THE QUEEN CITY (OF HOOPS): Mount Notre Dame (OH) Cougars ascend to top spot in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings; No. 2 Westlake (GA) wins GEICO Nationals title

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The new No. 1 is a Cincinnati-based powerhouse program that is back atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings. If you are familiar with Mount Notre Dame High School, an all-girls Catholic school, then you can relate to excellence.

This is might be the most complete team in the nation.

MND’s rise occurred last Friday when then-No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) lost in the GEICO High School Nationals semifinals.

Last month the Cougars (28-0) bagged a second Ohio Division I state crown in three years (there were no Ohio basketball championships in 2020 for pandemic reasons) and eighth girls’ hoops championship overall—the most in Ohio High School Athletic Association annals. A year ago, we declared the Cougars the Blue Star Media National Champions. When the 2019-20 season was paused in March, the Cougars were ranked No. 1.

MND carries a gaudy 72-game win streak into the 2021-22 campaign.

As we head into the final weeks of the season, coach Dr. Scott Rogers’ team is looking good. There are six states that are still playing and by the end of this weekend it will be cut in half. Minnesota, Michigan and Kentucky are conducting state championships this weekend.

No. 3 Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)—Paige Bueckers’ alma mater—goes for the Class AAAA title, starting with the semifinals on Wednesday. The Michigan state finals are this weekend in East Lansing at Michigan State’s Breslin Center. No. 12 Edison Public Academy (Detroit) is the highest ranked Michigan team but had its season halted with a positive test for the coronavirus.

Kentucky’s Sweet Sixteen tips off Wednesday and Thursday with first-round games at famed Rupp Arena in Lexington. Anderson County (Lawrenceburg) is 26-2 and one of the favorites to win it and perhaps re-enter the Elite 25 rankings.

California schools are currently playing and Oregon and Washington will follow later this spring.

But by no means are the Elite 25 rankings written in stone. Not yet at least.

Congratulations to No. 2 Westlake (Atlanta), the four-time Georgia state champions, after claiming the GEICO Nationals championship last weekend in sunny southwestern Florida. We watched every minute of all three games and felt the Lady Lions (21-0) were a worthy champion. Junior Ta’Niya Latson was the Most Valuable Player and South Carolina-bound superstar Raven Johnson will be the new darling of college basketball. Raven, what a great name that will resonate with fans everywhere.

There are no additions to the Elite 25 but No. 5 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) hops up eight slots after taking down Lake Highlands Prep (Fla.) at the GEICO Nationals. For some it was a huge upset but PVI Panthers are legit, the school is located in one of nation’s basketball hotbeds and the league (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) is one of the best anywhere. It’s a formula for winning basketball. Kudos to veteran PVI coach Scott Allen for a great showing.

One last thought from the GEICO Nationals. No. 20 Fremont (Plain City, Utah) might play in a state off the national grid but the Silverwolves can really ball. At 6-5, junior Maggie Mendelson is a future McDonald’s All American and says she wants to play hoops and volleyball in college. We bet she will. Essentially all four teams from the GEICO Nationals are serious candidate for the 2021-22 preseason Elite 25 rankings. But that’s a long way off and we shouldn’t be tipping our hand.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on April 14. Next week we’ll announce the spring rankings schedule moving forward.

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, get vaccinated, practice social distancing and mask up. Let’s crush the virus and regain normalcy.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, April 7, 2021

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

Previous rank: 2.

The Low-down: Won Ohio Division I state championship. Junior K.K. Bransford was named Ohio Ms. Basketball. She became the third MND player in to receive the honor. Season complete.

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

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Won GEICO High School Nationals championship, beating then-No. 13 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), 70-50, in the final. Junior Ta’Niya Latson totaled 57 points in two games to capture the Most Valuable Player award. She was joined on the first team by South Carolina-bound G Raven Johnson. In the semifinals, the Georgia Class AAAAAA champions topped No. 20 Fremont (Plain City, Utah), 64-54. Season complete.

3. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (16-0)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Taylor Woodson scored 15 points and Maya Nnaji added 14 to pace a balanced scoresheet when the Royals eliminated Forest Lake, 76-44, in the Class AAAA quarterfinals. Hopkins led 48-22 at halftime. Up next is Chaska Wednesday in the AAAA semifinals at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The final is Friday back at the same venue.

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

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won Class 6 state championship. Season complete.

5. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (11-1)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Following a seven-week layoff, the Panthers split a pair of games at the GEICO Nationals. They took down then-No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.), 52-49, in the semifinals. Senior PG Bella Perkins had 10 points and 4 assists; Duke-bound Lee Volker added 13 points, junior Alyssa Costigan scored 9 points and junior F Jaelyn Talley had a game-high 17. In the final, they lost to No. 2 Westlake (Atlanta), 70-50. Talley and Perkins were named to the GEICO all-tournament team. Season complete.

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

Previous: 1.

The Low-down: The Highlanders ended the season on a down note after falling to then-No. 13 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), 52-49, in the GEICO Nationals semifinals. That loss halted a win streak at 35 games. Louisville-bound junior Nyla Harris posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds as did senior forward Kayla Blackshear with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Eleecia Carter dropped in 14 points. Season complete.

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

Previous: 6.

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

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

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Season complete.

9. Cypress Creek, Houston (32-1)

Previous: 8.

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

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

Previous: 9.

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

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

Previous: 10.

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

12. Edison Public Academy, Detroit (11-1) #

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Season complete

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

Previous: 12.

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

14. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (2-0)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Crushed Esperanza (Anaheim), 85-44. The Monarchs sprinted to a 51-24 lead at the break. Up next is Sonora on April 12. The Trinity League schedule starts on April 20.

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

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: The practice start date posted is April 12 and opening night is April 20.

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

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 18.

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

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

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Lost to then-No. 3 Westlake (Atlanta), 64-54, in the GEICO Nationals semifinals. Six-five sophomore Maggie Mendelson had 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots. BYU-bound Emma Calvert, who named the Utah’s Ms. Basketball player of the year, added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Mendelson was added to the all-tournament team. Season complete.

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

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won PIAA Class AAAA state championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Season complete.

23.  Newark, Ohio (29-2)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Ohio Division I state final. Season complete.

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

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Season complete

25. Kenwood Academy, Chicago (13-0)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)*
2. 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. Hersey, Arlington Heights, Ill. (16-0)
4. Germantown, Wis. (29-1)*
5. Northwest, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (23-0)*

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. Windward School, Los Angeles (0-0)
2. Valley Vista, Surprise, Ariz. (17-1)*
3. Seton Catholic Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (17-1)*
4. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (16-1)
5. Mountain View, Meridian, Idaho (20-2)*

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

* Won state championship or national tournament title

 ! GEICO High School Nationals champion

 # Includes forfeit loss or a forfeit postseason loss due to coronavirus

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.