MaxPreps Top 25 national high school girls basketball rankings

The first big battle of the holiday season is over, and Mater Dei came out on top — jumping on Blackman early in the title game of the Joe Smith Division at the Nike TOC in Arizona, and never letting the now-No. 7 Blaze back in the game.

But this week the focus shifts to the East Coast, where two major tournaments are on tap: The Title IX Classic in D.C. and the Naples Holiday Shootout in Florida. The survivors of those two brackets will rise in the rankings, and those who don't — well, there's not a lot of mercy in the Xcellent 25.

Of course, there is still some action on the other side of the country, where two ranked teams from California will play in the Platinum Division of the 128-team West Coast Jamboree.

What this means is that when the dust settles, the Xcellent 25 picture will be in much sharper focus.


1. (1 last week) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 6-0
McEachern's chances of holding onto this spot took a huge hit when Caliya Robinson went down with a torn ACL. But McEachern still hasn't lost, and until they do, this spot is theirs.

2. (5) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 11-1
The blemish is a one-point loss to No. 4 Chaminade, but the 4-0 performance at the Nike TOC trumps that one mistake — at least as long as the Monarchs keep winning.

3. (8) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 6-0
There are those who feel strongly that Neumann-Goretti is the best team in the country, but a soft schedule makes it very hard to tell.

4. (4) Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), 8-1
Next up is the West Coast Jamboree, where No. 8 St. Mary's awaits on the other side of the bracket. The loss to No. 10 Long Beach Poly is counterbalanced by the win over No. 2 Mater Dei.

5. (7) Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.), 17-1
A 23-point win over Ribault — which lost to No. 13 Miami Country Day by five — made it very clear which is the best team in Florida.

6. (9) Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.), 6-0
After two easy wins in Missouri, it's off to Florida for the very competitive Naples Holiday Shootout. If Rock Bridge is unbeaten next week at this time, the top five beckons.

7. (3) Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 10-2
After running past No. 8 St. Mary's, the Blaze were slowed down by No. 2 Mater Dei's variety of zones — and now the loss to No. 5 Potter's House Christian becomes definitive.

8. (10) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) 6-1
The only loss is to No. 7 Blackman in the Nike TOC, but the Rams will get a shot at redemption by playing in their third tournament featuring nationally ranked teams in as many weeks.

9. (11) Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 8-0
Bishop McNamara's win over Riverdale Baptist lost a little luster when Riverdale went 2-2 at the Nike TOC — but winning the Title IX Classic in D.C. would shine that reputation right back up.

10. (2) Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 7-1
The Jackrabbits couldn't live up to their mascot, and couldn't keep up with No. 8 St. Mary's of Stockton at the Nike TOC. Now they travel across the country for the Naples Holiday Shootout.

11. (12) Elizabethtown (Ky.), 11-1
That loss is to No. 7 Blackman, but another big test is coming at the Naples Holiday Shootout. First up: No. 13 Miami Country Day.

12. (13) Bedford North Lawrence (Bedford, Ind.), 11-0
Franklin Central is a quality opponent, but not an Xcellent 25-level opponent, so Bedford should be OK Saturday — and then get ready for its own tournament next year.

13. (16) Miami Country Day, 14-0
The home-state advantage, if it exists, could help Miami Country Day rise in the rankings, as it will face some of the nation's best in the Naples Holiday Shootout, starting with No. 11 Elizabethtown.

14. (14) Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.), 10-1
Myers Park is off until 2015, and then doesn't venture out of state the rest of the season. Given the lack of quality wins, this ranking could slide as the year progresses.

15. (15) Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.), 10-0
Unlike most Xcellent 25 teams, Northside doesn't win big — but the Grizzlies just keep winning. And at the end of the day, it's not the margin of victory, it's just being the victor.

16. (17) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 8-1
Flanagan has only lost once, and the Florida team is up next for Paul VI — but even though Paul VI is on the road, look for a successful trip to the Junior Orange Bowl Classic.

17. (18) Lawrence North (Indianapolis), 11-0
Holy Cross is Saturday's opponent, and unbeaten as well, but Lawrence North is still a heavy favorite. It's too bad Indiana teams can't travel because now they just tread water until late January.

18. (NR) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 9-0
Yet another very strong SoCal team gets a mention, but the stay will be brief if the cross-country trip to the Title IX Classic isn't successful. But making those kinds of trips is what earns respect in the rankings.

19. (19) Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.), 8-0
The Greater Spokane League is a competitive one, but Gonzaga Prep handled University by 25 in the first game of the conference season. But now, the Bullpups take the rest of the year off.

20. (20) Leavenworth (Kan.), 4-0
With only four games played, and coming off a two-week break Jan. 3, Leavenworth is in for a serious challenge against No. 6 Rock Bridge — on the road, no less.

21. (21) Konawaena (Kealakekua, Hawaii), 14-1
Most teams that travel to Hawaii for a tournament are focused as much on the beach as on basketball — and Konawaena is way too good to be taken lightly. More victims await this week.

22. (NR) Eastview (Apple Valley, Minn.), 5-0
Eastview slides into the Xcellent 25, but must beat Hopkins Dec. 31 to stay — and that's no easy task, as Hopkins has lost just once, by five, against Eastview.

23. (22) Braintree (Mass.), 2-0
We'll know more after Sunday, when Braintree takes on New York City power Christ the King — though Christ the King has fallen off a bit from the days of Sue Bird and Tina Charles.

24. (25) Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas), 16-1
After playing 17 games already — which is two-thirds of a season for most high school teams — Cypress Woods is taking a well-earned rest until Dec. 31.

25. (NR) Desert Vista (Phoenix), 10-3
Desert Vista avenged one loss by beating previous No. 23 Millennium by 24 — and the other two losses are to No. 7 Blackman and No. 10 Long Beach Poly.

Dropped out: No. 6 Oakland, No. 23 Millennium, No. 24 Oregon City,