High school girls basketball rankings: Lawrence Central one of three new teams to Top 25

Three new teams entered the Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings this week as Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.), Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) and Clackamas (Ore.) check in at Nos. 23, 24 and 25, respectively.

It’s a family affair for Lawrence Central as the Bears are led by junior Jaylah Lampley and sophomore Lola Lampley while being coached by mother Jannon Lampley. In her second year at the school, Jannon (Roland) Lampley helped Purdue to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a 1994 Final Four berth. She played professionally in the WNBA with the Orlando Miracle.

Elsewhere, Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.) freshman Jax Edelman scored the game-winner Friday as the No. 8 Crusaders beat previously-ranked DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 63-61 to remain unbeaten in their quest for a second straight state title.

With the game tied at 61, Mya Pauldo missed a 3-pointer from the left wing but Alexis Rosenfeld grabbed a board and had her putback blocked. The ball squirted to Edelman, who banked it off the glass for the victory.

The Crusaders have a Sunday showdown with perennial Garden State power St. John-Vianney (Holmdel) before closing the regular season Feb. 17 with No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.).

Mia Pauldo is averaging 20 points and 5 assists for No. 8 Morris Catholic this season. The Crusaders are 17-0 and looking for a second-straight New Jersey state title. (Photo: Tom Smith)

Top 25 basketball rankings

1. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 19-0 | Last week: 1
The Monarchs have five league games remaining over the next two weeks before postseason begins.

2. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
Record: 14-1 | Last week: 2
Kate Koval reached the 1,000-point plateau in a 77-59 win over Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.).

3. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 19-1 | Last week: 3
Chloe Sotell led the Eagles with 25 points in an 80-49 win over Academy of Central Florida.

4. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 22-3 | Last week: 4
Grabbed a pair of runaway league wins last week and look to capture the Baseline League title Tuesday.

5. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 13-3 | Last week: 5
After a trio of wins, the Quakers fell Sunday to Crestwood Prep (Ontario, Canada) led by Duke commit Toby Fournier.

6. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 24-1 | Last week: 6
Sophomore Jerzy Robinson dropped 37 points and 16 rebounds in an 86-29 win over Alemany.

7. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
Record: 18-3 | Last week: 7
The Mustangs got a 61-53 win over a Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) team led by McDonald’s All American Mikayla Blakes.

8. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)
Record: 17-0 | Last week: 8
Mia Pauldo scored 28 on Sunday in the 63-61 win over DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.).

9. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Record: 21-0 | Last week: 9
The Rams downed Brookwood (Snellville) 67-44 and Newton (Covington) 62-39 last week.

10. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 20-3 | Last week: 10
The Ascenders nearly erased a 30-point deficit and 40-point game from Crestwood Prep’s Agot Makeer, but fell to the Canadian squad 76-70.

11. Hebron Christian (Dacula, Ga.)
Record: 19-2 | Last week: 11
Aubrey Beckham posted 10 points and 10 assists in a 60-14 win over Oconee County (Watkinsville).

12. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas)
Record: 32-1 | Last week: 12
A 63-26 win over Midlothian Heritage (Midlothian) boosted the Wolves’ win streak to 29 games.

13. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 19-0 | Last week: 14
Aili Tanke had 19 and Amani Jenkins added 16 in a 64-59 win over Ankeny Centennial (Ankeny).

14. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 17-0 | Last week: 15
The Red Knights downed 21-6 Fremd (Palatine, Ill.) 64-54 to run the win streak to 117 games.

15. Thomas Dale (Chester, Va.)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 16
A 102-17 win over Matoaca (Chesterfield) was the lone contest for the Knights last week.

16. Clark (San Antonio, Texas)
Record: 26-2 | Last week: 18
Natalie Huff joined the 500-assist club in a 71-20 win over Madison (San Antonio).

17. Minnetonka (Minn.)
Record: 18-0 | Last week: 19
Aaliyah Crump had 27 and Tori McKinney added 25 as the Skippers handled Providence Academy 73-48.

18. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 19-5 | Last week: 20
Got past Skyline (Dallas) 73-26 and Waxahachie 68-30 last week as four regular-season games remain.

19. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 25-4 | Last week: 21
Mariah Clayton led four players in double figures with 19 in a 70-49 win over Lake Ridge (Mansfield).

20. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 15-5 | Last week: 13
Despite a 73-70 loss to Dr. Phillips (Orlando), the Highlanders stay in the rankings due to a strong schedule. Four of their five losses are to teams ranked in the top 10.

21. Purcell Marian (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 17-1 | Last week: 23
Jayda Mosley had 17 points in an 81-27 win over Roger Bacon (Cincinnati), topping the 1,000-point mark for her career.

22. Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.)
Record: 20-3 | Last week: 24
Stella Sakalas had 18 points, Ama Dray chipped in 16 and Olivia Austin added 15 as the Roadrunners downed Benet Academy (Lisle) 55-50.

23. Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 23-1 | Last week: NR
Junior Jaylah Lampley leads a young Bears team in scoring at 18.9 points per night.

24. Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.)
Record: 28-0 | Last week: NR
Paige Engels was named the Player of the Year in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference.

25. Clackamas (Ore.)
Record: 9-2 | Last week: NR
Junior Jazzy Davidson topped 1,500 career points in a 71-32 win over Barlow.