No. 21 Reynoldsburg (OH) completes dream season securing Division I title and enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings; new No. 1 playing for Missouri Class 6 crown

BENSALEM, Pa. – If you hang around the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings long enough and keep winning good things are bound to happen.

The state championships are winding down and March Madness claimed the No. 1 team last week. So, the latest or the third team to assume the top spot in the Elite 25 is Incarnate Word Academy of Bel Nor, Missouri. The Red Knights are 27-0 and need two more wins to claim the Missouri Class 6 state championship. That quest continues against St. Joseph’s Academy (St. Louis) Thursday in the semifinals in Springfield. With a win, the Red Knights advance to the state final on Friday afternoon.

Last week, there were six teams crowned state champions in the Elite 25 with one from Ohio that enters after annexing securing the hardware in Dayton. If you are keeping tabs that’s 16 champions in the Elite 25.

Perhaps the biggest win came in Sacramento, California, where No. 4 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) claimed a fifth state title in the last 10 years, bagging the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division. For the Trailblazers it’s one of the more prestigious state titles on the map. Winning it or even getting by the competition in the CIF Southern Region might be the toughest in the nation. Junior Juju Watkins, the nation’s top player from the Class of 2023 and future McDonald’s All American, totaled 52 points and 34 rebounds in the final two games of the season. Watkins’ monster week justified her decision to transfer from Windward (Los Angeles) last summer and sit out the opening six games of the season per California transfer guidelines. She’s already a star and rising!

Sierra Canyon made the biggest jump of seven positions in the rankings and No. 6 Etiwanda (Calif.) dipped five spots while two others fell four.

No. 21 Reynoldsburg (Ohio) is the lone newcomer to the Elite 25 after annexing the Ohio Division I state championship. The Raiders outlasted No. 25 Mason in overtime for the program’s first-ever title in four tries.

This week three teams are in line for state championships: No. 1 Incarnate Word Academy, No. 3 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) and No. 8 Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.). Vianney already won the New Jersey Non-Public A title last weekend but now go for the State Tournament of Champions crown in the last year of the event’s existence. The TOC gathers the six New Jersey group champions with Vianney earning the top seed and a bye to the semifinals on Friday.

GEICO Nationals

Elsewhere, the GEICO High School Nationals field is set with DME Sports Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.), IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) and Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) in the five-team bracket tipping on March 31 at the Suncoast Bank Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.

The complete schedule is here.

That’s a power field and will get the competitive juices flowing on the ESPN networks.

The same can be said for the GEICO State Champions Invitational from April 7-9 in Tampa, Florida. The likely participants appear to be Elite 25 teams Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.), Woodward Academy (Atlanta) and Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.). The fourth team will be added from Nevada, Washington, Utah, Georgia or Florida. The leading candidates would be state champions Woodinville (Wash.) and Centennial (Las Vegas).

When the field is official, we’ll pass it along.

That’s a wrap for the second week in March

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on March 23. There are four more ranking periods remain before the final rankings are revealed. Enjoy the NCAA Women’s Tournament, it’s going to be great time with all the games on ESPN. Don’t forget to fill out your brackets, good luck.

Please stay safe and get vaccinated and have a Happy Patrick’s Day on Thursday.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 16, 2022

1. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (27-0)

Previous rank: 2.

The Low-down: Junior center Natalie Potts scored 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting and hauled down 8 rebounds and Kentucky-bound guard Saniah Tyler added 13 points during a 70-32 victory over Troy Buchanan (Troy) in the Class 6 state quarterfinals. Up next is rival St. Joseph’s Academy (St. Louis) Thursday in the Class 6 semifinals at Missouri State’s JQH Arena in Springfield.

2. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (28-0)*

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Won the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA championship. Regular season is complete and the Quakers will be invited to the GEICO State Champions Invitational.

3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (30-1)*

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Won the Non-Public A state championship, defeating Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township), 74-36, in the final. It was a state-leading 17^th state crown but the first since 2016 (New Jersey did not play state tournaments in 2020 and ’21 due to COVID-19). Guard Madison St. Rose, the three-time Gatorade state player of the year and Princeton recruit, scored 18 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and made 4 steals. Junior Zoe Brooks added 16 points and 4 rebounds. The Lady Lancers face Sparta or University (Newark) Friday in the State Tournament of Champions semifinals at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River. The final is Sunday at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway.

4. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (30-2)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won the CIF Open Division championship, defeating No. 14 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 85-61. Juju Watkins, a 6-foot-2 forward showed why she’s the top recruit in the Class of 2023, after stuffing the stat sheet with 23 points, 19 rebounds, 6 assists, six blocks and 3 steals. For coach Alicia Komaki it was her fifth state title in 10 seasons. In the Southern Region final, the Blazers knocked off then-No. 1 Etiwanda, 70-61. Watkins posted 29 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks while making all 12 free throw attempts. Season complete.

5. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (26-2)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Idle. The National Association of Christian Athletes Division 1 champions are the No. 1 seed at the GEICO Nationals.

