Top 25 Florida high school girls basketball rankings (1/16/2024): Montverde Academy, IMG Academy continue as top two

Mainland jumps in at No. 25 in this week's rankings

We switch over from the gridiron to the hardwood as it's high school basketball time throughout the country and there's plenty of great hoop action going on in the Sunshine State.

With Christmas and New Years now behind us, national tournaments will be wrapping up around the state that involved many of the top teams.

Who are those top teams everyone should be watching out for? We've got you covered with our third set of Power 25 rankings for girls basketball in Florida.

Here’s the complete breakdown of Florida's elite girls high school basketball teams for the 2023-2024 season, as we see it for rankings.

1. Montverde Academy (17-1)

Nothing changed at the turn of the new year for the Eagles, except adding more wins. Though they have one loss on their record, Montverde Academy has notched impressive victories this season over Hebron Christian, Lone Peak, Central Pointe Christian Academy, and Lake Highland Prep.

2. IMG Academy (17-2)

The team that upset Montverde Academy (above), Bishop McNamara, is one of the two teams that have edged out Ascenders this season. IMG Academy, however, was upset by Lone Peak back on Dec. 18. Wins over national powers like Westtown, Lake Highland Prep have shown this IMG team can play with just about anyone.  

3. Lake Highland Prep (13-4)

Forget about the blowout loss to IMG Academy recently. This Lake Highland team is starting to heat up as the second half of the season begins. Lake Highland Prep handed DME Academy its first loss of the season, 61-60, about a week ago. 

4. DME Academy (14-1)

Undefeated no longer, DME Academy dropped its first game of the season in a nail biting 61-60 loss to Lake Highland Prep a week ago. Of the 14 wins, 13 of them have come by double digit margins of victory this season. 

5. Central Pointe Christian (18-2)

The only two losses sustained by Central Pointe Christian so far this season is a 60-53 decision to top-ranked Montverde Academy and against Maryland's Shabach Christian Academy. Junior guard Sofia Munoz leads the team in scoring at close to 15 points per game. 

6. Dr. Phillips (13-4)

Of the four losses the Panthers have on the season, only one has come against a team from Florida. That team was DME Academy, who sits at No. 4 in these rankings. 

7. Cardinal Mooney (12-6)

You can stare at the six losses all you want, but come to realize many of those have come against some of the top teams in and outside of the state. The Cougars have defeated teams like Plantation American Heritage, Palm Bay, Sickles and Sarasota Booker. 

8. Plantation American Heritage (14-4)

The Patriots' four losses on the season have come against DME Academy, Cardinal Mooney and Palm Bay. Other than that, American Heritage looks primed for another deep postseason run this winter and picked up a nice win over St. Thomas Aquinas recently. 

9. St. Thomas Aquinas (12-5)

After a 1-2 start to the season, with losses to Blanche Ely and Lake Highland Prep, the Raiders have gone 11-3 in the following 14 games. The Raiders' two losses over the break came against Montverde Academy and Plantation American Heritage. 

10. Colonial (17-2)

Since losing to Cannon (North Carolina) back on Dec. 8, the Grenadiers have notched 10 straight wins in a row. The only other loss has come against Palm Bay. 

11. Blanche Ely (13-6) 

The Tigers are another team on this list who have suffered just a couple losses to Florida-based teams on the season. Blanche Ely fell 65-34 against Dr. Phillips and Miami Country Day, but owns an impressive win over St. Thomas Aquinas. 

12. Seffner Christian (15-2)

A hot start to the season has propelled this Crusaders team into the state championship conversation in Class 3A. Seffner Christian rattled off 11 straight wins and its only loss to a Florida team has been Colonial. 

13. Miami Country Day (10-8)

The defending Class 3A state champs from a year ago have had a tough stretch in the first half of the season. After starting off 0-3, the Spartans have bounced back to go 10-5 through the following 15 games. 

14. Sports Leadership & Management (12-3)

Talk about a team that's come into the scene and really opened some eyes. SLAM had narrow losses to Blanche Ely and Somerset Prep to start the season, but picked up impressive victories over Bishop Kenny, Tampa Catholic and Western. 

15. Bishop Kenny (14-3)

After making a run towards the Class 4A state championship last season, the Crusaders look like a program that could reach Lakeland once again. 

16. Providence School (17-2)

The Stallions have yet to lose a game to a program from the Sunshine State. Providence School is led in the scoring department by Janie Boyd's 13.5 points per game. 

17. Bloomingdale (18-0)

We really like what the Bulls have done this season because they're the only team on this list that has yet to lose a game in 2023-2024. 

18. Winter Haven (14-5)

Don't think we've forgotten about the Blue Devils of Polk County. This team always finds its way back to competing for a state championship come February. Sophomore Serenity Hardy is averaging 21.5 points a contest. 

19. Palm Bay (13-5)

Leading the way this season for the Pirates' is the play of combo guard Jaida Civil. The junior is averaging a team-high 16.1 points per game. The Pirates make a steep fall after a stunning loss to Mainland. 

20. Somerset Prep (15-6)

Junior Riley Stoker has proven herself to becoming one of the best of her class down in South Florida. Stoker this season is averaging a team-high 17.5 points per game. A recent win over Winter Haven boosts Somerset Prep up four spots this week. 

21. Sarasota Riverview (15-2)

Head coach Gerald Perry has done a really nice job with his Rams team this season. Only losses on the season has come against Seffner Christian on Dec. 15 and Whitney Young (Illinois). 

22. Westminster Academy (10-7)

Take a deep dive into the regular season schedule of Westminster Academy's and you'll see this team stocked up to play the best of the best. Impressive victories have come against Charlotte, Plant and San Jose Prep. 

23. Rutherford (14-1)

It's difficult to keep a team away from these rankings that has only fallen once. A loss to Mainland is the only blemish on the Rams' record so far. 

24. Western (13-5)

The Wildcats were red hot to start the regular season, winning 10 straight games. Though Western has simmered to a 3-5 record in its last eight games, they're still one of South Florida's better squads.

25. Mainland (6-10)

Now hear us out on this one: The Buccaneers' schedule is extremely tough. Why do we think they should be the last team here with 10 losses? Welp, wins over Palm Bay and Rutherford forced our hand here. 

On the outside looking in: Delray Beach Atlantic, Boca Raton, Bolles, Boone, Cardinal Gibbons, Charlotte, Doral Academy, Evangelical Christian, Gibbs, King's Academy, Lake Mary, Lakewood, Monsignor Pace, Neumann, Niceville, North Tampa Christian, Pace, Palm Beach Gardens, Plant, Ocoee, Pensacola Booker T. Washington, Ponce De Leoon, Ribault, River Ridge, Southridge, Spruce Creek, St. Augustine, Venice, Wildwood.

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl