It’s a quandary to be sure.
How is St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) still No. 1 in the country at 32-1 when its only loss came to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), which has only one defeat, and that was to previous No. 2 Brea Olinda (Calif.).
Duke-bound Chelsea Gray always saves St. Mary's.
Photo by Dennis Lee
Mater Dei last week avenged that defeat with a 51-46 victory in the Southern Section Division II finals?
St. Mary’s defeated Brea Olinda, which had defeated Mater Dei, which has beat St. Mary’s.
Problem is, St. Mary’s has been at the top for seven weeks and done nothing to relinquish that spot, including another impressive win over previous Xcellent squad Sacramento last week.
We’re going to watch both teams this weekend at the CIF state championships and make our final pick next week.
In the meantime, No. 15 Neptune (N.J.) followed up an historic state championship by claiming the state's Tournament of Champions.
Xcellent 25 National High School Girls Basketball Rankings
1. (1) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.), 32-1
The Rams did it again to a very strong Sacramento, forcing 38 turnovers and getting double-digit scorers from all five starters in a 70-45 win for the CIF North Region title. It now takes on Bishop Amat for the CIF state Division III crown. Afure Jemerigbe had 14 points, Ali Gibson had 13, Duke-bound Chlesea Gray 12, Annissa Garcia 11 and Allie Moreno 10.
2. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 31-1
The Monarchs gained the revenge it sought with a 51-46 win over previous No. 2 Brea Olinda and more important is one win away from the school’s second state crown. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had a game-high 17 points, Jessica Duarte added 16 points and nine rebounds and Jordan Adams added seven points and a game-high 13 rebounds for Mater Dei, which has won 63 of 65, losing both times to Brea Olinda. That’s a big reason why this victory felt so good.
3. (4) Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.), 28-0
Season is complete, state title, 58-game win streak.
4. (5) Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), 31-2
Not known for its outside shooting, Poly made a season-high seven 3-pointers which opened up the inside game in a 68-53 CIF Southern California Division I championship win over Clovis West. The Jackrabbits go for a fifth straight state title Saturday against Oak Ridge. Ariya Crook-Williams had 16 points, Sheila Boykin 14 and Ta’nitra Byrd 13.
5. (2) Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.), 31-3
The Wildcats were outscored 15-7 in the final quarter to lose 51-46 to No. 3 Mater Dei in the CIF Southern California Division II final at the Galen Center on Saturday. Jeanier Olukemi had 12 points and 12 rebounds and Iowa State-bound Kelsey Harris added 10 for Brea Olinda, who defeated Mater Dei in last year’s championship and earlier this year. Brea Olinda played without starting point guard Alexis Perry who sustained a season-ending knee injury the previous week. Brea Olinda’s losses were to Division I finalist Oak Ridge (66-64), No. 1 St. Mary’s (67-66) and to Mater Dei.
6. (6) Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), 36-1
Season is complete.
7. (7) Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.), 29-1
Season is complete.
8. (8) Bergtraum (New York), 25-0
Bergtraum won its record 13th straight PSAL city title and now has to wait two weeks before playing in the New York State Federation Class AA semifinals on Saturday.
9. (10) Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 28-2
Beat Baldwin 56-52 and Central Dauphin 58-40 and now faces Archbishop Ryan in Friday’s AAAA state title. {VIDEO_090dc394-6998-44b8-b4f9-a8a8b7ff6ddb,floatRightWithBar}10. (11) Hoover (Ala.), 33-1
Season is complete.
11. (12) Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas), 37-2
Season is complete.
12. (13) Young (Chicago), 28-3
Season is complete.
13. (14) Midwest City (Okla.), 25-2
Season over. Won 6A state title.
14. (15) MacArthur (Irving, Texas), 37-2
Season is complete.
15. (16) Neptune (N.J.), 29-1
Great season ended with a state Tournament of Champions title with a 67-48 win over St. John Vianney as Shakeena Richardson had 20 points, Sehmoney Allen 18 and Chyna Golden 14. Neptune earlier won the program’s first state since 1984.
16. (17) Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.), 30-1
Season over, won state title.
17. (18) North Little Rock (Ark.), 31-0
Season over, won 7A state title.
18. (19) Auburn Riverside (Auburn, Wash.), 29-0
Season is complete.
19. (20) Lakeville North (Lakeville, Minn.), 32-0
Season over, won AAAA-Section 3 title.
20. (21) Norcross (Ga.) 28-4
Season over, won state AAAAA finals.
21. (23) Redan (Stone Mountain, Ga.), 30-1
Season over, lost in state AAAAA finals to Norcross.
22. (24) Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.), 30-1
Season over, won state AAA title.
23. (25) Southridge (Beaverton, Ore.), 26-2
Season over, won state 6A title.
24. (NR) Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.), 29-2
Season over, state AAA runner-up. Only losses to Lake Taylor.
25. (NR) Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), 33-1
Plays St. Mary’s-Berkeley for California Division IV title on Friday.
Dropped out: No. 13. Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.), No. 22 Shabazz (Newark, N.J.), 31-1.
