MEGA TIME: Mecca Showcase to feature 5 teams from Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings; No. 24 Lake Highlands Prep (FL) making another Class 4A title push

BENSALEM, Pa. – Time to get down to business and what the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings are about.

It’s to identify the best 25 teams in country, ranked them and give the game a national stage. Having said that we’ve added one team to the Elite 25 from Florida.

No. 24. Lake Highlands Prep (Orlando, Fla.) entered the week with a 14-4 mark and are 1-4 against teams from the Elite 25. The Highlanders have won six Florida High School Athletic Association state titles—including the last four—and might be the favorites again in Class 4A after playing an adventuresome schedule.

As for the Elite 25, the biggest riser was No. 13 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) up 10 slots and No. 14 Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) and No. 25 DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) both fell five. All three will be at The Mecca Showcase this weekend.

Regular seasons are wrapping up in Florida and Indiana over the next two weeks, so the heavy lifting has just begun.

With the final weekend of January upon us, there’s a super ultra-event in New York City that has all the makings of a last chance at seeing multiple teams with championship aspirations under one roof. Folks, this is must-see hoops.

The Bronx is Mecca

The Mecca High School Showcase is back with 19 scintillating games featuring five teams from the latest Elite 25 girls’ rankings to be played this weekend for three days at the famed Gauchos Gym in the Bronx. There are 10 states and the District of Columbia represented along with Canada.

The schedule (teams are from New York unless denotes; all times Eastern):

Friday

4:30 p.m.: Trenton Catholic Academy (Hamilton Township, N.J.) vs. St. Joseph by-the-Sea (Staten Island)

6 p.m.: No. 15 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) vs. Crestwood (Toronto, Ontario)

7:30 p.m.: No. 25 DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) vs. No. 6 Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)

9 p.m.: Winston-Salem (N.C.) vs. Shabach Christian (Landover, Md.)

Saturday

9 a.m.: Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio) vs. South Shore Christian (Weymouth, Mass.)

10:30 a.m.: St. Andrew’s (Barrington, R.I.) vs. Penn Charter (Philadelphia)

12 p.m.: Capital Courts (Orléans, Ontario) vs. No. 15 IMG Academy

1:30 p.m.: Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.) vs. South Shore (Brooklyn)

3 p.m.: Shabach Christian vs. No. 25 DME Academy

4:30 p.m.: Albertus Magnus (Bardonia) vs. Christ the King (Middle Village)

6 p.m.: No. 14 Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) vs. Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.)

7:30 p.m.: Friends Central (Philadelphia) vs. Winston-Salem (N.C.)

9 p.m.: North Carolina Girls Basketball Academy (Durham, N.C.) vs. Life Center Academy (Burlington, N.J.)

Sunday

 9 a.m.: Austin Prep (Reading, Mass.) vs. Spire Academy (Ohio)

10:30 a.m.: Bishop Ireton (Va.) vs. Monsignor Scanlon (Bronx)

12 p.m.: Crestwood (Canada) vs. No. 14 Sidwell Friends

1:30 p.m.: Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) vs. Capital Courts (Canada)

3 p.m.: No. 13 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) vs. Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.)

4:30 p.m.: St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) vs. Immaculate (Montclair, N.J.)

6 p.m.: Baldwin-Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn)

That wraps up another week. One week remaining in the month of January. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Jan. 31.

Be sure to follow us on X at @clawlor. Have a great week.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 24, 2024

1. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (17-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Monarchs disposed of league rivals Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), 88-46, and St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 80-36. In Concord, Belle Bramer was the game’s Most Outstanding Player when the Monarchs crushed University (San Francisco), 82-20, at the third annual Sabrina Ionescu Showcase. Up next are West Catholic Athletic League contests with Valley Christian (San Jose) Tuesday and Presentation (San Jose) Thursday.

2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (14-1)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Kayleigh Heckel manufactured 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists when the Lady Crusaders downed St. John Vianney (Holmdel), 74-48. Lauryn Swann scored 17 points, Savvy Swords had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, as did Notre Dame-bound C Kate Koval with 11 points, 11 rebound and 4 blocked shots. Up next is Red bank (N.J.) Catholic Saturday.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (18-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Finley Chastain fired in 17 points with five 3-pointers, Jaloni Cambridge had 14 points and Vivian Iwuchukwu added 11 to beat Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando), 56-42. The Eagles won’t play again until Feb. 1.

4. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (13-2)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Freshman Jordyn Palmer tossed in a game-high 21 points, earning game Most Valuable Players in stopping Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield), 58-30, at the Maggie Lucas Classic in Philadelphia. This week the Moose has Friends Schools League games with Germantown Friends (Philadelphia) Tuesday and George School (Newtown) Friday.

5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (22-1)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: The Blazers capped a 3-0 week by thrashing Valencia, 93-14, at the Valencia Showcase. Sophomore All-American Jerzy Robinson totaled 59 points and 23 rebounds in a Mission League wins over Marlborough (Los Angeles), 79-43, and Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 83-43. Louisville-bound F MacKenly Randolph put together a double-double of 19 points and 20 rebound versus HW.

6. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (13-0)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Edged St. Rose (Belmar), 55-52, at the More Than A Highlight Showcase in Elizabeth. The Crusaders have three games this week, capped by No. ghghgh DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) on Saturday at The Mecca Classic in the Bronx.

7. Etiwanda, Calif. (20-3)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Defeated Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga), 62-41, Rancho Christian (Temecula), 94-23, and Chino Hills, 82-25. The Eagles entered the week with five games left in the regular season and the Baseline League title nearly clinched.

8. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (15-0)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: In Louisville, Ky., the Red Knights stayed perfect, beating Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.), 52-50, and Pikeville (Ky.), 62-40, at the Raatz Fence/O’Shea’s Classic. They carry a nation’s best 115-game win streak into games with St. Joseph’s Academy (St. Louis) Thursday and Fremd (Palatine, Ill.) Saturday afternoon.

9. Mansfield Timberview, Arlington, Texas (30-1)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Defeated Midlothian, 86-25, and Burleson, 68-31.

10. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (26-0)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Defeated Mother McAuley (Chicago), 60-33, Richwoods (Peoria), 72-53, in league action. At the Quad Cities Shootout, the Ramblers stopped Geneseo, 65-26, and Moline, 70-42.

11. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (19-0)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Defeated South Gwinnett (Snellville), 63-19, and McEachern (Powder Springs), 68-40. Up next is Newton (Covington) Tuesday and Brookwood (Snellville) Friday in Region 4-Class 7A play.

12. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (18-1)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: The Lady Cavaliers remained unbeaten in conference play with wins over Summit County Day (Cincinnati), 84-46, and Cincinnati Country Day, 83-48. Dee Alexander bucketed 34 points in the CCD victory.

13. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (15-3)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Defeated St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 67-50, and Holy Cross (Kensington, Md.), 87-34, in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference .

14. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (10-2)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Defeated Georgetown Visitation (Washington, D.C.), 72-44. The Quakers play twice this weekend at The Mecca Showdown in Bronx, N.Y.

15. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (18-2)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Defeated Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando), 58-55.

 16. Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga. (17-2)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Defeated Monroe Area, 72-9, and Franklin County (Carnesville), 89-16. In the latter game, junior Mia James scored 20 points.

17. Duncanville, Texas (23-4)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Lost to then-No. 21 DeSoto, 53-48, and rebounded to beat Mansfield Legacy, 79-35.

18. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (17-1)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Defeated McGinn County (Athens), 86-39. The Bearettes have three games this week, most notably Knoxville Catholic Saturday.

19. Bolingbrook, Ill. (19-2)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Defeated Lincoln-Way West (New Lenox), 63-44. The Raiders have three games this week.

20. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (22-1)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Won the Metropolitan Conference title with a 5-0 record. Defeated North Central (Indianapolis), 45-38, and Warren Central (Indianapolis), 56-42. The regular season closes Thursday hosting Avon.

21. DeSoto, Texas (17-5)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: The Panthers went 2-0 with wins over then-No. 15 Duncanville, 53-48, and Mansfield, 61-11, in District 11-6A.

22. Hazel Green, Ala. (21-4)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Idle.

23. Clark, San Antonio (24-2)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Defeated San Antonio Regan, 48-37, and San Antonio Marshall, 64-45.

24. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (14-4)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Highlanders return to the Elite 25 for the first time this season and have a 1-4 mark against the nationally ranked teams. Up next are games with Dr. Phillips (Orlando) and Windermere (Fla.) Prep Thursday as the FHSAA Class 4A district playoffs start on Feb. 5.

25. DME Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (15-3)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: After splitting two games last weekend, the Lakers are off to New York for the Mecca Showcase on Friday and Saturday. The Lakers are perilously hanging on by a thread in the Elite 25 and this weekend could get them off the bubble.

Dropped: No. 25 Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield, Pa.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Thomas Dale, Chester, Va. (14-0)
2. Oakland Catholic, Pittsburgh (17-0)
3. Elizabeth Seton, Bladensburg, Md. (12-2)
4. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (13-3)
5. Conestoga, Berwyn, Pa. (16-0)

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

Midwest

1. Johnston, Iowa (15-0)
2. Minnetonka, Minn. (15-0)
3. West Bloomfield, Mich. (9-0)
4. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (9-0)
5. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (18-3)

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

Southland

1. Grace Christian, Sanford, N.C (20-0)
2. Fort Bend Austin, Sugar Land, Texas (27-1)
3. Wesleyan, Norcross, Ga. (15-2)
4. Putnam City West, Oklahoma City (12-0)
5. Summer Creek, Houston (25-3)

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

Far West

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (18-6)
2. Sage Hill School, Newport Beach, Calif. (19-2)
3. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (20-3)
4. Clackamas, Ore. (6-2)
5. Xavier College Prep, Phoenix (18-3)

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

Records through Monday’s games.

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.