SILENCE: No movement in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings; No. 14 Incarnate Word Academy annexes eighth straight Missouri title

BENSALEM, Pa. – This was one of the quieter weeks for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings. Really, it was. Perhaps in the last 15 years of the Elite 25, there was zero movement with one state champion from Missouri.

For the eighth straight season, the Red Knights of the No. 14 Incarnate Word Academy (Bel Nor, Mo.) won a title in Class 6. It was the program’s 15^th overall title. Coach Dan Rolfes’s team went 27-2 in a season went their national record win streak was halted at 141 games at the Hoophall Classic in January in Springfield, Mass.

Belleville (28-1), a team from the Midwest Region, won the Michigan Division 1 state championship for the first time and it was accomplished in dominant fashion.

Actually, there was a national tournament played last weekend in Topeka, Kansas and a team from Ontario, Canada claimed the crown. Royal Crown School (Toronto) defeated DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.), 56-55, in the final of the Grind Session World Championship.

The Canadians were down 35-23 at halftime but rallied. Yohana Fami was named the Player of the Game with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals; Divine Tumba had 12 points and 8 rebounds; Leyla Minor bucketed 11 points and Chikae Dedunes scored 10.

In the semifinals, they beat Grind Prep Academy (Oklahoma City), 69-48.

Kudos to our friends to the North. Basketball is booming in Canada and this is proof.

Since there was no movement, there weren’t any newbies to the Elite 25. The latest tote board of the Elite 25 sees 20 postseason titles from 16 teams. That includes four with two chips. However, there are three teams from the top-6 that are slated to play at the CHIPOTLE High School Nationals next week, April 4-5, in the semifinals. The four-team event will be played at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Ind. More on it next time.

Elsewhere, there’s only one girls’ state tournament left and it’s a pivotal state in the East Region.

Chocolate Town USA or Hershey hosts the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association championships with 12 boys’ and girls’ finals, running for three days, tipping Thursday, March 27 at the GIANT Center. There are six sessions of two games. Tickets can be accessed here. The all-session passes can be purchased online here.

Thursday, March 27
Class 2A Girls, 12 p.m.
Class 1A Boys, 2 p.m.
Class 3A Girls 6 p.m.
Class 4A Boys 8 p.m.

Friday, March 28
Class 1A Girls 12 p.m.
Class 2A Boys 2 p.m.
Class 6A Girls p.m.
Class 5A Boys 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 29
Class 4A Girls 12 p.m.
Class 3A Boys 2 p.m.
Class 5A Girls 6 p.m.
Class 6A Boys 8 p.m.

The most fascinating fact is six of the championship games involve Philadelphia Catholic League schools: two girls in Class 4A and 5A; and four boys in Class 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A. The league will have at least one school playing on each day and are guaranteed at least two champions. That’s because rivals Father Judge and Roman Catholic play for the Class 6A crown on Saturday, 8 p.m. Judge won twice this year, including the Catholic League championship game at iconic Palestra, considered the Cathedral of Basketball.

Meanwhile, Neumann-Goretti boys and girls will compete for titles in Class 5A on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, respectively. Neumann plays Lansdale Catholic for the crown and it would mean two league teams secure the hardware. Expect quite the contingent from South Philadelphia (Neumann’s location) to be in the house.

Just wondering if Archbishop Nelson Jesus Pérez is a basketball fan. He has plenty of reasons to cheer and attend the games. Amen, Your Excellency.

March Madness update

The NCAA Women’s Sweet Sixteen is now complete and there were three No. 5 seeds that advanced: Kansas State, Mississippi and Tennessee. Otherwise, it’s chalky with seeds 1, 2, 3 and 4 highlighting the brackets.

There were no bracket busters, perhaps a few upsets, but the third round this weekend in Alabama and the state of Washington will be top-2 seeds pushing through.

Final Four prediction from last week: UConn, Notre Dame, South Carolina and UCLA. Everyone is still alive. I feel South Carolina and UConn are headed to the national championship in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday, April 6. The Gamecocks will prevail. Anyways enjoy the regionals but it was reported that superstar JuJu Watkins of USC is done for the tournament after suffering a torn ACL in the second round against Mississippi State. That clears a path for UConn to reach the Final Four. God’s speed, JuJu!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings return on Wednesday, April 2. We’ll recap Pennsylvania and look closer at the CHIPOTLE Nationals. Three Elite 25 teams are off to Indiana along with an interloper from Texas.

Feeling benevolent? Life is beginning to take shape in southern California. Since the wildfires ravaged the surrounding Los Angeles area in early January, the locals have been displaced and are picking up the pieces of their lives.

We’ve vetted a few places that will make a difference.

Consider donating here to the Red Cross to assist the relief efforts or to The Salvation Army. No dollar amount is too small and prayers are always welcome. Here’s another one called Fire Aid. Stay strong California.

