MaxPreps Top 25 national high school girls basketball rankings

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The goal is to have the rankings right all the time, but the main goal is to have them right at the end of the season. After all, who will remember the top 10 teams from December when the season is over?

Given that, this week's Xcellent 25 is more heavily weighted to what might happen than what's already happened, as the heavyweights line up for a holiday season of competitive tournaments. Obviously, a team that wins two major tournaments between now and New Year's is going to be very highly ranked, but it's equally true that a school that loses a game, or even two, to other elite teams in elite tournaments will still earn serious consideration.

Those teams that don't play in top tournaments, for whatever reason, won't be as highly ranked now because they won't be tested as much, and it will be much easier for them to remain unbeaten -- especially if their home state isn't as competitive as some others in postseason play.

Come April, the rankings will reflect what has happened on the court, though it's important to remember that a loss, or a win, in December counts just as much as a loss, or a win, in March. And if that win or loss is against a top 10 team, regardless of when, it's going to count even more.

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.


1. (1 last week) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.), 6-0
After dispensing with some of California's best teams the last two weeks, St. Mary's now moves on to some of the best teams in the nation at the Nike TOC tournament this weekend.

2. (2) Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 8-0
While No. 1 St. Mary's heads east from its California home, No. 2 Riverdale Baptist goes west from Maryland to play in the Nike TOC in Arizona. But nothing will come easy in the Joe Smith Division.

3. (3) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 6-0
With solid wins over Georgia stalwart McEachern and Xcellent 25 candidate Miami Country Day this weekend, Paul VI justified its No. 3 ranking. The road trip to Naples after Christmas will reveal even more.

4. (4) Centennial (Las Vegas), 5-0
Centennial's time in the top five will be determined by the Nike TOC -- but losing to No. 1 or No. 2 (who are both there) won't necessarily result in a big drop in the rankings.

5. (5) Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), 5-0
The Nike TOC lineup includes not only the No. 1 team, the No. 2 team and the No. 4 team, but also No. 5 Chaminade. Only one can go unbeaten, and it's possible one will lose twice -- but given the level of competition, that may not result in banishment from the Xcellent 25.

6. (6) St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.), 8-0
St. Francis will be at the Title IX tournament after Christmas, along with No. 1 St. Mary's and No. 9 Konawaena. Much will be revealed.

7. (7) Duncanville (Texas), 15-0
Duncanville shouldn't be tested until its own Sandra Meadows Tournament after Christmas -- but with No. 18 Blackman, among others, in the bracket, we'll find out just how good Duncanville really is.

8. (8) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 4-0
Neumann-Goretti won't be going to the Nike TOC, but Archbishop Wood will -- and Neumann-Goretti beat Wood 57-48 Tuesday night. So the better Archbishop Wood does in Arizona, the better for Neumann-Goretti.

9. (9) Konawaena (Kealakekua, Hawaii), 9-0
Konawaena beat two quality programs at the Iolani Classic (South Medford of Oregon and Bishop O'Dowd of Northern California), but will take a serious trip to Washington, D.C., for the Title IX Classic after Christmas.

10. (10) Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio), 5-0
After some relatively close games to start the season, Lakota West has rolled past less-challenging opposition. Ohio teams can't travel much, so Lakota West will have to prove itself without going too far from home.

11. (11) Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), 2-0
Cumberland Valley handled its first in-state test Tuesday night, knocking off unbeaten State College, 50-34. A trip to Florida is on tap after Christmas.

12. (12) National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.), 8-0
After disposing of a solid IMG team last week, National Christian should have little trouble with local opposition this week. National Christian will play in the Title IX Classic, but not in the top bracket.

13. (13) Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.), 4-0
Miramonte rolled on, posting another big-margin victory (83-49 over McClatchy), but two more quality NorCal teams are on tap this weekend: Sacred Heart Cathedral and Brookside Christian.

14. (14) North Shore (Houston), 18-1
North Shore has lost only to No. 7 Duncanville, and may not lose again until the Texas postseason. Or maybe not at all.

15. (15) Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 6-0
Homestead, not surprisingly, is No. 1 in Indiana, but gets a test Wednesday against unbeaten and Indiana No. 17 Norwell. A matchup with Indiana No. 5 Roncalli won't come until after Christmas.

16. (16) Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.), 4-0
Princess Anne won't go far for the holidays, as the schedule calls for a trip down the road to the Boo Williams' event after Christmas.

17. (17) St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 0-0
Let's see -- North Shore has played 19 games already. St. John Vianney's first will be Wednesday. Wouldn't it make sense to have some kind of national rules/guidelines about schedules?

18. (18) Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 5-1
Blackman will tune up for the Sandra Meadows Tournament in Texas after Christmas by playing a couple of strong teams (Parkview of Georgia and Hamilton Heights of Tennessee) in the She Got Game Classic this weekend.

19. (19) Lynnwood (Bothell, Wash.), 5-0
Lynnwood will get a chance to prove itself in the West Coast Jamboree in Northern California after Christmas, as so far in-state competition hasn't been much of a challenge.

20. (20) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 5-0
The Nike TOC is made for teams like Our Lady of Good Counsel. With four of the top five teams in the Xcellent 25 in the 16-team Joe Smith Division, a loss might be coming, but there's also a chance for a signature win -- or maybe even two.

21. (21) Montini (Lombard, Ill.), 10-0
There was a time when Fenwick was the power and Montini was the underdog, but role reversal is common in girls basketball. Montini rolled 79-40 Monday as it prepares to host its own tournament after Christmas.

22. (22) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 9-1
Like crosstown rival Blackman, Riverdale will play Parkview in the She Got Game event this weekend, and will play two more holiday games at home after Christmas.

23. (NR) Highlands Ranch (Colo.), 7-0
Highlands Ranch, a traditional power, jumps in at No. 23 after winning a quality tournament in San Diego (beating host La Jolla Country Day and Florida's IMG Academy along the way). The Nike TOC is next, though, so the stay in the Xcellent 25 could be brief.

24. (24) Parkway North (St. Louis), 7-0
Parkway North should coast until the 40th Visitation Christmas Tournament, when a potential matchup with Missouri power Incarnate Word could await in the finals.

25. (25) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.), 4-0
A 57-48 win over a talented Rogers team gives Detroit Country Day an intersectional win. Unfortunately, Michigan teams are limited in terms of travel, so now DCD has to hope Rogers does really well in Ohio.

Dropped out: No. 23 Hopkins