BENSALEM, Pa. – For the second straight week there is minimal movement in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings. Last week there were no additions and now there is one newcomer.

No. 25 Mansfield (Texas) Timberview, the top-ranked team in Texas’ Class 5A and a perennial powerhouse, enters as the postseason is in full swing. Timberview needs two victories this weekend to reach the Class 5A state tournament on the first weekend in March.

As we approach the month of March that means state championships and four invitations to the GEICO National (formerly the DICK’S Nationals) to be held March 30 and 31 in New York. The primary pool of candidates are Hamilton Heights Christian (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Winter Haven (Fla.), Montverde (Fla.) Academy, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal (Atlanta), Westlake (Atlanta) and Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.). There are independent schools from Maryland, North Carolina and Georgia plus select state champions from Washington, Arizona and Utah.

The GEICO Nationals field will start taking shape within two weeks.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from regional events and the state tournaments. We have the pulse of the girls’ basketball world. The Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings will return on Feb. 28.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, Feb. 21, 2018

1. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (24-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Monarchs posted a perfect regular season but now play in the CIF-Central Coast Section quarterfinals against St. Francis (Mountain View) Friday. The semifinals are Feb. 27 and the final is March 2.

2. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (24-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Royals closed out the regular season defeating The Mary Louis Academy (Jamaica Estates), 75-48. Next up are the Brooklyn-Queen Diocesan AA playoffs.

3. Duncanville, Texas (37-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: After blowing the Area and Bi-District playoff rounds, the Pantherettes squared off with Allen on Tuesday in the Class 6A, Region I quarterfinals. The semifinals and final are this weekend.

4. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (29-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Won the District 7-AAA championship, beating Stewarts Creek (Smyrna), 69-46, in the final. Also defeated Oakland (Murfreesboro), 59-32, in the semifinals.

5. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (20-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Lady Hawks to defend their title this week at the prestigious National Association of Christian Athletes National Tournament starting in Dayton, Tenn. In the lead-up to the NACA, they defeated Legacy Charter (Greenville, S.C.), 72-36.

6. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (25-2)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Cadets won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season title by defeating Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 55-49, to clinch top seed at the conference tournament. The 1-2 punch of freshman Azzi Fudd (23 points) and junior Malu Tshitenge-Mutombo (17) combined to score 40 points. The WCAC playoffs tip this week with the title game on Monday at American University’s Bender Arena in Washington, D.C.

7. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (22-2)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Defeated Lincoln (Stockton), 47-28. The CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs opened Tuesday with Chavez (Stockton). The quarterfinals are Thursday.

8. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (28-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won the District 5-AAA championship, trouncing East Hamilton (Chattanooga), 73-42, in the final. The Bears beat Walker Valley (Cleveland), 83-33, in the semifinals.

9. Centennial, Las Vegas (27-3)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Lady Bulldogs captured the Class 4A, Sunset Regional championship for the eighth consecutive year, defeating Spring Valley (Las Vegas), 75-45. Junior G Melanie Isbell, a UNLV recruit, pumped in 20 points in the final. Coach Karen Weitz’s team is on the cusp of the fourth straight state title and play in the 4A semifinals on Thursday against hometown Reno in the Lawlor Events Center. The winner gets McQueen (Reno) or Liberty (Henderson) in Friday’s state final.

10. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (25-3)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Panthers were upset by Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 63-58, but beat Elizabeth Seton (Bladensburg, Md.), 60-34. The Washington Catholic Athletic Association Conference playoffs are played this weekend with the title game on Monday at American University’s Bender Arena in Washington, D.C.

11. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (21-1)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Defeated Maury (Norfolk), 115-28, in the Class 5, Region A quarterfinals

The Cavaliers, who jumped to a 35-0 lead after one quarter, have won 16 straight since their lone loss.

12. Edwardsville, Ill. (28-0)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A Belleville East Regional, defeating Belleville East, 41-40, as Rachel Pranger tossed in 13 points and Kate Martin added 10 as the Tigers won a 15th straight regional crown and 24th overall. Also beat Belleville West, 65-18, in the semifinals. Also stopped Glenwood (Chatham), 51-40, in the Champaign Centennial Sectional semifinals. Martin scored 15 points. The Tigers play Rock Island for the sectional title Thursday.

