STATE PRIDE: No. 9 Hazel Green, No. 10 Hoover capture Alabama state championships; No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (FL) remains atop Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – For the second straight week there are no additions to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings. Expect changes next time with the postseasons heating up.

There was great happenings last week in the Southland Region.

Two schools from Alabama won state championships in the state’s largest two classifications. No. 9 Hazel Green captured the Class 6A crown and No. 10 Hoover took the hardware in Class 7A.

In Texas, the Class 6A state championship game on Thursday has a definite Elite 25 flavor with No. 4 Cypress Creek (Houston) and No. 6 DeSoto dueling in the Alamodome. Switching to Dayton, Ohio, No. 2 Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) and No. 17 Newark play semifinal games Friday. The two could meet Saturday for the Division I title. MND last won it in 2019. There was no state tournament held a year ago dues to COVID-19 concerns.

No. 22 Converse (Texas) Judson slides 11 spots after falling the Class 6A, Region IV final to No. 4 Cypress Creek. The Rockets remain in the Elite 25, but for how long?

No. 7 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) and No. 18 Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) concluded perfect seasons last weekend. New Jersey decided not to hold state tournaments this year.

Elsewhere, with the postseason winding down in several key states, the GEICO High School Nationals, which will be played April 2-3 in Fort Myers, Florida, is becoming clearer. No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) is already in, with No. 3 Westlake (Atlanta) on verge but must win the Georgia Class AAAAAA title Friday. Last weekend, unbeaten Fremont (Plain City, Utah) captured the Utah Class 6A title and is a strong candidate and No. 20 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) apparently received permission and could represent the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference at the prestigious national tournament. If all four teams are selected, it would be a semifinal showcase of undefeated teams. No. 19 Winston Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.), No. 21 Cardinal Newman (Columbia, S.C.) and No. 23 New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) should be considered.

When the GEICO Nationals become official, we’ll let you know.

Well, that’s wrap on the first week in March.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on March 17 or St. Patrick’s Day.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for our staff updates. We’ll keep you abreast of anything breaking on the girls’ basketball universe. For now, keep safe and mask up. Don’t forget to change your clocks this Saturday an hour ahead for Daylight Savings Time—spring ahead, fall back!

Keep safe and hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, March 10, 2021

1. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla. (19-0)*

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Won the Class 4A state championship. Will compete at the GEICO Nationals on April 2 in Fort Myers, Fla.

2. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (26-0)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Junior K.K. Bransford scored 20 points and dished off 4 assists when the Cougars beat Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio), 49-33, in the Ohio Division I regional final. Trailing 13-8 after one quarter, the Cougars went on a 12-1 run to gain a 20-14 halftime lead. Also beat Centerville, 56-25, in the semifinals. Bransford had 20 points and 6 rebounds and Michigan-bound Laila Phelia scored 18 points, making 7-of-11 shots. Next is Notre Dame Academy (Toledo) Friday in the Division I state semifinals in Dayton. Th final is Saturday night.

3. Westlake, Atlanta (18-0)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Class AAAAAA final, beating River Ridge (Woodstock), 68-30, in the semifinals. The Lady Lions play Carrollton Friday afternoon in the title game in the

4. Cypress Creek, Houston (32-0)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: The Cougars are back in the Class 6A state championship game after beating then-No. 11  Converse Judson, 55-34, in the semifinals. The Texas-bound backcourt of Rori Harmon (14 points) and Kyndall Hunter (15 points), both McDonald’s All Americans, teamed to score 29 points and Taylor Jackson added 13. The Cougars led 33-16 at halftime. They also topped Shadow Creek (Pearland), 61-50, in the Region III final. The 6A championship game vs. No. 6 DeSoto is Thursday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

5. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (12-0)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Idle. The Lady Royals took a voluntary pause in action due to COVID-19 concerns within their league. The regular season finale is at Becker, Minnesota’s top-ranked Class 3A team, on Friday.

6. DeSoto, Texas (27-2) #

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Kendall Brown was at it again, producing 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists as the Lady Eagles eliminated South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie), 63-52, in the Class 6A semifinals. In the Region II final, the Lady Eagles eliminated rivals Duncanville, 52-39. Next up is undefeated No. 4 Cypress Creek (Houston) Thursday for the 6A state championship in San Antonio.

7. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (14-0)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won the Shore Conference Tournament Pod A, downing Red Bank Catholic, 61-34, in the final. Junior G Madison St. Rose, a Princeton recruit, manufactured 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Katie Hill scored 9 points. The win clinches the No. 1 overall ranking in New Jersey, which won’t have a postseason due to COVID-19 concerns. Hill scored 21 points and St. Rose netted 16 in beating Manasquan, 64-47, in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals, St. Rose popped in 20 points and surpassed 1,000 points for her career as the Lady Lancers defeated Jackson Memorial, 85-58. Season complete.

8. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (25-0)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Sophomore C Natalie Potts scored 26 points, making 12 of 16 shots, and grabbed 4 rebounds in a 78-27 victory over Pattonville in the Class 6, District final. The Red Knights face Francis Howell Central (St. Charles) Wednesday in the Class 6 sectional final. The state quarterfinals are Saturday.

