STILL PERFECT: No. 9 Mater Dei (CA) Monarchs, No. 18 Corona Centennial (CA) Huskies static in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings; powerhouse programs eyeing showdown in CIF Southern Section playoffs

BENSALEM, Pa. – Only two California schools are fueling the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings. This is a season unlike any other and the conclusion is about a month out.

This week’s recap is brief and focused on southern California. No. 9 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) remains 12-0 and has not played since May 1 after taking a pause in activities. No. 18 Corona Centennial is also undefeated and crushing the competition by an average margin of 39 points.

Last week, Juju Watkins, the nation’s top-rated sophomore from Windward (Los Angeles), returned from an injury, flipping in a season-high 44 points and clearing 22 rebounds for a tough-wagging double-double in a 66-61 quality victory over Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth).

That sets up the draw for the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Open Division playoffs that takes place on Sunday.

Expect Elite 25 teams Mater Dei and Corona Centennial to be selected along with Etiwanda, Windward, Sierra Canyon and Orangewood Academy. After that Alemany, Bishop Montgomery, Fairmont Prep, Harvard-Westlake, Lynwood, Poly (Long Beach), Redondo Union, Rosary Academy and West Torrance also in the mix.

The Open Division section dates are May 29 and June 2, 5 and June 11. The Southern Region championships are June 15-19.

We’ll update the all-import CIF sectional draws on Sunday evening.

This week there were no additions or changes to the order within the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings. If change occurs, it will come from the California postseason. Oregon and Washington will need an agent of change to make a statement.

There’s more on the national scene.

Last week, the 2021 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association High School Coaches’ All-Americans (all players are seniors) were released. The 10-player team:

Sonia Citron, 6-1, Ursuline School (New Rochelle, N.Y.); Brooke Demetre, 6-2, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.); Caroline Ducharme, 5-10, Noble & Greenough (Dedham, Mass.); Sania Feagin, 6-3, Forest Park (Ga.); Raven Johnson, 5-8, Westlake (Atlanta); Teonni Key, 6-3, Cary (N.C.); Aaliyah Moore, 6-1, Moore (Okla.); Saniya Rivers, 6-0, Ashley (Wilmington, N.C.); Payton Verhulst, 6-1, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.); and Jersey Wolfenbarger, 6-5, Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.).

WBCA High School Player of the Year: Raven Johnson, Westlake (Atlanta). WBCA High School Coach of the Year: Hilda Hankerson, Westlake (Atlanta).

Honorable Mention All Americans: Destiny Adams, Manchester (N.J.) Township; Clarisse Akunwafo, Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.); Jayda Curry, Corona (Calif.) Centennial, Maryam Dauda, Bentonville (Ark.); Amari DeBerry, Williamsville N.Y.) South; Kiya Dorroh, (Tucson, Ariz.); Alyssa Durazo, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.); O’Mariah Gordon, Braden River (Bradenton, Fla.); Damiya Hagemann, Edison Public Academy (Detroit); Aubryanna Hall, Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio); Rori Harmon, Cypress Creek (Houston); Jillian Hollingshead, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.); Okikiola Iriafen, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.); Aziaha James, Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.); Rayah Marshall, Lynwood (Calif.); Laila Phelia, Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati); Sara Puckett, Muscle Shoals (Ala.); Reigan Richardson, Cannon School (Concord, N.C.); Shyanne Sellers, Aurora (Ohio); Karoline Striplin, Geneva County (Hartford, Ala.); Makayla Timpson, Early County (Blakely, Ga.); and Morasha Wiggins, Kalamazoo (Mich.).

Elsewhere, earlier this the month saw New Mexico and West Virginia crown state champions.

In New Mexico, the state champions include Class 5A, Volcano Vista (Albuquerque); Class 4A, Gallup; Class 3A, Navajo Prep (Farmington); Class 2A, Pecos; and Class 1A, Roy/Mosquero. Volcano Vista, Navajo Prep, Pecos and Roy/Mosquero all went undefeated.

West Virginia: Class AAAA, Huntington; Class AAA, Nitro; Class AA, Wyoming East (New Richmond); and Class A Tug Valley (Williamson).

Congratulations to the players and coaches at these nine schools. Although the season was delayed until the spring, it was worth the wait and the memories will last a lifetime.

