Though some big games were played, the COVID crisis wreaked havoc with last week's schedule and, as a result, the MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings didn't see as much change as usually happens this time of the year.
Unfortunately, that might be the case again over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Some teams have avoided Omicron, but others saw their rosters cut in half by COVID and simply couldn't field a team.
The tricky questions were those teams in the middle. If you were missing a rotation player and a deep reserve, maybe it made sense to play; but what if your Power 5 point guard and starting center were out of action? Should you play anyway, risking postseason seeding and maybe a national ranking, or let discretion be the better part of valor?
Difficult choices had to be made, and not surprisingly, different coaches went in different directions — but it's hard to blame anyone for any decisions given how much is going on, and how complicated the situation is. And as it looks like it will remain throughout the season, it'll be interesting to see how postponements, cancellations and decisions to play mold the MaxPreps Top 25 moving forward.
Mjracle Sheppard, Montverde ACademy
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
6-0 |
Last week: 1
The Quakers rolled over No. 17 St. Paul VI on Sunday, 69-40, solidifying their spot as No. 1 in the nation.
2. DeSoto (Texas)Record: 18-1 |
Last week: 2
The Eagles continue to roll but a Jan. 21 date with Grandview (which beat No. 7 La Jolla Country Day) is on the schedule — and of course there's the trip to No. 14 Duncanville on Jan. 25.
3. Etiwanda (Calif.)Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 3
The Eagles don't have much on their plate until Jan. 22, when San Diego power Cathedral Catholic shows up on the schedule.
Record: 7-0 | Last week: 4
It was an ice storm, not COVID, that cost the Lancers their Sunday game against unbeaten Dunmore but hopefully the Jan. 23 game against Christ the King will get played.
5. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Record: 12-0 |
Last week: 6
The Wayzata game – at Wayzata on Tuesday – was a big one the last couple years, but the Royals have pulled away from their rivals this season.
6. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Record: 17-1 |
Last week: 7
It's a big weekend ahead with 15-1 American Heritage on Friday and Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday.
7. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 12-2 |
Last week: 12
The Torreys jump here thanks to a win over previous No. 5 Sierra Canyon. It wasn't easy, though, as the final was 73-71.
8. Classen SAS (Oklahoma City)
Record: 13-1 |
Last week: 8
The Comets survived a couple close ones last week, beating Bixby by nine and Putnam City West by 12.
9. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 12-1 |
Last week: 5
The Trailblazers picked up the La Jolla Country Day game at the last minute, and couldn't overcome a rare off game from
Juju Watkins in a 73-71 loss.
10. New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)
Record: 14-2 |
Last week: 9
Most of New Hope's toughest games are in the rear view mirror — so it shouldn't be a stressful January.
11. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 9-0 |
Last week: 10
The Red Knights are planning to fly to California this weekend, but so far two opponents have had to drop because of COVID.
12. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 12-3 |
Last week: 11
Montverde, like Incarnate Word and New Hope, dropped a spot not because of a loss, but because La Jolla Country Day jumped up.
13. Cedar Park (Texas)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 13
The Timberwolves look to be the favorite in every game the rest of the way, so an unbeaten season is definitely a possibility.
14. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 23-4 |
Last week: 14
The Pantherettes may have four losses, but they've played a brutal schedule — and all will be forgiven by Duncanville fans with a win over No. 2 DeSoto on Jan. 25.
15. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 14-1 |
Last week: 15
The Wampus Cats face an unenviable trip to perennial Arkansas power Northside on Friday night.
Record: 14-3 |
Last week: 16
The Highlanders solidified this spot with a 74-70 win over No. 23 Woodward Academy.
17. Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.)
Record: 10-0 |
Last week: 18
The Bruins play in a local tournament this weekend, but sometimes those neighborhood rivalries turn out to be the toughest tests.
18. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)
Record: 8-3 |
Last week: 17
Yes, the Panthers lost by 29, but it was to the No. 1 team in the country — so the drop is just one spot.
19. Princeton (Cincinnati)
Record: 12-1 |
Last week: 19
The Vikings played a JV player during garbage time in the big win over Mount Notre Dame, and it turned out she had played in too many quarters in one day — so officially that game is a forfeit win for Mount Notre Dame. On the court, though, the result was crystal clear.
20. Fremont (Plain City, Utah)
Record: 10-2 |
Last week: 20
The Silverwolves slipped past in-state rival Skyridge 52-47, but that might be the closest game they play until postseason.
21. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 17-2 |
Last week: 21
The big one for the Buccaneers is Jan. 22, when they get on the bus to visit arch rival Hazel Green.
22. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 22
The Dragons need to be ready for in-state power, and 11-0, Dowling Catholic on Friday.
23. Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
Record: 11-2 |
Last week: 23
Teams are supposed to lose to opponents that are more highly ranked — so a four-point loss to No. 16 Lake Highland Prep didn't move the needle.
24. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 15-1 |
Last week: 24
The Valkyries travel to 11-4 Ryle on Friday and host 9-2 Assumption on Sunday, so getting to 17-1 won't be a walk in the park.
25. Franklin Community (Franklin, Ind.)
Record: 18-1 |
Last week: 25
The Grizzly Cubs continue to get the nod in Indiana, though there's a lot of learned debate about which team really should be in this spot.
Dropped out: None.
