BENSALEM, Pa. – If Miami (Fla.) Country Day were to win the Blue Star Media National Championship for the second time in three years, it would need to win six more games.

For the fourth straight week the Spartans are No. 1 in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings. This week they need to twice to the claim the Florida Class 4A, Region 4 title before heading to central Florida to play two more for the 4A state championship in Lakeland at the end of the month.

If the Spartans annex a sixth straight state championship, they would be a shoo-in for the top seed at the GEICO High School Nationals in April. That’s a long way off but MCD is in position for it to happen.

For the most part the Elite 25 held up for the second straight week. There was one loss among the top three teams but that did not harm the order and there was one addition from Texas, where the state playoffs get underway this week. No. 24 Incarnate Word Academy (Bel Nor, Mo.) plummeted 11 spots after an upset loss, halting the win streak at 13 games.

In the game of the week, No. 2 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) beat league rival Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) for the second time this season. Methinks this is not the final meeting between the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference brethren. Version 3.0 should occur at the WCAC Tournament final. Once and for all this one will be for all the bragging rights and the hardware. No doubt it’s must-see hoops.

No. 25 Cedar Hill (Texas) slips into the final spot in the rankings. The Longhorns are the top-ranked Class 6A team in Texas and have need to win seven straight to lift the UIL trophy in San Antonio on March 2.

The race for the GEICO Nationals is officially on and Miami Country Day and Centennial (Las Vegas) have the inside track for two of the four coveted slots. After that look for the winner of the National Association of Christian Athletes Elite Division (starting on February 20) to get an invite and then it comes down to schools from Georgia, Utah, Washington or Maryland (IAAM A Conference champion) to get the final invite. Georgia’s top teams are Westlake and Collins Hills.

As of February 13, the four teams I’m eyeing are Miami Country Day, Centennial, the Georgia Class AAAAAAA champion (Westlake or Collins Hill the leading candidates) and NACA national champion (Elite 25 teams New Hope Academy or Hamilton Heights Christian). That’s potentially a powerful four-team field that convenes in New York on April 5 and 6.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return on February 20.

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.

Thank you for your loyal readership. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, February 13, 2019

1. Miami (Fla.) Country Day (22-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Idle. Next is The Benjamin School (Palm Beach Gardens) in the Class 4A, Region 4 semifinals Wednesday. The winner plays Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) in the regional final on Feb. 19. The FHSAA 4A state semifinals are Feb. 27 and the state title game is Feb. 28 in Lakeland.

2. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (23-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Sophomore Azzi Fudd was the difference, scoring 28 points with four 3-pointers, and the Cadets took down No. 3 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 64-58, for the second time this season. SJC and McNamara could meet again in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoffs. The Cadets need to win their final three league games to complete an 18-0 league mark.

3. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (24-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: For the second time this season, the Lady Mustangs lost to No. 2 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 64-58. Aliyah Matharu (20 points), Liatu King (13) and Jakia Brown-Turner (11) combined for 44 points. The WCAC regular season concludes Friday at Elizabeth Seton (Bladensburg, Md.).

4. Africentric Early College, Columbus, Ohio (20-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The regular season closed with wins over Walnut Ridge (Columbus), 98-37, and Northland (Columbus), 64-36. The Division III Columbus 1 Sectional opens on Feb. 19 against Fairbanks (Milford Center). The winner plays Fredericktown in the quarterfinals on Feb. 23.

5. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (27-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The regular season finishes up Wednesday hosting Rock Creek Christian (Upper Marlboro). After that it’s the National Association of Christian Athletes National Tournament in Dayton, Tennessee starting on Feb. 20.

6. Centennial, Las Vegas (25-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Lady Bulldogs went 12-0 in the Northwest League. The NIAA Class 4A Mountain Region begins this week with the coach Karen Weitz’s team receiving a bye to the quarterfinals on Thursday.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (27-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Defeated Troy (Fullerton), 68-41, in CIF-Southern Section Open Division pool play. The schedule continues this week with Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) Wednesday and Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) Friday.

8. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (35-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: N’Denasjia Collins dropped in 17 points to lead four players in double figures during an 89-24 victory over Eastern Hills (Fort Worth) in the Class 5A, Region I bi-district playoff game.

9. Westridge Academy, Kernersville, N.C. (19-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Golden Knights defeated Comenius School (Fort Mills, S.C.), 80-32.

10. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (13-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Rickea Jackson, a Mississippi State signee and McDonald’s All-American, flipped in 13 points and the Pioneers held off Heritage (Saginaw, Mich.), 41-37. The Pioneers had not played in 15 days and were missing two starters but still prevailed.

