SBLive/SI Top 25 national girls basketball rankings: Top teams playing in Nike TOC (12/19/2023)
With the Nike Tournament of Champions underway in Phoenix, here's an updated look at the Top 25 high school girls basketball teams in the country.
The SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporters Lance Smith and Todd Milles based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. Reach Lance on Twitter (@LanceSmithTPC) or email him at lance@scorebooklive.com.
SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Dec. 19, 2023
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1. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY) (6-0 – 1st)
The Crusaders blew out two more national-caliber teams last week at Hoopfest in Paradise in the Bahamas. Syla Swords had a 17-point triple-double in their 90-61 over Lake Highland Prep, and they also defeated DeSoto by 24 points.
2. Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL) (6-0 – 2nd)
After a week off from games, defending national champion Montverde picks up at the Nike TOC with a win over Georgia powerhouse St. Francis (Alpharetta) - and No. 7 Bishop McNamara waiting on deck.
3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) (8-1 – 3rd)
Took a bye week to load up for the Nike Tournament of Champions, but lost its opener in Phoenix to Lone Peak (Utah), 61-60. Plays Mater Dei next.
4. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, CA) (4-0 – 4th)
The Monarchs rolled to a 62-35 win over Miami Country Day in the opening game of the Nike TOC, and plays Xavier College Prep (AZ) next.
5. Morris Catholic (Denville, NJ) (3-0 – 5th)
Morris Catholic got off to a fast start last week, opening the season with a 70-point demolition of Morristown-Beard and cruising past Life Center Academy and Ewing as well.
6. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, FL) (13-0 – 6th)
Picked up a terrifying statement win, beating Example Academy National, 83-44. DME followed it up by defeating Link Academy and Life Prep by 18 points each.
7. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) (3-1 – 7th)
Bishop McNamara was one of a handful of teams that took a week off from action in preparation for the Nike TOC. Opened up with a convincing with over Folsom (CA) - and takes on Montverde next.
8. Sidwell Friends (Washington, DC) (4-1 – 9th)
Off for an extended rest after outdueling No. 9 Sierra Canyon by one point earlier this month at the Iolani Classic Championship in Hawaii.
9. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA) (9-1 – 10th)
Sierra Canyon responded to its first loss by annihilating Paul VI (VA), 69-28. Up next, the Trailblazers head to Memphis for the 901 Tournament of Champions.
10. Sacred Heart (Louisville, KY) (8-0 – 11th)
Outscored opponents, 178-36, in two wins last week, but was tripped up by Xavier College Prep (AZ) in the opening round of the Nike TOC.
11. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, TX) – (18-1 – 12th)
Riding a 15-game tear and inching closer to the top 10, Timberview enters the week as the top-ranked public school squad in the nation.
12. Clark (San Antonio, TX) (17-1 – 13th)
Off to a 3-0 start in conference play after defeating Marshall, 65-33, in its only game last week.
13. Incarnate Word Academy (Bel-Nor, MO) (5-0 – 14th)
After defeating Eureka, 57-40, in its last game of the calendar year, Incarnate Word enters 2024 on a 105-game winning streak.
14. Duncanville (Duncanville, TX) – (11-3 – 17th)
After dropping back-to-back games against Bishop McNamara and Long Island Lutheran, Duncanville opened district play by defeating arch rival DeSoto - and blowing out Mansfield Legacy.
15. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) (9-2 – 8th)
The Eagles fell in another out-of-state upset, this time against DeSoto at Hoopfest in Paradise. Before that, however, they notched perhaps their best win of the season, a 75-65 win against nationally-ranked Lake Highland Prep (FL).
16. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) (9-0 – 15th)
Blew out reigning CIF Division I champion Oakland Tech last week, but opened Nike TOC play with a head-scratching 70-51 loss to Crestwood Preparatory College.
17. Westtown (West Chester, PA) (5-2 – 16th)
Notched two more impressive wins, defeating Archbishop Carroll by 20 points and Blair Academy by 22.
18. St. John's (Washington, DC) (7-1 – 19th)
After causing past Dunbar early in the week, the Cadets defeated Florida heavyweights St. Thomas Aquinas and Blanche Ely to Fwin the Kreul Classic.
19. DeSoto (DeSoto, TX) (9-4 – Unranked)
You wins some - and Eagles' 55-52 win over Etiwanda counts as a biggie - and you lose some, which they also did to nationally-ranked Duncanville and Long Island Lutheran.
20. Sage Hill (Newport Beach, CA) (9-1 – 20th)
The Lightning defeated South Medford, 68-57, in their only game of the week. They might not be tested again until the St. James Classic in mid-January where they're scheduled to play Riverdale Baptist and Hazel Green.
21. Johnston (Johnston, IA) (8-0 – 21st)
In its first single-digit game of the season, Johnston defeated Minnesota powerhouse Hopkins, 70-61. Tuesday brings arguably its biggest test yet, reigning Iowa 5A state champion Dallas Center-Grimes, which also enters 8-0.
22. South Shore (Brooklyn, NY) (5-0 – 22nd)
Undefeated New York state champions will spend three days in Charlotte, NC at the Cherokee Invitational, opening against hometown-hero Independence.
23. Hazel Green (Hazel Green, AL) (14-0 – 23rd)
Continued annihilating in-state competition, beating Mae Jamison (68-6) and Buckhorn (76-34), but lost to Hebron Christian, the top-ranked team in Georgia, in the Nike TOC.
24. McDonogh (Owings Mills, MD) (7-1 – 24th)
Held off rival St. Frances Academy, 49-42, to cap off a 2-0 week. Next up is the Cherokee Invitational in North Carolina.
25. Clackamas (Clackamas, OR) (2-0 – 25th)
The Cavaliers rolled to an 83-52 win at Oregon City in their only game last week. Schedule picks up facing top-ranked Washington team Camas on Friday - and participating in the Nike Holiday Classic a week later.
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ON THE BUBBLE:
Camden (Camden, SC)
Central Pointe Christian Academy (Kissimmee, FL)
Example Academy National (Frankfort, IL)
Dr. Phillips (Orlando, FL)
Garfield (Seattle, WA)
Georgetown Visitation Prep (Washington, DC)
Grace Christian (Sanford, NC)
Grayson (Loganville, GA)
Hebron Christian (Dacula, GA)
Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, FL)
Putnam City West (Oklahoma City, OK)
Pickerington Central (Pickerington, OH)
Purcell Marian (Cincinatti, OH)
Providence Academy (Plymouth, MN)
Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, NJ)
Rutgers Prep (Somerset, NJ)
South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)
St. John Vianney (Holmdel, NJ)
Summer Creek (Houston, TX)
Wesleyan (Peachtree Corners, GA)
West Brook (Beaumont, TX)
Winston-Salem Christian National (Winston-Salem, NC)
– Lance Smith | lance@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca
