Incarnate Word Academy hangs on to spot in MaxPreps Top 25 girls basketball rankings despite second loss

By Aaron Williams Jan 28, 2025, 12:00pm

Red Knights drop second game since 2020, losing to four-time Kentucky state champion Sacred Heart.

Coming into this season, Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.) hadn't lost since February 2020. The Red Knights have now lost twice this winter after seeing their 141-game win streak snapped by No. 12 Etiwanda (Calif.) at the Hoophall Classic on Jan. 20 and then falling 82-76 to four-time Kentucky state champion Sacred Heart (Louisville) on Saturday at the Raatz Fence/O'Shea's Basketball Classic.

Incarnate Word Academy falls nine spots to No. 25 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings. Indiana commit Nevaeh Caffey led the Red Knights with a game-high 32 points in the loss while McDonald's All American ZaKiyah Johnson led the way for Sacred Heart with 22 points.

As most teams slide back into league play before the playoffs start next month, the big game on the slate this week features No. 5 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) hosting No. 11 Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.) on Wednesday.

Bishop McNamara is led by Georgia commit Zhen Craft along with Princess-Alexandria Moody, Vanessa Harris and sophomores Qandace Samuels and NyAir McCoy.



Bishop Ireton counters with McDonald's All American and North Carolina commit Nyla Brooks and Boston College commit Amirah Anderson.
Jenica Lewis is averaging a team-high 16.7 points per game for No. 15 Johnston. The Dragons beat in-state foe Dowling Catholic over the weekend to remain unbeaten. (FILE PHOTO: John Howard)
Jenica Lewis is averaging a team-high 16.7 points per game for No. 15 Johnston. The Dragons beat in-state foe Dowling Catholic over the weekend to remain unbeaten. (FILE PHOTO: John Howard)
MaxPreps Top 25 girls basketball rankings

Record: 24-1 | Last week: 1
Kaleena Smith dropped 37 and Sydney Douglas added 24 in an 88-35 win over La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla) last week.

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 2
McDonald's All American Mia Pauldo is closing in on her 2,000th career point.

Record: 19-1 | Last week: 3
Danielle Osho and Ja’kerra Butler each had 29 points while Mia James added 23 and Alanna Beckham chipped in 10 in a 101-32 win over Franklin County (Carnesville) on Monday.

Record: 23-2 | Last week: 4
Addie Deal and Kaeli Wynn each had 16 in a 74-42 win over Bishop Gorman on Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza. Stella Hoss added 14 and Lani Stores chipped in 10.

Record: 16-1 | Last week: 5
Picked up a trio of wins last week, including a 67-39 victory over Legion Prep Academy (Dallas, Texas) at The Mecca Showcase on Saturday.

Record: 20-1 | Last week: 6
Six regular season games remain for the Bears ahead of their run for a third-straight state title.



Record: 21-1 | Last week: 7
Jerzy Robinson had 33, 34 and 28 points in a trio of league wins last week.

Record: 14-3 | Last week: 9
The Monarchs finish the first half of their WCAL schedule Tuesday with Saint Francis (Mountain View).

Record: 21-0 | Last week: 10
Maya Makalusky led the way with 28 points while Kennedy Holman and Kayla Stidham each poured in 17 in a 67-59 win over Center Grove (Greenwood) on Saturday.

Record: 21-1 | Last week: 11
Jaylah Lampley led five scorers in double figures with 18 as the Bears handled Elkhart 70-18 on Saturday.

Record: 17-3 | Last week: 12
The Cardinals picked up big wins over DME Academy (Orlando, Fla.) and Central Pointe Christian Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.) over the weekend at The Mecca Showcase.

Record: 19-4 | Last week: 13
After stopping Incarnate Word Academy's record win streak, the Eagles returned home to grab a trio of league victories.

Record: 14-2 | Last week: 8
Jordyn Jackson is averaging 22.7 points per game for the Quakers.



Record: 14-0 | Last week: 14
Last week's game was postponed.

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 15
Ari Phillips had a team-high 21 points, including the game-winning free throws with 5.1 seconds left, as the Dragons held off Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines) 64-62.

Record: 22-1 | Last week: 17
Emerie Bohanon led the Wampus Cats to a 69-59 win over Central (Little Rock) in a rematch of last season's 6A title game.

Record: 14-2 | Last week: 18
The Cavaliers earned two league wins last week by 70-point plus margins.

Record: 20-0 | Last week: 19
Fresh off being announced as the state's third McDonald's All American, Emilee Skinner dropped 18 points with 12 rebounds in a 67-34 win over previously-unbeaten Grantsville.

Record: 23-1 | Last week: 20
Stanford commit Nora Ezike leads the Lyons, whose only loss is to 22-1 Benet Academy (Lisle).



Record: 17-0 | Last week: 21
Maddyn Greenway had 30 and Hope Counts added 17 as the Lions remained unbeaten with an 84-72 win over Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) on Friday.

Record: 17-1 | Last week: 22
Nykaiya Dillard scored 20, Haniya Geretta added 15 and Kiana Gray chipped in 13 as the Panthers handled Piedmont 69-43 last week.

Record: 25-0 | Last week: 23
The Golden Eagles earned a 54-50 win over Bay Area power Pinewood (Los Altos Hills) on Saturday.

Record: 21-1 | Last week: 24
Makayla Roberson led four players in double figures with 18 points and Sophia Pearl and Kyla Cantey each had 13. Kayla Cleaveland added 11 in the 70-30 win over Lassiter (Marietta) on Friday.

Record: 17-2 | Last week: 25
Morgan Stewart leads the way for the Cadets, averaging 16.9 points per game.

Record: 17-2 | Last week: 16
The Red Knights are still on a quest for their fifth straight state title.