No. 13 Hoover (AL) halts long win streak, No. 2 Incarnate Word (MO) extends its to 88 games; Nicole Melious and her 3K odyssey on Staten Island (NY)

BENSALEM, Pa. – For the next two months the national high school girls’ basketball scene is in playoff mode.

Somewhere some place there will a state or conference that will be playing a tournament to determine an overall champion and that started last week in Florida and Indiana and goes until late March. Once the states and District of Columbia are completed, the coveted GEICO High School Nationals will be played in Fort Myers, Florida on the first weekend in April. That’s followed a week later with the GEICO State Champions Invitational.

It’s a great time of the year. Championship galore and lots of shiny hardware exchanging hands. In most states, it’s one-and-done format, where the losing team goes home.

However, there’s a twist with the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Open Division, where eight teams from near Los Angeles are placed into two pools and play down to an overall champion. Regardless, all eight teams advance to the CIF-Southern Region tournaments for a chance to play in the state final on March 10 or 11 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Yet the Open Division sectional title is a coveted chip. Three teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings, No. 1 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), No. 10 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and No. 12 Etiwanda, will be vying for it and then likely again a few weeks later in the regionals. Here’s the schedule and two pools.

Undoubtedly, California will have a major say in the Elite 25 final rankings that will drop on April 10.

This week the Elite 25

Nicole 3K

Finally, one of the nation’s more underrated players, senior guard Nicole Melious of Susan Wagner (Staten Island, N.Y.), cracked the 3,000-point barrier last week and through 23 games, she’s averaging 43.7 points.

That’s eye watering!

She’s scored 3,001 points in three seasons (she lost one season to the pandemic) and is the New York Public Schools Athletic League all-time leading scorer (boys and girls) and fourth in New York City history.

According to several analysts, Melious is a serious candidate for the New York State Player of the Year. Since she did not get selected for the McDonald’s All American Game, Melious can still win the Gatorade state player of the year because she’s a high-A student in the classroom and that’s a key criterium for the Gatorade selection committee.

Surely, she’ll be selected to a national senior all-star.

We’ve watched her play in high school and with her club team Hoopers NY.

Simply put, Melious is an unselfish, hard-working combo guard who fill it up from distance, attack the rim, set up her teammates and defend. She averages 12.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists with six triple-doubles and 14 double-doubles this season.

Melious originally committed to Georgia Tech but wound up signing with La Salle (a real recruiting coup for Explorers coach Mountain MacGillivray) to remain closer to home. She will enjoy a prosperous career at the Atlantic 10 school in the Philadelphia.

Before she finishes her prep career, there’s unfinished in her back yard. The Wagner Falcons are 22-1 and unbeaten in league play (Tuesday closed out regular season). But winning the elusive PSAL AA Bracket or the overall big-school city title next month at Barclays Center in Brooklyn is the final quest. Last year, the Falcons lost to South Shore (Brooklyn) in the AA final and the two are on a collision course for the title game rematch.

Her No. 10 jersey eventually will be retired to the rafters at Wagner’s gym but that legacy will live on.

Kudos, Nicole!

We’re outta here for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Feb. 15. We’ll have more on the state tournaments and whatever else is percolating.

Be safe.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 8, 2023

1. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Won the Mission League championship, defeating Marlborough (Los Angeles), 61-36, in the final. Junior MacKenly Randolph had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots; Christy Reynoso had 18 points and 3 steals; and Izela Arenas scored 10 points. The Trailblazers are the top seed in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division tournament and will play Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) Saturday in the first of three Pool A games. The pool winners meet for the title on Feb 25 at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

2. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (20-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Red Knights extended their nation’s top win streak to 88 games in a 72-61 victory over Vashon (St. Louis) in the Webster Winter Challenge in Webster Groves. Nebraska-bound forward Natalie Potts pumped in a game-high 36 points. Brooke Coffey and Kaylynn Jones added 10 points apiece. This weekend coach Dan Rolfes takes his team to the Kansas City area for two games.

3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (23-0)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: It was a close call but the Lady Lancers edged Montclair Immaculate, 72-68, at the Coaches Choice USA Shore Conference Challenge in Holmdel. The game was tied at 52 after three quarters before the late rally. McDonald’s All-American guard Zoe Brooks had 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 5 assists and Bucknell-bound Ashley Sofilkanich added 21 points and 5 rebounds. The Lady Lancers travel to Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) Friday and are the top seed in the Shore Conference Tournament.

4. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (18-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Swept three Independent School League opponents as the regular season winds down.

5. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (23-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) on Friday.

6. South Bend (Ind.) Washington (26-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A Plymouth Sectional championship, defeating Plymouth, 65-30, in the final. The Panthers play Valparaiso Saturday in the regional semifinals. The final is later that day.

7. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (15-2)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Shy Hawkins (20 points, 8 rebounds) and Savvy Swords (19 points, 11 rebounds) combined for 39 points and 19 rebounds when the Lady Crusaders defeated Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.). Up next is a home game with Brooklyn Law & Tech on Saturday.

