MaxPreps Top 25 national high school girls basketball rankings

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Even though Neumann-Goretti hasn't played nearly the schedule as many of the teams in the Xcellent 25, it's simply impossible to ignore the talent and achievements of the Philadelphia school.

Facing adversity and opposition in Philadelphia -- noted for its quality girls basketball over the years as well as its contentious sports scene -- Neumann-Goretti has remained unbeaten and unruffled in compiling its 25-0 record.

Unfortunately, the school is in the AA Pennsylvania bracket, meaning it won't face the best teams in the state in the postseason, but there's no denying the depth of talent on the roster. And, if things go as expected, Neumann-Goretti will finish the season with a state championship and in the top spot in the Xcellent 25.

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1. (2 last week) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 25-0
Dunmore is next in the Pennsylvania AA playoffs, but after finally moving to the top spot, don't expect Neumann-Goretti to stumble now -- no matter how much some people in Philadelphia would like to see it happen.

2. (3) Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 32-2
Blackman had beaten crosstown rival Oakland four straight times this season, but number five was the toughest of all. It took two overtimes, a clutch 3-pointer from Crystal Dangerfield at the end of the first OT, and a great pass from KK Williams to Jazz Bond to win it.

3. (4) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.), 30-1
The only loss is to No. 2 Blackman at the Nike TOC back in December. This week, the Northern California Regionals begin, but the Rams so far have played almost all the top teams, and beaten them soundly.

4. (5) Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas), 35-1
There's another Ogwumike sister to add to the list of Texas champions: Erica Ogwumike, who scored 26 points and was the title game MVP as Cypress Woods completed a triumphant season with a 57-49 win over Skyline.

5. (6) Columbus North (Ind.), 28-1
Ali Patberg took over in postseason play, as Columbus North came from 11 down early in the third quarter to win the 4A title, 62-56 over Homestead. Fittingly, a Patberg three put Columbus North up for good.

6. (7) Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.), 28-1
First came unbeaten R.J. Reynolds: Myers Park 64, Reynolds 36. Then unbeaten North Guilford: Myers Park 58, North Guilford 38. Southeast Raleigh, at 26-3, is the opponent in the state title game Saturday.

7. (8) Elizabethtown (Ky.), 29-2
Elizabethtown is riding a 20-game win streak into the state championships -- and in Kentucky, every team gets thrown into the same bracket. The eight survivors include several quality teams, but none with the pedigree of Elizabethtown.

8. (11) Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), 25-3
Another game against former No. 1 Mater Dei, another ho-hum one-point win. But next Tuesday, Alemany, which beat Chaminade by five earlier this year (also lost by one), is the likely opponent. It's never easy in the Southern California Regionals.

9. (9) Manasquan (N.J.), 27-2
After blowing a 10-point fourth quarter lead, Manasquan bounced back in overtime to knock off Rumsford-Fair Haven, 84-70, in the Central Group 2 final Tuesday. Lower Cape May, 28-2 and also an OT survivor Tuesday, is next.

10. (10) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 32-2
Paul VI slipped past Bishop O'Connell 56-48 to win the Virginia Division I championship and retained its spot in the top 10. It was Paul VI's third win over O'Connell in 30 days.

11. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 28-2
Mater Dei's kryptonite is spelled "Chaminade," as the Monarchs' only two losses this year are to Chaminade, by a total of two points. Mater Dei may get a third shot, but first comes a likely matchup with No. 12 Long Beach Poly, which beat Chaminade earlier in the year.

12. (15) Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 25-3
Mission Hills is Friday's opponent, but if the Jackrabbits aren't looking ahead to a potential matchup with longtime rival Mater Dei next Tuesday, they have the mental discipline of a meditating Zen master.

13. (16) Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 30-1
Season complete.

14. (14) Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.), 26-1
Minnetonka has lost to Hopkins by 10 and 15, but those count as close calls for Hopkins. In the last five years, Hopkins has lost nine games, which pretty much tells the story.

15. (17) Miami Country Day, 30-2
Season complete.

16. (18) Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.), 27-0
Yes, Laura Stockton is John Stockton's daughter, and it wasn't a pass but a 25-foot 3-pointer with eight seconds left that got Gonzaga Prep past Todd Beamer in the 4A semis. In the title game, she hit another big shot at the end of regulation, and got a key assist in overtime as Gonzaga Prep beat Inglemoor 57-52 in the finals.

17. (19) Whitney Young (Chicago), 28-2
Season complete.

18. (20) Heritage Christian (Indianapolis), 28-2
As expected, Heritage Christian rolled through the Indiana 2A playoffs, and lost only to No. 5 Columbus North and No. 17 Whitney Young before claiming another state title.

19. (21) Braintree (Mass.), 24-0
After knocking off Andover 61-37, Braintree has one more hurdle between it and an unbeaten season and state championship: The winner of Wednesday's game between Wachusett and Central, who between them have eight losses, all to other Massachusetts teams.

20. (22) Konawaena (Kealakekua, Hawaii), 31-1
Season complete.

21. (23) Eastview (Apple Valley, Minn.), 26-1
Eastview only beat Rosemount by three back in January -- but then won by 21 in the rematch. Expect Eastview to meet No. 14 Hopkins in the state final to settle who's the best in Minnesota.

22. (24) Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 22-1
Mercy is 19-4 and has played archrival Marian twice already this year, losing by 20-plus points each time. But Thursday they meet in the state playoffs, and a Marian loss then would make up, and then some, for the two earlier wins.

23. (25) Maize (Kan.), 22-0
The state championships start Thursday, and the first big test will likely be Shawnee Mission Northwest, which beat Leavenworth by nine. Maize beat Leavenworth by one.

24. (NR) Capital Prep (Hartford, Conn.), 22-1
A win over arguably Oregon's best, South Medford, and a convincing one at that, puts Capital Prep in the Xcellent 25 ahead of unbeaten Connecticut rival Farmington. The two should settle it on the court March 13.

25. (NR) Easton (New Orleans), 31-1
Easton lost only once all year, to Salmen, but beat Salmen twice -- and then won the Louisiana 4A title. But since Easton didn't play anyone outside its home state, it's hard to know how good the team really is.

Dropped out: No. 12 Holy Innocents' Episcopal, No. 13 Northside