BENSALEM, Pa. – After a month of national showcase events and opening night jitters, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return with a new No. 1 and the previous No. 1 took a mighty hit.

No. 1 DeSoto (Texas) takes the top spot while No. 21 New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) plummets 20 spots after a shaky start. Five other preseason teams dropped out.

Honestly, it takes at least four weeks from the preseason release date for teams to tipoff their season. The Southland, Midlands and Far West regions start earlier than most teams from the Northeast, mostly New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Once all 50 states and the District of Columbia get underway, beginning their quest for the ultimate goal of a state championship or earning an invitation to the GEICO Nationals in April then the footing becomes even.

And once the early pretenders are weeded out and the hot teams replace them, the true test gives more credence to teams—holiday tournaments both pre and post- Christmas. From coast to coast and into the Hawaii, there’s no shortage of quality events that cast a discerning eye on the national landscape.

This week the Cresmon Bank Holiday Invitational in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix, Arizona will provide a gauge of where teams should rank heading into the new year.

After Christmas tournaments in Northern California and Naples, Florida will impact the Elite 25 landscape.

Here are six girls’ holiday events you should follow (click on links):

Nike TOC

Cresmon Bank Holiday Invitational

Naples Shootout

West Coast Jamboree

John Wall Holiday Invitational

Title IX Classic (Washington, D.C.)

As usual, the first ranking period in December produces change and that means five teams were added to the Elite 25 and it might have been more if not for sensational team performances and the ability to rebound from losses. As usual some teams overscheduled in November and December with the feeling it will prepare them for the rigors of postseason tournament play. It can backfire, dropping teams from the top half of the Elite 25 rankings.

The five newly added teams are: No. 2 Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.), No. 3 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), No. 5 Southeast Raleigh (Raleigh, N.C.), No. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day and No. 23 Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.). Two hail from the DMV, but most importantly three land in the top-3 after highly impressive openings at meaningful, impactful events.

That’s taking advantage of scheduling but the work is far from done as the holiday slate kicks in this week.

With so much hoop action, we’re sure the Elite 25 will have a new look in January when the showcase schedule continues with quality events each weekend especially in Philadelphia, New York and California.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on January 1, 2020 and start a new decade.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from showcase events and key games all season. We’ll  keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ hoop world.

Until next time, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, December 18, 2019

1. DeSoto, Texas (13-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Low-down: The Lady Eagles are the new No. 1 and played South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) Tuesday in a key District 7-6A matchup. After Christmas they will compete at the Sandra Meadows Classic in Duncanville.

2. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (6-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Coach Mike Bozeman has his team playing like the best team in the DMV. You can’t argue with quality wins over then-No.1 New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) and then-No. 11 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore). Now comes the real test at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix. Winning a chip in Arizona would justify the top ranking.

3. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (8-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Two victories over Elite 25 teams have pushed the Panthers into the rankings. The Palm Beach Holiday Classic in Florida awaits after Christmas. In January, the constant grind of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference picks up again.

4. Centennial, Las Vegas (1-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Lady Bulldogs will make the short trip to Phoenix for this week’s Nike Tournament of Champions (Dec. 18-21) and should get a better run than a 79-8 win over Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas). Four players hit for double-digits to outscore the opposition alone.

5. Southeast Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C (7-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The North Carolinians traveled north to Virginia and knocked off Elite 25 teams Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 62-52, and then-No. 3 Tampa Bay Tech (Tampa, Fla.), 57-52. That’s an impressive December resume builder for the state’s top-ranked Class 4A team.

6. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (8-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The tone was set opening night when the Cougars took down then-No. 1 New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.), 61-59. The schedule thins with two games before January but the meeting with Wayne (Huber Heights) on Dec 29 is must-see for Southwest Ohio hoop aficionados.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (7-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The lone loss was to top-ranked DeSoto (Texas), 50-41, in Nov. 29. This week the Trailblazers are off to the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona.

8. Tampa Bay Tech, Tampa, Fla. (8-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Titans received their first taste of the big time by splitting two games at the She Got Game Classic in Virginia last weekend. Next big assignment is the Naples (Fla.) Holiday Shootout after Christmas.

9. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (3-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Michigan’s top-ranked team and reigning Division II state champions had a scare last weekend, but held off Illinois powerhouse Homewood-Flossmoor, 44-41.

