No. 5 Incarnate Word Academy (MO) wins Missouri Class 6 title for 131st consecutive win with coach Dan Rolfes in hospital; six Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ teams selected for Chipotle Nationals

BENSALEM, Pa. –  The seventh consecutive Missouri state championship might have been the most difficult for No. 5 Incarnate Word Academy (Bel Nor, Mo.) on Saturday night in the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Red Knights won the Class 6 title for the fourth straight year and stretch their win streak to a nation’s best 131 games after a 53-43 win over Kickapoo (Springfield). Yet instead of a huge celebratory moment for the Red Knights, who are the two-time Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball National Champions, it was bittersweet.

Following Friday’s semifinal win over Rock Bridge (Columbia), coach Dan Rolfes was taken to the hospital with an undisclosed medical emergency. Despite the absence of their coach the Red Knights managed to put away Kickapoo for a fourth straight unbeaten season.

IWA players wrote “Play4Rolfes” on the inside of their forearms and fans flashed held posters stating, “WE LOVE DAN,” “PLAY 4 DAN” and “WE LOVE YOU COACH DAN.”

Tanner Wilkensen stepped in to coach the Red Knights in the final.

“The Incarnate Word Academy family feels the love and support from the entire community and is overwhelmed with gratitude. We do sincerely ask for continued prayers and privacy for the family which Coach Rolfes recovers,” the school said in a prepared statement.

“The role of the IWA and our immediate focus is to support the students and families of Incarnate Word Academy at this time, while respecting the Rolfes’ family’s request for privacy while they and the trusted medical staff create a plan for Coach Dan’s full recovery.”

Our prayers are with Dan, his family and Incarnate Word Academy community.

World Team rosters

The World Select Team rosters for the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit have been revealed so let the games begin.

The Nike Hoop Summit is slated for April 13, at Moda Center in Portland. The 2024 event will be the 25th edition of the event, featuring a men’s game and a women’s game with the top international athletes 19-and-younger facing off against the top American high school seniors.

Tickets for the 25th Nike Hoop Summit can be purchased by clicking here.

The 2024 World Select Team selects its roster from FIBA Africa, FIBA Americas, FIBA Asia, FIBA Europe and FIBA Oceania, with approved sanction of FIBA, the governing body of international basketball.

The men’s team will be led by head coach Marshall Cho and the women’s team by head coach Carly Clarke.

The women’s World Select Team features 6-foot-2 forward Toby Fournier from Crestwood Prep (Canada) and Ajsa Sivka a 6-3 small forward from Slovenia playing for Famila Schio. Annika Soltau is a 6-4 small forward from Germany who is committed to play at the University of Washington and Faith Etute is committed to play at the University of Oregon next year. Syla Swords (Canada) is a 6-0 guard from No. 1 Long Island Lutheran and Delaney Gibb (Canada) a 5-10 guard from Raymond High School are returning to the event after having played last year. Additional members of the roster include Daria Biriuk (Ukraine), Avery Howell(Canada), Shay Ijiwoye (Nigeria), Vivian Iwuchukwu (Nigeria, Montverde Academy in Florida), Kate Koval (Ukraine, LuHi) and Olivia Vukosa (Croatia, Christ the King in New York).

USA Basketball previously announced the USA rosters for the 2024 game. Nike Hoop Summit has been held annually since 1995, except for 2001-03 and 2020-21, and has been in Portland since 2008.

For the both World rosters click here.

Elsewhere, the pairings for the CHIPOTLE High School Basketball Nationals were revealed and the tops seeds in the boys’ and girls’ tournaments are the No. 1 teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings.

The top seeds are Montverde (Fla.) boys and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) girls. Coincidentally, the teams were the preseason No. 1 teams with Montverde holding that spot the entire term. LuHi ascended to the top spot two weeks ago.

The three-day event tips off on April 4 at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Ind. The semifinals are April 5 and the finals are April 6. Defending champions are Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) boys and Montverde (Fla.) Academy girls.

All eight boys teams are ranked in the Elite 25.

All games will be broadcast on the ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU).

The girls’ schedule (All times are Eastern; seed number precedes each team):

April 4

10 a.m.: 3-IMG Academy vs. 6-Grace Christian (Sanford, N.C.)

12 p.m.: 4-Montverde Academy vs. 5-Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)

April 5

Semifinals on ESPNU

10:30 a.m.: 1-Long Island Lutheran vs. Montverde or Sidwell

12:30 p.m.: 2-Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs. IMG or Grace Christian

The final is April 6 at 10 a.m. on ESPN.

