No. 21 Archbishop Wood (PA) claims Class AAAA state championship; GEICO Nationals tip Friday with four Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ teams vying for coveted crown

BENSALEM, Pa. – It’s safe to say the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball ranking will receive a jolt this weekend. If all goes according to plan, the GEICO High School Nationals will feature top-ranked Lake Highlands Prep (Orlando, Fla.) against No. 3 Westlake (Atlanta) Saturday morning for the hardware in Fort Myers, Fla.

That’s a dream matchup for many that could decide the eventual Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. True schools from California, Oregon and Washington will play spring seasons and could shake the rankings but the climb to No. 1 would be nearly impossible. Last week, No. 14 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) tipped off its season with an easy win.

State tournaments from Michigan, Minnesota and Kentucky will be contested in April. That could add a wrinkle or two in the Elite 25 but we’re betting the GEICO Nationals will settle it all.

So, if LHP wins that would be a wrap. No debating the No. 1 after this weekend. If Westlake wins, the Lady Lions build a strong case for the top team. However, we’re also looking at No. 2 Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) for the top spot. Just because Ohio does not allow its schools to participate in the GEICO Nationals should not discount the Cougars from moving up. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) and Fremont (Plain City, Utah) are also unbeaten teams headed to the GEICO Nationals with the hope of winning the prestigious four-team tournament.

Friday’s GEICO Nationals semifinal pairings are: No. 3 Westlake (Atlanta)-No. 20 Fremont at 12:30 p.m. ET, and No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)-No. 13 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) at 10:30 a.m. Both games are on ESPNU. The girls’ final is April 3 at 10 a.m. on ESPN2.

No spectators will be permitted in the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, so hunker down and watch the game (boys too) on the ESPN family of networks.

Last week, No. 21 Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) won the Pennsylvania Class AAAA state championship. Coach Mike McDonald’s team bagged the programs sixth PIAA title and the first since 2017. What’s even more special is the Philadelphia Catholic League won three of the PIAA’s six girls’ championships. West Catholic (Philadelphia) won the Class AAA crown and Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield) took home the Class AAAAA chip. Kudos to these three schools and PCL, which is considered one of the pioneer leagues when the girls’ high school game was taking shape in the 1970s.

In Michigan, No. 11 Edison Public Academy (Detroit) was forced to shut down its season for COVID-19 coronavirus concerns. The Lady Pioneers had won 34 straight game were overwhelming favorites to win the Michigan Division 2 state title. For now, Edison won’t get dropped from the Elite 25 rankings. The Michigan state championships are April 9 at Michigan State’s Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Well, that’s wrap on the final week in March. Don’t forget the rankings will continue deep into the spring when three Far West Regional states begin playing and there’s still some hope in New York City that a truncated season can be contested. Honestly, New York is a stretch.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on April 7.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for our staff updates. We’ll keep you abreast of anything breaking on the girls’ basketball universe. For now, get your vaccine when possible, practice social distancing and mask up. Happy Easter to those who celebrate that most Holy Day within Christianity.

Keep safe and hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlo

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, March 31, 2021

1. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (19-0)*

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Highlanders play No. 13 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) Friday at the GEICO Nationals semifinals.

2. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (28-0)*

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won Ohio Division I state championship. Season complete.

3. Westlake, Atlanta (19-0)*

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: The Lady Lions are top seeded in the upcoming GEICO Nationals and face No. 20 Fremont (Plain City, Utah) Friday in the semifinals.

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

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Nu Nu Agara and Maya Nnaji each scored 19 points in an 80-58 victory over rivals Wayzata (Plymouth) in the Section 6-AAAA final. The Lady Royals played Forest Lake in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals on Tuesday. If they won, the semifinals are April 7 and the final is April 9—both rounds are at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

5. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (29-0)*

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won Class 6 state championship. Season complete.

6. DeSoto, Texas (28-2)* #

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

7. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (14-0)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Season complete.

8. Cypress Creek, Houston (32-1)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Class 6A state final. Season complete.

9. Hazel Green, Ala. (36-1)*

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

10. Hoover, Ala. (32-1)*

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Won third Class 7A state championship since 2017. Season complete.

11. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (11-1) #

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: The Lady Pioneers had to withdraw from the Division 2 state tournament over COVID-19 reasons. Michigan’s top-ranked team had won 34 straight games but had to absorb a forfeit loss in the district final. Season complete.

12. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (17-0)*

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

13. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (10-0)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: The Panthers play No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) Friday at the GEICO Nationals semifinals.

14. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (1-0)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Opened the season with a 78-24 trouncing of Crean Lutheran (Irvine). The Monarchs played Esperanza (Anaheim) Tuesday and go again with Glendora on April 6.

15. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (0-0)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Idle.

16. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (13-0)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Season complete.

17. Winston Salem Christian, Winston-Salem, N.C. (25-1)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Season complete.

18. Cardinal Newman, Columbia, S.C (18-1)*

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won third consecutive SCISA Class AAA state championship. Season complete.

19. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (14-3)*

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Season complete.

20. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (26-0)*

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Idle. Won Utah Class 6A state championship and will face No. 3 Westlake (Atlanta) Friday in the GEICO Nationals semifinals.

21. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (17-2)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won PIAA Class AAAA state championship, defeating previously-unbeaten Villa Maria (Erie), 44-34, for the program’s sixth crown. Villanova-bound Kaitlyn Orihel poured in 20 of her game-high 25 points after the break. Orihel finished her prep career with a program best 1,462 points. Junior F Ryanne Allen added 11 points as the Lady Vikings won the program’s first title since 2017. In the semifinals, the Lady Vikings eliminated Scranton Prep, 56-39. Season complete.

22. Converse (Texas) Judson (26-2)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Season complete.

23. Newark, Ohio (29-2)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Ohio Division I state final. Season complete.

24. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-2)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Season complete

25. Kenwood Academy, Chicago (13-0)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)*
2. 2. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (27-1)*
3. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (14-1)
4. Madison, Vienna, Va. (16-1)*
5. St. Elizabeth, Wilmington, Del. (14-0)*

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

Midwest

1. Pius X, Lincoln, Neb. (25-0)*
2. Crown Point, Ind. (25-1)*
3. Hersey, Arlington Heights, Ill. (16-0)
4. Germantown, Wis. (29-1)*
5. Farmington, Minn. (21-0)

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

Southland

1. Norman, Okla. (19-0)*
2. Duncanville, Texas (28-3)
3. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (26-2)*
4. Cedar Park, Texas (27-1)*
5. Vance, Charlotte N.C. (12-0)*

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

Far West

1. Valley Vista, Surprise, Ariz. (17-1)*
2. Seton Catholic Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (17-1)*
3. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (16-1)
4. Mountain View, Meridian, Idaho (20-2)*
5. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (15-2)

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

* Won state championship or national tournament title

 # Includes forfeit loss

Records are through Monday

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.