No. 3 Sidwell Friends (DC) streaking towards postseason with quality win; no additions to Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings but change is coming in March

BENSALEM, Pa. – The quiet before the storm has past and now it’s time to crank up the action as the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings push forward toward the magical month of March.

It’s cliché but March Madness is a term reserved for the college game. No way, it’s proper vernacular to describe championship played late February and for 31 days in the third month of the calendar.

Having said that, the Elite 25 had a quiet week no additions but two teams within the top-5 flip-flopped positions after a head-to-head matchup last weekend on a neutral court in Wilmington, Delaware.

That’s when Elite 25 teams then-No. 3 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) lost to then-No. 4 Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.), 73-58, in a rescheduled game that was originally slated for January in Bronx, N.Y.

So, Sidwell Friends slide up a slot and Vianney dips one.

As for the postseason, Hawaii crowned two champions last weakened, with Iolani School (Honolulu) capturing Division I and Hawaii Baptist Academy (Honolulu) too Division II. Kudos to both programs for being the first two state champions to be crowned. Last year, Hawaii did not have a season.

Five state championship games are on deck in Reno, Nevada, seven in Florida and four more in Indianapolis, Indiana this weekend but the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference will do the same on Monday. It’s four-day tournament of high-end players, coaches, fandom and games.

The WCAC, considered the nation’s top girls’ league, tips off its tournament on Thursday with play-in games and then continues Saturday, Sunday and Monday. WCAC member schools from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia or the vaunted DMV compose the high octane event.

The WCAC girls’ tournament schedule (teams preceded by their seed or regular season finish):

Thursday, Play-in round, 6 p.m. at home courts

10-Holy Cross (Md.) at 7-St. Mary’s Ryken (Md.)

9-Bishop O’Connell (Va.) at 8-Archbishop Carroll (D.C.)

Saturday, Quarterfinals at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md.

1 p.m.: 5-Bishop Ireton (Va.) vs. 4-St. Paul VI (Va.)

2:45 p.m.: 8/9 winner vs. 1-Bishop McNamara (Md.)

4:30 p.m.: 7/10 winner vs. 2-St. John’s College (D.C.)

6:15 p.m.: 6-Elizabeth Seton (Md.) vs. 3-Good Counsel (Md.)

Sunday, Semifinals at Robinson High School in Fairfax, Va.)

Girls at 12 and 1:45 p.m.

Boys semifinals 3:30 and 5:15 p.m.

Championship Monday Doubleheader, Robinson (Fairfax, Va.)

6 p.m. girls and 8 p.m. boys

Now big news out of New York.

Last week, the New York State Federation of Secondary Schools Athletic Association (NYSFSSAA) has announced the cancellation of its 2022 boys’ and girls’ State Federation Tournament of Champions.

The press release said:

Fordham University in the Bronx, scheduled host of the 2022 Federation Basketball Championships, recently informed the Federation of their inability to host this year’s championship event.  Following efforts of finding an alternate venue and attempting to meet the needs of all four association’s COVID-19 protocols and restrictions, it was determined it would not be possible to host the tournament at a level that would benefit the participating students and schools.

“As we continue to address the impact of COVID-19, the Federation Executive Board continues to face challenging decisions impacting interscholastic athletics,” said Jim Foster, NYSFSSAA Executive Secretary.  “We remain hopeful and optimistic the Federation Tournament of Champions will be held in March 2023 to bring the four associations best teams together.”

The NYSFSSAA boys tournament was held in Glens Falls for 30 years (1981-2010) while the girls tournament was held in Glens Falls for 16 years (1995-2010) before both were moved to the Times Union Center in 2012.

In 2017, Glens Falls won the bid back for a three-year period before Fordham was successful in securing the bid in 2019 and was scheduled to begin hosting in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in cancellations in 2020, 2021 and now 2022. Fordham has committed to hosting the event in 2023.

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.

That means when each of the state’s four federations–Catholic, Public, New York City PSAL (five boroughs) and Independents–are done, that’s it.

Very sad after the two previous tournament were cancelled over pandemic issues. I go back to the genesis of the Feds growing up in Rochester and hopefully it returns in 2023.

That’s it for the third week in February.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on March 2. That’s Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent for Christians.

Please stay safe and get vaccinated or a booster shot. Mostly, get out and enjoy a local game because the interscholastic season down to one month and less in other states.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 23, 2022

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (27-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Lady Eagles won the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Open Division Pool A round-robin competition with 3-0 record and a clinching 64-53 victory over powerhouse Mater Dei (Santa Ana). Up next is the Open Division title game at home with No. 12 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) on Saturday.

2. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (22-0)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Junior center Natalie Potts posted a double-double with 28 points, connecting on 14-of-18 shots and hauled down 11 rebounds in an 80-27 blowout of Nerinx Hall (Webster Groves). Junior guard Violet McNece tossed in 15 points, making 3-of-4 3-pointers. The Class 6, District 3 Tournament is slated to tip off with Ritenour (St. Louis) on Saturday.

3. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (22-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Quakers stayed unbeaten in the Independent School League with two wins but more importantly beat No. 3 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 73-58, in a rescheduled game. Against SJV, the Quakers were up 50-45 through three quarters but used a late 23-13 surge to win their 22^nd of the season.

4. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (23-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: The Lady Lancer saw their win streak halted at 51 games after a 73-58 loss to No. 4 Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) in Wilmington, Del. Princeton-bound point guard Madison St. Rose flipped in a game-high 28 points. In the Shore Conference Tournament, the Lady Lancers took out Trinity Hall (Tinton Falls), 84-39, in the quarterfinals and Neptune, 92-45, in the second round. They are scheduled to play Rumson-Fair Haven in the semifinals on Tuesday.

5. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (21-2)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: The Lady Tigers travel to the National Association of Christian Athletes Tournament in Dayton, Tennessee this week.

6. DeSoto, Texas (31-2)

Previous rank: 6.

The Low-down: Sa’Myah Smith and Amina Muhammad scored 18 points apiece in a 67-32 trouncing of Tyler Legacy in the Class 6A Area playoffs. The defending Class 6A champions also throttled Lake Ridge (Mansfield), 63-28, in the 6A Region II quarterfinals.

7. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (24-0) #

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: K.K. Bransford played like a McDonald’s All American and the Cougars like defending Ohio Division state champions. Bransford stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists in a 58-31 thrashing of Lakota West (West Chester) in the district semifinals. Bransford, a Notre Dame signee, was catalyst in the 69-28 quarterfinal win over Monroe, finishing with 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting and added 5 assists and 4 rebounds.

8.  Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (18-1)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Idle. The Royals finish the regular season with two games, including Buffalo on Friday.

9. Cedar Park, Texas (32-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: In the Class 5A Area Round playoffs, the Lady Timberwolves downed San Antonio Edison, 69-23. Up next a Class 5A Region IV quarterfinal date with Canyon (New Braunfels) on Tuesday.

10. Classen SAS, Oklahoma City (17-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Idle. The Lady Comets face Tecumseh in the Class 4A Winners Bracket-Region C on Thursday. The Region C final is Saturday.

11. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (22-2)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: The Torreys trounced Westview (San Diego), 72-32, in the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division quarterfinals. The semifinals are Wednesday versus El Camino (Oceanside). The championship game is Saturday.

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

Previous: 12.

Low-down: In the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool B play, the Blazers stopped Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove), 81-43, and Corona Centennial, 80-53. In the latter game, super junior Juju Watkins finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Up next is No. 1 Etiwanda in the Open Division final on Saturday.

13. Hazel Green, Ala. (32-0)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Lady Trojans played Mortimer Jordan (Kimberly) for the Class 6A Northwest Regional championship on Tuesday. In the semifinals, they defeated Hartselle, 47-34.

14. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (22-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: In the CIF-Central Coast Section Pool A play, the Monarchs defeated Half Moon Bay, 84-14, and St. Francis (Mountain View), 69-39. They face Valley Christian (San Jose) on Wednesday in their final pool game. The winner of Pools A and B face off in the Open Division final on Friday.

15. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (21-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Knights dispatched Euclid, 77-26, in the Division sectional quarterfinals and will face Eastlake North in the semifinals on Tuesday. The sectional final is Friday.

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

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Idle.

17. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (24-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Won Class A Private-Region 5 championship, beating Hebron Christian 67-52

The Golden Bears opened the Class A Private state tournament against Walker (Marietta) in the first round on Tuesday.

18. Hoover, Ala. (30-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Aniya Hubbard posted 14 points and 9 rebounds and Reniya finished with 13 points and 6 assists when the Lady Bucs topped Florence, 71-29, in the Class 7A Northwester Regional semifinals. They played Bob Jones (Madison) in the regional final on Tuesday.

19. Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. (24-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: The War Eagles won the Region 3-AAAAA Tournament after beating Forest Park, 55-33, in the final. Up next is Coffee (Douglas) in the Class 5A first round on Tuesday.

20. Rock Bridge, Columbia, Mo. (21-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Defeated Jackson, 52-28, and Miller Career Academy (St. Louis), 56-15, in the regular season. The Class 6, District 7 Tournament runs Feb. 26-March 3.

21. Carondelet, Concord, Calif. (24-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Idle. The Cougars meet Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) in the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division semifinals on Wednesday. The North Coast Section Open Division final is Saturday.

22. Duncanville, Texas (33-6)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Pantherettes eliminated Cedar Hill, 56-39, in the Class 6A Region II quarterfinals. Victoria Flores tallied a team-high 16 points when the Pantherettes raced to a 31-13 lead at the intermission. In the Area Round, they defeated Mesquite Horn, 62-44. The Pantherettes trailed 25-23 at halftime but rallied in the third quarters with a decisive 23-9 tear. Tajenae Gooden scored a game-high 22 points.

23. Nazareth Academy, LaGrange Park, Ill. (29-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Roadrunners coasted to a pair of wins to take home the Class 3A regional championship. They beat Kennedy (Chicago), 65-15, in the final and Noble/Mansueto (Chicago), 58-5, in the semifinals. Up next is the sectional semifinals against Payton (Chicago) on Tuesday. The sectional final is Thursday.

24. DME Sports Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (23-3)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Idle.

25. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (31-2)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Defeated Round Lake, 64-31, in the Class 4A regional final. The Patriots played Libertyville in the sectional semifinals on Tuesday. The sectional final is Thursday.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (18-4)
2. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (21-1)
3. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (20-2)
4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (15-1)
5. South Shore, Brooklyn, N.Y. (22-1)

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

Midwest

1. Franklin, Ind. (28-1)
2. Johnston, Iowa (22-0)
3. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (26-3)
4. Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (24-0)
5. South Bend (Ind.) Washington (26-3)

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

Southland

1. Conway, Ark. (26-1)
2. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (22-0)
3. Argyle, Texas (35-0)
4. Summer Creek, Houston (35-2)
5. Neshoba Central, Philadelphia, Miss. (30-0)

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

Far West

1. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (21-2)
2. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (25-6)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (23-5)
4. Beaverton, Ore. (19-1)
5. Pasco, Wash. (21-1)

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

Records through Monday’s games

# 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.