THE MOOSE ON THE LOOSE: No. 22 Westtown (PA) slips back in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings; California, Ohio and Kentucky to crown state champions

BENSALEM, Pa. – State champions were crowned, brackets were busted and two national postseason tournaments came into focus as the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings push on.

Let’s get to it.

The key states of California, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oregon and Kentucky will crown champions. Five schools from the Elite 25 are in the mix, including three from California. The game of the week was played Tuesday when No. 1 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) hosted No. 6 Etiwanda (Calif.) in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Region Open Division final.

On deck are the states of New York, Tennessee, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri and Oklahoma.

It was a moving day in the Elite 25 with 17 teams shifting positions. Seven teams, including the Top 2, were static but 12 rose and five dropped. The biggest upward movers were No. 12 Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.) and No. 13 Edmond (Okla.) North, both of whom leaped five slots. No. 17 St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) absorbed the biggest hits, plummeting 14 spots. Vianney had its 92-game win streak versus in-state foes snapped in the Non-Public A final. Regardless, Vianney is the best team in the state and if All-American Zoe Brooks was healthy (foot injury hampered her), the result would have favored the Lady Lancers. It did not and the season is complete.

There was movement in the Top 10 with eight teams shifting and three entered the rarified air after last week’s results. All told the Elite 25 teams have won 11 state or major postseason conference tournament titles.

Congratulations to the champions!

Moose Town

The lone newcomer to the Elite 25 isn’t a stranger. The Moose (yep that’s the nickname) of Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) return after annexing a second consecutive Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association championship, along with their league tournament title.

Westtown, located in the Philadelphia suburbs, might be known for a powerhouse boys’ basketball program but the girls are gaining national momentum too. Head coach Fran Burbidge is a flat-out winner and veteran coach on the high school and AAU scenes. We first met him when he coached a transformative player, Elena Delle Donne, in the early 2000s at Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.). He was an impressive, no nonsense then, and remains rooted in those values.

Burbidge’s associate coach Doug West is another example of the Delaware Valley gold standard. West was a high-flying star for Villanova (graduated in 1989) and later had a long, productive NBA career. Recently, he’s coached at all levels and another reason why Westtown is a program on the rise.

Last year, Westtown leaned on Kaylene Smikle. She went on to Rutgers enjoying a banner freshman campaign being named to the All-Freshman Team as well as the All-Big Ten Second Team.

As for the future, Westtown will be a regular stop for high-major programs with gifted eighth graders Jordyn Palmer and Jessie Moses in the fold. Junior Zahra King is a blue-chip recruit with several offers. This is a team worth monitoring.

Also, the GEICO High School Nationals is shaping up and based on history, Montverde (Fla.) Academy and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) are slam dunks for the four-team event that tips on March 31 in Fort Myers, Fla. McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.) could be another entrant after winning the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference champions. IAAM schools Seton Keough (now shuttered) and St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) have played in the event. The fourth team could come from Florida or Pennsylvania.

As for the High School Invitational, Elite 25 state champions Centennial (Las Vegas), Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) and Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) are locks. Desert Vista (Ariz.) won the Arizona Open Division last weekend and is a solid candidate as is Dr. Phillips (Fla). The final spot is likely from Georgia, New Jersey, Mississippi or Washington. That event is still a work in progress and will be played April 6-8.

That’s a wrap for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return March 15. It’s your last chance to check out the prep hardwood heroes in your backyard if you already haven’t. There are a few weeks left. Enjoy a night out at a gymnasium in your area.

In the meantime, stay safe.

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

 Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, March 8, 2023

1. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (31-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Trailblazers are two games from perfection but it won’t be easy. The nation’s top player, USC-bound Juju Watkins, produced 26 points and 13 rebounds and junior MacKenly Randolph scored 13 points in a 59-47 victory over then-No. 10 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals. Coach Alicia Komaki’s team played No. 6 Etiwanda Tuesday in the region final. The winner plays the Northern Region champion Saturday for the CIF Open Division crown at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

2. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (28-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Red Knights coasted to two lopsided victories in the Class 6, District 3 playoffs. They played archrivals St. Joseph Academy (St. Louis) Tuesday in the final. The winner goes to the Class 6 state quarterfinals on Saturday.

