No. 4 Hopkins (MN) hosts national girls’ tournament this weekend with three Blue Star Media Elite 25 teams; No. 2 Incarnate Word (MO) completes successful West Coast trip

BENSALEM, Pa. – For the second straight week, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings had little movement and no new additions.

The biggest movement was downward by No. 24 Duncanville (Texas), which plummeted 12 spots after a shock loss to Cedar Hill in District 11-6A. That means No. 6 DeSoto (Texas) is in line to take the district title but the teams do meet on Jan. 25 for the second time and perhaps again in the regional playoffs.

For now, Duncanville is on cusp of departing the Elite 25 with another loss. The Pantherettes are up against it.

This weekend there’s a treat on the ESPN family of networks with three Elite 25 teams playing in a made-for-TV four-team tournament in Minnesota. Actually, all three are in the top-6 making for an interesting two days of basketball.

On Friday, it’s No. 5 Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) playing host and No. 4 Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU. In the nightcap, No. 6 DeSoto (Texas) meets Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) at 8 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN Plus.

The winners play for the title at 8 p.m. on Saturday and the consolation game is at 6. Both will be streamed on ESPN Plus.

What’s so interesting about this event is the teams are coming to Minnesota. Hopkins, like other Minnesota schools, can’t travel for games unless it is a contiguous state. Sidwell crushed DeSoto earlier in December and the two could meet again on Saturday. Sidwell was supposed to attend the Nike Tournament of Champions and play in the loaded Joe Smith Bracket but COVID-19 wiped out that trip to Arizona before Christmas.

Grandview is led by 6-feet-7 center Lauren Betts, the No. 1 rated senior and Stanford signee.

No doubt the tournament will reshape the top of the Elite 25. Be sure to tune in.

That’s it for the second week in January.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Jan. 26. The regular season in Florida and Indiana are down to a few games and the postseason tips in early February. We’ll be sure to keep you abreast of the movers and shakers once the brackets are revealed.

Please stay safe, mask up and get vaccinated or a booster shot. Remember it’s time to squash the rising pandemic numbers. In some states, it’s off the hook.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 19, 2022

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (15-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Eagles defeated Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove), 83-47, at the MLK Showcase. Prior to that a busy week started with wins over Windward (Los Angeles), 69-34, Chino Hills, 69-39, and Rancho Cucamonga, 82-11. This weekend the Eagles have a legitimate challenge from Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) on Saturday to cap a three-game docket.

2. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (11-0)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: The Red Devils took their show on the road over the weekend and returned with their win streak intact at 51 straight games. At the St. Mary’s MLK Showcase in Stockton, Calif., Kentucky-bound guard Saniah Tyler bucketed 25 points and junior center added 15 during a 65-61 win over St. Mary’s. Potts netted 24 points in a 71-32 win over Mission Hills (Calif.) in the event opening game.

3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (10-0)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: After polishing off two Shore Conference foes by 64 and 62 points, the Lady Lancers stopped Dunmore (Pa.), 69-46. Madison St. Rose, a Princeton recruit and two time Gatorade state player of the year, pumped in 20 points with 7 boards, 6 steals and 4 assists and junior Zoe Brooks added 13 points and 7 steals. The Lady Lancers have a challenge facing Paul VI (Haddonfield) on Saturday at Rancocas Valley in Willingboro.

4.  Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (11-0)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: The Royals stopped Buffalo, 66-45, and Eden Prairie, 76-55. Junior guard Nu Nu Agara, a Stanford commit, totaled 43 points in the victories. Finally, the Royals have Elite 25 team travelling to their backyard for a huge national tournament.

5. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (7-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Defeated Georgetown Visitation (Washington), 73-57. The Quakers travel to Minnesota this weekend for two tests.

6. DeSoto, Texas (20-1)

Previous rank: 6.

The Low-down: Defeated Cedar Hills, 50-37, and Midway (Waco), 65-35, in District 11-6A play. The Eagles are off to Minnesota for two nationally charged games this weekend.

7. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (16-2)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: At the Rose Classic Super Jam in Brooklyn, N.Y., the Lady Tigers went 2-0, crushing St. Andrew’s (Barrington, R.I.), 62-35, and Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn), 83-58. Louisville-bound Jalyn Brown was named team Most Valuable Player at the two-game event. Also beat Word of Life Christian Academy (Springfield, Va.), 65-41, as Laila Reynolds scored 13 points.

8. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (13-0) #

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Defeated GGCL opponents Mercy McAuley (Cincinnati), 52-21, and Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), 44-38.

9. DME Sports Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (19-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Last week it was a productive trip to south Florida and two narrow wins over American Heritage (Plantation), 73-68, and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 77-75.

10. Cedar Park, Texas (23-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Lady Timberwolves are on a roll after dispatching Georgetown, 45-41, upping their District 25-5A mark to 7-0.

11. Classen SAS, Oklahoma City (14-1)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Coach James Perinovic’s team defeated Northwest Classen (Oklahoma City), 99-26, stretching the win streak to four games. In the game, senior guard Jordan Harrison, a Stephen F. Austin signee, scored an Oklahoma state record (for 5 on 5 basketball) with 74 points. Harrison tallied 42 points in the first half and drained 14 3-pointers while sinking 50% of her shots.

12. Rock Bridge, Columbia, Mo. (12-0)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Beat Capital City (Jefferson City), 54-15. This week the Lady Bruins participate at Truman Tournament in Independence, Mo.

13. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (16-1)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Angelino Pelayo and Reagan Bender scored 16 points apiece in an 86-40 trouncing of Assumption (Louisville) in the lone game. The Republic Bank Louisville Invitational Tournament tips off on Jan. 25.

14. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (14-2)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Bested Victory Christian Academy (Chula Vista), 72-39, at the Martin Luther King Classic. Also beat CIF-Southern Section powerhouse Windward (Los Angeles), 63-43.

15. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (18-1)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Blazers stopped out of state opponents Anchorage (Alaska) Christian, 71-46, and Valley Vista (Surprise, Ariz.), 64-58, with both games in Las Vegas. In the former, Juju Watkins threw in a game-high 25 points and MacKenly Rudolph went for a double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds.

16. Hazel Green, Ala. (23-0)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Lady Trojans stopped Pleasant Grove, 62-35, and Athens, 70-28. Recently, Alabama State-bound guard Samiya Steele scored her 1,000^th career point.

17. Hoover, Ala. (19-2)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Lady Bucs beat Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.),79-62, and Carver (Columbus, Ga.), 73-47.

18. Carondelet, Concord, Calif. (10-1)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Idle.

19. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (13-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Monarchs won three league games, including 67-52 over Valley Christian (San Jose). The schedule continues with Presentation (San Jose) on Friday and Folsom) on Saturday.

20. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (13-0)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: At the Classic in the Country in Berlin, Ohio, the Knights stopped Ross (Fremont), 68-46, for a 2-0 week.

21. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (14-3)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: At the Classic in the City in Pickerington, Ohio, the Eagles beat Pickerington (Ohio) Central, 54-50, and King’s Christian Collegiate (Oakville, Ontario), 56-41. King’s Christian is Canada’s top-ranked high school team from the Toronto area.

22. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (3-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Idle. The Pioneers are slated to play East Lansing on Wednesday.

23. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (15-3)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Defeated Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 61-47. The Highlanders have three games left with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season. The district semifinals are Feb. 2.

24. Duncanville, Texas (24-5)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: The Pantherettes were upset at Cedar Hill, 81-72. That pretty much hands the District 11-6A title to No. 6 DeSoto. The two teams meet again on Jan. 25.

25. Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga. (14-2)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: A 3-0 week was highlighted by an important 56-51 win over Mount Paran Christian (Kennesaw). Georgia-bound Sydney Bowles stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (12-0)
2. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (9-0)
3. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (10-3)
4. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (7-4)
5. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (14-1)

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

Midwest

1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (17-2)
2. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (22-1)
3. Johnston, Iowa (13-0)
4. Homestead, Fort Wayne, Ind. (17-1)
5. Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (14-0)

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

Southland

1. Conway, Ark. (15-1)
2. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-0)
3. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (16-2)
4. Argyle, Texas (26-0)
5. Summer Creek, Houston (27-2)

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

Far West

1. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego (11-2)
2. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (12-2)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-3)
4. Beaverton, Ore. (11-1)
5. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (9-3)

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

Records through Monday

# 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.