BENSALEM, Pa. – This country is jonesing to for a return to normalcy.
Really, the last month as seen state high school basketball champions crowned to play suspended or canceled in some pockets and now it is over everywhere.
If anyone is hoping on hope that seasons will continue this school year, or what’s left of the 2019-20 academic calendar, give it up. The mighty professional leagues have no timetable to resume play and that’s exactly where the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings are headed. No changes to the Elite 25 for the third week and this should be the final boilerplate once a few more dominoes fall.
Last week, the Ohio High School Athletic Association cancelled the remainder of its winter activities. Refunds were issued for the girls’ basketball tournaments that saw the final 16 teams over four divisions end dreams of a state championship. Heck, the Ohio girls would have played in empty gymnasiums just to compete again but saner minds prevailed. No. 1 Mount Notre Dame of Cincinnati, Ohio will remain atop the Elite 25.
We wish it never came down to it but reality kicked with warnings from the government regarding the invisible enemy known as COVID-19 or novel coronavirus.
Last weekend, the nation’s elite girls should have played the Jordan Brand Classic in Chicago. We were supposed to meet them in Houston for the McDonald’s All American Game on April 1. After that the GEICO High School Nationals, featuring Elite 25 team, was scheduled for New York City (now the epicenter for the coronavirus pandemic) and later moved to South Carolina starting on April 3 for four girls’ teams.
The GEICO Nationals have not made any announcements regarding the games but it won’t happen in 2020. States such as West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are still suspended but cancellation is only a matter of time.
Survival is paramount. The pandemic has not reached its peak and curve isn’t flattening anytime soon. That’s the harsh reality. Social distancing and self-quarantine must be practiced just like a set of ball-handling or shooting drills. Take it as serious as you would a day in the gym. Practice makes perfect.
In the spring of 2020 is about fight, mourning and eventually recovery. And when that healing takes place sports, especially the game of basketball, becomes a huge part of it. That’s a guarantee.
Now there’s a new norm. The new heroes aren’t swishing jumpers, busting ankles with crossovers or stuffing stat sheets with double-doubles but are on the frontline—courageous doctors, nurses, first responders and healthcare professionals.
The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return next week and the next and until all states have season-ending proclamations and the GEICO Nationals move on from this season. We have unfinished business.
Here’s a sage thought from Dr. Anthony Fauci, an expert on the coronavirus. Last week, he spoke with Steph Curry via Instagram:
“It’s not convenient for you not to be playing basketball. But we’re going through a period of time now where we’ve got to, as a country, pull together. Don’t get frightened. Don’t get intimidated. Use the energy to be able to confront it and do the kinds of things that’ll put an end to it,” he said.
Until further notice that’s the new norm.
If you missed it, here’s the state by state list of the Gatorade girls’ basketball players of the year. Paige Bueckers of Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) was named the national player of the year and is headed to UConn in the fall. She’s going to be a fun watch for the next four years with the Huskies.
Until next time, stay indoors—no unnecessary travel, please! Let’s beat the invisible enemy and crush the pandemic. Because frankly that’s the only game scheduled.
Be safe. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, April 1, 2020
1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (28-0)+
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: Won Ohio Division I, Region 4 championship. The Cougars were slated to play in the Division I semifinals but the tournament was cancelled.
2. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (25-1)*
Previous: 2.
Low-down: Won National Association of Christian Athletes Division 1 tournament championship for the third time in four years. Next stop is GEICO Nationals if they are played.
3. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (32-1)+
Previous: 3.
Low-down: The Torreys captured the CIF Southern California Region Open Division championship but the Open Division state final was cancelled.
4. Southeast Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C (27-1)+
Previous: 4.
Low-down: Advanced to Class 4A state final before the tournament was cancelled.
5. Duncanville, Texas (41-3)*
Previous: 5.
Low-down: Won UIL Class 6A state championship.
6. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (30-0)+
Previous: 6.
