SBLive/SI Top 25 national girls basketball rankings: Etiwanda drops after loss to Duncanville

Undefeated Long Island Lutheran remains No. 1 in the country with a pair of top-25 victories

With the 2023-24 high school girls basketball season now underway in every state, here are the first SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 rankings of the regular season. 

The 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.

POWER 25 NATIONAL GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Dec. 13, 2023

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1. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY) (4-0 – 1st)

Looking the part of the top team in the country. LuHi defeated Power 25 bubble team Paul VI (VA). 93-25, No. 19 St. John's, 68-55, and No. 17 Duncanville, 74-45.

2. Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL) (6-0 – 3rd)

Jaloni Cambridge and the new-look Eagles have picked up where last year's national championship team left off, handling Lake Highland Prep and Central Pointe Christian.

3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) (8-0 – 8th)

Didn't take long for Ascenders to show preseason hype was warranted. With wins over No. 16 Westtown, No. 7 Bishop McNamara, and Miami Country Day, they are climbing.

4. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, CA) (3-0 – 5th)

Off to another fast start, Archbishop Mitty has beaten St. Joseph (Santa Maria), Marin Catholic and Moreau Catholic by a combined 143 points.

5. Morris Catholic (Denville, NJ) (0-0 – 4th)

The Crusaders tip off the season on Thursday at Morristown-Beard, followed by weekend matchups against Life Center Academy and Ewing.

6. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, FL) (10-0 – 9th)

Off to a tremendous start - it's been spearheaded by phenomenal defense. DME hasn't allowed 50 points in any game, and that includes an OT win over Dr. Phillips.

7. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) (3-1 – 21st)

Despite loss (to No. 3 IMG Academy), Mustangs are big climbers - with biggest win over a Duncanville team that was fresh off upsetting then-No. 2 Etiwanda.

8. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) (8-1 – 2nd)

Short-handed Eagles lost to Duncanville, but do have good wins over St. Mary's, Liberty, Santiago, Mission Hills, Bishop O'Dowd, and La Jolla Country Day.

9. Sidwell Friends (Washington, DC) (4-1 – 7th)

Surprisingly upended by Westtown at the Art Turner Memorial, but responded with sweep at loaded Iolani Classic, including close win over Sierra Canyon in finals. 

10. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA) (8-1 – 6th)

In line for top-five ranking before loss to Sidwell Friends. Had dominant wins over South Grand Prairie, DeSoto, Desert Vista (AZ), Santiago and Brentwood School.

11. Sacred Heart (Louisville, KY) (6-0 – 10th)

Passed major test with 61-60 win over Example Academy National behind ZaKiyah Johnson's 22 points. Only other competitive game was win over Cooper (KY).

12. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, TX) – (16-1 – Bubble)

No stranger to making sudden top-25 leaps in recent years, Timberview avenged only loss (Clark) while beating in-state South Grand Prairie, Liberty, La Vega, and Amarillo.

13. Clark (San Antonio, TX) (16-1 – 11th)

Split with No. 12 Mansfield Timberview, but has struggled at times in so-so victories. Still, Cougars holding steady with wins over Summer Creek and Judson.

14. Incarnate Word Academy (Bel-Nor, MO) (4-0 – 17th)

The winning-streak ticker is up and running - 104 consecutive wins. One of those victories came against well-regarded Las Vegas Centennial, 57-46.

15. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) (8-0 – 18th)

Monarchs might have best team since their back-to-back Southern Section Open Division titles (2019-21). Outdueled No. 20 Sage Hill during run to Troy Classic title.

16. Westtown (West Chester, PA) (3-2 – Unranked)

Before falling to Winston-Salem Christian National and No. 3 IMG Academy, state champions from Pennsylvania beat Bishop Ireton and No. 9 Sidwell Friends.

17. Duncanville (Duncanville, TX) – (10-3 – Bubble)

Up and down, but very promising. Pantherettes took stinging loss against bubble top-25 team Summer Creek, but did post double-overtime upset of Etiwanda.

18. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, FL) (6-1 – 13th)

While still looking for a signature win, it nearly knocked off DME Academy in overtime in late November, and has wins including Palm Bay and Cardinal Mooney.

19. St. John's (Washington, DC) (4-1 – 16th)

Four solid wins, highlighted by a 23-point defeat of Bullis. Cadets' only loss came against No. 1 Long Island Lutheran (68-55), giving top team its closest game.

20. Sage Hill (Newport Beach, CA) (8-1 – 19th)

Gave Mater Dei a good battle in only loss, and has already defeated four CIFSS Open Division contenders (Bishop Montgomery, Leuzinger, Santiago and Ontario Christian).

21. Johnston (Johnston, IA) (5-0 – 20th)

Through five games, all wins, Johnston is beating its opponents by an average of nearly 28 points per game.

22. South Shore (Brooklyn, NY) (5-0 – 23rd)

So far, so good in five tries for Vikings. Their past two games were biggest tests, winning 58-43 against Paul VI (VA) and 47-42 against Whitney Young. 

23. Hazel Green (Hazel Green, AL) (12-0 – 22nd)

Not always pretty, but six-time reigning state champion is off to yet another fast start - and remains unbeaten since 2020 against all Alabama teams not named Hoover.

24. McDonogh (Owings Mills, MD) (5-1 – 24th)

Suffered reasonable loss to No. 9 Sidwell Friends (62-51), but has five blowouts against overmatched competition. Big upcoming test against Saint Frances Academy.

25. Clackamas (Clackamas, OR) (1-0 – 25th)

Kicked off season off with 67-48 win over perennial power South Medford in non-league showdown. Junior Jazzy Davidson poured in game-high 38 points.

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ON THE BUBBLE:

Camden (Camden, SC)

Central Pointe Christian Academy (Kissimmee, FL)

Example Academy National (Frankfort, IL)

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)

Paul VI (Chantilly, VA)

Pickerington Central (Pickerington, OH)

Purcell Marian (Cincinatti, OH)

Providence Academy (Plymouth, MN)

Rutgers Prep (Somerset, NJ)

South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)

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