11. Maine West, Des Plaines, Ill. (28-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Warriors concluded the program’s third-ever perfect regular season with wins over Vernon Hills, 73-39, and Marist (Chicago), 64-44. The Class 4A Lane Regional semifinals are slated for Wednesday in Chicago and the final is Friday.

12. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (24-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: The Warriors won the District 7-AAA with a 12-0 record.

13. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (26-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won Class AAAAAAA, Region 6 tournament for the second straight year, topping Duluth, 73-42, in the final. Jordan Releford scored 22 points in the title clincher. The Class AAAAAAA state tournament tips off Friday against Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville). 

14. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (17-4)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Royals improved to 10-0 mark in the Brooklyn-Queens AA Division beating Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood), 64-28, and St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows), 66-40. League rival Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn) visits on Saturday afternoon.

15. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (22-0)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Dlayla Chakolis scored 17 points in an 82-61 victory over Aquinas (La Crosse, Wis.). Also beat Becker, 89-54, as junior All-American Paige Bueckers fired in a game-high 26 points. The Royals play three times this week before ending the regular season at state power Wayzata (Plymouth) on Feb. 22.

16. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (19-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Stopped Notre Dame Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 60-26, in the regular season finale. The Division I Princeton 4 District opener against Western Hills (Cincinnati) is Saturday.

17. Westlake, Atlanta (25-0)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won Class AAAAAAA, Region 2 championship, beating Campbell (Smyrna), 76-52, in the final. The Class AAAAAAA state tournament gets underway Friday hosting Marietta.

18. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (22-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Two more victories stretched the win streak to 19 games and 10-0 mark as the Monarchs annexed the West Catholic League title.

19.  Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (18-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Lady Cavaliers stopped Salem (Virginia Beach), 100-20, and Kempsville (Virginia Beach), 62-42. The regular season concluded at Green Run (Virginia Beach) Tuesday.

20. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (20-2)

Previous: 21. 

Low-down: Defeated St. Joseph Central (Huntington, W.Va.), 60-49. The Lady Hawks are off until Feb. 20 when they open the National Association of Christian Athletes Tournament in Dayton, Tenn.

21. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (18-1)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Sajada Turner scored 17 points in a 60-15 victory over Ocean Township. The Lady Lancers hosted No. 14 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) Wednesday in a rescheduled game and start the Shore Conference Tournament on Thursday as the top seed.

22. Roland Park Country Day, Baltimore (24-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Reds maintained a perfect 14-0 mark in the IAAM A Conference. Next is the conference tournament that starts this week with the title game on Sunday afternoon.

23. Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, Pa. (26-1) 

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Elle Stauffer (21 points) and Jaye Haynes (17) teamed for 38 points helping rally the Patriots past Lawrenceville (N.J) School, 60-39. The Patriots look for a perfect 12-0 record in the Inter-Ac League with the regular season finale against Penn Charter (Philadelphia) Thursday. The PAISSA Tournament tips Saturday.

24. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (20-2)

Previous: 13. 

Low-down: Kiki Britzmann contributed a game-high 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in a 76-25 victory over Visitation (St. Louis). However, the Red Knights coughed up an eight-point fourth quarter lead and lost to Parkway North (Creve Coeur, Mo.), 65-62. Ellie Vazzana and Britzmann netted 16 points apiece. Another challenge is slated for Saturday at archrival St. Joseph (St. Louis).

25. Cedar Hill, Texas (33-4)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Texas’s top-ranked Class 6A team played a Class 6A, Region I bi-district playoff game against Pearce (Richardson) on Tuesday night. A win puts the Longhorns in the Area playoffs later this week.

Dropped: No. 25 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Franklin, Somerset, N.J. (21-0)

2. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (25-4)

3. Cathedral, Boston (14-0)

4. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (22-0)

5. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (20-2)

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. (20-1)

2. Derby, Kan. (16-0)

3. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (20-1)

4. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (25-1)

5. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (20-1)

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

Southland

1. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (22-0)

2. Scott County, Georgetown, Ky. (25-1)

3. Hendrickson, Pflugerville, Texas (37-1)

4. Hoover, Ala. (28-1)

5. Spring Valley, Columbia, S.C. (22-3)

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

Far West

1. Windward School, Los Angeles (21-5)

2. Highlands Ranch, Colo. (20-1) 

3. Etiwanda, Calif. (26-3)

4.Pinewood School, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (21-2) 

5. Southridge, Beaverton. Ore. (17-3)

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.