Video: Ball drops in off top of backboard
See this wacky play from New Jersey.For most teams in the Xcellent 25, the most grueling part of the season is over. The long-distance travel is out of the way, and the rest of the year focuses on league play and a couple regional matchups -- usually on one of the long weekends in January and February.
But our No. 1 and 2 teams have a slightly different script. No. 1 St. Mary's is what California calls a "competitive anomaly," meaning it is excused from beating up teams in its league by 60 twice a week, and plays whoever it can find that's willing. No. 2 Riverdale Baptist isn't even in a league, and instead schedules a steady diet of top-caliber teams.
As for the rest, there are variations, which are explored below, but the bottom line is that not much change is expected until after Martin Luther King weekend -- but the odds say that at least one team will get surprised by a local rival. The question, of course, is which one.
Note: The rankings are more accurate when all the results are on MaxPreps, so we encourage everyone to make sure their schedules and scores are up to date. If you have any issues, contact MaxPreps Coach Support at coachsupport@maxpreps.com, and you'll be taken care of.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Girls Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Kaila Charles, Riverdale Baptist
Photo by Mark Jones
St. Mary's will play some of California's top teams over the next few weeks, any of whom could conceivably rise up and pull off the upset. Don't bet the rent, though.
2. (2) Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 17-1It should be an easy stretch for Riverdale Baptist, but challenges await down the road.
3. (3) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 14-0 Unlike most teams in the Xcellent 25, Paul VI will get a serious test Thursday at Our Lady of Good Counsel. Only a close loss to Archbishop Mitty at the Nike TOC prevents Good Counsel from being ranked, so this is a chance for redemption.
4. (4) Duncanville (Texas), 24-0 Duncanville has played its entire season in the state of Texas, and almost all of its games within driving distance of home -- and that does make it easier. That said, Texas is full of talent, and 24 wins against no losses is impressive regardless of where the games are played.
5. (5) Centennial (Las Vegas), 16-1 Spring Valley is 12-2 and might supply a challenge Thursday.
6. (6) National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.), 15-0 National Christian faces a fairly typical schedule for top teams even though the school is not in a league. There will be some challenging games, but the main challenge will be maintaining interest.
7. (7) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 10-0 So how does Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast handle the traditional spelling-out-of-the-school-name cheer? Do they just save it until half so they have enough time? Neumann-Goretti will find out Thursday.
8. (8) Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.), 11-0Miramonte draws archrival Campolindo Friday, but rivalry can only take a team so far. Even archrivalry.
9. (9) Forestville (Md.), 8-1 Forestville has played a very tough schedule so far, and has Riverdale Baptist down the line. Otherwise, there's not much threatening on the calendar.
10. (10) North Shore (Houston), 22-1Only two teams in North Shore's league have winning records, so this is yet another school with a smooth ride to the playoffs.
11. (11) Montini (Lombard, Ill.), 17-0 Like Duncanville, Montini hasn't left its home state this season, and won't ever have to. That does make things easier.
12. (12) Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 12-2 Murfreesboro is a tough town for girls basketball. Blackman and Riverdale are both in the Xcellent 25 and Oakland is 12-1 -- and Blackman plays in Oakland's gym Friday night.
13. (13) St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.), 14-1 Only one team in St. Francis' league has a winning record, so you don't need a psychic to predict the future. Collins Hills, Maya Moore's unbeaten alma mater, shows up on the schedule later on.
14. (14) Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.), 9-1 Princess Anne has only league games on the schedule the rest of the year, and though the league isn't bad, an upset is very, very unlikely.
15. (15) Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 14-0 Carmel is 14-3 and 13th-ranked in Indiana, so Saturday's game isn't exactly a gimme. But it is at Homestead.
16. (16) Cicero-North Syracuse (Cicero, N.Y.), 10-0 It's an easy ride for now, but some tough games await at the end of January.
17. (17) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 15-1 Riverdale knocked off one of its elite crosstown rivals Tuesday, beating Oakland 63-52 at Oakland. No. 12 Blackman will show up later on.
18. (18) Bellevue (Wash.), 11-0 Unbeaten Mercer Island will show up on the schedule next week, which will be a test for Bellevue.
19. (19) Lynnwood (Bothell, Wash.), 9-0The next challenge will be once-beaten Todd Beamer later this month. And note that Beamer's only loss is to No. 18 Bellevue in the first game of the season.
20. (20) Central (Little Rock, Ark.), 12-0 Central can't just coast through its Arkansas league. There are some solid teams on the schedule, especially next week.
21. (21) Highlands Ranch (Colo.), 11-1Friday's game against defending state champion Broomfield may shake up the Xcellent 25. Broomfield has a lot of firepower back from a 26-2 team, and lost only to another state power, ThunderRidge, so far this season.
22. (22) Villa Maria Academy (Erie, Pa.), 11-0 Villa Maria has a nice intersectional game against Hathaway Brown on Saturday, followed by what could be a tough league matchup Monday against Mercyhurst.
23. (23) Heritage (Saginaw, Mich.), 7-0 The next possible bump in the road would be against Bay City Western next week -- but Midland Dow is also a solid team.
24. (24) Wenonah (Birmingham, Ala.), 17-0Two easy games are on tap prior to a matchup against Ramsay Jan. 12. The first go-round was a win for Wenonah, but only by seven points.
25. (25) St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 5-1 St. John-Vianney's stay in the Xcellent 25 might be brief if it can't get by unbeaten Manasquan Friday. And then there's a trip to perennial New York power Christ the King the next day.
