March Madness strikes deep in the Heart of Texas; Blue Star Media girls’ basketball Go-To 25 rankings with familiar look at No. 1

BENSALEM, Pa. – It was just another perfect week in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 girls’ rankings.

First, the top-ranked team was shocked. They were replaced by … well … the previous No. 1 team.

Then a team was expelled from the Illinois state tournament after smashing transfer rules. Additionally that team’s coach was suspended … and … ultimately that team was dropped from the Go-To 25 rankings.

Perfect? Well that was being facetious and, yes, Mater Dei (Santa Calif.) is back atop the heap while Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor dropped out of the rankings for alleged wrong doings. Mater Dei inherits the No. 1 spot after Duncanville (Texas) saw its lengthy win streak snapped at 105 games in the Class 5A final last Saturday. 

H-F was forced to forfeit all 20 victories and its coach Anthony Smith—a championship mentor at Bolingbrook—and isn’t allowed to play in the Class 4A tournament. H-F was considered one of the favorites in Illinois’ large-school classification.

That opened the door for No. 21 Shades Valley (Birmingham, Ala.) and No. 25 Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.) to enter the Go-To 25. With the postseason in full swing and winding down in more than half the nation, it only gets more intriguing. Mater Dei is no lock for No. 1, with No. 2 Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and No. 3 Incarnate Word (Bel-Nor, Mo.) in hot pursuit. One slip up by Mater Dei and it’s going to be a difficult decision for the two mentioned teams, which split their two national themed games this season.

The next rankings will be released March 11. After that only two rankings remain.

Check back periodically at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from events nationwide and other tidbits evolving from the game.

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

Blue Star Media Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 4, 2014

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-1)

Previous rank: 2.

Low-down: After hammering Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) by 47 points in the CIF-Southern Open Division quarterfinals, the Monarchs held off Etiwanda, 56-54, in the semifinals.

2. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (31-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Advanced to the Class AAA state tournament, drilling Cumberland County (Crossville), 72-39, in sectional final. Crystal Dangerfield dropped in 20 points and cleared 6 rebounds. In Sunday’s blind draw, the Blaze received Houston (Germantown) in the AAA quarterfinals Wednesday. The winner plays Mount Juliet or Jefferson County in the semifinals.

3. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel-Nor, Mo. (25-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Now that the regular season is over, the Red Knights await the winner of Soldan (St. Louis) and McCluer South in the Class 4, District 5 semifinals Friday. The final is Saturday.

4. Manvel, Texas (37-2)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Oh, what a night in the heart of Texas. The Mavericks pulled off a stunner, knocking off previous top-ranked Duncanville, 58-53, in the Class 5A state championship game in Austin. Notre Dame-bound Brianna Turner was named the game’s most valuable player after recording 17 points and 17 rebounds. Manvel had lost in November but avenged that setback on the state’s biggest stage. Season complete.

5. Windward School, Los Angeles (25-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: UCLA-bound G Jordin Canada was difference, chalking up 27 points during a 62-49 victory over then-No. 9 Poly (Long Beach) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division semifinals. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) is the dream sectional matchup on tap for Saturday.

6. Miami Senior High, Miami, Fla. (31-1)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Class 8A state championship. Season complete.

7. Duncanville, Texas (35-1)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: After 105 straight wins, the Pantherettes met their match, falling to then-No. 9 Manvel, 58-53, in the Class 5A final. Early foul trouble finally caught up with them in the fourth quarter as two key starters fouled out, including Texas-bound G Ariel Atkins, who managed 24 points. Season complete.

8. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (27-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Junior Rydeiah Rogers posted a double-double, 21 points and 17 rebounds, in a 65-48 win over Hopewell in the Class 4A playoffs. Next up West Forsyth (Clemmons) Tuesday in the West Regional semifinals.

9. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (25-0)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Siani Cryor totaled 21 points, 13 steals and 7 assists in a 79-34 blowout of Imhotep Prep (Philadelphia) in the Class AA city championship game. The Saints open the Class AA state tournament this week. The Saints open the Class AA playoffs Friday vs. Camp Hill at South Philadelphia High School.

10. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (23-3)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Jackrabbits shift their focus to the CIF State Open Division after getting bounced in the sectional playoffs by No. 5 Windward School (Los Angeles), 62-49. 

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

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Diani Akigbogun scored 15 and Justine Hall and Jess Lewis each had 14 points in a 67-32 win over Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) in the Class 5A second round.

12. Shabazz, Newark, N.J. (25-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Lady Bulldogs await the winner of Arts (Newark) and Brearley (Kenilworth) in the North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 quarterfinals. Shabazz is a heavy favorite to repeat their Group 1 and State Tournament of Champions titles.

