State championship banners don't have an asterisk on them — nor do national rankings. As many of the teams in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings begin navigating the always treacherous waters of postseason play, their goal is to win a state title, no matter what the circumstances.
If they do, the banner that goes up in the gym isn't going to note that COVID changed everything in 2020-21 – nor should it.
And the same applies to the MaxPreps Top 25. Sure, a couple California teams would likely have bumped some teams out, and certainly a few DMV schools would be taking up spots, plus there would likely be entries from unrepresented states such as Illinois and New York.
But every year is different. Key players get hurt. Banked 3-pointers go in at the buzzer. Officials make goofy calls. This season is unique for other reasons, but regardless, every team on the list below has had a very good, if not great, year. And every team on the list below deserves its spot and the recognition that goes along with it.
There are always caveats, strange occurrences, inexplicable upsets and those that manage to end the season in the MaxPreps Top 25 have somehow found a way to earn a ranking. And in that regard, this year is no different – and there's no asterisk on these rankings, just as there won't be on that banner in the gym.
It's not the circumstances that define teams — it's how they respond.
NOTE: Coaches and team personnel are encouraged to update schedules and results on MaxPreps – especially those in the mix for MaxPreps Top 25 consideration. For assistance or questions, please reach out to support@maxpreps.com.
Sophomore Adison Markowski (pictured) and senior sister Alexis have helped Pius X of Lincoln, Neb., win 24 games in a row dating back to last season.
File photo by Samuel Mfinanga
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: 1
The Lake Highland Prep train is rolling, and there doesn't seem to be anything short of GEICO Nationals that can derail it. The Highlanders trounced Anclote 88-17 last Thursday in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals and beat Eustis 67-57 in the regional semifinals Tuesday.
2. Westlake (Atlanta)Record: 15-0 |
Last week: 2
Westlake has had nearly three weeks off but will finally get back on the court this weekend in the AAAAAA playoffs – which makes it time for our annual question: Why doesn't Georgia just call them the 6A playoffs instead of making us count the "A"s?
3. Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati)Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 3
Mount Notre Dame will continue to feast on low seeds for a few more games, but there are a bunch of good teams in Ohio and the road to the state title will surely have a few bumps.
4. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)Record: 8-0 |
Last week: 4
It could be that Hopkins was distracted the last time it played Minnetonka and the one-point win was an aberration. And then Minnetonka lost to Chaska and dropped out of the MaxPreps Top 25. Still, Hopkins' game at Minnetonka Thursday definitely qualifies as a big one.
5. Edison Academy (Detroit)Record: 2-0 |
Last week: 5
A game at Renaissance on Saturday should be the toughest so far.
6. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 6
Incarnate Word continues to show the Show Me State who's boss, though no games are on the schedule until Feb. 24. At that point, 8-1 Burroughs will be the opponent, which will likely be the last real test until postseason.
7. Cypress Creek (Houston)Record: 27-0 |
Last week: 7
The Cougars are 68-1 over the past two seasons.
8. Norman (Okla.)Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 8
Norman only beat Edmond Memorial by 12 the first time around and that game was in the friendly confines. Friday's rematch is at Edmond Memorial.
9. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)Record: 6-0 |
Last week: 9
The Garden State's best hosts unbeaten Red Bank Catholic on Saturday. New Jersey's postseason will be brief and local, so the usual playoff pressure will be much reduced.
10. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)Record: 10-0 |
Last week: 10
Ten games isn't very many but it's enough to convince us Paul VI is a top 10 team.
11. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)Record: 19-1 |
Last week: 11
The Eagles have added three games to their schedule, playing in the Independent School Nationals this weekend. Along with New Hope (ranked in preseason), the event will bring in other quality teams as well, giving Montverde a chance to jump into the top 10 – or conceivably drop down in the rankings.
12. DeSoto (Texas)Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 13
Before any shot at No. 7 Cypress Creek is possible, a third win over Duncanville will likely be required.
13. Newark (Ohio)Record: 21-1 |
Last week: 14
Newark and No. 3 Mount Notre Dame are the favorites in Ohio, and though both won't be tested for a while, there's no guarantee the two can navigate the tricky shoals of Ohio girls basketball long enough to get the matchup fans want to see.
14. Grandview (Aurora, Colo.)Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 17
Mullen's only loss of the season came to Grandview and those two teams meet again Friday.
15. Fremont (Plain City, Utah)Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 15
The regular season ends Thursday for Fremont with the 6A playoffs to follow. It looks like the path to an unbeaten season has few potholes.
16. Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.)Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 16
Continues to handle the competition in the Philadelphia Catholic League but Neumann-Goretti could be a more than a handful come Feb. 23.
17. Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.)Record: 8-0 |
Last week: NR
The Cavaliers are averaging 80.5 points per game so far this season.
18. Anderson County (Lawrenceburg, Ky.)Record: 15-0 |
Last week: 20
We'll find out just how good Anderson County is this week. First up is 12-0 Elizabethtown on Thursday and then a trip to 11-3 Sacred Heart on Saturday.
19. Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.)Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 19
Due to New Jersey's limited postseason, Rutgers Prep may not be seriously tested all year.
20. Chaska (Minn.)Record: 8-0 |
Last week: NR
Chaska burst the bubble of previous No. 25 Minnetonka with a 71-66 overtime win and jumped into the MaxPreps Top 25. But Hopkins shows up on the schedule in early March, so residence in the rankings after that is uncertain.
21. Hazel Green (Ala.)Record: 31-1 |
Last week: 21
The Trojans will likely face some teams with gaudy records — Mortimer Jordan and Hartselle among them — but so far, no one in the Yellowhammer State has been able to turn Hazel Green blue.
22. Ponchatoula (La.)Record: 28-0 |
Last week: 22
The 32-team 5A playoffs begin Friday. Ponchatoula is unlikely to be challenged until the third-round game on Feb. 26.
23. Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.)Record: 23-1 |
Last week: 24
District play is under way in Tennessee and Bearden will likely have to get past 15-5 Farragut to advance to the regionals. Bearden only beat Farragut by one and by six in the first two meetings.
24. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)Record: 21-2 |
Last week: NR
A third Florida team cracks the MaxPreps Top 25. Both of American Heritage's losses are to to-shelf teams and it also is the only team to have beaten Blanche Ely. A healthy Palm Bay will likely be the biggest challenge in the 5A playoffs.
25. Pius X (Lincoln, Neb.)Record: 18-0 |
Last week: NR
The only team that has given Pius X any trouble is Fremont, as every other win has been by 12 points or more. Since Fremont isn't in the same division, it looks like Pius X is on track for a state title and a permanent home in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Dropped out: No. 12
North Central (Indianapolis); No. 18
Valley Vista (Surprise, Ariz.); No. 23
Upperman (Baxter, Tenn.); No. 25
Minnetonka (Minn.)