13. Westlake, Atlanta (26-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Defeated Camden County (Kingsland), 68-43, in the Class AAAAAAA first round. Next up is Marietta in the second round this week.

14. Southeast Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C. (26-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Tamia Davis hit for 14 points and four 3-pointers and 12 from Jada McMillan and Anya Poole to beat Leesville Road (Raleigh) in the Cap-7 4A Conference final. The Bulldogs await the winner of Rolesville-Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh) matchup Thursday in the 4A East second round.

15. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (26-1)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: After earning the top seed and winning the Region 5-A title, the Golden Bears received a bye to the Class A-Private second round, where they face Fellowship Christian School (Roswell) Wednesday.

16. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (24-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Jaron Stallworth bucketed a game-high 22 points, making 9 of 14 shots, and Bria Harmon added 15 when the Eagles crushed West Forsyth (Cumming), 97-29, in the Class AAAAAAA first round. Next is South Gwinnett (Snellville) in the second round Wednesday.

17. Baldwin, N.Y. (18-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Idle.

18. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (31-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A Burbank Regional, defeating Lyons Township (La Grange), 50-44, in the final. The Lady Broncos move on to the Proviso West Sectional, where the played Kenwood (Chicago) Tuesday in the semifinals. The final is Thursday.

19. Hoover, Ala. (30-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Defeated Buckhorn (New Market), 53-34, in the Class 7A regional semifinals. The Bucs played Sparkman (Harvest) in the regional final on Tuesday. The winner advanced to the 7A state semifinals on March 1.

20. Winter Haven, Fla. (28-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Defeated Wharton (Tampa), 67-16, in Class 8A, Region 2 quarterfinals. Next up is Plant (Tampa) in the semifinals with the winner going to the regional final on Friday.

21. Eastview, Apple Valley, Minn. (24-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Megan Walstad, a UW-Milwaukee recruit, contributed 11 points, 6 rebound, 4 assists and 3 blocks in defensive gem 45-18 win over Shakopee. The regular season winds down this week with Eagan on Tuesday and Burnsville on

22. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (22-0)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Idle. The Tigers received a bye to the WPIAL Class AAAAAA quarterfinals and will play Butler or Upper St. Clair on Friday.

23. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (15-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Pioneers won twice and finish the regular campaign with two scheduled games capped with Mumford (Detroit) on Saturday.

24. Mercer County, Harrodsburg, Ky. (28-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Defeated Southwestern (Somerset), 73-56, in the season finale. The Bears opened the 46th District tournament, downing Burgin, 96-10. The district final is Thursday against West Jessamine (Nicholasville).

25. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (37-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Texas’ top-ranked Class 5A team cruised the first two rounds of the playoffs and then stopped Crowley, 46-41, in the Region II quarterfinals.

Dropped out: No. 13 Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (23-1)
2. Manasquan, N.J. (22-2)
3. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (22-2)
4. Trinity Episcopal School, Richmond, Va. (23-1)
5. New London, Conn. (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. East Kentwood, Kentwood, Mich. (18-0)
2. Boylan Catholic, Rockford, Ill. (30-0)
3. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (21-2)
4. Northwestern, Kokomo, Ind. (28-1)
5. Mukwonago, Wis. (20-2)

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

South

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (18-3)
2. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (28-1)
3. Barbers Hill, Mount Belvieu, Texas (37-2)
4. Converse (Texas) Judson (30-4)..TU
5. Choctaw Central, Philadelphia, Miss. (30-1)

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

Far West

1. Central Valley, Veradale, Wash. (23-0)
2. Mesquite, Gilbert, Ariz. (26-3)
3. Windward School, Los Angeles (21-3)
4. Southridge, Beaverton. Ore. (22-1)
5. Konawaena, Kealakekua, Hawaii (26-2)*

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

* Won state, national or 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. Teams with fifth-year or reclassified players won’t be considered. 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 in April. Follow him on Twitter @clawlor.