No. 1 Sierra Canyon (CA) stays at head of Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings; No. 22 Zionsville (IN) is one of three newcomers

BENSALEM, Pa. – December, a.k.a. the month of basketball tournaments, is over. School is back in session and in some states the moratorium on play has expired.

Add it up and it impacts the latest set of Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings.

Take this week, 12 teams from the Elite 25 won holiday tournaments last week and top-11 remained intact. Eight teams saw movement from the previous week and 14 teams were static. No. 19 Conway (Ark.) dipped seven spots and No. 18 Duncanville (Texas) moves up five after winning their own Sandra Meadows Classic against a quality field.

There are three newcomers in the Elite 25 from three different areas of the country. Joining are No. 22 Zionsville (Ind.), No. 23 Coppell (Texas) and No. 24 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah). Zionsville and Coppell each have one loss while Lone Peak had a solid showing in the Nike Tournament of Champions Vincent Cannizzaro Bracket before Christmas. The Knights went 2-2 and took fourth in the tournament’s elite bracket in Mesa, Ariz.

Now the scene shifts to the City of Brotherly Love.

This weekend in Philadelphia it’s a day of basketball. The Blue Star High School Invitational will feature 16 games on two courts on the campus of Thomas Jefferson University at 4201 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., 19144 on Sunday. Teams from the Middle Atlantic States such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware and District of Columbia will be represented in one facility. Arrive early.

The starry schedule [Editor’s note: the schedule was revised on Jan. 4].

Jim Munn Memorial Bracket on Court 1

9 a.m.: Upper Dublin (Fort Washington, Pa.) vs. West Catholic (Philadelphia)

10:20 a.m.: Friends Central (Philadelphia) vs. Spring-Ford (Royersford, Pa.)

11:40 a.m.: Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) vs. Manasquan (N.J.)

1 p.m.: St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) vs. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.)

2:20 p.m.: Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) vs. Georgetown Visitation (Washington, D.C.)

3:40 p.m.: South Shore (Brooklyn, N.Y.) vs. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)

5 p.m.: Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) vs. McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.)

6:20 p.m.: Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.) vs. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)

Nancy Dougherty Memorial Bracket on Court 2

9:10 a.m.: Academy of Notre Dame (Radnor, Pa.) vs. Imhotep Prep Charter (Philadelphia)

10:30 a.m.: Sanford School (Hockessin, Del.) vs. Audenried (Philadelphia)

11:50 a.m.: Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) vs. Shabach Christian (Landover, Md.)

1:10 p.m.: St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) vs. Penn Charter (Philadelphia)

2:30 p.m.: Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) vs. Immaculate Conception (Montclair, N.J.)

3:50 p.m.: Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) vs. Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.)

5:10 p.m.: Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield, Pa.) vs. George School (Newtown, Pa.)

Apparently, the original schedule needed to be amended with multiple teams dropping out but new ones sliding in. The two games that will impact the Elite 25 rankings are No. 2 Long Island Lutheran-Georgetown Visitation and Westtown School-No. 12 Shabach Christian. Both games ooze with Division I prospects.

Please note the changes. If there are additional ones, we’ll update this column.

So, enjoy the games. We’ll have an update from Philadelphia next week.

It’s it for the last week in 2022.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Jan. 11 in advance of the busy Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend events spread out all over the nation. It’s one of the final big-time weekends remaining on the docket for the 2022-23 season. Expect more movement with key events in Massachusetts, Illinois and California.

Finally, Happy New Year to all. Hopefully, it’s a good one for you. Remain safe.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 4, 2023

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

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Won POA Holiday Classic Diamond Bracket championship in Portland, Ore., stopping Camas (Wash.), 58-53, in the final. MacKenly Randolph paced the Trailblazers with a double-double of 24 points, 13 rebounds and 4 steals. Juju Watkins, a USC recruit, added 23 points, 12 boards and 3 steals. The Blazers face No. 8 La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day Saturday at the Cryto.com Arena in Los Angeles, home of the Lakers and Clippers.

2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (9-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Idle. Junior forward Shy Hawkins has exploded on the recruiting scene. She recently picked up offers from St. John’s, Penn State and Arizona State. The Crusaders are in Philadelphia this weekend for the Blue Star High School Invitational.

3. Etiwanda, Calif. (13-0)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Won the West Coast Jamboree Platinum Division championship, beating St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), 56-46, in the final. Kennedy Smith was named the David “Scoop” Jackson Most Valuable Player after posting the monster game of 24 points, 19 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 2 blocks. It was the Eagles’ third tournament title of the campaign.

4. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (9-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Won the Visitation Academy (St. Louis) Tournament, beating John Burroughs (St. Louis), 64-37. Nebraska-bound center Natalie Potts had a double-double with 24 points (two 3-pointers) and 11 rebounds and Naveah Caffey added 10 points and 4 assists.

5. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (7-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Idle.

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

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Park Center Holiday Tournament, defeating Owatonna, 94-37, in the final. Sunaja Agara scored 16 points and Macaya Copeland and Tatum Woodson added 12 apiece. The Lady Royals have three games scheduled this week.

7. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (13-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational She Got Game Bracket title, beating Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.), 58-47, in the final. The Eagles went 3-0 at the event held in Wesley Chapel, Fla.

8. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (16-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won the POA Holiday Classic Platinum Bracket championship in Portland, Ore., beating Beaverton (Ore.), 65-42, in the final. Arizona-commit Breya Cunningham had 23 points on 10 of 13 shooting, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Torreys have a national showdown with No. 1 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) on Saturday.

9. Hazel Green, Ala. (17-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Lady Trojans won three games at the BallN Prep National Showcase on their home court, topping St. John Paul II (Huntsville), 68-30, Shades Valley (Birmingham), 56-29 and Lee County (Leesburg, Ga.), 66-17. In the former game, Leah Brooks contributed 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals and Jaden Tony scored 13 points. The Lady Trojans play Friday with a Class 6A, Area 16 contest.

10. South Bend (Ind.) Washington (17-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won Lady Tiger Classic in Warsaw, Ind., beating Warsaw, 70-49, in the final. Six games remain in the regular season.

11. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (7-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won twice at the Hoopfest Holiday Invitational, beating New Providence, 68-43, and Westfield 77-36. Zoe Brooks, a North Carolina State signee, totaled 59 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 19 steals in two games. Also crushed University (Newark), 75-52.

12. Shabach Christian Academy, Landover, Md. (14-3)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won the Boo Wiliams Christmas Tournament Black Division, beating No. 25 DeSoto, 48-45, in the final. Laila Reynolds, a Florida signee, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Malaka Cobb was named all-tournament.

13. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (15-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Won the KSA Tournament in Orlando, Fla., crushing Ellison (Killeen, Texas), 76-39, in the final. The Golden went 4-0 at the event and are back at it on Jan. 3 with Mission Hills (San Marcos).

14. Centennial, Las Vegas (5-1)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Idle. The Lady Bulldogs had a two-week layoff.

15. Hoover, Ala. (19-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Lady Bucs had their win streak stopped at 36 games after a 31-30 loss to Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa) at the BallN Prep National Girls Showcase in Hazel Green.

16. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (9-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Idle.

17. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (10-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Defeated Frederick Douglass (Lexington), 60-50. Three games are schedule capped by a crosstown meeting with Assumption on Saturday.

18. Duncanville, Texas (16-4)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won the Sandra Meadows Classic on their home court, beating then-No. 12 Conway (Ark.), 68-66, in the final. Junior Mariah Clayton flipped in 23 points to take home Most Valuable Player honors. Kaylinn Kemp added 13 points and Chloe Mann 12. The Pantherettes won their own tournament for the 26th time after losing in the final to Conway a year ago.

19. Conway, Ark. (13-2)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Advanced to the finals of the Sandra Meadows, losing to host school and No. 18 Duncanville (Texas), 68-66. Savannah Scott tossed in 16 points.

20. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (7-0)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won the Wonderland Bracket of the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh, N.C., beating Purcell Marian (Cincinnati), 64-44, in the final. Sophomore Mya Pauldo scored 20 points to earn the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Daniella Matus added 12. Mia Pauldo and Matus were named all-tournament.

21. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won Ayala Tournament title in Chino Hills, Calif. The Monarchs went 4-0 at the event.

22. Zionsville, Ind. (15-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Eagles land in the Elite 25 rankings after winning 15 in a row to open the season. Indiana’s second-ranked Class 4A team has seven games left in the regular season.

23. Coppell, Texas (24-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Texas’ top-ranked Class 6A team makes their debut in the Elite 25. The Cowgirls play Flower Mound and Hebron (Carrollton) in District 6-6A showdowns this week. All three teams enter January with 3-0 district records.

24. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (7-3)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: All three losses for the Knights were to Elite 25 teams. The month of January opens with West Jordan and Springville in non-region action. The Region 4 schedule starts next week with Pleasant Grove on Jan. 13.

25. DeSoto, Texas (11-4)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Eagles are on the cusp of dropping out of the Elite 25 but remain one of the favorites to win the Texas Class 6A championship.

Dropped: No. 18 South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas); No. 22. Example Prep (Frankfurt, Ill.); and 24 Bedford (Ind.) North Lawrence.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Georgetown Visitation, Washington, D.C. (8-1)
2. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (9-4)
3. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (8-4)
4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)
5. Spring-Ford, Royersford, Pa. (10-0)

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

Midwest

1. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (14-1)
2. Example Prep, Frankfort, Ill. (8-2)
3. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (15-1)
4. Geneva. Ill. (12-2)
5. Fremd, Palatine, Ill. (15-1)

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

Southland

1. Edmond (Okla.) North (10-0)
2. Clark, San Antonio (16-3)
3. Mansfield Timberview, Arlington, Texas (23-3)
4. Summer Creek, Houston (21-2)
5. Camden, S.C. (11-2)

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

Far West

1. Garfield, Seattle (5-0)
2. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (11-1)
3. Desert Vista, Phoenix (9-3)
4. Camas, Wash. (9-1)
5. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (7-1)

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 High School Girls Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.