SBLive/SI Top 25 national girls basketball rankings: Archbishop Mitty new No. 1 team in the country
December was a great month for the Archbishop Mitty girls basketball team.
The Monarchs won two of the most prestigious holiday tournaments in the country - the Nike TOC in Phoenix and the POA Holiday Classic in Portland.
Leading the way was 6-foot-2 sophomore McKenna Woliczko, who scored 19 points in Mitty's 73-72 win over then-No. 1 Long Island Lutheran in the Nike TOC championship game. Woliczko followed with a remarkable three-game performance in Portland, averaging 22.3 points a 10.7 rebounds to lead Mitty to another tournament title.
The Monarchs (10-0) roll into January as the top team in the country in the latest SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national high school girls basketball rankings.
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
Jan. 3, 2024
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1. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, CA) (10-0 – 4th)
After upsetting Long Island Lutheran 73-72 to win the Nike TOC, Archbishop Mitty is the top team in the country – and beyond. In the semifinals, it handed Canada's top team, Crestwood Prep, its only loss.
2. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY) (9-1 – 1st)
The one-point loss to Mitty was a setback, but the Crusaders are still deeply entrenched in national title contention. On Jan. 15, they have a showdown against Etiwanda at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Boston.
3. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) (8-3 – 7th)
The Mustangs' 8-3 record isn't inspiring on paper, but their only losses came against Long Island Lutheran, IMG Academy, and Canadian juggernaut Crestwood Prep. And their many marquee wins include Montverde Academy, Duncanville, Folsom, and Archbishop Carroll.
4. Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL) (11-1 – 2nd)
Despite the upset loss to Bishop McNamara, MVA enters the new year with a host of impressive victories. Its list of downed opponents includes Hebron Christian, Lone Peak, Central Pointe Christian Academy, and Lake Highland Prep.
5. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) (14-1 – 3rd)
The Ascenders fell 61-60 to Lone Peak on Dec. 18 to open the Nike TOC, and that might be the biggest upset of the season so far. But IMG Academy's track record is otherwise impeccable, having beaten Bishop McNamara, Westtown, Lake Highland Prep, and a handful more nationally-ranked foes.
6. Morris Catholic (Denville, NJ) (7-0 – 5th)
While Morris Catholic is still yet to reach the thick of its season, it passed its first major test on Friday defeating Pickerington Central 55-45. It faces another nationally-ranked foe on Sunday, Red Bank Catholic.
7. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, FL) (13-0 – 6th)
So far, so good for DME Academy, which has won 12 of its 13 games by double-digits. Now coming off two bye weeks.
8. Sidwell Friends (Washington, DC) (4-1 – 8th)
Following nearly a month away from action, the Quakers begin DCSAA play on Thursday at Bullis.
9. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA) (14-1 – 9th)
The Trailblazers put together one of their best weeks yet in their return to facing in-state competition. They blew out Sage Hill 81-57, defeated Folsom 68-57, and annihilated Harvard-Westlake 96-39 in their Mission League opener.
10. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, TX) (25-1 – 11th)
Things got testy last week as Wolves played three nail-biters and five total games in the span of three days, but they prevailed. After holding off upset bids from Allen, North Little Rock, and South Grand Prairie, the top-ranked team in Texas has won 22 games straight.
11. Clark (San Antonio, TX) (20-1 – 12th)
Yet to be tested in district play, Clark flattened Johnson 69-37 in its only game last week.
12. Duncanville (Duncanville, TX) (19-3 – 14th)
Duncanville's winning streak, which began on Dec. 12 against rival DeSoto, is now up to nine games after a 5-0 week. The Pantherettes capped off their dominant sweep at the Sandra Meadows Classic with an impressive 62-22 win against Conway (AR).
13. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) (12-2 – 15th)
Etiwanda impressed against Pacific Northwest competition at the Nike Holiday Classic, cruising past Clackamas, Willamette, and Camas by 83 combined points. After a week of Baseline League play, the Eagles have a chance to make serious noise against LuHi and Sidwell Friends at the Hoophall Classic.
14. Incarnate Word Academy (Bel-Nor, MO) (9-0 – 13th)
The Red Knights' winning streak was put to the test at Visitation Academy's Christmas tournament, but they prevailed 50-46 over Burroughs (MO) to cap off a 3-0 week.