6. Etiwanda, Calif. (29-1)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: The Lady Eagles were upended by then-No. 11 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 60-51, in the CIF Southern Region Open Division final. Sophomore forward Destiny Agubata netted 17 points, freshman Aliyahna Morris had 14 and Kennedy Smith added 10. Season complete.

7. DeSoto, Texas (35-2)*

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won a second consecutive UIL Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

8. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (23-1)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Sophomore Liv McGill scored a game-high 21 points and Nu Nu Agara added 20 when the Royals beat Wayzata (Plymouth), 84-66, in the Class AAAA, Section 6 championship. Up next is Lakeville North Wednesday in the Class AAAA quarterfinals.

9. Cedar Park, Texas (39-0)*

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won a second straight UIL Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

10. Hazel Green, Ala. (35-0)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won a fifth consecutive Class 6A state championship and Alabama State-bound Samiya Steele was named Alabama’s Gatorade player of the year. Season complete.

11. Classen SAS, Oklahoma City (24-1)*

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship, trouncing Tuttle, 55-22, in the final. It was the largest margin of victory (33 points) in Oklahoma 4A girls title game history. Baylor-bound Darianna Littlepage-Buggs wound up with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. In the semifinals, the Lady Comets beat Holland Hall (Tulsa), 62-46. Littlepage-Buggs had 16 points and 9 rebounds and Micah Gray and Jordan Harrison tossed in 12 apiece to knock out Blanchard, 53-24, in the quarterfinals. Season complete.

12. Hoover, Ala. (34-3)*

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Won a second straight Class 7A state championship. Season complete.

13. Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. (29-2)*

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won its second straight Class AAAAA state championship, drubbing Forest Park, 72-44. A 20-0 run in the final five minutes saw the winners pull away from 52-44. Georgia-bound Sydney Bowles had 19 points, 7 rebounds and six assists. The War Eagles will be invited to the GEICO Public State Champions Invitational next month in Florida.

14. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (30-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Monarchs were beaten in the CIF Open Division state final 85-61 by No. 4 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth). Senior Makayla Moore had 14 points and sophomore Morgan Cheli added 11. They did beat No. 16 Carondelet (Concord), 72-63, in the Northern Region Open Division final. Season complete.

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

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division championship and advanced to the Southern Region Open Division semifinals. Season complete.

16. Carondelet, Concord, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Lost to No. 14 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 72-63, in the CIF Northern Region Open Division final. Season complete.

17. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (18-3)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Idle. The Lady Eagles will play in the GEICO Nationals from March 31-April 2 in Fort Myers, Fla.

18. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (36-2)*

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

19. DME Sports Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (26-3)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is the GEICO Nationals.

20. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (25-4)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won third consecutive FHSAA Class 4A championship. Regular season is complete but an invitation to the GEICO State Champions Invitational is in the works.

21. Reynoldsburg, Ohio (27-2)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Division I state championship, holding off No. 25 Mason, 63-56, in overtime. The Raiders were up 28-20 at halftime but saw their lead evaporate as the score was knotted at 47 after regulation. They closed with a 16-9 run in the extra session. Imarianah Russell, a West Virginia signee, had 28 points and 9 rebounds while Ohio State-bound Mya Perry added 16 points and 11 boards for the double-double. Season complete.

22. Duncanville, Texas (34-7)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Advanced to the Class 6A, Region II final. Season complete.

23. Johnston, Iowa (26-0)*

Previous: 24.

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

24. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (36-3)*

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won second straight Mingua Beef Jerky Sweet Sixteen Tournament, defeating Bullitt East (Mount Washington), 64-46, in the final. Reagan Bender scored 16 points and Josie Gilvin had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Season complete.

25. Mason, Ohio (27-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Lost in the Division I state championship to No. 21 Reynoldsburg, 63-56, in overtime. Miami-bound center Kyla Oldacre collected her 13^th double-double of the campaign with 17 points and 13 rebounds. In the semifinals, the Comets beat Massillon Jackson, 54-35. The 6-5 Oldacre dominated with a 21-point, 19-rebound effort. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 22 Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (23-4)**
2. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (27-2)*
3. Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh (25-1)
4. Plymouth Whitemarsh, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (28-0)
5. Norwood, Mass. (23-0)

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

Midwest

1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (26-1) #
2. South Bend (Ind.) Washington (27-3)*
3. Noblesville, Ind. (25-4)*
4. Carmel, Mundelein, Ill. (28-7)*
5. Archbishop Alter, Kettering, Ohio (28-1)*

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

Southland

1. Neshoba Central, Philadelphia, Miss. (33-0)*
2. Bearden, Knoxville, Tenn. (37-3)*
3. Ponchatoula, La. (35-2)*
4. Brownsboro, Texas (40-2)*
5. The Webb School, Bell Buckle, Tenn. (30-6)*

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

Far West

1. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (26-7)
2. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (23-0)*
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (23-6)
4. Beaverton, Ore. (26-1)*
5. Woodinville, Wash. (26-1)*

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

Records through Monday’s games

 * Won state, national or recognized conference/league postseason tournament championship [Note: Multiple asterisks indicate a school has won at least two postseason titles]

 # Includes a forfeit win

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 Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.