By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
The California showdown between top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and then-No. 15 Cajon (see story) was the big story of the week, but another Golden State squad made the biggest leap of the week.
St. Mary’s of Stockton not just avenged an earlier loss, but the Rams absolutely obliterated a very good Clovis West squad, 84-48. St. Mary’s even played much of the game without one of the nation’s top juniors Afure Jemerigbe, out with an ankle injury.
The Rams started the season No. 1 in our preseason rankings, but dropped after three losses, to our No. 5 Cardinal O’Hara, No. 8 Kentwood and the other to Clovis West 57-50 on Dec. 13.
“(That) game was in the back of our minds for a long time,” St. Mary’s coach Tom Gonsalves told the Stockton Record.
Standout junior point guard Chelsea Gray had 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the rematch against Clovis West (17-5), which came into the game No. 12 in the state. See feature on Gray.
The Rams jumped from No. 17 to No. 14. The only loss among the Xcellent 25 last week was Cajon to Mater Dei. The schedule was somewhat light as the 25 squads went a combined 51-1.
In other news, No. 21 Nimitz (Houston, Texas) coach Debbie Jackson scored her 500th career win with an odd 32-17 win over MacArthur. Led by the most dominant female defensive player in the country Brittney Griner, the Cougars improved to 30-1.
About the Rankings: MaxPreps already provides the most comprehensive high school sports ratings with the MaxPreps National Rankings presented by the National Guard, a computer model developed by Ned Freeman. Now, it’s time to get the human element involved.
Each Monday, Mitch Stephens will run down the top 25 girls basketball teams in the country – weighing record, quality wins and losses and other factors to determine the best of the best
MaxPreps Xcellent 25
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 25-0 (2-0 last week) – Showed toughness and poise in huge 64-56 win over then-No. 15 Cajon in Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei on Friday. Remarkably deep squad with amazingly young leaders, freshman Jordan Adams and sophomores Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Alexyz Vaioletama. Look for Varsity Center showcase on Tuesday.
2. Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) 23-0 (2-0) – Penn State-bound Alex Bentley led three players in double figures with 20 points in a 76-39 regular season-ending win over Brebeuf Jesuit. The Giants moved up two spots.
3. Murry Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.) 20-0 (1-0) – Not the team’s fault but one game in two weeks drops Murry Bergtraum down another spot. Even after 73 straight wins.
4. Washington (South Bend, Ind.) 21-0 (0-0) – Sorry, the rules are if you don’t play this late in the season, you take one step back. It’s like missing practice and not starting the next game.
5. Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield, Pa.) 20-1 (2-0) – Gave up just 53 points in two victories. Has allowed less than 40 in six of last eight games.
6. Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) 26-1 (2-0) – Played first game since December within 20 points – though barely – with 56-38 win over Bogan.
7. Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.) 22-2 (3-0) – Jonae Ervin exploded for season-high 37 points as the Wildcats won 18th straight with tough 78-67 win over very good Hanford squad (19-4), ranked seventh in the state. Kelsey Harris and Justine Hartman combined for 26.
8. Kentwood (Covington, Wash.) 20-0 (3-0) – Conquerors flex muscle, outscoring three foes 208-82. Lindsey Moore (40 points) goes for double-digits in all three games, Jessie Grenger adds 43 and Kylie Huerta 39.
9. Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati, Ohio) 16-1 (2-0) – Kathryn Reynolds had 14 and Kendall Hackney 12 as Mt. Notre Dame had quite a scare from a 5-8 Ursuline Academy squad before winning 50-38.
10. St. Michael Academy (New York, N.Y.) 18-2 (1-0) – Inactivity will help injury-prone team that awaits showdown with St. Peters to determine the Archdiocese’s No. 1 seed in the state 2A tournament. See CHSAA rankings.
11. Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 17-2 (1-0) – Riverdale showed no love in 69-27 win over Battlefield as Tianna Hawkins went 11 of 14 en route to game-high 25 points and 15 rebounds. Tierra Hawkins also had double-double with 13 and 12.
12. Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) 22-2 (3-0) – Since back-to-back losses in Phoenix, three-time defending state Division I champs have rattled off 14 straight.
13. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 20-1 (3-0) – Of all the great feats Brian Harrigan’s squad has accomplished over the last decade, going three straight years unbeaten in absolutely loaded West Catholic Athletic League might be most impressive. That streak will be challenged Friday at two two-time defending state champ Mitty.
14. St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) 21-3 (3-0) – Finally some competition for the Rams who scored 92 and 91 last week against overmatched league opponents. St. Mary’s avenged an earlier loss to Clovis West with resounding 84-48 win as Chelsea Gray had 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and Sarah Norcup and Alle Gibson added 12 apiece.
15. Bolingbrook (Ill.) 16-4 (1-0) – After terrific win over Heritage Christian, the Raiders, who have played arguably the toughest schedule in the country, had a breather, winning 81-23 over Stagg.
16. Cajon (San Bernardino, Calif.) 23-2 (2-1) – Showed remarkable toughness but lack of depth in tough 64-56 loss at No. 1 Mater Dei. Senior and Cal-bound Layshia Clarendon (game-high 28) showed if she is not the best point guard in the country, she is the smartest. Cajon’s other loss this year to Brea-Olinda, a team it also defeated.
17. Horizon (Thornton, Colo.) 19-0 (1-0) – It’s been almost a month since anyone has been within double digits of the Hawks after a 78-43 win over Fairview behind 20 points from Meagan Malcolm-Peck. Brenna Malcolm-Peck added 16 and Cherae Median 12.
18. Westbury Christian (Houston) 39-1 (2-0) – The national leader in victories won the TAPPs 4A Tourney with a 73-50 triumph over Concordia Lutheran as Cami Olson had 20, Waltia Rolle 18 and Letcia Cuellar 14. Opens District play on Saturday.
19. Heritage Christian (Indianapolis, Ind.) 20-1 (3-0) – After having 25-game win streak snapped, the Eagles came back strong with three decisive wins including 81-62 over Anderson as Liz Stratman had 23 points and Kelly Faris had a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
20. Dulles (Sugar Land, Texas) 31-2 (2-0) – Little trouble with wins over Elkins (69-38) and Travis (64-40). National Player of the Year candidate Chelsey Bone is averaging 19.5 points per game.
21. Nimitz (Houston, Texas) 30-1 (2-0) – After 65-25 win over Kingwood, the Cougars score one of the stranger wins of the year, 32-17 over MacArthur. With 6-8 Griner in the middle, Nimitz has given up 24.6 points per game over the last seven games.
22. University (Newark, N.J.) 14-3 (3-0) – Almost like a skipping record for the Phoenix last week recording victories of 70-35, 75-30 and 75-26 over three overmatched foes.
23. Detroit Country Day (Mich.) 16-0 (2-0) – No one has finished within double-digits of the Yellowjackets since Jan. 9. Besides Mater Dei, only school in both boys and girls Xcellent 25.
24. Fargo South (Fargo, N.D.) 15-0 (2-0): The Bruins need a challenge after wins last week of 34 and 36.
25. College Park (The Woodlands, Texas) 30-2 (2-0): Like most of the rest, the Cavaliers haven’t had many competitive games lately after wins over Woodlands (72-53) and New Caney (76-29).
10 on the bubble (alphabetical): Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa) 20-1; Detroit Community (Detroit, Mich.) 13-0; Fayetteville (Ark) 22-0, Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.) 23-1; Germantown Academy (Pa.) 26-0, Highlands Ranch (Colo.) 15-2, Lakota West (West Chester).16-2; Lewis & Clark (Spokane, Wash.) 18-0; Oak Ridge (Tenn.) 22-2; St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) 18-1, Westlake (Atlanta) 20-1
Past weeks: Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 20, Jan. 26, Feb. 2
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