15. Westtown (West Chester, PA) (7-2 – 17th)
Saturday brought one of Westtown's best wins yet, a 20-point victory against otherwise-unbeaten Red Bank Catholic. Westtown will be tested again soon with Shabach Christian, McDonogh, and Archbishop Wood all on the schedule this month.
16. DeSoto (DeSoto, TX) (12-5 – 19th)
The Eagles bounced back from a 20-point loss to Mitty to register wins against Mater Dei and Benson Tech at the Nike Holiday Classic in Portland. Their highly-anticipated rematch with rival Duncanville, likely for a district title, is at home on Jan. 16.
17. St. John's (Washington, DC) (10-1 – 18th)
With their sole loss coming to Long Island Lutheran, the Cadets could be a big riser in coming weeks with more elite competition on deck. They face Archbishop Carroll on Thursday, Rutgers Prep on Sunday, and Bishop McNamara on Jan. 16.
18. Grace Christian (Sanford, NC) (15-0 – Bubble)
If Grace Christian didn't do enough to crack the top 25 through a 12-0 start, it certainly has after last week. Led by 6-2 forward Sarah Strong, the top-ranked senior in the country, the Crusaders are 15-0 after defeating Camden (SC), South Mecklenburg, and Rutgers Prep.
19. Johnston (Johnston, IA) (11-0 – 21st)
Halfway through the regular season, only Minnesota powerhouse Hopkins has been able to play Johnston down to double-digits.
20. Sage Hill (Newport Beach, CA) (11-2 – 20th)
Possessing a loss to Mater Dei earlier in the season, the Lightning normally would drop as a result of Mater Dei taking a major tumble this week. But that game occurred before Mater Dei's recent season-altering injuries. The Lightning's only other loss came 81-57 against Sierra Canyon at the West Coast Jamboree last week, where they also defeated Oakland Tech and St. Joseph (Santa Maria) by double-digits.
21. Hebron Christian (Dacula, GA) (11-2 – Bubble)
All 11 of the Lions' wins have come by double-digits, and they've beaten the likes of Xavier College Prep and Hazel Green. Equally impressive is that Hebron Christian gave both Long Island Lutheran and Montverde Academy a run for their money in the team's only losses.
22. Grayson (Loganville, GA) (12-0 – Bubble)
The top-ranked public school team in Georgia, led by 4-star Georgia Tech commit Danielle Carnegie, has put the country on notice with a dominant 12-0 start. Other than an overtime win against Mount Paran Christian in their second game, the Rams have put a hurting on every team they've faced, including South Shore, McDonogh, and Wesleyan.
23. Thomas Dale (Chester, VA) (10-0 – Unranked)
Unbeaten Thomas Dale announced its presence in a big way over the last two weeks, defeating Camden (SC) 61-46 and Rutgers Prep 68-65. The Knights have also done a great job of putting away all lesser competition quickly, blowing out every other team they've faced.
24. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, FL) (11-4 – Bubble)
Despite picking up their fourth loss of the season last week against IMG Academy, the Highlanders climbed back into the top 25 with four straight wins before that. The last of those four was a 27-point rout over Boilingbrook, the top-ranked team in Illinois.
25. Clackamas (Clackamas, OR) (4-2 – 25th)
Despite losing to Archbishop Mitty and Etiwanda at the Nike Holiday Classic, Clackamas hangs on to the last spot with wins against Northwest powers Camas and Benson under its belt.
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ON THE BUBBLE:
Archbishop Wood (Warminster, PA)
Bradley Central (Cleveland, TN)
Camden (Camden, SC)
Central Pointe Christian Academy (Kissimmee, FL)
Folsom (Folsom, CA)
Garfield (Seattle, WA)
Lone Peak (Highland, UT)
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
McDonogh (Owings Mills, MD)
Ontario Christian (Ontario, CA)
Putnam City West (Oklahoma City, OK)
Pickerington Central (Pickerington, OH)
Purcell Marian (Cincinatti, OH)
Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, NJ)
Rutgers Prep (Somerset, NJ)
South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)
Wesleyan (Peachtree Corners, GA)
Winston-Salem Christian National (Winston-Salem, NC)
Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, AZ)
– Lance Smith | lance@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca
