Now we’ll see where we stand.
Brittany Wilson, Long Beach Poly
File photo by Louis Lopez
Arguably the nation’s top girls basketball tournament, the Nike Tournament of Champions, opens Friday and runs through Tuesday in Phoenix, Ariz.
Most eyes will be on the Joe Smith Division, which features eight of the Xcellent Top 25, including the top three: California powers Mater Dei and St. Mary’s of Stockton, along with Illinois power Bollingbrook, which takes on No. 6 Long Beach Poly in the premier first-round game.
Many more on the Xcellent cusp — including ThunderRidge (Colo.), Memphis Central (Tenn.), St. Mary’s (Phoenix) and South Eugene (Ore.) — are in the Joe Smith Division.
Numerous others are playing in “lower-division” games of the 86-team extravaganza. The Mike Desper Division features defending Oregon state champion Oregon City with Utah signee Brittany Knightson and Bishop Gorman, the Nevada runner-up last year, and Oklahoma-bound Aaron Ellenberg. Those two teams, in fact, meet up in the first round.
Other top teams in that division include Sacramento, coming off a huge win over previous No. 22 Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.), and defending Arizona 5A-II champion Tolleson, which has four starters back from a 29-3 team, including Nebraska-bound Rebecca Woodberry. Sacramento premier player Erica Barnes transferred before the season, but the Dragons still boast Florida signee Brittany Shine and Pittsburgh-bound Kyra Dunn.
We wish there were tournaments like this every weekend to truly determine the nation’s elite.
As it is, here is our top 25 considering games through Dec. 12.
Xcellent 25 National High School Girls Basketball Rankings
1. (No. 1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 6-0
Still minus top inside presence Alexvz Vaioletema, out with a shin injury, top-ranked Monarchs open TOC with Hillsboro (Tenn.) on Friday.
2. (2) St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), 4-0
Averaging 81.7 per game, Rams open TOC with Georgia power Norcross. Made 10 3-pointers in latest win, 93-53 over Bradshaw Christian.
3. (3) Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.), 4-0
We’ll see if Raiders can maintain 31 point-per-game defensive average in Phoenix. They open with Long Beach Poly on Friday.
4. (4) Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.), 9-0
Won 39th consecutive game overall while taking the Marion County Tournament with ease, 67-36 over Pike. All-American candidate Bria Goss had game-high 20 points.
5. (5) MacArthur (Irving, Texas), 17-0
Won by margins of 18, 12 and 40. Plays cross-town rival Irving on Friday.
6. (8) Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 7-0
Won championship of the Iolani Classic in Honolulu with big 69-47 win over previous No. 7 St. Michael’s Academy. Opens Nike TOC with another showdown, against No. 3 Bolingbrook.
7. (9) Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), 12-1
They hit the ground running in Texas as Bobcats won four more games last week by average margin of 26.2.
8. (10) Whitney Young (Chicago), 6-0
Four more wins for the Dolphins highlighted by 62-42 win over Chicago region’s No. 7 Morgan Park as Kiana Johnson (13 points, 10 steals) and freshman Linnae Harper (11 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles.
9. (12) Murry Bergtraum (New York), 5-0
Following emotional win over Manhattan Center, downed Lehman 90-26 and looks forward to big game with Regis Jesuit (Colo.) on Monday.
10. (13) Shabazz (Newark, N.J.), 0-0
Tapping fingers here waiting for New Jersey girls basketball to get started.
11. (14) Timberview (Mansfield, Texas), 11-1
Camille Redmon (10.4 ppg) has been complementing play of Kansas-bound Meagan Conwright (14.0 ppg) and Keena Mays (12.1).
12. (7) St. Michael Academy (New York), 4-1
It was a long trip to the Iolani Classic in Honolulu, and Long Beach Poly took it to the Eagles in the finals.
13. (17) Redan (Stone Mountain, Ga.), 5-0
Recorded solid wins over Douglass (65-52) and King (62-45). Raiders have scored between 62 and 65 in four of five games.
14. (18) Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh), 0-0
With all five starters returning from 31-0 team, the Blue Devils finally opened the season on Monday.
15. (19) Hoover (Birmingham, Ala.), 11-0.
The Buccaneeers have more than doubled opponents’ score – 657-310. Won by 45 and 40 last week.
16. (20) South Broward (Hollywood, Fla.), 8-0
Had little trouble with Plantation last week, 75-43.
17. (21) Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 4-1
Four players average between 12.6 and 10.6, led by Candace Parson. Opens Nike TOC with perennial New York power Christ the King.
18. (22) Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.), 4-1
Tuned up for its TOC first-round game with Arizona power St. Mary’s by crushing Foothill 79-25.
19. (24) Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.), 9-2
Narrowly missed triple digits twice last week by scoring 98 in wins over Arlington Christian and Central Florida Prep. Antionette Bannister is averaging 22 per game and already made 23 3s.
20. (25) Neptune (N.J.), 0-0
More finger-tapping. Opens season Friday against Long Branch.
21. (NR) Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.) 7-0
Opened eyes with 52-45 win over then-No. 15 Midwest City in finals of Fort Smith Tournament of Champions.
22. (NR) Norcross (Ga.) 7-0
We’ll see just where this Georgia power stands when it opens Nike TOC with No. 2 St. Mary’s of Stockton.
23. (NR) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.) 4-0
A new coach, but 6-6 Madison Williams returns this season. The Yellowjackets, seeking 11th state title, have won fast (73-70 over Pershing) and slow (45-27 last week against Huron).
24. (NR) Duncanville (Texas) 15-0
Led by 6-2 junior post Bunny Williams (15.3 points), Panthers have shown great resiliency down stretch to win nine games by single digits, including three last week over Plano West (46-45), Skyline (45-44) and De Soto (56-54).
25. (15) Midwest City (Okla.), 4-1
Looked to rebound from loss to Incarnate Word with game at Norman North on Tuesday.
Dropped out: No. 6 Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.), No. 11 Regina (South Euclid, Ohio), No. 16 Central Daughin (Harrisburg, Pa.), No. 23 Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.).