Don’t forget to check out Opening Day on Thursday, March 27 for Major League Baseball. I’ll have my season predications next week. The 2025 season is a marathon over six months and then another one for the postseason.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 26, 2025

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (24-1)

Previous rank: 1.

The Lowdown: Idle. The Eagles won’t play until the CHIPOTLE Nationals semifinals on Friday, April 4 in Fishers, Ind. The national championship is on the line.

2. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-5)*

Previous: 2.

The Lowdown: Won the CIF Open Division state championship for a third straight year. Season complete.

3. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (30-2)

Previous: 3.

The Lowdown: Advanced to the CIF SoCal Region Open Division final. Season complete.

4. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (29-1)**

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: Won Maryland Private Schools Tournament and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships. Season complete.

5. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (27-3)**

Previous: 5.

The Lowdown: Next stop is the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April.

6. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (17-4)

Previous: 6.

The Lowdown: Regular season complete. The Ascenders received an invitation to the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April.

7. Morris Catholic, Denville N.J. (28-0)*

Previous: 7.

The Lowdown: Won the NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship. It was the Crusaders’ third straight state title after winning the previous two in Non-Public B. Season complete.

8. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (35-1)*

Previous: 8.

The Lowdown: Won a third consecutive Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

9. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (27-4)

Previous: 9.

The Lowdown: Advanced to CIF Open Division state championship. Season complete.

10. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-4)

Previous: 10.

The Lowdown: The Trinity League champions fell in the CIF-SoCal Open Division semifinals Season complete.

11. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (33-1)

Previous: 11.

The Lowdown: Advanced to the CIF-NorCal Region Open Division final. Season complete.

12. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 12.

The Lowdown: Season complete.

13. Johnston, Iowa (26-0)*

Previous: 13.

The Lowdown: Won second consecutive Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

14. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (29-2)*

Previous: 14.

The Lowdown: The Red Knights won a Missouri state championship for an eighth consecutive time after defeating Staley (Kansas City), 55-41, in the Class 6 final. Peyton Hill scored 16 points, Neveah Cortez Lucious had 14 and Indiana-bound Neveah Caffey 10. Also beat Cor Jesu Academy (St. Louis), 66-45, in the Class 6 semifinals. It was the program’s 12^thstate title since 2010. Season complete.

15. Boswell, Fort Worth, Texas (39-2)*

Previous: 15.

The Lowdown: Won the Class 6A, Division II state championship. Season complete.

16. Ridgeline, Millville, Utah (28-0)*

Previous: 16.

The Lowdown: Won the UHSAA Class 4A state championship for the third straight year. Regular season complete.

17. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (27-3)**

Previous: 17.

The Lowdown: Won the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA state championship and Independent School League Division AA title. Season complete.

18. Providence Academy, Plymouth, Minn. (32-0)*

Previous: 18.

The Lowdown: Won record-setting fourth consecutive Minnesota Class 2A state championship. Season complete.

19. Lincoln, Dallas (39-2)*

Previous: 19.

The Lowdown: Won the UIL Class 4A, Division II state championship. Season complete.

20. Winter Haven, Fla. (27-2)*

Previous: 20.

The Lowdown: Won the Class 7A state championship for the second straight season. Season complete.

21. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (35-5)*

Previous: 21.

The Lowdown: Won a state-record fifth straight KHSAA State Championship. Season complete.

22. Kenwood, Chicago (35-3)**

Previous: 22.

The Lowdown: Won the Illinois Class 4A state championship and Chicago Public League crown. Season complete.

23. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Atlanta (25-5)*

Previous: 23.

The Lowdown: Won Class 3A-A Private School state championship and fifth state title overall. Season complete.

24. Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga. (29-2)

Previous: 24.

The Lowdown: Finished runner-up in the GHSA 3A-A Private State Tournament and won the Region 8-AA title. Season complete.

25. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (18-5)

Previous: 25.

The Lowdown: Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Paul VI, Haddonfield, N.J. (27-1)
2. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (25-6)**
3. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (28-0)*
4. Bishop Ireton, Alexandria, Va. (28-6)*
5. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (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. Winton Woods, Cincinnati (27-0)*
2. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (23-6)*
3. Belleville, Mich. (28-1)*
4. Millard West, Omaha, Neb. (28-1)*
5. Kimberly, Wis. (29-1)*

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

Southland

1. Hoover, Ala. (32-4)*
2. Putnam City North, Oklahoma City (29-1)*
3. Ridge View, Woodstock, Ga. (31-1)*
4. Monterey, Lubbock, Texas (36-5)*
5. Tupelo, Miss. (29-4)*

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

Far West

1. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (25-3)*
2. Centennial, Las Vegas (23-2)*
3. Tualatin, Ore. (26-2)*
4. Clackamas, Ore. (27-3)
5. Central Valley, Spokane Valley, Wash. (27-0)*

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

Records through Monday

* 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 at @clawlor.