MaxPreps Top 25 national high school girls basketball rankings
Felicia Aiyeotan - Neumann-Goretti (PA)
So far, the Xcellent 25 has contained a lot of guesswork, but with the major holiday tournaments about to kick into gear — the Nike TOC this week and the Naples Holiday Shootout after Christmas being the big two — the picture will become much clearer come the New Year.
For now, though, McEachern will remain No. 1, as the Warriors are off until Dec. 29 — but look for lots of movement elsewhere in the next couple weeks.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Girls Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (1 last week) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 6-0
McEachern is assured of staying No. 1 until 2015, as the Warriors don't play again until Dec. 29. That game, though, will be the first of three in Texas, so McEachern will definitely be tested then.
2. (3) Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 4-0
The Jackrabbits are resting up, as they will play in the two toughest tournaments in the country back-to-back. This week, it's the Nike TOC in Arizona; next week, it's the Naples Holiday Shootout in Florida.
3. (9) Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 7-1
Blackman hammered previous No. 2 Oakland, has wins over two other ranked teams, and will go play the nation's best in the Nike TOC this weekend. So the Blaze move up ahead of Potter's House Christian, even though the Florida team (which lost to Oakland) beat Blackman head-to-head.
4. (4) Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), 8-1
The Windward game was canceled, so Chaminade's next game isn't until after Christmas — but the first opponent in the West Coast Jamboree is NorCal power Bishop O'Dowd.
5. (5) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 7-1
Skyline of Dallas have five Division I signees, so Mater Dei's first-round game in the Nike TOC in Arizona is hardly a gimme. Of course, there are seldom any easy games in the Joe Smith Division.
6. (2) Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 6-1
So Oakland beat No. 7 Potter's House Christian, which beat then No. 1 Blackman — but after losing to Blackman, Oakland now drops behind the Blaze. Of course, they'll play at least once more.
7. (6) Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.), 14-1
Potter's House beat Blackman head-to-head but lost to Oakland, which Blackman beat. Breaking the tie is Blackman's very tough schedule, as Potter's House hasn't been tested since.
8. (7) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 5-0
National Christian, which lost to No. 11 Bishop McNamara by only 10, shows up on the schedule Sunday. The Saints then take a break until after Christmas.
9. (8) Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.) 4-0
Olathe South is up next, and as usual, Rock Bridge is testing itself against quality opposition. South played for the Kansas state title last year.
10. (10) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) 3-0
File photo by Gregg Samelson
Mi'Cole Cayton, St. Mary's
The Rams thought they would be playing one-time No. 1 Riverdale Baptist in the finals of the 'Iolani tournament, or maybe even Northern California rival Miramonte — but instead, No. 21 Konaweana was the worthy opponent in a 68-59 championship game win.
11. (15) Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 6-0
Bishop McNamara beat previously undefeated Murray Bergtraum of New York, but have talent-laden Blair Academy on deck Sunday. And the Mustangs play in arguably the best league in the country.
12. (14) Elizabethtown (Ky.), 5-1
Kentucky's best will start off the Naples Holiday Shootout against Miami Country Day, the second-best team in Florida — but remember, E-town's only loss is to No. 3 Blackman.
13. (13) Bedford North Lawrence (Ind.), 10-0
Bedford North Lawrence handled previously unbeaten Center Grove 46-33, and has just one game before taking a Christmas holiday.
14. (12) Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.), 9-1
Myers Park doesn't play in any holiday tournaments and doesn't have another out-of-state team on its schedule — thus the drop in the rankings. A game against Conway of Arkansas was supposed to be a good one, but Conway is 1-3.
15. (18) Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.), 9-0
Northside won the Fort Smith Tournament of Champions by outlasting one of Oklahoma's best, East Central, 44-40, in the final. The Grizzlies will play in a Missouri tournament after Christmas.
16. (25) Miami Country Day, 13-0
Miami Country Day handled previously unbeaten Ribault 66-61 last Saturday, but now draws 11-1 Boca Raton on Saturday.
17. (21) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 4-1
Paul VI handled Christ the King, always one of NYC's best, in the Tina Thompson Showcase, and then starts conference play in the brutal Washington Catholic Athletic League this week.
18. (23) Lawrence North (Indianapolis), 10-0
Jordan Hankins had 23 points, including some key free throws late, as Lawrence North held off Roncalli to win the Marion County Tournament — and rise in the Xcellent 25.
19. (19) Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.), 6-0
Preseason is over for Gonzaga Prep, and league play begins this week — which means that the win over Oregon's South Salem is the reason the Spokane team is in the Xcellent 25. But there's no margin for error now, as there are no more opportunities for the Bullpups to prove themselves against out of state competition.
20. (20) Leavenworth (Kan.) 3-0
Leavenworth didn't dominate the Blue Springs Tournament, but won all three games. The real test for the Pioneers won't come until next year, when they play No. 9 Rock Bridge on Jan. 3.
21. (NR) Konawaena (Kealakekua, Hawaii), 13-1
Though Konawaena won't leave the islands this year, the Wildcats are playing an international schedule — and with a win over previously-ranked Riverdale Baptist and a nine-point loss to No. 10 St. Mary's of Stockton, have enough mainland cred to jump into the Xcellent 25.
22. (22) Braintree (Mass.), 1-0
Braintree has barely gotten going while teams in Texas have already played 16 games. The big one for the Wamps is Christ the King after Christmas.
23. (24) Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), 10-0
We'll find out if Millennium — which made its first appearance ever in the Xcellent 25 last week — really belongs after its game with last week's No. 17 Riverdale Baptist in the opening round of the Nike TOC.
24. (NR) Oregon City (Ore.), 4-0
The Pioneers have one of the great traditions in girls high school basketball, and after a solid performance at a strong Northern California tournament, jump in at No. 24.
25. (NR) Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas), 15-1
Cypress Woods avenged that lone loss by beating North Shore 61-52, and edges ahead of a crowded pack in Texas. But Cypress Woods plays no one out of state, so it's really hard to determine how good the Wildcats actually are.
Dropped out: No. 11 Long Island Lutheran, No. 16 Montini, No. 17 Riverdale Baptist
