BENSALEM, Pa. – There was every reason to believe the girls’ game was headed to a new frontier. Kobe Bryant was going to lead the charge and his teenaged daughter, Gianni or “Gigi” was going to be it face of change.

That dream ended tragically on Sunday morning northwest of Los Angeles when a helicopter carrying Kobe, Gigi and seven other people crashed, killing them all. They were headed to Thousand Oaks for a travel team event at Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy but according to reports dense fog may have played a factor in the crash.

At 13, Gigi was a prodigy and Kobe’s pride and joy on the court. She was only of his daughters that expressed a sincere desire to play the game that her father earned a reputation as one of the greatest all-time and inspiration for a generation of players worldwide.

Gigi had dad’s unmatched work ethic and was going to take the family business into the future. Kobe was the facilitator and was just going along for the ride. When Kobe stepped away from the game in 2016, he burnt out but recently Gigi reignited dad’s passion for basketball.

Gigi was a student of the game by all accounts. She attended college (UConn was her dream school) and WNBA games with dad, who would whisper in her ear as the game unfolded—no doubt imparting trade secrets and what to watch for. She watched tape with dad intently, gleaning knowledge.

Kobe (nicknamed Black Mamba) called her “Mambacita”, a chip off the old block. Kobe pushed his daughter in daily workouts. He coached Gigi’s club team and taught them the vaunted Triangle Offense. No shortcuts jus the real thing.

Really, it was going to be a beautiful thing. Kobe was going to use his basketball influence on the girls’ game and the beneficiaries would be young women across the globe and mostly on the grassroots level in the United States.

Gigi was “next.” Surely she had the talent to play at the next level and beyond. Kobe had her back and girls’ basketball was about to push into a new frontier. Finally, a family name that transcended the sport like a few.

Now, who’s next?

Getting back the Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings, there are two teams that enter following two weeks no fresh blood.

Actually, No. 25 Trenton Catholic Academy (Hamilton, N.J.) re-enters the Elite 25 and play a good enough schedule that will keep them afloat. There’s a showdown with Rutgers Prep (Somerset) later in February and the New Jersey Non-Public B state tournament in March. The Lady Mikes are mounting a charge for the state title.

In West Virginia, there a bit of history. We can’t recall the last time a girls’ team from the Mountain State cracked the Elite 25. So, welcome No. 24 St. Joseph Central Catholic (Huntington). This is not your typical team because the optics are important. The Fighting Irish play an aggressive schedule and have a date with top-ranked Mount Notre Dame this weekend in Ironton, Ohio. That’s easily the game of the week and the unbeaten Irish will be looking to wave the flag for small private schools against national programs. MND is just that but better beware because nothing less than an A-game will suffice.

We’ll give a full update next week.

Elsewhere, Indiana schools completed the regular season this week and the sectional pairings are complete. No. 10 Northwestern (Kokomo) opens the Class 4A Logansport Sectional on Feb. 4 in a first round game with the semifinals on Feb. 7 and the final the next day. Indiana’s tournament goes quick climaxing with the four class title games.

Check back regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org for staff updates from showcase events and key games all season. We’ll keep you abreast of anything breaking in the girls’ hoop world.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings return on February 5. It’s the start of the fourth month with March remaining. We’ll also start handicapping the GEICO Nationals that will be played April 3-4 in New York. There are solid candidates for the four-team bracket.

Keep the families of those lost in the helicopter crash in California in your prayers.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 29, 2020

1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (20-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Hard to believe but the Cougars wrap up the regular season Saturday with a neutral site game against West Virginia powerhouse St. Joseph Central Catholic (Huntington) in Ironton, Ohio. Meanwhile, back at home MND, Ohio’s No. 1 team in Division I, peeled off Girls Greater Cincinnati League victories over Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), 65-32 and St. Ursula (Cincinnati), 80-38. Guards Laila Phelia totaled 34 points in two games and Makira Cook added 30 over the same stretch.

2. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (19-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: It was a productive weekend at a quality event in Louisville, Ky. Ruth Balogun had 18 points and 12 rebounds in a 67-53 victory over Elizabethtown (Ky.) at the Raatz Fence-O’Shea’s Classic. Treasure Hunt threw in 10 points 6-7 Brazilian Camilla Cardoso cleared 19 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive glass. In the opening game, Hunt dropped in 23 points with four 3-pointers and hauled down nine rebounds to knock off Pickerington (Ohio) Central, 71-54. With weekends like this, the Lady Hawks are getting close to punching a ticket to the GEICO Nationals in April in New York but there’s plenty of games left. Last Thursday, Cardoso and Hunt were named to the McDonald’s All American Game.

