THRILLER: Mater Dei (CA) wins CIF-Southern Section Open Division crown on Lalani White’s buzzer-beater; No. 7 Monarchs move up two slots in Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings with regional looming

BENSALEM, Pa. – If you can believe it, California and Oregon finally wrapping up their girls’ basketball seasons.

The eyes of the schoolgirl basketball universe shift to southern California. In the nation’s hotbed for basketball, the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Region Open Division is the final meaningful tournament remaining.

There are no additions to the Elite 25 girls’ rankings but expect something to happen by the end of the month when the final rankings are revealed. Since there won’t be any Northern California Regionals or a CIF state tournament, this is the next best thing.

The CIF dropped the 24 brackets–12 boys and girls–on Sunday afternoon, the Open Division was must-see. Seriously, there are four teams that can win it, otherwise it would be an upset. No. 7 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) nabbed the top seed and moved up two spots in the Elite 25 after capturing the CIF-Southern Section Open championship, edging No. 13 Corona Centennial, 83-80, in overtime. Nalani White nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win it. The game was tied at 71 in the waning seconds of regulation and Centennial had at least two open looks for the win but shots clanged off the rim.

Mater Dei played a cool in the extra session and coach Kevin Kiernan earned his sixth Southern Section title at Mater Dei and 12th overall. The Monarchs (20-0) earned a coveted bye to the semifinals and face Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) or Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) Thursday. The other side of the bracket should see Centennial and Clovis West (Fresno) meet in the semifinals.

The championship is Saturday night. For the complete listing of Southern Region brackets click here.

In Washington, there was closure to a truncated season for Seattle Prep that claimed its first Metro League title in 20 years after knocking off Bishop Blanchet (Seattle), 54-48, last Friday in the final. Since there were no WIAA state championships, this was the ultimate.

Fresno State-bound Tamia Stricklin bucketed 29 points and the Panthers finished 13-0 overall and 10-0 in the league. Prep freshman Molly Moffitt was absence from the final as she left for international duty with the Ireland U-20 National Team or the margin of victory might have been larger.

In Oregon, South Medford (Medford) is closing in on a perfect regular season and the coach Tom Cole is looking forward to an end-of-the-season tournament. Last weekend, the Panthers drilled crosstown rivals North Medford, 67-16. Senior Kaili Chamberlin scored 13 points.

If all goes as planned, Oregon’s top-ranked team will participate in one of two Week 6 16-team tournaments, featuring Class 6A and 5A teams. The double-elimination brackets would be held in the Portland area. Hey, that’s a great way for the Oregon schools to cruise into summer and play for a prize in lieu of no OSAA state tournaments.

So, that’s it for the penultimate rankings this season. We’d like to wish all the dads a Happy Father’s Day on June 20. It’s special day so don’t forget to reach out or say a prayer if dad has faithfully departed.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on June 30 for the final time. California finishes this weekend while Washington and Oregon are near the end too.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for our staff updates and Podcasts from Blue Star Media editor-and-chief Mike Flynn. He’ll keep you abreast of what’s breaking in girls’ basketball globally. It’s must-listen Internet radio.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball rankings, June 16, 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.

7. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (20-0)^

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Junior Nalani White (17 points) drilled a 3-pointer with 1 second remaining in overtime and the Monarchs downed No. 13 Corona Centennial, 83-80, in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship. It was the sixth Southern Section title for Kevin Kiernan, California’s winningest girls’ coach. The game was tied at 71 through regulation and the Monarchs breathed a sigh of relief when Centennial misfired on two potential game-winning shots in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. Stanford-bound Brook Demetre pumped in 28 points and cleared 10 rebounds. Caia Elisaldez scored 16 points. The Monarchs advanced to the title game after beating Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 61-56, to capture Pool B with 3-0 record. White led the winners with 16 points and UNLV-bound Alyssa Durazo-Frescas added 13. They also stopped Lynwood, 78-60, as Demetre tossed in 20 points and Durazo-Frescas had 18. The top-seeded Monarchs host Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) or Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) Thursday in the CIF-Southern Region semifinals. The final is Saturday night.

8. 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.

9. Cypress Creek, Houston (32-1)

Previous: 8.

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

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. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (22-1)^

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: In one of the top games all season, the Huskies fell to previous-No. 9 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 83-80, in overtime in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship. The game was even at 71 through regulation and the visitors rallied late to force the extra session and then sank the game-winning 3-pointer with :01 left. Junior Londynn Jones scored 31 points, Cal-bound Jayda Curry had 23 and sister Layla Curry added 17. In the Pool A finale, the Huskies ghghgh Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove), 92-54. Jones scored a game-high 31 points in the win. The Huskies led 28-18 after one quarter and used a 21-3 run in the second for a 28-point edge at the break. Next is La Jolla Country Day (San Diego) Tuesday in the CIF-Southern Region quarterfinals. The winner gets Clovis West (Fresno) or Bonita Vista Thursday in the semifinals. The final is Saturday night and a rematch is calling.

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

Previous: 14.

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

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

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Won Class AAAA state championship.

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

Previous: 16.

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.

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

Previous: 17.

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

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

Previous: 18.

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

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. (19-0)^
2. Pinewood, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (17-0)^
3. St. Mary’s, Stockton, Calif. (8-1)^
4. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (13-2)^
5. Grandview, Aurora, Colo. (16-1)

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 or completed a spring season

Records are through Sunday

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.