BENSALEM, Pa. – The countdown has started for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball teams. That starts at the top with No. 1 Miami (Fla.) Country Day, which needs three more wins to capture a sixth straight FHSAA state title.

The top 20 teams in the Elite 25 went unchanged. Teams are either finishing up seasons or have a roadmap to a state or tournament championship. The most intriguing tournament is played this week in remote Dayton, Tennessee.

Six teams, spilt into the Red and Blue pools, comprise the National Association of Christian Athletes Division 1 Tournament. No. 5 New Hope Academy (Landover Mills, Md.) and No. 20 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) are in different pools. Hamilton Heights’ main pool-play partner is Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.), which is ranked No. 1 in the East Region. It’s a captivating tournament that tips Wednesday and finishes up Friday.

Annually this is one of the top national postseason tournaments but this year potentially there’s much more on the line.

The NACA Division 1 tournament information is here.

So why the fuss about the NACA? Well, there’s a strong chance that the winner gets an invitation to the GEICO High School Nationals that will be staged April 5 and 6 in New York.

The GEICO Nationals’ four-team bracket looks the same as last week. No. 1 Miami Country Day and No. 6 Centennial (Las Vegas) control their destinies needing to win out. Same goes for the Georgia Class AAAAAAA state champion, with No. 13 Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) and No. 17 Westlake (Atlanta) the main competitors and on a course to meet in the final. Again, nothing is written in stone as teams must win out but based on past history these four slots would be filled by the four best teams from states that allow teams to play in this premier national postseason tournament.

Additionally, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament gets underway his week with the final three rounds Saturday through Monday at American University in Washington, D.C. The final tips at 6 p.m. ET in Bender Arena. No. 2 St. John’s College (Washington) and No. 3 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) could meet for the third time this season with the title on the line. SJC is the defending champions.

No. 24 Franklin (N.J.) joins the Elite 25. Undefeated Franklin is New Jersey’s top-ranked team and features a strong lineup led by Maryland-bound Diamond Miller, a McDonald’s All-American Game selection. New Jersey’s six state groups start postseason play on Monday.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return on February 27. We’ll continue to crown state champions this weekend in Indiana and for the rest of the season until late March. Hawaii already held its state championships last weekend in Honolulu.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.orgfor staff updates from showcase events and key matchups this season. Blue Star Media will keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ hoop universe.

Thank you for your readership, it is much appreciated. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, February 20, 2019

1. Miami (Fla.) Country Day (23-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Spartans moved one game from reaching the Florida Class 4A Final Four, defeating The Benjamin School (Palm Beach Gardens), 64-31, in the Class 4A, Region 4 semifinals. Played the region final against Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) on Tuesday. The 4A semifinals are Feb. 27 and the championship is Feb. 28 in Lakeland. 

2. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (29-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: For the third straight year the Cadets are the No. 1 seed in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament after going 18-0 in league play. Sophomore Azzi Fudd scored a game-high 21 points and Malu Tshitenge-Mutombo and Alex Cowan (four 3-pointers) netted 14 points apiece in a 68-30 blowout of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) in the regular season finale. The WCAC Tournament quarterfinals are Saturday; and the semifinals are Sunday and the final is Monday—both at American University in Washington.

3. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (27-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Lady Mustangs went 16-2 in the WCAC and are the second seed in the postseason tournament. They also were invited to the Bishop Walsh Girls Invitational Tournament that tips next month in Cumberland, Md.

4. Africentric Early College, Columbus, Ohio (20-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Division III Columbus 1 Sectional started Tuesday versus Fairbanks (Milford Center). The winner plays Fredericktown in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

5. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (28-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The moment of truth is upon coach Sam Caldwell’s team at National Association of Christian Athletes Division 1 Tournament in Dayton, Tenn. Pool play starts Wednesday with the Lady Tigers facing Rock Creek Christian (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Potters House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.). The winner of this tournament has the inside track to the GEICO Nationals.

6. Centennial, Las Vegas (26-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: A 33-5 second-quarter showing blew open a close game in an 87-17 trouncing of Palo Verde (Las Vegas) in the Class 4A Mountain Region first round. Aja Phoumiphat scored 15 points to lead three double-digit scorers. Additionally, Melanie Isbell, Daejah Phillips, Jade Thomas, Aja Phoumiphat and Aishah Brown were all named First Team All-Northwest League. Taylor Bigby and Eboni Walker were the league’s co-Most Valuable Players.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (29-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Finished 3-0 in CIF-Southern Section Open Division pool play, stopping Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 49-48, and Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 61-59. The Trailblazers meet Windward School (Los Angeles) for the sectional title on Saturday.

8. Mansfield (Texas) Timberview (37-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Defeated Fort Worth Boswell, 68-46, in the Class 5A, Region I quarterfinals. Also defeated Grapevine, 61-32, Class 5A, Division I Area playoff game. N’Denasjia Collins dropped in 17 points to lead four players in double figures during an 89-24 victory over Eastern Hills (Fort Worth) in the Class 5A, Region I bi-district playoff game.