3. La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day (22-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Defeated El Cajon Christian, 77-53. It was a celebratory week on San Diego campus as Oregon-bound point guard Te-Hina Paopao was notified she’ll play in the McDonald’s All American Game on April 1 in Houston, Texas.

4. Cypress Creek, Houston (31-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Cougars needed a 24-8 third-quarter spurt to subdue rival Cy-Fair (Houston), 65-55, in a District 17-6A showdown. Cy-Creek was down a point (31-30) at the intermission but rallied. They haven’t had many close games since district action began and will need to bring it once the bi-district playoffs tip off.

5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (21-3)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The schedule shifted to the Gold Coast League last week and the Trailblazer passed all three tests including a thrilling 56-54 win over rival Windward (Los Angeles). Only one league game this week with Brentwood Thursday. The first weekend in February features an East Coast trip for two games against New Jersey heavyweights Rutgers Prep and Blair Academy.

6. Southeast Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C (17-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Defeated Broughton (Raleigh) by 49 points and Millbrook (Raleigh) by 24 in Cap 7 Conference action. The lone game was a reverse fixture with Broughton on Tuesday.

7. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (17-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: In week that Paige Bueckers was named to the McDonald’s All American Game, the future UConn Husky played like one in an 87-77 victory over rival Wayzata (Plymouth). Trailing 35-32 at halftime, the Royals rallied with a 55-42 second-half close and Bueckers produced 27 points and seven rebounds and Maya Nnaji had a double-double, with 23 points and 11 rebounds. The highly anticipated rematch is Feb. 14 at Wayzata. Last Saturday’s game at Stillwater was cancelled.

8. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (19-3)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Madison Scott sparked a first-quarter surge that saw the Lady Mustangs take a 19-7 lead en route to a 57-32 victory over Good Counsel (Wheaton, Md.) and an 11-0 mark in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Scott pumped in a game-high 19 points to lead the way. Additionally, they defeated St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 42-37, as Liatu King tallied a game-high 10 points. Two WCAC games are in place this weekend, starting with Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.) Thursday.

9. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (17-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The remaining seven games are in the Division II Class AA, Middle Region, where the Lady Tigers are rolling. Last weekend was no different crushing rival Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy, 66-35, and out-of-state foe Madison (Ala.) Academy, 57-46.

10. Northwestern, Kokomo, Ind. (23-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Tigers are Hoosier Conference champions after dispatching Benton Central, 70-20, in the first-place game last Friday. A night later, they closed out the season with a 30^th consecutive victory in a 65-51 decision over North Central (Indianapolis). Coach Kathie Layden’s team shifts the focus to the postseason and defending the Indiana Class 4A state crown. The Tigers play the host school on Feb. 4 in the Logansport Sectional first round. The winner gets Marion in the semifinals on Feb. 7.

11. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (18-2)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Angel Reese was announced last week as a McDonald’s All American but couldn’t save the Lady Panthers from an overtime upset loss. Reese scored 26 points to no avail in a 70-63 setback to Poly (Baltimore) at the Williams Wells Classic in Baltimore. Reese and Aniya Gourdine both fouled out in the loss. They also beat St. Vincent Pallotti (Laurel), 63-50, a key conference matchup. With five games left, the Lady Panthers are 9-0 in the IAAM A Conference.

12. Duncanville, Texas (28-3)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Kiyara Howard-Garza flipped in 21 points to lead three Pantherettes in double figures in a 93-13 win over Molina (Dallas) and Nyah Wilson had 21 points in an 82-63 triumph over Richardson. Five games remain in District 8-6A play.

13. DeSoto, Texas (25-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The pace slowed last week with one game, a 40-22 decision over Cedar Hill. The Lady Eagles are back at Tuesday with Waxahachie.

14. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (21-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Thankfully the Lady Jackrabbits beat a competitive Troy (Fullerton), 46-39. That’s because they drilled Moore League opponents by 72 and, 57 and points. There’s more non-league action this weekend with Windward (Los Angeles).

15. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (24-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Junior forward Brooke Demetre, a Stanford recruit, was in the right place at the right time, sticking in a last-second putback basket in a thrilling 64-62 victory over Rosary Academy (Fullerton), avenging a rare Trinity League defeat. The Monarchs followed that up with 70-29 win over Valencia at the Tony Matson Classic. Alyssa Durazo-Frescas topped all scorers with 16 points. With the schedule winding down, the Monarchs have a challenging game non-conference game Friday against Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on their home court at the Nike Extravaganza.

16. Edison Public School Academy, Detroit (10-0)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: It was a win-win weekend for the Pioneers. First, they defeated Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 54-32, as Clemson-bound Gabby Elliott netted 19 points, and then took care of Grosse Pointe South, 81-46.

17. Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, Md. (17-3)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Boston College-bound Kaylah Ivey was tabbed game Most Valuable Player following a 20-point performance in a 65-47 blowout of Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) at The Mecca in Bronx, N.Y. The trip to New York started with a clutch 65-61 victory over then-No. 12 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.).

18. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (15-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: After 14 games, the Lady Crusaders tasted loss during a 65-51 setback to No. 17 Riverdale Baptist School (Upper Marlboro, Md.). They also crushed Manasquan (N.J.), 78-45. There’s another quality game on tap this weekend against New Jersey powerhouse St. John Vianney (Holmdel).

19. Amarillo, Texas (28-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Lady Sandies have two weeks and four games left before the Class 5A bi-district playoffs are seeded.

20. Evanston, Ill. (19-2)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Coach Brittanny Johnson’s team is rolling after key wins over Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park), 64-34, and New Trier (Winnetka), 60-51. With five games left in the regular season, a Feb. 8 showdown with No. 20 Benet Academy (Lisle) will be a true postseason test before the Class 4A playoffs.

21. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (21-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Defeated Oswego (Ill.), 66-62, and Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, Ill.), 47-37. The East Catholic Suburban Conference continues to heat up with two weeks left in the regular season, starting Wednesday with Carmel (Mundelein).

22. Westlake, Atlanta (21-2)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: With two games left, the Lions need one win to clinch the Region 2-AAAAAAA regular-season title. The schedule finishes up this weekend with Campbell (Smyrna).

23. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (19-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Bella Perkins scored 13 points, sinking two 3-pointers, and Jaelyn Talley added 12 points as the Panthers waxed St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 55-28. PVI jumped to leads of 1306 after one period and 26-11 at the break. They also stopped Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.), 54-34, in WCAC play, where they improved to 7-2. Two more WCAC games this week but the big one is Feb. 4 hosting No. 8 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.).

24. St. Joseph Central Catholic, Huntington, W.Va. (17-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Fighting Irish may not pass the eye test but they a team in the true sense. They schedule aggressively and play the game the way it’s supposed to. Last weekend, the Irish hammered George Rogers Clark (Winchester, Ky.), 71-49, at the Raatz Fence/O’Shea’s Basketball Classic in Louisville, Ky. Grace Hutson bucketed a game-high 31 points and Dionna Gray added 14. Next is a titanic matchup with top-ranked Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) Saturday afternoon at the Tacket’s Body Shop Classic in Ironton, Ohio.

25. Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, N.J. (15-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Lady Mikes return to the Elite 25 with a great run of play. In a key 71-61 win over Manchester Township (N.J.), freshman Zoe Brooks scored 9 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter to cap a rally at the Coaches Choice Showcase in Holmdel, N.J. West Virginia-bound Giana Boulden netted a team-high 19 points. Next is Rancocas Valley (Mount Holley) Thursday.

Dropped: No. 18 Africentric Early College (Columbus, Ohio) and No. 19  South Shore (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Md. (17-7)
2. Poly, Baltimore (16-1)
3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel, N.J. (14-0)
4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Va. (15-1)
5. South Shore, Brooklyn, N.Y. (18-2)

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

Midwest

1. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (17-1)
2. Crown Point, Ind. (23-0)
3. Homestead, Fort Wayne, Ind. (21-1)
4. Newark, Ohio (18-2)
5. Africentric Early College, Columbus, Ohio (14-3)

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

Southland

1. Lake Highlands Prep, Orlando, Fla. (20-2)
2. Hoover, Ala. (26-1)
3. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (17-1)
4. Cherokee, Canton, Ga. (22-2)
5. Meridian, Miss. (23-1)

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

Far West

1. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (15-3)
2. Windward, Los Angeles (17-4)
3. Cashmere, Wash. (16-0)
4. Woodinville, Wash. (18-0)
5. Etiwanda, Calif. (20-4)

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

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.