No. 1 Etiwanda (CA) wins Nike TOC Joe Smith Division title; No. 6 DME Sports Academy (FL) records statement triumph in South Carolina

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – It’s a holiday shakeup for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings. That is the norm with all the happenings in the month of December.

National tournaments such as the Nike Tournament of Champions, held pre-Christmas, in Phoenix, Arizona, helped reshape the Elite 25.

That means a new No. 1 and seven additions after a few weeks of events from coast to coast.

The newcomers to the Elite 25 are: No. 1 Etiwanda (Calif.); No. 6 DME Sports Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.: No. 9 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); No. 16 Classen SAS (Oklahoma City); No. 17 Cedar Park (Texas); No. 20 Franklin (Ind.) and No. 24 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)

Etiwanda zooms atop the Elite 25 rankings after winning the Nike TOC Joe Smith Division title. That four-game run against the nation’s best gathered talent was the key to it meteoric rise.

So, that’s it for the fourth week in December.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Jan. 5, 2022. This will update everything through the month of December and first weekend in January.

It is our sincere wishes that you have a Happy New Year and hope your Christmas was full of joy. Please stay safe and get vaccinated.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Dec. 29, 2021

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (9-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Nike Tournament of Champions Joe Smith Division championships, stopping No. ghghgh Classen SAS (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 53-51, in the final. Daisia Mitchell was named Most Valuable Player.

2. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (7-0)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: The Red Devils play locally this week at the Visitation Academy Christmas Tournament.

3.  Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (8-0)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: The Royals have games with St. Louis Park and Park Center (Brooklyn Park) to close out the month of December. Next week they have a showdown with crosstown rival Minnetonka.

4. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (5-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Quakers are amid a Covid pause but did beat then-No. 1 DeSoto (Texas), 54-46. The schedule resumes in January starting with league play.

5. DeSoto, Texas (13-1)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The defending UIL Class 6A state champions will make a rare trip to Northern California for the West Coast Jamboree, a powerhouse national event.

6. DME Sports Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (15-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won United Bank Championship Division crown in Myrtle Beach, S.C., defeating No. 24 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.), 54-41, in the final. Chloe Kitts posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

7. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (11-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: The Eagles make the short trip this week for the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational.

8. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (11-2)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Finished fifth at the Nike Tournament of Champions Joe Smith Division.

9. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (8-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Iolani Class in Hawaii, beating Salesian College Prep (Richmond, Calif.), 63-60, in the final. They opened against Oakland (Calif.) Tech on Tuesday in the first round of the West Coast Jamboree.

10. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (11-0)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Won the Queen of the Commonwealth Tournament, beating Bullitt East (Mount Washington), 69-59, in the final. Now it’s a trip this week to the sun and fun of the Naples (Fla.) Holiday Shootout for three games in a loaded American Division bracket.

11. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (8-0) #

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: The Cougars actually lost a game on the court but reclaimed it when Princeton (Cincinnati) forfeited. The schedule picks up again against East Central (St. Leon, Ind.) on Jan. 4.

12. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-2)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Despite two early season losses, the Ascenders have a chance at redemption and it starts this week with three nationally themed games at the BallN Girls National Prep Showcase in Hazel Green, Ala.

13. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (2-0)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Defeated Morris Catholic (Denville), 86-50, and Chartiers Valley (Bridgeville, Pa.), 95-66. Princeton-bound guard Madison St. Rose is averaging 28.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. The Lady Lancers are off for three games this week at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational.

14. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (13-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Trailblazers remained unbeaten after capturing the Doc Larson Invitational in Wasilla, Alaska prior to Christmas.

15. Plano (Texas) East (13-1)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: The Lady Panthers have won eight straight after an early season, two-point loss to then-No. 1 DeSoto (Texas). Coach Matt Wester takes his squad this week to the Allen (Texas) Tournament.

16. Classen SAS, Oklahoma City (10-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Finished runners-up at the Nike TOC Joe Smith Division.

17. Cedar Park, Texas (19-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Lady Timberwolves are coasting as Texas’ top-ranked Class 5A team. Some think they are the best team in state. Too bad there’s no matchup with No. 5 DeSoto on tap.

18. Duncanville, Texas (16-4)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: In the District 11-6A opener, the Pantherettes fells to then-No. 1 DeSoto, 60-56. The rematch is at home on Jan. 25. But first they host the prestigious Sandra Meadows Classic in the leadup to the New Year.

19. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (6-0)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Knights keep rolling with two games this week to close out December.

20. Franklin, Ind. (16-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Indiana’s top-ranked Class 4A team enters the Elite 25 rankings after winning their first 16 games. They will play two games on Wednesday at the Raymond James Hall of Fame Tournament.

21. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (11-2)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: After dropping their first game at the Nike TOC Joe Smith Division, the Torreys rallied for three straight wins.

22. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (5-1)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Following a rare early season loss, the Pioneers will play three games this week at the G2 Hoops Classic in Indiana. That loss snapped the win streak at 62 games.

23. Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. (10-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Lady War Eagles beat then-No. 19 Hoover (Ala.), 82-78, for a signature win. The schedule resumes at Tri-Cities (East Point) on Jan. 7. They also won the Lady War Eagle Classic before Christmas and are 3-0 in Region 3-AAAAA play.

24. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (10-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Placed second at the United Bank Championship Division, falling to No. 6 DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.), 54-41, in the final.

25. Hoover, Ala. (13-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: The Lady Bucs won the Big Orange Classic before Christmas and now shift focus to the BallN Prep National Showcase this week in Hazel Green, Ala.

Dropped: No. 14 Crown Point (Ind.), No. 17 The Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tenn.), No. 18 South Bend (Ind.) Washington; No. 20 Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), No. 21 Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), No. 24 Frisco (Texas) Liberty and No. 25 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (7-2)
2. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (3-0)
3. Georgetown Visitation, Washington, D.C. (6-0)
4. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (4-0)
5. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (5-4)

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 (10-0)
2. Minnetonka, Minn. (7-0)
3. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (11-1)
4. Midland (Mich.) Dow (6-0)
5. Iowa City, Iowa (7-0)

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

Southland

1. Conway, Ark. (10-0)
2. Tompkins, Katy, Texas (18-1)
3. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (7-0)
4. Argyle, Texas (21-0)
5. Ponchatoula, La. (12-0)

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

Far West

1. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego (8-2)
2. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (7-2)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-3)
4. Beaverton, Ore. (5-0)
5. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (7-2)

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

# Includes a forfeit win

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 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 in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.