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

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Idle. Next up is the GEICO High School Nationals semifinals on March 31 in Fort Myers, Fla.

4. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (20-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Idle.

5. Centennial, Las Vegas (24-1)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship. The Lady Bulldogs should earn a berth in the High School Invitational that tips in April. Regular season complete.

6. Etiwanda, Calif. (30-3)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Defeated No. 7 La Jolla Country Day, 47-42, in CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals. The Eagles played No. 1 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) Tuesday in the region final with the winner advancing to Saturday’s CIF Open Division final in Sacramento.

7. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (28-3)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won second consecutive District of Columbia State Athletic Association AA championship, beating St. John’s College, 68-49, in the final. Leah Harman bucketed 21 points and the Most Valuable Player, Duke-bound Jadyn Donovan, scored 20. The Quakers also beat Maret, 69-57, in the semifinals. Expect the Quakers to play in the High School Invitational in April, where it will be the favorite to defend their title. Regular season complete.

8. Hoover, Ala. (35-1)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won a third straight Class 7A state championship, defeating Sparkman (Harvest), 55-44, in the final. It was the Lady Bucs’ fifth state title since 2017. North Carolina-bound Reniya Kelly bagged third Most Valuable Players award, tossing in 25 points with five 3-pointers and snaring 6 rebounds. The Lady Bucs also defeated Prattville, 87-39, in the semifinals. Season complete.

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

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won a state-record sixth consecutive Class 6A state championship, beating Huffman (Birmingham), 53-40, in the final. For coach Tim Miller it was his 10th state title at three different schools. Leah Brooks led the way with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Amiyah Redus added 16 points. Also beat McGill-Toolen (Mobile), 49-22, in the Class 6A semifinals. Season complete.

10. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (35-1)*

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won Class 3A state championship, defeating Lincoln, 63-52, in the final. The Roadrunners had four in double figures—Olivia Austin with 23, Mary Bridget Wilson and DePaul-bound Grace Carstensen with 11 apiece and Amalia Dray added 10. Austin made 9 of 10 shots and cleared 12 rebounds. Naz also defeated Peoria, 48-35, in the semifinals as Danielle Scully scored 14 points and Dray had 11. Season complete.

11. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (27-2)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Defeated then-No. 14 Clovis West (Fresno), 63-43, in the CIF-Northern Region Open Division semifinals. The Monarchs faced Salesian College Prep (Richmond) Tuesday with the winner going to Saturday’s CIF Open Division final in Sacramento.

 12. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (32-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Won the 7th Region championship,

Central (Louisville), 85-58, in the final and DuPont Manual (Louisville), 73-58, in the semifinals. The Valkyries return to the Mingua Beef Jerky Sweet 16 Tournament, meeting Lawrence County (Louisa) Wednesday afternoon in the first round at Rupp Arena in Lexington. The quarterfinals are Friday morning and the semifinals and final are both on Saturday.

13. Edmond (Okla.) North (26-0)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Defeated Midwest City, 56-35, in the Class 6A, Region 1 playoffs. The Lady Huskies qualified for the Class 6A state tournament with the win.

14. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (30-4)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Lost to the-No. 8 Etiwanda, 47-42, in the CIF-Southern Regional semifinals. Season complete.

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

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Lost at top-ranked Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 59-47, in the CIF-Southern Region Open semifinals. The Monarchs did defeat Sage Hill (Newport Beach), 59-44, in the quarterfinals. Season complete.