13. Fairmont, Kettering, Ohio (24-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won the Division I Harrison District 3 final, topping Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 54-49. Next up is Princeton (Cincinnati) in Region 4 semifinals Wednesday at Wright State University in Dayton. The winner gets Lakota West (West Chester) or Centerville in Saturday’s final.

14. Rock Bridge, Columbia, Mo. (21-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Bruins will open the Class 5A, District 9 tournament in the semifinals against Jefferson City or Smith-Cotton (Sedalia) Thursday. The final is Saturday.

15. Whitney Young, Chicago (29-3)**

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Dolphins won the Class 4A sectionals and played Monday night in the SuperSectional, with the winner going Downstate to compete next weekend for a state championship.

16. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (21-5)**

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Rams cruised by 45 and 49 points in their opening two assignments in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Division I playoffs. Wins on Tuesday and Saturday would clinch the title and likely top seed in the Northern California Open Division bracket.

17. Bedford North Lawrence, Ind. (26-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Stars avenged a regular loss to then-No. 19 Lawrence North (Indianapolis) but needed overtime to record the 62-54 win. Next up is Penn (Mishawaka) Saturday in state final at Terre Haute.

18. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (27-3)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Won the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I championship, edging then-No. 11 New Hope Christian (Thomasville, N.C.), 59-58, in Dayton, Tenn. The win likely clinched a berth in the Dick’s Sporting Good High School National Tournament next month in New York.

19. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (27-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Te’a Cooper scored 21 points in a Class AAAAAA semifinal win over South Forsyth (Cumming), 64-27. The Indians, who last won the state crown in 2012, are unbeaten vs. Georgia schools. Now it’s Archer (Lawrenceville) in Saturday’s championship game in Macon.

20. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (22-3)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Sierra Calhoun (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Kollyns Scarbrough (16, 14) combined for 38 points and 24 rebounds in a 58-41 victory over Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood) in the New York Catholic High School Athletics Association Brooklyn-Queens Division I final. The Royals earned the top seed in the upcoming Catholic State AA tournament.

21. Shades Valley, Birmingham, Ala. (31-4)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship, defeating then-No. 15 Sparkman (Harvest), 63-49. Mississippi State-bound Morgan William had 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals, earning MVP honors. It was the school’s first-ever state title in any sport. Season complete.

22. Salmen, Slidell, La. (31-1)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Spartans advanced to the Class 4A semifinals after a 54-30 triumph over Ellender (Houma) in the quarterfinals. Next up is St. Thomas More (Lafayette) Wednesday in the semifinals in Lake Charles. The winner gets DeRidder or Warren Easton (New Orleans) in Saturday’s final.

23. Sparkman, Harvest, Ala. (33-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Lost in Class 6A final to Shades Valley (Birmingham), 63-49. Alexa Jennings, Kentucky recruit, posted 28 points and 19 rebounds but it wasn’t enough. Season complete.

24. New Hope Christian, Thomasville, N.C. (34-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Lost at the buzzer in National Association of Christian Athletes National Division I Tournament final in Dayton, Tenn. Costly loss by the Phoenix Season complete.

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

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The defending Class 3A state champions defeated Marshall (Chicago), 54-31, in the sectional final. Played De La Salle (Chicago) Monday in the Super Sectional, with the winner advancing to this weekend’s state semifinals in Normal vs. Burlington Central or Carmel (Mundelein).

Dropped: No. 13 Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor; and No. 19 Lawrence North (Indianapolis).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (18-2)

2. Eleanor Roosevelt, Greenbelt, Md. (21-0)

3. Cosby, Midlothian, Va. (24-0)

4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (25-1)

5. McDonogh, Owings Mills, Md. (26-2)

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

Midlands

1. Martin Luther King, Detroit (21-1)

2. Iowa City, Iowa (24-0)

3. Eastview, Apple Valley, Minn. (25-1)

4. Edwardsville, Ill. (28-1)

5. St. Thomas More, Champaign, Ill. (33-2)*

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

South

1. Canyon, Texas (34-4)*

2. Horn Lake, Miss. (27-1)

3. Elizabethtown, Ky. (26-4)

4. Morristown (Tenn.) West (30-3)

5. Warren Easton, New Orleans (31-3)

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

Far West

1. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (24-4)

2. Lynnwood, Bothell, Wash. (23-1)

3. South Medford, Medford, Ore. (22-3)

4. Reno, Nev. (30-1)*

5. Desert Vista, Phoenix (30-2)*

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

Records through Sunday

* Won state, national or conference postseason tournament

** Includes forfeit wins or losses

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 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 Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released April 8, 2014. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.