BENSALEM, Pa. – The latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings are based on games, with a heavy dose of holiday tournaments, prior to Christmas. There are six additions but much of a major shuffle since the preseason rankings.

The Nike Tournament of Champions really impacted the Elite 25. Annually it is the top prep basketball tournament in the nation regardless of gender. Prior to New Year’s Day, tournaments in Delaware, Georgia, Washington, D.C. and Florida will help reshape the Elite 25.

The next rankings are out on January 6, 2016.

Until then have a safe and Happy New Year. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Girls Basketball rankings, Dec. 26, 2015

1. St. Mary’s Stockton, Calif. (34-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Won the Nike Tournament of Champions Joe Smith Division, beating Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 75-70. Aquira DeCosta, the nation’s top-rated sophomore, scored 21 points and netted the Most Valuable Player honors.

2. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (10-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Panthers have opened with 10 straight wins, mostly in the lopsided fashion. The closest was a 63-56 win over Miami (Fla.) Country Day.

3. St. Francis, Alpharetta, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Won the Cresmon Bank Holiday Invitational championship, beating Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.), 77-66. Jala Jordan scored a game-high 21 points and Maya Dodson posted a double-double, with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

4. Duncanville, Texas (18-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Pantherettes host the prestigious Sandra Meadows Classic this week and aim for a third tournament title this season.

5. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (6-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Coach Andrea Peterson’s team has a Pennsylvania best 35-game win heading into the Diamond State Classic in nearby Wilmington, Del.

6. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (12-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Lady Crusaders advanced to the Nike TOC Joe Smith Division final, losing to top-ranked St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), xx-xx.

7. Centennial, Las Vegas (9-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Went 3-1 at the Nike TOC Smith Division.

8. Canyon, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Texas’ top-ranked Class 5A team is steamrolling opponents and on a collision course with another appearance in the Final Four.

9. Montini Catholic, Lombard, Ill. (13-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Broncos are allowing less than 34 points per game with numerous lopsided results against Chicagoland competition.

10. Olive Branch, Miss.  (14-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Lady Quistors have a showdown at Starkville, Mississippi’s second-ranked Class 6A on Dec. 30.

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won the Tarkanian Classic Diamond Division. Megan Jacobs, a Utah recruit, was instrumental in the championship game and is a driving force for the Gaels.

12. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (9-0)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: The Cardinals beat archrival Lakota East (Liberty Township), 59-52. They host two games in the Kemba Classic this week.

13. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (6-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Finished fourth at the Nike TOC Smith Division.

14. Konawaena, Kealakekua, Hawaii (9-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won the Iolani Classic earlier this month but now head to Washington, D.C. to play in the uber competitive Title IX Holiday Invitational Patsy T. Mink bracket with the likes of ranked teams St. Mary’s and St. Francis.

15. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (2-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: In a limited schedule, the Lady Lancers topped rivals Rumson-Fair Haven, 59-48. Kimi Evans Zoe Pero each scored 12 points.

16. Homestead, Fort Wayne, Ind. (12-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Indiana’s top-ranked Class 4A has an impressive 74-62 win over Whitney Young (Chicago). Wednesday’s showdown with Roncalli (Indianapolis) is must-see hoops.

17. National Christian Academy, Fort Washington, Md. (12-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: After an impressive run in the first two months, the Eagles can make another statement at the Title IX Classic Charlotte Amalle bracket in nearby Washington.

18. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (8-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Finished in fifth place at the Nike TOC Smith Division.

19. Bellevue, Wash. (10-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Nike TOC John Anderson Division in Arizona. Stanford-bound PG Anna Wilson was named MVP.

20. Chaminade, West Hills, Calif. (8-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Split four games at the Nike TOC Smith Division.

21. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (20-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Mustangs are Texas’ second-ranked team in Class 6A.

22. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-1)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Went 3-1 at the Nike TOC, capturing the Smith Division consolation bracket title.

23. Providence Day School, Charlotte, N.C. (12-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Finished fifth at the Cresmon Bank Holiday Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C., going 3-1.

24. Jeff Davis, Montgomery, Ala. (6-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The defending Class 7A champions will participate in the BallN Powher Girls Prep Invite, competing against a regional field.

25. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (6-2)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won the consolation bracket of the Cresmon Bank Holiday Invitational in South Carolina, going 3-1.

Dropped: Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn.; Lawrence North, Indianapolis; Miami (Fla.) Country Day; Norcross, Ga.; Poly, Long Beach, Calif.; Riverdale, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (7-0)

2. Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (6-1)

3. Cardinal O’Hara, Springfield, Pa. (4-0)

4. Braintree, Mass. (4-0)

5. South Shore, Brooklyn, N.Y. (7-1)

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

Midwest

1. Columbus (Ind.) North (10-0)

2. Eastview, Apple Valley, Minn. (6-0)

3. Fremd, Palatine, Ill. (12-0)

4. Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills, Mich. (5-0)

5. Wadsworth, Ohio (9-0)

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

Southland

1. Elizabethtown, Ky. (10-0)

2. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (10-1)

3. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (13-1)

4. Blackman, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (7-1)

5. Starkville, Miss. (11-0)

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

Far West

1. Miramonte, Orinda, Calif. (6-0)

2. Lynnwood, Bothell, Wash. (6-0)

3. South Salem, Salem, Ore. (8-0)

3. Seton Catholic, Chandler, Ariz. (11-0)

5. Central Valley, Veradale, Wash. (7-0)

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 in early 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, administrators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.