MaxPreps Top 25 national high school girls basketball rankings

There's just not much margin for error when it comes to staying in the Xcellent 25, and two Northern California teams dropped out after a lost weekend in Stockton, Calif. Saint Mary's of Berkeley was beaten twice, by Southern California stalwarts Etiwanda and Windward, so last week's No. 5 ranking is just a memory. And host St. Mary's of Stockton also lost to Windward, so the Rams drop out as well.

Then why, you ask, isn't Windward now among the elite, especially given its positive press in preseason? Because the Wildcats have a loss to Nazareth of New York, which has four losses, including a 29-point thumping by South Medford of Oregon, and another one to Serra, which lost to Northern California's Bishop O'Dowd. That puts Nazareth and O'Dowd ahead of Windward, and neither of those two have quite enough to push into the Xcellent 25.

But if Windward beats No. 2 Long Beach Poly Saturday, there will be no doubt that Windward belongs, regardless of those previous losses.


1. (Last week 1) Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis) 14-0
It wasn't enough for Incarnate Word to play No. 3 Blackman in Florida — now the Red Knights will take on the Blaze in Kentucky Saturday. There are those who say Blackman's quickness could be a major issue, especially since the two teams have played before.

2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Calif.) 13-1
The Jackrabbits shouldn't get too focused on Saturday's game against Windward, as league rival Lakewood should supply some solid competition. Still, Windward is coming off two road wins against previously ranked St. Mary's of Stockton and St. Mary's of Berkeley.



3. (3) Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 18-1
Blackman obviously is pointing toward Saturday's big one against No. 1 Incarnate Word, but looking past league rival Oakland Friday night could be a big mistake.

4. (4) Duncanville (Texas) 22-0
Just two games this week, against below-.500 league opponents. Make that record 24-0.

5. (7) Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) 11-2
Yet another road trip for Colorado's best, as Regis Jesuit went to Ohio to knock off three teams, including Princeton and Ohio State-bound Kelsey Mitchell. It's back home now, and Regis must now focus on taking care of business in its home state.

6. (6) Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Ill.) 13-2
Success doesn't come without a price — a lawsuit has been filed claiming that new coach Tony Smith illegally induced six transfers to come to Homewood-Flossmoor this year, including four from Bolingbrook, where he coached last season.

7. (8) New Hope Christian Academy (Thomasville, N.C.) 23-0
New Hope will be tested in New Jersey by 8-1 Rancocas Valley and 9-2 Montclair, both of which are in the Garden State's top 15. This will be the first test for New Hope in 2014.

8. (9) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 16-1
Mater Dei went back East and thumped Archbishop Williams 86-37, and now will settle in to dominate its league until postseason.



9. (11) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) 15-0
Cardinal O'Hara is next for Neumann-Goretti, which could be a challenge, but the big one is Archbishop Wood Feb. 1. Wood has lost only to No. 23 Highlands Ranch, and only by two points.

10. (10) Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio) 16-1
Fairmont struggled a bit against Solon, winning 67-61, but the Firebirds may be looking ahead to their visit to Centerville, which they beat only by one when the two played at Fairmont.

11. (12) Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.) 12-2
Rock Bridge made a statement by knocking off Whitney Young of Illinois — and also dented No. 4 Duncanville's reputation a little, as Duncanville's biggest win outside of Texas was over Whitney Young. Unbeaten Edwardsville is next as Rock Bridge keeps accepting challenges.

12. (13) Joliet Catholic Academy (Ill.) 18-0
Joliet Catholic's unbeaten record will be on the line against Whitney Young Saturday, which will be out to regain some status and get that elusive statement win.

13. (15) Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 13-2
Riverdale Baptist bounced back from a pair of four-point wins to roll over Quest Preparatory of Nevada and IMG Academy of Florida. Capitol Christian could be another test Saturday.

14. (16) Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) 15-1
Rocky River is the second-best team in Myers Park's league, and Myers Park already beat Rocky River by 20. Maybe McDowell will provide a challenge in postseason.

15. (17) Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.) 15-1
Northside had watched a 12-point lead dwindle to four when the Greenwood coach was nailed for two technical fouls — and five free throws later, Northside was in control and hung on for a 64-59 win over the No. 2 team in the state.

16. (19) Sparkman (Harvest, Ala.) 22-2
Sparkman only beat Hazel Green by two back in December, but that was at Hazel Green. Friday's rematch is at Sparkman, and that should make it easier.



17. (18) Desert Vista (Phoenix) 19-0
Mesquite will be a test Friday, but Desert Vista should pass fairly easily. Dobson, which Desert Vista beat by 11 earlier, is the biggest threat in postseason.

18. (25) Shabazz (Newark, N.J.) 12-1
Vanessa Watson will have to wait to claim her 700th victory as the bad weather in the East postponed the Shabazz game with Montclair Prep. And then again, Montclair Prep is one of New Jersey's best, so even after the game is played Watson might still be stuck at 699.

19. (22) Lawrence North (Indianapolis) 17-1
Should be an easy week for Lawrence North, though Center Grove will provide some opposition before the playoffs begin.

20. (23) Bedford North Lawrence (Bedford, Ind.) 15-1
Bedford North Lawrence will just have to wait for the postseason for any kind of redemption, as the last weeks of the regular season should be smooth sailing.

21. (NR) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 14-2
McEachern joins the Xcellent 25 thanks to a series of impressive wins (Nazareth of New York, Edgewater of Florida, Capitol Christian of Maryland) and losses only to No. 3 Blackman and Illinois power Marian Catholic.

22. (NR) Salmen (Slidell, La.) 21-1
Louisiana's top team moves in at No. 22, as that one loss (to Curtis by three) was avenged in a 17-point thumping later in the year. A nice win over Rogers of Ohio also helps.

23. (NR) Highlands Ranch (Colo.) 13-1
The Falcons don't win big, but they keep winning. Close victories over Northern California's best, Bishop O'Dowd, and Philadelphia's best, Archbishop Wood, earn them this spot.



24. (24) Whitney Young (Chicago) 15-3
The Dolphins don't duck anyone, and after getting beaten by No. 11 Rock Bridge, they'll take on No. 12 Joliet Catholic Saturday in the City/Suburban Showdown.

25. (NR) Clovis (N.M.) 16-0
A New Mexico team gets into the Xcellent 25 for the first time ever. Clovis is dominating in its home state, but a win over 19-4 Canyon, a perennial small school power in Texas, made a bigger impression.

Dropped out: No. 5 St. Mary's (Albany, Calif.), No. 14 St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.), No. 20 Horn Lake (Miss.), No. 21 Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.)