Video: Gabby Stare's highlights vs. Franklin Heights High School
See the freshman point guard in action for Newark, which jumps into the Xcellent 25 this week.
We would love to believe that players, coaches and fans pay close, close attention to the Xcellent 25, and worry incessantly about their ranking -- but the truth is, especially now, that what really matters is that state championship. And with the majority of the country now into postseason, the focus is on moving through the brackets and getting to the title game.
And with every step comes a greater challenge, because the survivors of the playoff gauntlet have built confidence -- and are obviously pretty good teams -- and will not be awed by national recognition. In fact, a national ranking may spur an even greater effort out of an opponent, and an even more focused approach to practice and the game.
The pressure is on, and mounting, for members of the Xcellent 25, who usually are the favorites to win that state championship, and pressure can do funny things. Which means that the list you see today is likely to be somewhat different than the one you read in April.
(Note: We urge all teams, not just those in the Xcellent 25, to make sure their rosters and schedules are up-to-date on MaxPreps. This allows parents, fans, media and college coaches easy access to what they need to know. Problems? Contact coachsupport@maxpreps.com.)
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Girls Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Leilah Vigil, Grandview
Photo by Jeffrey Tucker
1. (last week 1) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 27-0Riverdale survived its Tennessee kryptonite, coming from behind in the second half to outlast Stewart's Creek 57-55 and advance to the AAA Regionals. But uneasy rests the crown -- Riverdale could wind up playing Stewart's Creek again on March 1.
2. (2) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 27-1The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoffs are next, and if form holds, round three between Paul VI and No. 4 St. John's will be Monday at American University.
3. (3) Monacan (Richmond, Va.), 25-0Monacan moved on with an easy win Tuesday and draws Lake Taylor on Thursday -- but look for the No. 3 team in the nation to advance to the state tournament that starts March 3.
4. (4) St. John's (Washington, D.C.), 25-2When St. John's hosted Paul VI, St. John's won. When Paul VI hosted St. John's, Paul VI won. If they play again, it will be Monday at a neutral site.
5. (5) Centennial (Las Vegas), 28-2Centennial wraps up its season this week, with the Nevada 4A semifinals Thursday and championship game Friday. If Centennial does the expected, it will its ninth state title and third straight.
6. (6) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 22-2Archbishop Mitty begins the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs Friday -- which highlights the fragmented California postseason scenario. The Central Coast Section takes the best teams and puts them in the Open bracket, as do several of the 10 California sections. The top two teams, at least, then automatically move into the NorCal Open.
7. (7) Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.), 27-2Unlike Archbishop Mitty, Clovis West plays in the Central Section, which does not have an Open division -- so Clovis West will play in a division determined by enrollment, and should coast to the title. But to continue the California confusion, it's unclear whether Clovis West will wind up in the North (No. 6 Archbishop Mitty) or the South (No. 17 Long Beach Poly) after the sectionals.
8. (8) Miami Country Day (Miami), 27-1The last big challenge prior to a possible return to the Dick's National High School Championship will be Wednesday against 29-1 Seffner Christian in the state semifinals.
9. (9) Grandview (Aurora, Colo.), 22-1Though Grandview is highly regarded on the national scene, with a win over No. 6 Archbishop Mitty, Colorado evaluators aren't as impressed. Highlands Ranch has two losses and a weaker schedule, but is still the No. 1 seed. It will all be sorted out on the court starting Friday.
10. (10) Norcross (Ga.), 26-2Marietta is next, with 22 wins, but in their first meeting, Norcross won 70-45. Westlake is the likely opponent after that, but Norcross is a Top 10 team for a reason.
11. (11) Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 21-1Up next is the National Association of Christian Athletes championships, which have attracted elite teams in the past, but this year's field isn't quite as strong. TPLS has lost 15 times, most of them to good teams, while Potter's House Christian is 19-8 -- though both of them are solid programs, they are not threats to crack the Xcellent 25.
12. (12) St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.), 27-0St. Frances rolled to its fifth Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference in a row, and its 10th IAAM title since 2001, but a better test will come at the Bishop Walsh Girls Invitational Tournament, which starts March 2.
13. (13) Amarillo (Texas), 35-1There are a lot of good teams in Texas. If Amarillo gets by Burges in the 5A playoffs, 29-win Colleyville Heritage or 29-win Trimble Tech will be next.
14. (14) Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.), 23-1Rutgers Prep draws another tough opponent in Life Center on Wednesday -- and don't be fooled by that 20-9 record. Life Center has played a very tough schedule and is more than capable of pulling off the upset.
15. (16) Southeast Raleigh (Raleigh, N.C.), 28-0After a cruise-control win Tuesday, Southeast Raleigh gets East Wake on Thursday -- but Saturday's opponent could be 24-3 Heritage. The state tournament starts March 3.
16. (17) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), 22-3After dispatching SoCal power Brea-Olinda in the first round, Ventura -- one of the many very good California teams -- is next Wednesday. This is the Southern Section Open bracket, so the best 16 teams in the 550-school Southern Section are fighting it out.
17. (18) Central Valley (Spokane Valley, Wash.), 23-0Sunnyside is next on Saturday, and if, as expected, Central Valley wins that win, perhaps there will finally be a test when the top eight teams gather in Tacoma for the state championship.
18. (19) Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas), 34-2Though Mansfield Timberview is the higher seeded team, The Colony has lost just once this season -- to Prosper, a team it beat twice -- and that's Friday's opponent.
19. (20) King (Milwaukee, Wis.), 21-0The playoffs start Friday but it may be a while until King is tested -- in fact, it might not be until March 10, when unbeaten Appleton North may show up on the other side of the scorer's table.
20. (21) Destrehan (La.), 32-0Even though Ouachita Parish is just the sixth seed, Thursday's game is hardly a walkover for Destrehan. Comparative scores suggest a close game in the last step before the state tournament.
21. (22) Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.), 25-0Lake Minnetonka is the inspiration for Tonka trucks -- and the Hopkins' diesel is smoking along in high gear. The playoffs are still a ways away.
22. (23) Butler (Louisville, Ky.), 26-2Butler will get ready for the playoffs against Iroquois, which not that long ago had a nationally ranked team. This year, the first game ended with Butler on top 83-2.
23. (24) Montini Catholic (Lombard, Ill.), 31-1Whitney Young is traditionally one of the stronger teams in Illinois, and in fact the Midwest, so even though this is a down year for the Dolphins, Montini can't afford to look past Corry Irvin's crew.
24. (25) Rock Island (Ill.), 31-1Edwardsville is unbeaten but untested. Thursday, Rock Island will supply the test, and the winner will get closer to a shot at Montini Catholic. The loser will consider what might have been.
25. (NR) Newark (Ohio), 23-0Newark jumps into the Xcellent 25 thanks in part to that unbeaten record -- but that unbeaten record came about thanks in part to a weak schedule. Then again, Newark did win 100-9 Tuesday.
Dropped out: No. 15 Detroit Country Day