JOURNEY TO THE TOURNEY: No. 1 in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings up for grabs with six power teams battling this week at Chipotle Nationals in Indiana

BENSALEM, Pa. – For the only time this season, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings can breathe. Actually rest.

Since championships in 50 states and the District of Columbia are complete, the Easter Weekend was a good time for six powerhouse programs from the Elite 25 to rest and wrap up the term in a high school gymnasium about 10 miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Call it a race to the finish line and the winner gets the checkered flag but more importantly the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls Basketball National Championship.

Chipotle Nationals

The three-day national tournament tips off Thursday at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Ind. The semifinals are Friday and the finals Saturday morning. Defending champions are Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) boys and Montverde (Fla.) Academy girls.

All eight boys teams are ranked in the Elite 25. Ditto for the girls’ field.

The games will be broadcast on the ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU).

The girls’ schedule (All times are Eastern; seed number precedes each team):

Thursday

10 a.m.: 3-IMG Academy vs. 6-Grace Christian (Sanford, N.C.)

12 p.m.: 4-Montverde Academy vs. 5-Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)

Friday

Semifinals on ESPNU

10:30 a.m.: 1-Long Island Lutheran vs. Montverde or Sidwell

12:30 p.m.: 2-Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs. IMG or Grace Christian

The final is Saturday at 10 a.m. on ESPN.

One caveat from the Chipotle Nationals. The winner isn’t guaranteed safe passage to the summit of the Elite 25 because No. 2 Etiwanda (Calif.), the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division champions, awaits the results. Etiwanda is in play; don’t count them out.

Elsewhere, we have an update to the 2024 USA Women’s Nike Hoop Summit roster.

USA Basketball announced that Jordan Lee of St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), who attends Saint was added to the USA roster. Lee will make her USA Basketball competitive debut when the USA takes on the World Select Team on April 13 in Portland, Oregon.

The Texas-bound Lee replaces Madisen McDaniel of Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), a South Carolina pledge, who is no longer able to participate due to injury.

The remainder of the USA roster features Mikayla Bales, Jaloni Cambridge, Morgan Cheli, Kendall Dudley, Joyce Edwards, Olivia Olson, Mackenly Randolph, Arianna Roberson, Kennedy Smith, Sarah Strong and Allie Ziebell.

The USA rosters for both teams and the World, too.

That’s it for the month of March. Enjoy the Women’s Final Four on Friday and Sunday in Cleveland.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings will return on April 8. That will be the final rankings and reflect any changes from the CHIPOTLE Nationals. We are confident a reshuffle is in order and what happens in Indiana will impact the Elite 25.

Follow us on X at @clawlor. We appreciate your readership and clicks. If you like what you read, please send it out on social media or direct message us via X.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, April 1, 2024

1. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-1)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Idle. The Chipotle Nationals are  next.

2. Etiwanda, Calif. (32-3)*

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won second straight CIF Open Division state championship. Season complete.

3. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (30-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Advanced the CIF Open Division final and won the CIF NorCal Open Division chip. Season complete.

4. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (26-2)**

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools championship for the third straight year and Friends School League championship for the fourth straight time. Season complete.

5. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (31-0)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won Class 6 state championship for fourth straight undefeated season and the seventh consecutive title for the program. The win streak is 131 games in a row. Season complete.

6. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (32-0)*

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAAAAAA state championship. The Rams are off to the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

7. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (38-0)*

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

8. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (31-3)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Southern Region Open Division final. Season complete.

9. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (27-1)*

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Won second consecutive Non-Public B state championship. Season complete.

10. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (23-3)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Regular season is complete but the CHIPOTLE Nationals are next.

11. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (29-1)*

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Won Ohio Division II state championship. It was the third straight state title for the Lady Cavaliers. Season complete.

12. Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga. (30-2)*

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAA state championship. Season complete.

13. Duncanville, Texas (35-4)*

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship for the program’s 12^th state championship and the first since 2020. Season complete.

14. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (34-1)*

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won Division I Class 4A state championship. It was the Bearettes’ second straight title and third in six years. Season complete.

15. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (30-1)*

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Won Indiana Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

16. Hazel Green, Ala. (32-4)*

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship for the program’s seventh straight state title. Season complete.

17. Johnston, Iowa (26-0)*

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Won its third state championship in five years, annexing the Class 5A state chip. Season complete.

18. Grace Christian, Sanford, N.C (30-0)*

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won NCISAA 3A state championship. A trip to Indiana for the CHIPOTLE Nationals could be next.

19. DME Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (20-7)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Season complete.

20. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (21-4)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Regular season is complete but the CHIPOTLE Nationals are next.

21. Frisco (Texas) Liberty (34-7)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship for the second straight year. Season complete.

22. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (33-4)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

23. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (26-5)**

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Won District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA title and a third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

24. DeSoto, Texas (27-6)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Advanced to Class 6A, Region II final. Season complete.

25. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (25-6)*

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Won Independent School League AA championship. The CHIPOTLE Nationals are next.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (26-5)*
2. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (28-5)*
3. Christ the King, Middle Village (29-3)**
4. Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic (26-5)*
5. McDonogh, Owings Mills, Md. (25-4)*

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

Midwest

1. West Bloomfield, Mich. (27-1)*
2. Minnetonka, Minn. (29-2)*
3. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (32-4)
4. Millard West, Omaha, Neb. (27-1)*
5. Olmstead Falls, Ohio (26-3)*

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. (31-7)*
2. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (27-4)*
3. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (25-5)*
4. Neshoba Central, Philadelphia, Miss. (33-1)*
5. Putnam City West, Oklahoma City (27-1)*

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

Far West

1. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (31-3)
2. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (28-5)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-8)
4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-4)*
5. Iolani School, Honolulu (26-3)*

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

Records through Monday’s games.

 * 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 (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.