10. Westlake, Atlanta (4-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The defending Georgia Class AAAAAAA state champions lost for the first time nearly two seasons to then-unranked Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 67-58, on Dec. 7 but rebounded to beat state powerhouse Lovejoy (Ga.), 55-52. Another test will be at the Naples (Fla.) Holiday Shootout.

11. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (3-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Lady Panthers will compete at the John Wall Christmas Tournament but must get past undefeated St. John’s Catholic Prep (Buckeystown, Md.) Wednesday night.

12. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (5-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Like most elite teams, the Lady Hawks are headed to Arizona this week for the Nike TOC.

13. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won Iolani Classic in Honolulu, beating St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), 74-69. The Monarchs will compete in the West Coast Jamboree after Christmas. Stanford-bound junior Brooke Demetre was tabbed the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while classmates Alyssa Frescas and Meaali’I Amosa were named all-tournament.

14. Amarillo, Texas (16-0)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: The two-time UIL Class 5A champions have peeled off 16 straight wins this season and carry an overall 35-game winning skein that dates back to last December.

15. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (8-0)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The nation’s top-rated senior Paige Bueckers, a Connecticut recruit, is averaging 21,6 points per game. The Royals average 87 points against weal in-state competition.

16. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (11-0)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Illinois’ top-ranked Class 4A team is perfect through 11 games but that mark gets tested at the Montini Christmas Tournament starting on Dec, 26.

17. Africentric Early College, Columbus, Ohio (6-1)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: An early season seven-point loss to No. 12 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is the lone blemish. The Nubians await their rematch with No. 9 Edison Public School Academy (Detroit) on Dec. 29

18. Northwestern, Kokomo, Ind. (11-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Tigers won’t see action for two weeks, resuming at the Columbus North Invitational on Dec. 27 and 28.

19. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (7-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Lady Tigers won’t play again until after Christmas at the Naples (Fla.) Holiday Shootout in a loaded field.

20. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (9-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Sweet Sixteen Invitational earlier this month as 6-3 freshman Breya Cunningham had a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds in the championship game victory over Highlands Ranch (Colo.), 63-42. The holidays will keep the Torreys busy with a trip to the Nike TOC in Phoenix and four games more games in the So Cal Holiday Prep Classic in nearby San Diego.

21. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (7-4)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: The early-season schedule was too overwhelming and the Lady Tigers were ambushed. That’s okay, because redemption is around the corner with a solid showing at the Nike TOC Joe Smith bracket this week in Phoenix.

22. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (0-0)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Lady Mikes open the season Friday against Northern Burlington (Columbus). In spite of the late start, the Capital District team is poised to hit the court running with plenty of talent.

23. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (10-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Broncos debut in the Elite 25 rankings and have three games this week, including two in their league, before hosting the Montini Christmas Tournament starting on Dec. 26.

24. Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, Pa. (5-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Patriots absorbed a rare loss last weekend against St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 53-46, at the She Got Game Classic in Virginia. Moving forward coach Sherri Retif’s team plays three local games before departing for the Naples (Fla.) Holiday Shootout after Christmas.

25. South Shore, Brooklyn, N.Y. (5-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Lady Vikings step up in competition on Dec. 23 when they play Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The defending New York PSAL Class AA champions also travel to the Tarkanian Classic’s Diamond Bracket in Las Vegas tipping on Wednesday.

Dropped: No. 9 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.); No. 15 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.); No. 20 Windward School (Los Angeles); No. 24 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) and No. 25 Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Sidwell Friends School, Washington, D.C. (5-1)
2. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (5-3)
3. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (5-0)
4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (4-0)
5. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (0-0)

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

Midwest

1. Crown Point, Ind. (13-0)
2. Wayne, Huber Heights. Ohio (8-0)
3. Maine West, Des Plaines, Ill. (9-1)
4. Iowa City, Iowa (3-0)
5. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (14-0)

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

Southland

1. Lovejoy, Ga. (9-1)
2. Plano, Texas (15-2)
3. Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (7-0)
4. Hazel Green, Ala. (13-0)
5. Duncanville, Texas (15-3)

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

Far West

1. Garfield, Seattle (5-0)
2. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (4-0)
3. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (4-0)
4. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (9-0)
5. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (5-1)

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.