday and Franklin (Somerset) Saturday at A New Year’s Resolution Showcase at Eastside High in Paterson, N.J.

19. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (5-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Lady Lancers recorded quality wins over Patrick School (Elizabeth), 50-39, and Staten Island (N.Y.) Academy, 53-37. Now they have their true first test of the season against No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.

20. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (7-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Cougars have won seventh straight since an opening day loss to No. 3 Africentric Early College (Columbus).

21. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (12-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Sea Hawks were busy traveling the nation and coming away with two major holiday chips. First, they won the Nike Tournament of Champions Joe Smith Bracket in Arizona, beating Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 43-40, in the final. Last week, they went cross-country to Delaware taking the Diamond State Classic St. Francis Healthcare Cup title.

22. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (11-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Went 2-1 for second place at the Boo Williams Christmas Tournament. The Cavaliers are off until Jan. 12.

23. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (9-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Pioneers slipped twice in December but topped Wayne (Mich.) Memorial. Sophomore Damiya Hagemann contributed a double-double, with 24 points and 10 assists in the LBI Classic.

24. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (6-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Went 2-1 at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh, N.C.

25. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (12-3)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Lady Crusaders went 5-3 in two holiday tournaments in Arizona and North Carolina. The strength of schedule keeps them in the Elite 25.

Dropped:No. 13 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); No. 19 Beaver Dam (Wis.); No. 24 Forest Park (Ga.); and No. 25 Southeast Raleigh (Raleigh, N.C.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Roland Park Country Day, Baltimore (10-1)

2. Woodbridge, Va. (9-1)

3. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (10-3)

4. National Christian Academy, Fort Washington, Md. (9-3)

5. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (4-4)

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

Midwest

1. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (10-0)

2. Beaver Dam, Wis. (10-1)

3. Derby, Kan. (5-0)

4. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (12-0)

5. Richwoods, Peoria, Ill. (17-0)

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

Southland

1. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (12-0)

2. Wesleyan, Norcross, Ga. (12-0)

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (12-4)

4. Hazel Green, Ala. (20-2)

5. Duncanville, Texas (21-4)

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

Far West

1. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (7-0)

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (18-2)

3. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (6-3)

4. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (8-2)

5. Mount Spokane, Mead, Wash. (10-0)

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. 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.