California and Texas played host to the the most impactful postseason games when it comes to this week’s Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings.
In Texas, No. 15 Duncanville reached the Class 6A final four with a 46-39 win over No. 22 DeSoto. The Pantherettes are on the cusp of their 12th state title after being banned from the postseason last year due to a rules violation. Next up is 35-3 Summer Creek (Houston) on Friday. South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) and Brennan (San Antonio) fill the opposite side of the bracket.
In California, No. 3 Etiwanda grabbed the No. 1 seed in the CIF Southern California Open Division regional after beating No. 5 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 65-44 on Friday for the Southern Section Open Division title. It was the third straight year the two battled for the section crown with Etiwanda also winning in 2022.
Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon are the favorites to meet for the SoCal title on March 5 for the third straight season. In each of the past two years, the loser of the section game has come back to win the SoCal title and state title.
Standing in the way will likely be No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), the top seed in Northern California. The Monarchs have reached the Open Division title game in each of the past two seasons, losing to Sierra Canyon in 2022 and Etiwanda last year.
Elsewhere, No. 19 Lawrence Central (Indianapolis) won its first Class 4A state title in Indiana, beating Lake Central (St. John) 55-28. Jaylah Lampley led the Bears with 19 points and nine rebounds while sophomores Lola Lampley and Aniyah McKenzie each chipped in 12 points.
Top 25 basketball rankings
1. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 28-0 | Last week: 1
The Monarchs grabbed the top seed in the CIF Northern California Open Division bracket and earned a first-round bye. They play Saturday against the winner of No. 4 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) vs. No. 5 Folsom. Mitty is looking to reach its third straight Open Division state final berth.
2. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 2
Closed the regular-season with a 114-38 win over Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.) as Syla Swords led seven players in double figures with 27 points and 12 rebounds.
3. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 29-3 | Last week: 3
Grace Knox had a game-high 19 points in the win over Sierra Canyon.
4. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 24-5 | Last week: 5
The No. 1 seed in the DCSAA Class AA tournament, the Quakers await the winner of No. 4 Archbishop Carroll and No. 5 Dunbar on Friday.
5. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 30-2 | Last week: 4
Sophomore Jerzy Robinson led the Trailblazers with 17 in the loss to Etiwanda.
6. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Record: 29-0 | Last week: 6
After a 71-36 win over McEachern (Powder Springs), the Rams get Norcross in the AAAAAAA quarterfinals Tuesday.
7. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 23-3 | Last week: 8
Regular season complete. Expected to compete in a postseason tournament to be announced.
8. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
Record: 24-5 | Last week: 7
Without Madisen McDaniel the Mustangs fell 45-41 to No. 25 St. John’s in the WCAC final.
9. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)
Record: 26-1 | Last week: 10
After dispatching St. Mary (Rutherford) 84-8 on Monday, the Crusaders draw 22-3 Saddle River Day (Saddle River) on Thursday in the North Jersey Non-Public B semifinals.
10. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 21-4 | Last week: 9
Fell 65-62 to DME Academy (Daytona Beach) though Ohio State commit Jaloni Cambridge was out of the lineup for the second straight game.
11. Hebron Christian (Dacula, Ga.)
Record: 28-2 | Last week: 11
Rolled into the AAA quarterfinals with an 82-63 win on Monday over Pickens (Jasper). Up next is Morgan County (Madison) on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
12. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas)
Record: 39-1 | Last week: 12
The Wolves are in the Class 5A final four against Cedar Park on Thursday after a 44-35 regional final win over Argyle. A win would put Mansfield Timberview into the final against the winner of Liberty (Frisco) vs. Randle (Richmond).
13. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 13
Waukee is the Class 5A semifinal opponent for the Dragons. They handled Valley (West Des Moines) 60-31 on Monday as Jenica Lewis scored 18 and Aili Tanke added 10.
14. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 25-0 | Last week: 14
The Red Knights look to run their state-best win streak to 126 games with a Wednesday contest against Riverview Gardens (St. Louis).
15. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 31-4 | Last week: 18
Mariah Clayton led Duncanville in the win over DeSoto with 13 points and Chloe Mann added 10.
16. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 23-5 | Last week: 16
The Highlanders play Lakewood (St. Petersburg) in the Class 4A semifinals Thursday. They beat Palm Bay (Melbourne) 52-44 in the quarters as Bri Rivera led the way with 18 points and Lexi Blue and Jada Eads each added 11.
17. Purcell Marian (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 23-1 | Last week: 20
Advanced to the Division II district final with a 79-32 win over Franklin. Dee Alexander had a team-high 13 in the win.
18. Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.)
Record: 31-3 | Last week: 21
Handled Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor) 48-32 on Monday in the Class 4A super sectionals. Friday’s semifinal opponent is 32-3 Waubonsie Valley (Aurora).
19. Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 30-1 | Last week: 22
With the victory in the Class 4A state championship game, the Bears became the third team in Indiana history with 30 wins.
20. Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.)
Record: 36-0 | Last week: 23
They have a Class 4A semifinal date with Fremd (Palatine) on Friday and are on a collision course with No. 18 Nazareth Academy for a possible championship clash.
21. Thomas Dale (Chester, Va.)
Record: 22-1 | Last week: 15
Fell to Manchester (Midlothian) 53-43 in the Class 6A regional championship. The VHSL state tournament starts Tuesday with Thomas Dale taking on Robinson (Fairfax).
22. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 27-6 | Last week: 17
Season complete.
23. Bradley Central (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Record: 29-1 | Last week: 25
Meet Cleveland on Wednesday in the Class 4A Region 3 final after an 89-34 victory over Rhea County (Evensville) in the semifinals.
24. Burroughs (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 22-3 | Last week: 24
Closed out the regular season with a 62-29 win over Nerinx Hall (Webster Groves).
25. St. John’s (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 23-5 | Last week: NR
The Cadets won their third straight WCAC title as sophomore Morgan Stewart came up with a big stop in the 45-41 victory over Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.).
On the bubble: Pewaukee (Wis.), 25-1; Brennan (San Antonio, Texas), 32-3; South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas), 32-3; Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.), 28-2; Ridgeline (Millville, Utah), 23-2
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