9. Hazel Green, Ala. (36-1)*

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Call it a four-peat for the Lady Trojans, who took down Carver Montgomery (Montgomery), 49-41, in the Class 6A state final. It was the fourth straight 6A title for coach Tim Miller’s team. For Miller it was his eighth state crown as a coach. Most Valuable Player Samiya Steele finished with 18 points (three 3-pointers) but nailed four free throws in the final 1:26 to help ice it. Grace Warson added 8 points and 11 rebounds and Leah Brooks added 9 points, 5 boards and 2 assists. Season complete.

10. Hoover, Ala. (32-1)*

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Won third Class 7A state championship since 2017, beating Hewitt-Trussville, 61-37, in the final. It is the Lady Bucs fifth overall state title. Most Valuable Player Reniya Kelly scored 24 points, sinking 10-of-11 free throws, and snared 8 rebounds. Jada Knight had 13 points and Kristen McMillan added 11. Season complete.

11. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (7-0)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Idle. The Pioneers have four games scheduled this week.

12. Simeon, Chicago (8-0)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: The Wolverines toppled Chicago Public League opponents Lindblom, 93-42, Butler, 79-49, Agricultural Science, 88-17, and Morgan Park, 68-66. Also stopped Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.), 64-62.

13. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (14-0)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: The regular season ended with a 77-11 blowout of Overland (Aurora) clinching the Centennial League title. Junior C Lauren Betts scored 16 points, sinking 8-of-10 shots. The third-seeded Wolves faced Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) Tuesday in in the Class 5A first round.

14. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (12-0)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Idle. The Eagles earned are top-seeded in the Class 5A state tournament which opened Tuesday vs. Westminster. The winner advances to the Sweet 16 round Thursday against Castle View (Castle Rock)..The Great 8 (or quarterfinals) are Saturday.

15. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (0-0)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: The CIF-Southern Section Open Division champions won’t play until the spring.

16. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (0-0)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: California Interscholastic Federation teams won’t start until the spring.

17. Newark, Ohio (28-1)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won the Division I regional championship, beating Dublin Coffman, 75-73. Maddie Vejsicky netted a game-high 18 points, making four 3-pointers. The Wildcats also beat Pickerington Central, 65-26, in the semifinals. Next up is Archbishop Hoban (Akron) Friday in the Division I state semifinals in Dayton. The final is Saturday night at the University of Dayton Arena.

18. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (13-0)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Won the Skyland Conference Blue Division Tournament, defeating Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone), 69-41, in the final. The Argonauts jumped to 21-4 lead after one quarter and coasted to the title. Belle Pellecchia contributed 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 steals. Katie Ledden’s 12 points helped the Argos defeat Hunterdon Central (Flemington), 73-18, in the semifinals. In the season finale, defeated Saddle River Day, 81-54, behind 18 points and 8 rebounds from Kay Donahue. Season complete.

19. Winston Salem Christian, Winston-Salem, N.C. (25-1)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Idle.

20. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (10-0)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Regular season complete.

21. Cardinal Newman, Columbia, S.C (18-1)*

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Won third consecutive SCISA Class AAA state championship. Season complete.

22. Converse (Texas) Judson (26-2)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Lost to No. 4 Cypress Creek (Houston), 55-34, in the Class 6A state semifinals. In the Region IV final, they beat San Antonio Reagan, 58-52. Season complete.

23. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (11-3)*

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Beat Archbishop Spalding (Severn), 59-38. Reniya Jones scored 16 points and Helena Lasic and Chalon Miles chipped in with 10 apiece. This weekend the Lady Tigers travel to Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.).

24. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-2)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Season complete

25. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (11-1)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Blew through four Philadelphia Catholic League opponents Conwell-Egan (Fairless Hills), 78-40, Bonner & Prendergast (Drexel Hill), 73-31, Lansdale Catholic, 56-24, and Archbishop Carroll (Radnor), 50-40. The regular season concluded Tuesday at West Catholic (Philadelphia). There will be a postseason PCL title game this weekend.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)*
2. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (14-1)
3. Madison, Vienna, Va. (16-1)*
4. Trinity, Washington, Pa. (20-1)
5. Bridgewater (Mass.)-Raynham (12-0)

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

 Midwest

1. Pius X, Lincoln, Neb. (25-0)*
2. Crown Point, Ind. (25-1)*
3. Hersey, Arlington Heights, Ill. (14-0)
4. Germantown, Wis. (29-1)*
5. Farmington, Minn. (16-0)

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

Southland

1. Duncanville, Texas (28-3)
2. Bearden, Knoxville, Tenn. (30-1)
3. Norman, Okla. (16-0)
4. Elizabethtown, Ky. (20-0)
5. Cedar Park, Texas (26-1)

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

Far West

1. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (26-0)*
2. Casteel, Queen Creek, Ariz. (16-0)
3. Mountain View, Meridian, Idaho (20-2)*
4. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (16-1)
5. Regis Jesuit, Aurora, Colo. (11-1)

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

* Won state championship or national tournament title

 # Includes forfeit loss

Records are through Monday

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 nationwide. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.