9. Westridge Academy, Kernersville, N.C. (21-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Golden Knights are back at it beginning Friday at the Independent High School Championship in Mooresville, N.C.

10. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (15-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Topped Marian (Bloomfield Hills), 57-51, and Wayne Memorial, 64-51. Three games are left in the regular season with a road game at Michigan Center Friday.

11. Maine West, Des Plaines, Ill. (31-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Warriors waxed Glenbrook South (Glenview), 60-46, in the Class 4A Evanston Sectional semifinals. The sectional final is Thursday. Also won the regional championship, beating Oak Park-River Forest, 87-32, in the final and Lane (Chicago), 76-31, in the semifinals.

12. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (26-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won the District 7-AAA championship, beating crosstown rivals Blackman (Murfreesboro), 75-40. Aislynn Hayes and Jalyn Holcomb bucketed 18 points apiece in the win.

13. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (27-1)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Eagles won their 24^thstraight game, beating Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville), 72-42, in the Class AAAAAAA first round. Next is Archer (Lawrenceville) in the second round.

14. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (20-4)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Moved to 12-0 in league play beating Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn), 72-40, and The Mary Louis Academy (Jamaica), 61-28. In a highly anticipated matchup, the Royals jumped to a 13-point lead in the second quarter and rolled to a 40-28 victory over then-No. 21 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.). A stingy defense and height advantage contributed to SJV’s lowest point total in five years.

15. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (25-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The game of the week is the second meeting of the season between the Royals and Wayzata (Plymouth). The game tips Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT at Wayzata. Junior All-American Paige Bueckers is averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 assists and 4.8 steals per game.

16. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (20-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Defeated Western Hills (Cincinnati), 80-13, in the Division I Princeton 4 District opener. The Cougars play Milford Thursday in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are Feb. 27.

17. Westlake, Atlanta (26-0)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The reigning Georgia Class AAAAAAA champions opened their title defense successfully in an 84-51 triumph over Marietta. Next is Tift County (Tifton) in the second round Wednesday.

18. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (23-2)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Monarchs thrashed Eastside College Prep (East Palo Alto), 83-48, in the CIF-Central Coast Section quarterfinals. The semifinals are Wednesday versus St. Ignatius (San Francisco) and the final is Friday.

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

Previous: 19.

Low-down: The Lady Cavaliers stayed perfect in the Beach District with a 10-0 mark after a 97-32 victory at Green Run (Virginia Beach). The Class 5 regional playoffs opened Tuesday with Salem (Virginia Beach). The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

20. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (20-2)

Previous: 20. 

Low-down: Idle. The Lady Hawks begin play Wednesday at the National Association of Christian Athletes National Division 1 Tournament in Dayton, Tenn.

21. Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, Pa. (28-1) 

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Patriots play in the PAISSA Tournament semifinals against Abington Friends School Friday. The championship game is Saturday in Philadelphia. In the quarterfinals, they beat Friends Central (Wynnewood), 66-38.

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

Previous: 24. 

Low-down: Kate Rolfes contributed 15 points and 5 steals in a 54-27 victory over St. Joseph’s Academy (St. Louis). The regular season winds down at Jefferson City Tuesday and Ursuline (St. Louis) Thursday.

23. Cedar Hill, Texas (35-4)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Defeated Timber Creek (Keller), 81-48, in the Class 6A, Region I Area playoff game and Pearce (Richardson), 76-11, in the bi-district playoff. The Longhorns played South Grand Prairie Tuesday in the Region I quarterfinals.

24. Franklin, Somerset, N.J. (23-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Kennady Schenck canned a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Warriors rallied to beat Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 44-42. The final week of the regular season features the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday against Gill St. Bernard (Gladstone). The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday and the final is Saturday afternoon.

25. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (20-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Sajada Bonner’s 18 points were enough to lead the Lady Lancers over Middletown South, 66-38, in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Next in the semifinals against rivals Manasquan on Tuesday.  Also lost to No. 14 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), 40-28.

Dropped: No. 22 Roland Park Country Day (Baltimore).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (28-4)

2. Cathedral, Boston (17-0)

3. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (22-0) 

4. Saddle River (N.J.) Day School (22-2)

5. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (21-1)

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

Midwest

1. Beaver Dam, Wis. (21-1)

2. Derby, Kan. (18-0)

3. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (23-1)

4. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (26-1)

5. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (22-1)

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

Southland

1. Scott County, Georgetown, Ky. (28-1)

2. Hendrickson, Pflugerville, Texas (38-1)

3. Hoover, Ala. (29-1)

4. Wakefield, Raleigh, N.C. (23-1)

5. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (23-1)

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

Far West

1. Windward School, Los Angeles (24-5)

2. Highlands Ranch, Colo. (22-1) 

3.Pinewood School, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (23-2) 

4. Southridge, Beaverton. Ore. (19-3)

5. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (27-3)

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

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