No. 25 Christ the King (N.Y.) checks into Blue Star Media Go-To 25 girls’ basketball rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – If March is full of madness, what about February?

That would be fate of course. February determines the fate of most girls’ basketball teams in the postseason and in most cases sets them up for an appearance in March. Tie them together and it’s just another crazy two-month chunk that schools begin preparing for once the season ends. That usually means on the club circuit, which gets going in April and continues until the players and coaches reunite for preseason workouts in the fall.

The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 girls’ high school basketball rankings add just one team this week, with the remainder of the positions static. No. 25 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) swapped spots with their league archrivals Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Nazareth fell from the final spot in the Go-To 25 into the top-spot in the East Region. Expect these schools to meet at least twice before the New York State Federation Tournament in March. CTK won both league fixtures and now re-enters after being ranked in the Preseason Go-To 25.

No. 4 Incarnate Word (Bel-Nor, Mo.) moves up one slot after defeating nationally ranked Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.) in a highly anticipated showdown.

No. 6 Miami (Fla.) Senior can punch its ticket in net week’s Class 8A Final Four in Lakeland with two regional victories. If the Stings reach the states, they would be the clear favorite in Florida’s largest classification and be in line for a berth in the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in New York.

Check back periodically at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from events nationwide and other tidbits evolving from the game. Nearly half of the states are playing postseason basketball. It goes quickly so support your local high school.

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 11, 2014

1. Duncanville, Texas (29-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Ariel Atkins scored 17 points and Tiara Davenport 16 in a 67-56 win over DeSoto. The Pantherettes finished 14-0 in district competition. Next up is Harker Heights (Killeen) in Class 5A Region 1 bi-district playoff Tuesday in Hillsboro.

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (21-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: A quiet week saw the Monarchs defeat Orange Lutheran, 67-38. This week the final two regular season games.

3. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (24-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Blaze beat Stewarts Creek, 60-23, but the big news last week was 5-11 junior MeMe Jackson verbally committed to Tennessee.

4. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel-Nor, Mo. (19-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Red Knights edged then-No. 15 Rock Bridge (Columbia), 40-37, in the championship of the Webster Winter Challenge in Webster Groves, Mo. MVP Nakiah Bell scored 19 points and junior post Napheesa Collier added 14.

5. Windward School, Los Angeles (21-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The win streak hit 11 games heading into the final week of the regular season.

6. Miami Senior High, Miami, Fla. (26-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: After eliminating West Broward (Pembroke Pines), 57-25, the Stingarees play Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) in the Class 8A Region 3 semifinals.

7. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (20-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Coach Barbara Nelson’s team is firing on all cylinders as the playoffs approach.

8. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (20-2)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Jackrabbits’ defense was superb holding Lynwood to two points in the opening quarter during a 59-37 victory. Lajahna Drummer and Yanni Clark teamed for 27 points and 21 rebounds.

9. Manvel, Texas (31-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Mavericks open the postseason against La Porte in the Class 5A bi-district round.

10. New Hope Christian, Thomasville, N.C. (28-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Only one game this week on Thursday at Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham).

11. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (20-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Saints concluded the regular season, beating Bishop McDevitt (Wyncote), 74-28. Sianni Martin topped all scorers with 23 points.

12. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (17-2)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Anna Ptasinski hit for 25 points, including seven 3-pointers, in a 69-38 rout of league rivals Highlands Ranch. The victory halted a home winning streak dating back to February 2005. This week it’s ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) on Friday.

13. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (17-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Vikings need a win in their final game to close out a perfect league record.

14. Shabazz, Newark, N.J. (20-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Lady Bulldogs are back in the Essex County Tournament semifinals after defeating West Essex (North Caldwell), 67-30. They also hold the top-seed in the North Section 2, Group 1 tournament and little competition for an overall state title.

15. Sparkman, Harvest, Ala. (29-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Captured the Class 6A, Area 15 title, defeating Hazel Green, 45-33.

16. Fairmont, Kettering, Ohio (19-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Firebirds took a 14-point lead in the first quarter en route to a 71-18 win over Springfield. The Firebirds open the Division I Harrison District 3 tournament Saturday against West Carrollton in Troy.

17. Rock Bridge, Columbia, Mo. (17-3)

Previous: 15

Low-down: Lost to No. 4 Incarnate Word (Bel-Nor), 40-37, in a showdown. Cierra Porter scored a team-high 16 points in the Webster Winter Challenge final.

18. Whitney Young, Chicago (24-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Dolphins won their sixth straight Chicago Public League championship, racing past Brooks (Chicago), 104-74. Kiara Lewis contributed 23 points and cleared 9 rebounds.

19. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (20-1)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: The Wildcats took out Noblesville, 72-51. The postseason opened Tuesday against Cathedral (Indianapolis) in the Class 4A Indianapolis Tech Sectional.

20. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (19-4)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Rams recorded a huge win over Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland), 81-77. Now it’s time to wrap up 10-0 season in the Tri-Cities Athletic League. Charise Holloway, an Arizona recruit, had 26 points and 14 rebounds to knock off the defending CIF Open Division champions.

21. Bedford North Lawrence, Ind. (20-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Stars won twice last week and opened the Class 4A Jennings County Sectional Tuesday vs. Floyd Central.

22. Seton-LaSalle, Pittsburgh (18-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Rebels Bishop Canevin (Pittsburgh), 63-51, to remain perfect in Section 4-AA. They played Monday night against West Mifflin and enter the WPIAL tournament this weekend.

23. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (16-3)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Chania Ray scored 16 points and Khalia Prather added 15 in a 78-28 victory over Arundel (Gambrills).

24. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (22-2)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Indians are the top seed in the Class AAAAAA, Region 4 tournament this week and won’t play until Friday in the semifinals.

25. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (19-3)

Previous: Not ranked

Low-down: The Royals clinched their first Brooklyn-Queens Diocesan title since 2010 after beating then-No. 25 Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn), 64-59. Kollyns Scarbrough and Duke-bound Sierra Calhoun each scored 18 points.

Dropped: No. 25 Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Nazareth Regional, Brooklyn, N.Y. (18-5)

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

3. Eleanor Roosevelt, Greenbelt, Md. (18-0)

4. Cosby, Midlothian, Va. (14-0)

5. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (19-1)

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

Midlands

1. Eastview, Apple Valley, Minn. (20-0)

2. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (26-2)

3. Joliet (Ill.) Catholic (22-1)

4. Edwardsville, Ill. (21-1)

5. Martin Luther King, Detroit (16-1)

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

South

1. Salmen, Slidell, La. (26-1)

2. Dunbar, Fort Myers, Fla. (26-1)

3. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (19-1)

4. Blount, Prichard, Ala. (27-3)

5. Horn Lake, Miss. (20-1)

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

Far West

1. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (18-4)

2. Desert Vista, Phoenix (25-1)

3. Dobson, Mesa, Ariz. (25-2)

4. South Medford, Medford, Ore. (18-3)

5. Lynnwood, Bothell, Wash. (19-1)

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

Records through Sunday’s games.

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 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 April 8, 2014. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.