Aaliyah Chavez-led Monterey one of four new teams to enter MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings

By Aaron Williams Feb 25, 2025, 12:30pm

Top-ranked senior has Plainsmen at No. 21 as they look for Class 5A Division II title in Lone Star State.

Ridgeline (Millville, Utah) moved up four spots in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 girls basketball rankings after capping an unbeaten season with its third straight Class 4A title.

A day after missing the semifinals with the flu, Duke commit Emilee Skinner was back to help the Riverhawks to a 65-46 title win over previously-unbeaten Snow Canyon (St. George). Skinner had 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals before fainting halfway through the fourth and receiving a standing ovation as she was helped off the court.

Brooke Smith added 18 for Ridgeline while Abby Munford chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) moved up to No. 4 after winning the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title Monday, beating No. 21 Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.) 61-41. The Mustangs outscored the Cardinals 39-24 in the second half as Qandace Samuels led the way with 15 points.



After going unbeaten in WCAC play, Bishop McNamara opens as the No. 1 seed in the Maryland Private School tournament beginning March 4.

In California, the Southern Section Open Division final is set with a top 10 showdown between No. 1 Ontario Christian (Ontario) and No. 6 Etiwanda. The top-ranked Knights won their pool Saturday with a 62-52 victory over No. 9 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) as sophomore Kaleena Smith led the way with 21 points and 11 assists. Freshman Tati Griffin added 19 for the Knights.

Etiwanda has reached the Southern Section Open Division title game four straight seasons, winning the state title in each of the past two. On Saturday, Etiwanda got key defensive stops late against No. 7 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) to hang on for the 63-60 win.

Cal commit Aliyahna Morris and junior Arynn Finley came up clutch down the stretch for the Eagles, who look for an unprecedented third straight Open Division state title.

Monterey (Lubbock, Texas) is one of four new teams to enter the MaxPreps Top 25 after reaching the Class 5A Division II semifinals. Making their deepest postseason run since 1990, Aaliyah Chavez and the Plainsmen face 33-7 Memorial (Frisco) on Tuesday.

Chavez is averaging 35.6 points per game and will move into 15th place on the all-time scoring list with a bucket Tuesday.



Joining Monterey as newcomers in the rankings are No. 17 Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.), No. 23 St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.) and No. 24 Lincoln (Dallas, Texas).
Duke commit Emilee Skinner led No. 14 Ridgeline to its third straight Utah Class 4A title. Skinner, playing with the flu, paced the Riverhawks with 21 points as they end the season with a 50-game win streak. (PHOTO: Craig Peterson)
Duke commit Emilee Skinner led No. 14 Ridgeline to its third straight Utah Class 4A title. Skinner, playing with the flu, paced the Riverhawks with 21 points as they end the season with a 50-game win streak. (PHOTO: Craig Peterson)
MaxPreps Top 25 girls basketball rankings

Record: 28-1 | Last week: 1
Alanna Neale chipped in 12 points and five rebounds in the win over Sierra Canyon. She had two big fourth-quarter baskets.

Record: 22-0 | Last week: 2
The Crusaders are the odds-on favorite to come out the North Jersey Non-Public A side of the bracket and a possible showdown with No. 11 Paul VI.

Record: 27-1 | Last week: 3
Mia James led six players in double figures with 16 points and eight assists in a blowout win in the second round of the state playoffs.

Record: 24-1 | Last week: 5
Zhen Craft, Vanessa Harris and NyAir McCoy were all named WCAC first team.

Record: 28-1 | Last week: 6
Kimora Fields was announced as one of the Class 4A Miss Basketball finalists.

Record: 25-4 | Last week: 10
Shaena Brew led the Eagles with 18 points in the victory over Mater Dei on Saturday while Grace Knox had a few clutch blocks late in the game.



Record: 28-3 | Last week: 4
Addie Deal, Amaya Williams, Harmony Golightly and Nohelani Stores each had 14 for the Monarchs in their 63-60 loss to Etiwanda on Saturday.

Record: 22-3 | Last week: 8
Ze'Ni Patterson had 17, Maliya Hunter added 15 and Abigail James chipped in 15 as the Monarchs improved to 2-0 in Central Coast Section pool play.

Record: 27-2 | Last week: 7
Junior Jerzy Robinson led the way for the Trailblazers in the loss to Ontario Christian with 24 points, including 16 from the free throw line.

Record: 25-3 | Last week: 11
Autumn Fleary dropped 30 points in a 67-62 win over Bullis (Potomac, Md.) in the ISL AA title game.

Record: 21-2 | Last week: 15
The Cavaliers close out the regular season this week before the quest for a second Class 6A title in three seasons begins.

Record: 22-0 | Last week: 12
Micah Ojo is averaging 18.5 points, Jizelle James 14.1 points and Tristan Rickenbacker 12.3 as the Cavaliers begin Class 5 regional play Tuesday against Great Bridge (Chesapeake).



Record: 22-0 | Last week: 13
Jenica Lewis is averaging 18.6 points per game and Amani Jenkins chipping in 15.7 per night as the Dragons take on Ames on Tuesday in the Class 5A Region 1 championship.

Record: 28-0 | Last week: 18
The Riverhawks end the season on a 50-game win streak.

Record: 37-2 | Last week: 19
Take on 27-5 Lancaster on Tuesday in the Class 6A Division II semifinals.

Record: 22-0 | Last week: NR
Sophomore Brooke Stagliano is leading the Eagles, averaging 14.7 points per game.

Record: 26-0 | Last week: 21
Maddyn Greenway dropped 33 in a 96-46 win over Hortonville (Wis.) on Friday and backed it up with 31 in a 79-69 win Saturday over Notre Dame Academy (Green Bay, Wis.).

Record: 23-1 | Last week: 22
Class 6A west play begins Thursday as the Panthers take on Grant (Oklahoma City).

Record: 31-0 | Last week: 23
The Golden Eagles take on Clovis on Saturday in the Central Section Division 1 final.



Record: 35-5 | Last week: NR
The Plainsmen are looking for the school's first girls title since 1981.

Record: 23-5 | Last week: 1
Nyla Brooks led the Cardinals with 16 while Geomae Davis added 13 in the loss to Bishop McNamara.

Record: 28-1 | Last week: 24
New Manchester (Douglasville) is the opponent Tuesday for a spot in the Class AAAAA semifinals Friday.

Record: 27-2 | Last week: NR
A win over Calvary Day (Savannah) on Tuesday earned a semifinal date with Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta).

Record: 37-2 | Last week: NR
Senior Ar'jayla Elder (13.7 points per game) paces the Tigers.

Record: 21-2 | Last week: 25
Winners of seven straight state championships, the Red Knights close out the regular season Tuesday with Notre Dame (St. Louis).