Low-down: The Royals were denied a second straight Class 4A state championship when the MSHL cancelled the tournament the day before the title game. Paige Bueckers, a UConn recruit, was named Gatorade’s National Player of the Year.
7. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (29-0)*
Previous: 7.
Low-down: Won the Division II-AA state championship.
8. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (22-1)+
Previous: 8.
Low-down: The Lady Crusaders were supposed to play in the New York State Federation Class AA semifinals but the tournament was cancelled. Season complete.
9. Cypress Creek, Houston (41-1)
Previous: 9.
Low-down: Lost in Class 6A state championship. Also captured the Region III-6A championship.
10. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (26-3)
Previous: 10.
Low-down: Won the program’s 13th Northern California region championship.
11. Windward School, Los Angeles (27-6)
Previous: 11.
Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Southern California Region final. The Cougars fell short two win of annexing the Open Division state title.
12. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (23-0)+
Previous: 12.
Low-down: Advanced to the Michigan Division 2, Regional 14 final before the postseason was suspended.
13. Westlake, Atlanta (30-2)*
Previous: 13.
Low-down: Won a third straight Georgia Class AAAAAAA state championship. The Lions have an invite for GEICO Nationals if they are played.
14. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (30-3)
Previous: 14.
Low-down: Won CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship. Fell in the Southern California Region Open Division first round.
15. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (27-5)*
Previous: 15.
Low-down: The Washington Catholic Athletic Association champions are eyeing the GEICO Nationals if they are rescheduled.
16. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (32-4)*
Previous: 13.
Low-down: Won the Virginia Independent Schools Division 1 championship. It was the 14th consecutive state title for the Panthers.
17. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (28-1) +
Previous: 17.
Low-down: Won the Non-Public B South Section championship. The Lady Mikes were one win away from the Non-Public B state crown.
18. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (29-2)*
Previous: 18.
Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. The Highlanders were supposed to play in the GEICO Nationals. Now who knows?
19. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (25-3)*
Previous: 19.
Low-down: Won its fifth consecutive IAAM A Conference championship and regular season title.
20. St. Joseph Central Catholic, Huntington, W.Va. (23-1)+
Previous: 20.
Low-down: The WVSSAC Class A tournament was suspended. Games could resume soon, but that’s unlikely.
21. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (27-4)
Previous: 21.
Low-down: Season complete.
22. DeSoto, Texas (32-3)
Previous: 22.
Low-down: Advanced to the Class 6A, Region I quarterfinals, where it lost in the waning seconds to No. 5 Duncanville.
23. Centennial, Las Vegas (24-6)*
Previous: 23.
Low-down: Won Nevada Class 4A state championship. An injury-riddle season finished with confetti in Reno.
24. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (26-4)*
Previous: 24.
Low-down: Won Indiana Class 4A state championship.
25. Northwestern, Kokomo, Ind. (29-1)
Previous: 25.
Low-down: Advanced to the Class 4A state championship game. Senior Madison Layden, a Purdue signee, was named Indiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
Dropped: None.
High-Fives by Region
East
- St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (28-1) +
- New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (23-8)
- Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville, Pa. (27-0) +
- Poly, Baltimore (22-1) +
- Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (26-1)*^
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- Newark, Ohio (28-2) +
- Simeon, Chicago (34-3)*
- Aquinas, La Crosse, Wis. (25-1) +
- Fremd, Palatine, Ill. (30-7)*
- Morton, Ill. (37-1)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Hazel Green, Ala. (35-2)*
- Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (29-6)*
- Cardinal Newman, Columbia, S.C (23-1)*
- Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, Atlanta (26-5)*
- Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (31-1)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (26-7)
- Etiwanda, Calif. (26-6)
- Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (25-7)
- Iolani School, Honolulu (25-2)*
- Valley Vista, Surprise, Ariz. (28-3)*
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
* Won a state, national or recognized conference/league postseason tournament championship
*^ Declared state co-champions
+ Postseason interrupted and cancelled by novel coronavirus concerns
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.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.
