MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings

The holidays have ended and now it's time to get down to league play in most areas of the country. Here is the latest movement in the girls basketball rankings.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Girls Basketball Rankings

1. (9) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 12-0
The Samuelson sisters, Karlie and Lou, led the Monarchs to the Nike TOC title and the No. 1 ranking. But Southern California's rugged competition won't allow for any letdown.

2. (6) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 15-0
Tennessee might just be the best state in the country for girls basketball this year. The Warriors dismissed previous No. 3 Science Hill, but have two other nationally ranked teams (Oakland and Blackmon) in their district.

3. (19) North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.), 11-0
The Bulldogs vault to No. 3 on the strength of the Naples Holiday Classic title, but to retain this ranking, they're going to have to beat Georgia power Norcross at least twice.



4. (8) Duncanville (Texas), 20-0
Like St. Mary's of Phoenix, the Panthers never leave their home state. But unlike St. Mary's, top-ranked teams don't come to them. So we know they're good, but we're just not sure how good.

5. (11) St. John's (Washington, D.C.), 11-0
The Cadets rolled through two tournaments, one in Puerto Rico and one in New York – but unlike most schools, league play will be a much bigger challenge than out-of-state events.

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6. (13) Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio), 10-0
No. 18 Centerville and Beavercreek, a national champion a decade ago, will make Fairmont work in league – and Reynoldsburg is a likely postseason opponent.

7. (15) Marion County (Lebanon, Ky.), 14-0
The Knights are the class of Kentucky, and won't be tested until late January – but then they draw Hathaway Brown and No. 13 Science Hill. We'll know a lot more then.

8. (NR) Windward (Los Angeles), 14-0
The Wildcats rolled over two of California's top teams in the Oaks Christian tournament, beating Long Beach Poly and Bishop O'Dowd, and jump right into the top 10.

9. (22) Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 15-0
Blackman moves into the Top 10 thanks to its tough league schedule, not its holiday tournaments. With No. 2 Riverdale and No. 10 Oakland coming up twice each, this ranking is precarious, to say the least.



10. (NR) Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 9-0
In July 2011, the population of Murfreesboro was 111,000 people. A lot of them must have very athletic genes because this is three teams in the Top 11. Oakland's signature win is over No. 17 Shades Valley.

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11. (4) St. Mary's (Phoenix), 10-1
When the preseason schedule only includes one elite event, and the state isn't that strong, one stumble is a killer – and Mater Dei did the deed in the Nike TOC semifinals.

12. (12) Shabazz (Newark, N.J.), 6-0
Last week, Bishop Ford shocked nationally ranked Reynoldsburg in the Diamond State Classic. The Brooklyn team now will take a shot at Shabazz, New Jersey's best, Saturday.

13. (3) Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.), 14-2
How can a two-loss team be No. 13 this early in the year? When the losses are to No. 2 Riverdale and No. 3 North Gwinnett, and there's also a win over Illinois' top team, No. 22 Whitney Young, on the record.

14. (20) Pflugerville (Texas), 23-0
That's right, that's 23 games for the Panthers before league play begins. Some states don't allow 23 games in a season. Oh, and by the way, that's also 23 wins.

15. (21) Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.), 9-0
Regis Jesuit looks to be Colorado's best, but only one team in its league has a losing record, so the ride won't be easy from here on out.

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16. (24) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 9-2
Another two-loss team in the rankings, but the losses were to No. 5 St. John's and No. 12 Shabazz. But the incredibly tough Washington Catholic Athletic Conference begins play this week, so more losses are possible, if not likely.



17. (NR) Shades Valley (Birmingham, Ala.), 15-1
The only loss is to No. 10 Oakland, in Tennessee, and Shades Valley owns a win over Hoover, which has beaten Norcross of Georgia and South Medford of Oregon. This all gets the Mounties in the Top 20.

18. (NR) Centerville (Ohio), 8-1
The Elks knocked off previous No. 16 Seton LaSalle, and the only loss is to No. 6 Fairmont – by just seven points. Centerville will get another shot at Fairmont later this month.

19. (NR) Plano West (Texas), 23-1
Plano West beat Clear Springs 107-105 in a five-overtime game that one writer called the greatest game in Texas girls' basketball history. The next day, Plano had to come back to play a strong DeSoto team and won 37-31.

20. (NR) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 12-0
Another Washington Catholic Athletic Conference team, the Panthers have a solid win over D.C.'s Woodson, and a good win over league rival Elizabeth Seton, which is 12-2.

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21. (25) Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.), 12-0
Centennial, at 12-1, will be tough on the road, but Hopkins already beat Lakeville North, which handed Centennial its only loss.

22. (2) Whitney Young (Chicago), 11-2
The Dolphins have lost to No. 13 Science Hill and one of Ohio's best teams, Hathaway Brown. The win over 11-1 Tucker of Georgia, though, is what kept them in the Xcellent 25.



23. (5) Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 13-2
The Crusaders' loss to No. 1 Mater Dei – after knocking off previous No. 1 Bishop O'Dowd – isn't a surprise. But the upset by South Medford of Oregon back in D.C. almost knocked Riverdale Baptist out of the rankings.

24. (NR) Southwood (Shreveport, La.), 14-0
Southwood, alma mater of Alana Beard of the L.A. Sparks, is a perennial power in Louisiana – and owns a 25-point win over Bishop Lynch of Dallas.

25. (1) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.), 6-3
The Dragons' losses are to No. 8 Windward, No. 11 St. Mary's and No. 23 Riverdale Baptist. Their return to Northern California won't be easy, though – there will be some serious competition from several quality opponents.

Dropped out: No. 7 Long Beach Poly, No. 10 Dreher, No. 14 Oregon City, No. 16 Seton LaSalle, No. 18 Centennial, No. 23 Ossining.