16. Duncanville, Texas (26-5)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Season complete.

 17. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (31-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: In the Non-Public A South final, McDonald’s All-American guard  Zoe Brooks sank a short jumper in the lane to beat the buzzer and then-No. 21 Paul VI (Haddonfield), 63-61. She wound up with 33 points and 7 rebounds after missing games with a foot injury. Also, the Lady Lancers were upset in the Non-Public A state championship by Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township), 65-55, in the final. Brooks saw limited action and did not score but Bre Delaney tossed in a team-high 16 points. Season complete.

18. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (30-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Lost to then-No. 15 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 63-4, in the CIF-Northern Region Open Division semifinals. Season complete.

19. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (24-3)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 6A state championship, defeating Skyridge (Lehi), 64-49, in the final. The Knights closed the game on a 27-6 run. Kailey Woolston, the tournament’s Most Valuable Players, provided 18 points and 10 rebounds. Shawnee Nordstrom and Makeili Ika were named all-tournament. The Knights also defeated Fremont (Plain City), 67-45, in the semifinals and Westlake (Saratoga Springs), 72-39, in the quarterfinals. Regular season complete

20. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (27-3)*

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Won the Non-Public B state championship, defeating Rutgers Prep (Somerset), 71-63, in the final. It was the program’s fourth overall title. The Pauldo twins, Mia (26 points) and Mya (17), teamed for 43 points and Daniella Matus, a rising star, had 16 points, sinking four 3-pointers. In the Non-Public N North final, the Crusaders defeated Montclair Immaculate, 55-49. Mia Pauldo scored 21 points and Mya Pauldo had 11. Regular season complete.

21. The Webb School, Bell Buckle, Tenn. (32-4)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won Division II-A state championship, defeating Middle Tennessee Christian (Murfreesboro), 72-43, in the final. The Feet were simply dominant in the postseason. Daria Biriuk came off the bench to score 22 points as the Feet defeated King’s Academy (Seymour), 69-21, in the semifinals. The Feet were up 19-5 after one quarter and 37-12 at the break. Season complete.

22. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (22-4)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Moose re-enter the Elite 25 after capturing a second consecutive Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association championship after defeating rival Penn Charter (Philadelphia), 74-54, in the final. Heralded junior Zahra King scored 20 points, sensational eighth grader Jordyn Palmer had 13 and her classmate Jessie Moses dropped 10. Coach Fran Burbidge’s team also annexed their third straight Friends’ Schools League championship. Regular season complete.

23. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (25-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Defeated Robbinsdale Armstrong, 86-44, in the Section 6AAAA semifinals

Washburn (Minneapolis), 106-17, in the quarterfinals. The Lady Royals won’t have it that easy with archrivals Wayzata (Plymouth) Thursday in the section final but at least it’s on their home court.

24. Bedford (Ind.) North Lawrence (27-3)*

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

25. South Bend (Ind.) Washington (27-1)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped: No. 21 Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Md. (24-2)*
2. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (26-7)*
3. Lansdale (Pa.) Catholic (23-2)*
4. Georgetown Visitation, Washington, D.C. (24-6)*
5. Paul VI, Haddonfield, N.J. (21-3)

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

Midwest

1. Example Academy, Frankfort, Ill. (21-2)*
2. Pleasant Valley, Riverdale, Iowa (26-0)*
3. Chaska, Minn. (27-1)
4. Grand Rapids (Mich.) West Catholic (22-0)
5. Kettle Moraine, Wales, Wis. (26-1)

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

Southland

1. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (30-1)*
2. Clark, San Antonio (34-3)*
3. Bearden, Knoxville, Tenn. (35-0)
4. Brookwood, Snellville, Ga. (30-1)
5. Germantown, Madison, Miss. (29-2)*

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

Far West

1. Desert Vista, Phoenix (28-3)*
2. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (27-4)
3. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (25-2)
4. Garfield, Seattle (23-1)*
5. Iolani School, Honolulu (20-5)*

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

Records through Monday’s games

* Won state, national or major conference postseason tournament title(s)

[Editor’s note: Each asterisk represents a separate postseason title]

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 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.