With two more states done, that leaves three states from the Far West Region still active. We know about California but there’s Oregon and Washington remaining, and they won’t finish until late June. And we’ll be here until the season’s final buzzer and then reveal the Elite 25 final rankings. We’re almost there!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on June 2 but look for updates from California this weekend.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for our staff updates. We’ll keep you abreast of what’s breaking in girls’ basketball. For now, get vaccinated, practice social distancing and mask up. We’re aiming for immunity in every community. Recently, I got my first jab of the Moderna vaccine and go again in early June. Don’t be afraid, just roll up your sleeve and move forward. Summertime will arrive in a month and outdoor and indoor concerts and sporting events are on the menu and vaccines will be mandatory at some venues. That goes for air travel too.

Keep safe!

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, May 19, 2021

1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (28-0)* @

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Cougars are two time Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. Won the Ohio Division I state championship.

2. Westlake, Atlanta (21-0)* !

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won GEICO High School Nationals championship and Georgia Class AAAAAA title.

3. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (29-0)*

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Won Class 6 state championship.

4.  Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (11-1)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Completed an undefeated regular season and advanced to the GEICO Nationals title game.

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

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won FHSAA Class AAAA state championship and earned an invitation to the GEICO Nationals.

6. DeSoto, Texas (28-2)* #

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won first-ever UIL Class 6A state championship. Earlier this week, 6-4 junior Amina Muhammad committed to the Texas Longhorns.

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

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: In lieu of no state playoffs, the Lady Lancers won the Shore Conference Tournament Pod A title.

8. Cypress Creek, Houston (32-1)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Advanced to the UIL Class 6A state final.

9. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-0)^

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: The Monarchs paused action for two weeks but close out the abbreviated campaign Friday with Trinity League rivals Orange Lutheran. Elsewhere, Stanford-bound Brooke Demetre was one of 10 players recently named the WBCA All-American Team. She earned the same honors for McDonald’s. In 11 games this spring, she’s averaging 16.5 points, 5.8 rebound, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. The CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs will tip on May 29 and the bracket will be revealed on May 23. The Open Division final is scheduled for June 11.

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

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship.

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

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Won third Class 7A state championship since 2017.

12. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (11-0) #

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: The Pioneers carry a 59-game win streak into next season.

13. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (17-0)*

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship.

14. Chaska, Minn. (18-0)*

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won Class AAAA state championship.

15. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (16-1)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Advanced to Class AAAA semifinals, where its win streak was snapped at 78 games. The Royals return all five starters in 2021-22.

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

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Won the Skyland Conference Blue Division Tournament. There were no playoffs this season in New Jersey.

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

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Independent School National Tournament final.

18. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (16-0)^

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: The Huskies are coasting after nine wins over the last two years. The average margin of victory is 39 points per game. The regular season closes Thursday at crosstown rival Corona. Despite the perfect start, the Huskies needed to beat Roosevelt (Eastvale) to clinch the outright Big VIII league title. In a battle of Top-10 California teams, Londynn Jones, a 5-6 UCLA recruit, bucketed 22 points and the Huskies defeated La Jolla Country Day, 89-56. Jayda Curry and Sydni Summers each hit for 17 points.

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

Previous: 19.

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

20. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (14-3)*

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Won the Insider Exposure Independent School National Tournament.

21. Fremont, Plain City, Utah (26-1)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship and earned an invitation to the GEICO Nationals.

22. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (17-2)*

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Won PIAA Class AAAA state championship and Philadelphia Catholic League crown.

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

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Advanced to the UIL Class 6A semifinals and won Region IV title.

24. Newark, Ohio (29-2)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Ohio Division I state final, falling to top-ranked Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) in double overtime.

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

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Played in the Independent School National Tournament.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)*
2. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (27-1)*
3. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (14-1)
4. Madison, Vienna, Va. (16-1)*
5. St. Elizabeth, Wilmington, Del. (14-0)*

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. Germantown, Wis. (29-1)*
4. Northwest, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (23-0)*
5. Kenwood Academy, Chicago (13-0)

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

Southland

1. Norman, Okla. (19-0)*
2. Duncanville, Texas (28-3)
3. Northside, Fort Smith, Ark. (26-2)*
4. Cedar Park, Texas (27-1)*
5. Vance, Charlotte N.C. (12-0)*

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

Far West

1. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (13-0)^
2. Etiwanda, Calif. (13-0)^
3. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (5-1)^
4. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (16-1)
5. Windward School, Los Angeles (10-2)^

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

@ Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

* Won state championship or national tournament title

 ! GEICO High School Nationals champion

 # Includes “no call” game erasing a previous and/or forfeit loss due to coronavirus

^ Currently playing a spring season

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.