8. Centennial, Las Vegas (18-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Lady Bulldogs host Foothill (Henderson, Nev.) Thursday in the regular-season finale. They finished a 3-0 week, beating Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas), 77-37, as Kaniya Boyd scored 14 points.

9. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (18-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Defeated Buffalo, 97-26, and Edina, 85-45. Another showdown with rival Wayzata (Plymouth) is slated for Friday.

10. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (26-2)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won the Trinity League championship with an 8-0 record and finished beating Rosary Academy (Fullerton), 62-57. Up next is the CIF-Southern Section Open Division tournament starting Saturday with Windward School (Los Angeles) in the first of three Pool B games.

11. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (25-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Closed out the regular season with three wins, including a 79-59 win over Mission Hills. The Coastal League Tournament semifinals are Wednesday and the final is Friday.

12. Etiwanda, Calif. (25-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Lady Eagles went 10-0 to earn the Baseline League championship and tip off the CIF-Southern Section Open Division tournament Saturday with Corona Santiago in the first of three Pool B games. The other dates are Feb. 15 and 18.

13. Hoover, Ala. (28-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Lady Bucs defeated then-No. 6 Hazel Green, 52-38, in the regular season finale. The win stopped Hazel Green’s 87-game win streak. Reniya Kelly, a North Carolina signee, tossed in 24 points. The Class 7A Area 5 tournament opened with Tuscaloosa County (Northport) Tuesday. The final is Thursday.

14. Hazel Green, Ala. (29-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Lady Trojans had their win streak halted at 87 games in a 52-38 loss to No. 13 Hoover (Ala.) in the regular season finale. Leah Brooks contributed 19 points and 9 rebounds. The Lady Trojans opened the Class 6A Area 16 tournament this week. The final is Thursday against Lee (Huntsville).

15. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (25-1)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won second straight East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship, beating Carmel (Mundelein), 48-24, in the final. Amalia Dray had 11 points and 4 steals and coach Eddie Stritzel recorded his 400th career win.

16. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (25-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Golden Eagles won two league games and that sets up the final two games of the regular season, including a road game at Clovis Friday. Clovis handed the Golden Eagles their lone loss this season.

17. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (20-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Defeated Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (San Francisco), 69-46, and St. Francis (Mountain View), 82-41. The regular season wraps up with Presentation (San Jose) Saturday.

18. Duncanville, Texas (26-4)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Defeated Waxahachie, 71-40, and Mansfield, 80-21. The Pantherettes are 13-0 in District 11-6A with one game remaining.

19. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (23-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Defeated Christian Academy (Louisville), 73-52, and Bowling Green, 75-47. ZaKiyah Johnson totaled 36 points in two games.

20. Edmond (Okla.) North (18-0)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Staci Steele, a North Carolina State recruit, totaled 30 points and 10 rebounds and was named co-homecoming queen when the Huskies defeated Westmoore (Oklahoma City), 78-31.

21. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (15-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: BYU-bound guard Kailey Woolston’s 25 points (four 3-pointers), 7 rebounds and 4 steals helped turn back Pleasant Grove, 84-33, in the week’s only game.

22. The Webb School, Bell Buckle, Tenn. (23-4)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Defeated Baylor School (Chattanooga), 81-22, in the season-regular finale.

23. Paul VI, Haddonfield, N.J. (17-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Hannah Hidalgo provided 20 points and 9 assists and Eva Andrews scored 15 to beat St. Rose (Belmar), 70-46, at the Coaches Choice USA Shore Conference Challenge in Holmdel. Hidalgo scored her 2,000th career point in a 61-39 victory over Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill). Hidalgo finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds.

24 Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (17-3)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: In the Morris County Tournament quarterfinals, Daniella Matus flipped in 20 points with four 3-pointers and Natalie Stoupakis added 18 points in a 94-41 win over Pequannock (Pompton Plains). Up next is Randolph in the semifinals Saturday.

25. Johnston, Iowa (19-1)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Defeated Waukee, 71-47. The regular season ends Friday.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (16-5)
2. McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Md. (19-2)
3. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (17-4)
4. Georgetown Visitation, Washington, D.C. (15-4)
5. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (16-3)

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

Midwest

1. Example Academy, Frankfort, Ill. (17-2)
2. Fremd, Palatine, Ill. (27-2)
3. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (19-2)
4. Grand Rapids (Mich.) West Catholic (15-0)
5. Fishers , Ind. (23-2)

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

Southland

1. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (25-1)
2. Brookwood, Snellville, Ga. (22-1)
3. Clark, San Antonio (26-3)
4. Conway, Ark. (20-5)
5. Bearden, Knoxville, Tenn. (26-0)

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

Far West

1. Desert Vista, Phoenix (23-3)
2. Piedmont, Calif. (22-0)
3. Clackamas, Ore. (15-4)
4. Woodinville, Wash. (21-1)
5. Clovis, Calif. (22-4)

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 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.