The shakeups begin as the postseason moves along.
The undefeated Windward Wildcats are currently No. 4, but anything can happen now that playoff time is upon us.
Photo by Nicholas Koza
As expected, postseason play is starting to shake up what was a pretty stable Xcellent 25 — four teams dropped out this week, and expect more of the same as we move through the playoffs.
View the girls McDonald's All American selectionsThen again, as state championships are won (expect St. Mary's of Arizona to do so this week), records will be set in stone. Of course, states like California still have more than a month to go, so don't expect this set of rankings to look all that much like the final one.
View the girls basketball state playoff brackets
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Girls Basketball Rankings Presented by the Army National Guard1. (Last week 1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 26-0The competition is getting stiffer, but it would be an epic upset if the Monarchs were to lose before Feb. 26, when Long Beach Poly is the likely opponent.
2. (2) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 28-0Another week, another game against previously-ranked Blackman — but this time the 68-58 win was a little bit tougher. And even though this was the playoffs, the two teams could easily meet Feb. 27.
3. (3) Duncanville (Texas) 37-0The Panthers are just two wins from the state tournament, and the first hurdle, Bowie, is a team they already beat by 34. Coronado, though, is riding a 34-game winning streak going into its game with Marcus, and the winner would be Duncanville's next opponent.
4. (4) Windward (Los Angeles) 27-0Morro Bay, Wednesday's opponent, is one of the best defensive teams in the state. But then again, the Pirates haven't faced anyone like
Jordin Canada,
Kristen Simon or the rest of the powerhouse Windward lineup.
5. (5) Marion County (Lebanon, Ky.) 30-0The likely opponent in the 20th District finals is Adair County — which Marion County has already beaten by 32 and 31.{PAGEBREAK}
Courtney Ekmark and No. 7 St. Mary's of Phoenix look to win their state tournament and hopefully rise in the Xcellent 25 rankings.
Photo by James Conrad
The Panthers will get a good read on how they compare with No. 3 Duncanville when they play Plano West Friday — Duncanville beat Plano West twice, by six and 32. Then, most likely, comes Dekaney and its 29-game winning streak.
7. (7) St. Mary's (Phoenix) 27-1Hamilton's pretty good, but St. Mary's already beat Thursday's opponent by 18. If the Knights win that, they'll play for the Arizona title Saturday against either Pinnacle (which they've already beaten) or 32-2 Highland.
8. (8) Centerville (Ohio) 22-1Lakota West will be a challenge … but that game is a week from Saturday. Barring a basketball miracle, Centerville will coast until then.
9. (9) North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) 25-1Transfer Joshlyn Belcher hit four late free throws, and North Gwinnett held off Norcross to win the Region 7-AAAAAA title. Of course, the two could meet again in the state title game March 9.
10. (10) Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio) 20-1Fairmont should roll through its Division I District tournament, which doesn't conclude until March 2. After that, though, things will get more interesting.{PAGEBREAK}
Oderah Chidom and No. 12 Bishop O'Dowd hope a deep run in the California playoffs will boost their ranking.
Photo by James Conrad
The biggest question for Science Hill — after an 84-43 win Tuesday — is whether the long stretch of non-competitive games will catch up to the Hilltoppers when they finally have to execute in the fourth quarter.
12. (13) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) 23-3The Dragons will slumber through the first two games of the North Coast Section playoffs, but then must take on once-beaten Miramonte — which has lost only to No. 4 Windward.
13. (14) St. John's (Washington, D.C.) 25-1The Cadets handled No. 24 Paul VI by four this time, and with Our Lady of Good Counsel's upset loss to the Academy of the Holy Cross, St. John's looks to be the DMV's best.
14. (18) New Hope Christian Academy (Thomasville, N.C.) 27-1The Phoenix made a statement with a 23-point win over H.D. Woodson, the best public school in Washington, D.C. Next up, the National Association of Christian Athletes championships in Tennessee.
15. (23) Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis) 25-0The Red Knights, always one of Missouri's top teams, may have one of their best teams ever. We'll find out when the playoffs begin next week.{PAGEBREAK}
Onome Jemerigbe and No. 20 St. Mary's of Stockton are looking forward to an eventual rematch with No. 12 Bishop O'Dowd.
Photo by David Steutel
The next challenge is likely Mountain Brook, which in 2013 has lost only to Shades Valley — and all have been relatively close games. First, though, is 22-7 Gadsden City.
17. (17) Mead (Spokane, Wash.) 21-1Mead blew an eight-point fourth quarter lead and then slipped past Chiawana 71-69 in overtime to advance to the state tournament. Next up is 20-5 Puyallup.
18. (20) Twinsburg (Ohio) 23-0Twinsburg is unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the state by the local media — but Harding drew the first-round bye. Sometimes you wonder if playoff brackets could get any goofier.
19. (NR) Bedford North Lawrence (Bedford, Ind.) 26-0Usually when two unbeaten teams meet late in the year, especially in the playoffs, the margin of victory will be small. Not this time: Previous No. 17 Columbus North got waxed, 71-45, and Bedford North Lawrence jumps into the Xcellent 25.
20. (25) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) 25-2The Rams move into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, but what they really want is a spot in the new California Open Division — and another shot at No. 12 Bishop O'Dowd.{PAGEBREAK}
No. 25 Oregon City is happy to be back in the Xcellent 25 after posting a 21-1 record.
Photo by Brian Murphy
Central Catholic will start gearing up next week, as that's when the Oregon playoffs begin.
22. (NR) Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.) 27-1The Cavaliers lost to McDonogh by one early in the year, but have since beaten McDonogh twice — and also have a win over a solid Riverdale Baptist team. Welcome to the Xcellent 25 …
23. (NR) Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.) 26-1Marian Catholic has lost only to Rolling Meadows in competitive and confusing Illinois. A case could also be made for Bolingbrook and Whitney Young, but the 4A playoffs will straighten everything out.
24. (24) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 26-3Paul VI hangs on to its spot in the Xcellent 25, but barely — still, a four-point loss to No. 13 St. John's is no disgrace, especially on the road.
25. (NR) Oregon City (Ore.) 21-1The Pioneers have a win over 23-3 Dr. Phillips of Florida, and have lost only to Central Catholic — a team they will most likely see again in the Oregon postseason.
Dropped out: No. 12 Our Lady of Good Counsel, No. 15 Regis Jesuit, No. 17 Columbus North, No. 21 Blackman
