BENSALEM, PA. – The most recent Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings feature the addition of one.
No. 12 Newark (Ohio) zooms into the Elite after a thumping then-No. 14 Reynoldsburg. The Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in Ohio Division I and swept four games last weekend. The Wildcats play rivals Pickerington Central Friday and visit Indiana Class 4A powerhouse North Central (Indianapolis) Saturday.
As the season moves forward, this from the New York State Federation of Secondary Schools Athletic Association (NYSFSSAA)—the 2021 Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament of Champions at Fordham University due to the impact of COVID-19.
“Due to the continuing public health emergency related to COVID-19, the Federation Executive Board unanimously voted to cancel this year’s Federation Basketball Championships,” said Jim Foster, NYSFSSAA Executive Secretary. “It’s a disappointing announcement but the Board felt it was in the best interest of student-athlete safety and furthermore, it is an unknown if Fordham University will even be open for events utilizing the college facilities in March.”
Additionally, none of the four associations that comprise the NYS Federation are conducting winter championships; therefore, there would not be any teams qualifying to participate in a culminating Federation event.
The NYSFSSAA Basketball Tournament of Champions is an event comprised of representatives from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), the New York City Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), and the New York State Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association (AISAA) in Classes AA, A, and B.
OK, that’s it for another week. It was a relatively quiet Martin Luther King weekend. Before you know it state playoffs will be starting in Indiana and Florida.
The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Jan. 27 and then each Wednesday until the Winter/Spring seasons are complete.
Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for our staff updates. We’ll keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ hoop universe. For now, stay safe. As a reminder the Blue Star Media Final Elite 25 Fall football rankings will be revealed on Jan. 24—that’s following the conclusion of state championships in Texas and Michigan.
Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, Jan. 20, 2021
1. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (11-0)
Previous rank: 1.
The Low-down: Idle. The Highlanders’ next four games are canceled and they won’t play again until Colonial (Orland) on Jan. 29. After that it’s the district semifinals on Feb. 3. Talk about a disappointment.
2. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (15-0)
Previous: 2.
The Low-down: The Cougars defeated AZ Compass (Chandler, Ariz.), 66-43, and Notre Dame Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 53-39, at The Classic in the Country last weekend.
3. Westlake, Atlanta (11-0)
Previous: 3.
The Low-down: Crushed Forest Park, 70-34 and Langston Hughes (Fairburn), 58-39. The Lions are 6-0 in Region 4, Class AAAAAAA after two wins last week.
4. Cypress Creek, Houston (19-0)
Previous: 4.
The Low-down: The top-ranked Texas Class 6A team has not had a close game since a 12-point win on Nov. 20. The average margin of victory is 43 points. Three week left in the regular season.
5. Hoover, Ala. (21-0)
Previous: 9.
The Low-down: Defeated Lee (Huntsville), 74-38, the J-4 Sports MLK Classic. Also beat Thompson (Alabaster), 85-20, and Oak Mountain (Birmingham), 80-40. Six games are left in the regular season.
6. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (0-0)
Previous: 6.
The Low-down: The Lancers will open the season on Feb. 2.
7. Simeon, Chicago (0-0)
Previous: 7.
The Low-down: Idle. Illinois schools await the start of the season.
8. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (0-0)
Previous: 8.
The Low-down: The CIF-Southern Section Open Division champions won’t play until the spring but they are very good with Stanford-bound Brooke Demetre as the go-to player.
9. Winston Salem Christian, Winston-Salem, N.C. (21-0)
Previous: 11.
The Low-down: Defeated then-No. 5 New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.), 52-35.
10. Renaissance, Detroit (0-0)
Previous: 10.
The Low-down: Idle. Michigan has not determined a start date but it’s likely happening in February.
11. DeSoto, Texas (16-1)
Previous: 13.
The Low-down: If the Eagles beat Waxahachie Wednesday, they will go into the District 11-6A showdown with rivals No. 16 Duncanville on Saturday unbeaten in district and a chance to essentially clinch the title.
12. Newark, Ohio (15-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
The Low-down: The Wildcats move into the Elite 25 over then-No. 14 Reynoldsburg. 45-31. The rematch is Jan. 29.
13. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (1-0)
Previous: 18.
The Low-down: Junior C Maya Nnaji hits for a game-high 24 points as the Lady Royals crushed Eden Prairie, 73-39. Coach Tara Starks’ team played rivals Wayzata (Plymouth) Tuesday night.
14. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (12-0)
Previous: 16.
The Low-down: Defeated Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis), 63-56, behind 24 points from Saniah Tyler and Nerinx Hall (Webster Groves, Mo.), 65-22, as 6-3 C Natalie Potts struck for 20 points.
15. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (14-1)
Previous: 15.
The Low-down: Idle. Three games recently were canceled by COVID-19.
16. Duncanville, Texas (20-1)
Previous: 17.
The Low-down: The Pantherettes enter the week having won seven straight but that streak could be tested Saturday afternoon at No. 11 DeSoto.
17. Converse (Texas) Judson (15-1)
Previous: 12.
The Low-down: The Rockets were grounded by Cibolo Steele, 60-58, in a District 27-6A key game. Both teams are 7-1 in district, having split their games with three weeks left in the regular season.
18. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (0-0)
Previous: 19.
The Low-down: Idle. The defending Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champions won’t get underway until later this month.
19. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (0-0)
Previous: 20.
The Low-down: California Interscholastic Federation teams won’t start until the spring.
20. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (0-0)
Previous: 16.
The Low-down: Idle.
21. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (10-0)
Previous: 22.
The Low-down: The Tigers capped a 3-0 week and extended the win streak to 52 games with a 67-45 win over Macon County (Lafayette). Another three-game week is highlighted by a visit from Bartlett Saturday.
22. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (5-2)
Previous: 5.
The Low-down: Lost to then-No. 11 Winston Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 52-35.
23. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (0-0)
Previous: 23.
The Low-down: Idle. The Argonauts tip off the season next week.
24. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (0-0)
Previous: 24.
The Low-down: Idle. The season tips off at Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) on Jan. 29.
25. Cardinal Newman, Columbia, S.C (6-1)
Previous: 25.
The Low-down: Idle.
Dropped: No. 14 Reynoldsburg (Ohio).
High-Fives by Region
East
- Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic (0-0)
- Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (0-0)
- Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (0-0)
- Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (3-0)
- Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (6-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- North Central, Indianapolis (17-2)
- Edison Public Academy, Detroit (0-0)
- Pius X, Lincoln, Neb. (10-0)
- Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (11-1)
- Crown Point, Ind. (13-1)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Norman, Okla. (7-0)
- Meridian, Miss. (9-0)
- Hazel Green, Ala. (23-1)
- Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (9-0)
- Anderson County, Lawrenceburg, Ky. (6-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (0-0)
- Fremont, Plain City, Utah (12-0)
- Valley Vista, Surprise, Ariz. (0-0)
- Herriman, Utah (11-1)
- Windward School, Los Angeles (0-0)
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 nationwide. 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.