That’s a wrap for the second week in March. There was no movement in the Elite 25 rankings this week with teams from Missouri and Ohio locking up state championships.

Enjoy the March Madness Games this week. The first and second round games are usually rife with upsets.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings will return on March 27 or sooner. The big chip this weekend will be decided in Hershey, Pa., as the PIAA has 12 titles (six boys, six girls) up for grabs inside the GIANT Arena. Great facility, big-time event over three days in Chocolatetown, USA.

Be sure to follow us on X at @clawlor. We appreciate your readership and clicks. If you like what you read, please send it out on social media or direct message us via X.

For the Christians, it’s Palm Sunday later this week. Get your palms and remain blessed.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 20, 2024

1. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-1)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Idle. The Chipotle Nationals in Brownsburg, Indiana from April 4-6 is next.

2. Etiwanda, Calif. (32-3)*

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won second straight CIF Open Division state championship. Season complete.

3. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (30-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Advanced the CIF Open Division final and won the NorCal Open Division chip. Season complete.

4. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (26-2)**

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools championship for the third straight year and Friends School League championship for the fourth straight time. Season complete.

5. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (31-0)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won Class 6 state championship, defeating Kickapoo (Springfield), 53-43, in the final. Junior G Peyton Hill scored 17 points and Kaylynn added 16. The Red Knights played the game without coach Dan Rolfes who was taken to a local hospital with a medical emergency after the semifinals win. Also beat Rock Bridge (Columbia), 65-41, in the semifinals. The nation’s best win streak is at 131 consecutive games. Season complete.

6. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (32-0)*

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAAAAAA state championship. The Rams are off to the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April. Regular season is complete.

7. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (38-0)*

Previous: 7.

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

8. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (31-3)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Southern Region Open Division final. Season complete.

9. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (27-1)*

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Won second consecutive Non-Public B state championship. Season complete.

10. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (23-3)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Regular season is complete but the CHIPOTLE Nationals are next.

11. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (29-1)*

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Won Ohio Division II state championship, defeating Laurel (Shaker Heights), 79-52, in the final. It was the third straight state title for the Lady Cavaliers. Dee Alexander and Ky’Aira Miller each scored 18 points and Samaya Wilkins added a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds. In the semifinals, they beat Copley, 67-29. Alexander had 18 points. Earlier last week, Alexander was named Ohio Ms. Basketball for the second consecutive year. She is just the seventh player in the history of the award to win back to back years. Season complete.

12. Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga. (30-2)*

Previous: 12.

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

13. Duncanville, Texas (35-4)*

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship for the program’s 12^th state championship and the first since 2020. Season complete.

14. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (34-1)*

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won Division I Class 4A state championship. It was the Bearettes’ second straight title and third in six years. Season complete.

15. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (30-1)*

Previous: 15.

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

16. Hazel Green, Ala. (32-4)*

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship for the program’s seventh straight state title. Season complete.

17. Johnston, Iowa (26-0)*

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Won its third state championship in five years, annexing the Class 5A state chip. Season complete.

18. Grace Christian, Sanford, N.C (30-0)*

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won NCISAA 3A state championship. A trip to Indiana for the CHIPOTLE Nationals is next.

19. DME Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (20-7)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Season complete.

20. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (21-4)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Regular season is complete but the CHIPOTLE Nationals are next.

21. Frisco (Texas) Liberty (34-7)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship for the second straight year. Season complete.

22. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (33-4)

Previous: 22.

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

23. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (26-5)**

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Won District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA title and a third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

24. DeSoto, Texas (27-6)

Previous: 24.

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

25. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (25-6)*

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Won Independent School League AA championship. The CHIPOTLE Nationals are a lock.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (28-5)*
2. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (24-5)*
3. Christ the King, Middle Village (29-3)**
4. Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic (26-5)*
5. McDonogh, Owings Mills, Md. (25-4)*

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

Midwest

1. Minnetonka, Minn. (29-2)*
2. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (32-4)
3. Millard West, Omaha, Neb. (27-1)*
4. Olmstead Fall, Ohio (26-3)*
5. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (27-4)

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

Southland

1. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (31-7)*
2. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (27-4)*
3. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (25-5)*
4. Neshoba Central, Philadelphia, Miss. (33-1)*
5. Putnam City West, Oklahoma City (27-1)*

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

Far West

1. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (31-3)
2. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (28-5)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-8)
4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-4)*
5. Iolani School, Honolulu (26-3)*

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 conference postseason tournament championship

[Editor’s note: Each asterisk represents a separate postseason title]

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December until the conclusion of the high school season in April. 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. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.