BENSALEM, Pa. – The Miami (Fla.) Country Day Spartans are back atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings for the first time in two seasons. The Spartans went to the top spot, supplanting then-No. 1 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), which dropped an overtime decision to then-No. 3 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

That means two of the top three Elite 25 teams are members of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. McNamara and SJC could meet two more times before the end of February—once in the regular season next week and another time in the conference tournament.

The Spartans ascend to the No. 1 spot by virtue of beating SJC, 44-41, at the Nike Tournament of Champions before Christmas in Phoenix. Miami Country Day is on the verge of its district tournament and if it goes on to capture the Florida Class 4A state title, a run a the mythical national championship would go through the GEICO High School Nationals from March 30-31 in New York.

Got all that?

Miami Country Day is a near shoo-in—provided the Spartans win a state title—for the GEICO Nationals. Based on the 10 previous tournaments, the leading candidates for the final three slots would come from Elite 25 schools such as Centennial (Las Vegas), Roland Park Day (Baltimore), New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.), Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.), Westlake (Atlanta), Hamilton Height Christian (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Westridge Academy (Kernersville, N.C.). Schools from Utah and Washington are eligible for the four-team bracket that is played at Christ the King High School in the Middle Village neighborhood of Queens, N.Y.

Other than the GEICO National and a new No. 1, two schools debut in the Elite 25 girls’ rankings: No. 16 Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) and No. 18 Westlake (Atlanta). Hopkins is Minnesota’s No. 1 team in Class 4A or the largest classification and has a showdown game this weekend against No. 2 in Minnesota. Westlake is about the start the playoffs and look to defend a Georgia state championship.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return on February 6.

Here are the latest boys’ rankings. 

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from showcase events and key matchups this season. Blue Star Media will keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ hoop world.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, January 30, 2019

1. Miami (Fla.) Country Day (19-1)

Previous rank: 2.

Low-down: After crushing St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 80-62, the win streak was stretched to 15 games. This week the regular season wraps up with Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) Wednesday, American Heritage (Plantation) Friday and a trap game at IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Saturday. The Spartans are in the driver’s seat for another Florida Class 4A state championship and then an invitation to the GEICO Nationals in New York.

2. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (22-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: In Round 1 of the rivalry, the Cadets trimmed then-No. 1 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 67-65, in overtime. Malu Tshitenge-Mutombo led the Cadets with 20 points and sophomore Azzi Fudd chipped in with 18. The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rivalry is renewed for Round 2 on Feb. 9 and a third meeting could occur in the conference postseason tournament.

3. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (20-1)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: Aliyah Matharu bucketed a game-high 29 points but the Lady Mustangs fell for the first time this season to then-No. 3 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 67-65, in overtime. The reverse fixture is Feb. 9 in the District.

4. Africentric Early College, Columbus, Ohio (16-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Lady Nubians have four games left in the regular season and barring a major upset should cruise to the Ohio Division III state championship in March. Tennessee-bound post Jordan Horston was selected to play in the McDonald’s All American Game.

5. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (25-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Coach Sam Caldwell’s team is on a roll having won 12 straight games, including a pair last week at The Mecca Challenge in New York. The Lady Tigers clashed with local rivals Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.) Tuesday and entertain Caravel Academy (Bear, Del.) Saturday afternoon.

6. Centennial, Las Vegas (21-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Arizona State-bound Eboni Walker contributed 23 points in two lopsided Northwest League wins. The schedule picks up with three games this week.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (22-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: A four-win week was punctuated by decisions over then-No. 10 Windward School (Los Angeles), 66-57, and Poly (Long Beach), 62-48. The Trail Blazers have three games this week and only four left in the regular season. 

8. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (31-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Lady Wolves improved to 11-0 in District 5-5A with two victories and are Texas’ top-ranked team.

9. Westridge Academy, Kernersville, N.C. (18-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Coach Delaney Rudd headed north to New York and bagged two wins at The Mecca Challenge.

10. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (12-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Pioneers throttled Bay City Western (Auburn, Mich.), 70-33. More good for Rickea Jackson, a Mississippi State signee, who was selected to play in the McDonald’s All American Game in Atlanta.

11. Maine West, Des Plaines, Ill. (24-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Defeated Deerfield, 67-30. Game at Marist (Chicago) was rescheduled to Feb. 7.

12. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (20-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: It was a busy and fruitful week for the Lady Warriors, who bounced Alabama powerhouse Hazel Green, 49-45, upped their record in District 7-AAA to 8-0 and clocked Mercy Academy (Louisville, Ky.), 88-50, at the Raatz Fence/O’Shea Basketball Classic in Louisville. Four district games remain on the schedule.

13. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (16-1)

Previous: 13. 

Low-down: Coach Dan Rolfe and teams have been frequent participants at the Raatz Fence/O’Shea’s Basketball Classic in Louisville, Ky., and knocked off Kentucky powers Elizabethtown, 71-57, and Eastern (Louisville), 70-61. It’s a light schedule this week with Cor Jesu (St. Louis) Tuesday.

14. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (22-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The regular season concludes this week with district games against Discovery (Lawrenceville) Tuesday and Duluth Friday.

15. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (12-4)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Defeated St. Laurent (Canada), 49-35, at The Mecca Challenge in Bronx, N.Y., and then had a quick turnaround to defeat Xaverian (Brooklyn), 72-42, in league play. Klarke Sconiers, a Minnesota recruit, scored 22 points in the latter game. The Royals host Stuart Country Day (Princeton, N.J.) on Saturday.

16. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (18-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Royals have manhandled Minnesota opponents but will have their hands full on Friday night against unbeaten and Class 4A state threat Wayzata (Plymouth) in the game of the week. Super junior Paige Bueckers is averaging 25.7 points, 6.4 assists and 4.7 steals through 18 games. Teammates Dlayla Chakolis (14.3 ppg) and Kayhla Adams (11.2) are also double-digit scorers. 

17. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (17-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Freshman sensation KK Bransford averaged 14.7 points in three easy wins. The Cougars are 7-0 in the Girls Greater Catholic League.

18. Westlake, Atlanta (21-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Georgia’s defending Class AAAAAAA state champions are en route to the playoffs after concluding this week against Pebblebrook (Mableton) Tuesday and Campbell (Smyrna) Friday.

19. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (18-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Monarchs are coasting to the regular season finish line, racking up two more league wins. Two weeks and four games remain until the CIF sectional playoffs commence.

20.  Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (14-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Senior Mahogany Lester’s double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds set the tone of a 97-44 trouncing of previously unbeaten Kempsville (Virginia Beach). The Lady Cavaliers put the game away with a 26-3 second-quarter run. Sophomore G Aziaha James added 33 points and 9 boards.

21. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (18-2)

Previous: 21. 

Low-down: The Lady Hawks buried Mercy (Louisville, Ky.) 74-32, and George Rogers Clark (Winchester, Ky.), 67-50, at the Raatz Fence/O’Shea Basketball Classic in Louisville, Ky. Next up is Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.) Friday.

22. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (14-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Sajada Bonner, a Quinnipiac recruit, was on target with 26 points (three 3-pointers) and the Lady Lancers outlasted Saddle River Day, 67-59, in a key in-state game. Both teams are favored to win state titles and could meet again at the State Tournament of Champions in March.

23. Roland Park Country Day, Baltimore (20-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Reds are 10-0 in the IAAM A Conference, but have another stout test Wednesday against archrivals St. Frances Academy (Baltimore). The tournament conference tournament dates are Feb. 12, 14 and 17.

24. Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, Pa. (20-1) 

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Maddie Vizza scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures during a 69-62 win over Caravel Academy (Bear, Del.). Rachel Balzer tallied 12 points, cracking the 1,000-point career barrier, in a 63-55 decision against Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (Villanova). The Patriots are 6-0 in the Inter-Ac with three games this week.

25. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (21-3)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: In spite of a 61-39 loss to No. 7 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), the Sea Hawks remain the Elite 25 and finish out the regular season with Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) Thursday.

Dropped: No. 18 Pinewood School (Los Altos Hills, Calif.); and No. 22 Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Franklin, Somerset, N.J. (13-0)

2. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (17-0)

3. Cathedral, Boston (12-0)

4. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (18-0)

5. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (16-2)

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

Midwest

1. Beaver Dam, Wis. (16-1)

2. Derby, Kan. (11-0)

3. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (18-0)

4. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (21-1)

5. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (16-1)

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

Southland

1. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (19-0)

2. Cedar Hill, Texas (30-4)

3. Scott County, Georgetown, Ky. (22-1)

4. Hendrickson, Pflugerville, Texas (34-1)

5. Maryville, Tenn. (23-1)

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

Far West

1. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (14-3)

2. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (23-2)

3. Pinewood School, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (17-2)

4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (24-3)

5. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (15-2)

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.