SBLive Power 25 national girls basketball rankings: Sierra Canyon (California) No. 1, Sidwell Friends (D.C.) No. 3
There appears to be one big hurdle for top-ranked Sierra Canyon to clear to capture the 2022-23 high school girls basketball national championship - its own state.
The Trailblazers are locked in to an extended stay at home to try to repeat as California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Open Division state champions.
But if they slip up, a number of teams - led by St. John Vianney (N.J.), Montverde Academy (Fla.) and even reigning national champion Sidwell Friends (D.C.) - are in position to jump to the top spot.
Read the full breakdown of our Week 7 (Jan. 23-28) national high school girls basketball rankings below.
SBLive's national girls basketball rankings will be released weekly for the duration of the 2022-23 season.
SBLIVE POWER 25 NATIONAL GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Jan. 23, 2023
1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California) (21-0 – 1st)
National schedule calmed down enough for Trailblazers to come home and set tone in Mission League with two double-digit margin wins (Marlborough, Harvard-Westlake) behind F Mackenly Randolph double-doubles.
2. St. John Vianney (Holmdel, New Jersey) (17-0 – 2nd)
Busy, blowout type of week (4-0) as Lancers' average margin of victory was 43.8 points. Five-star PG Zoe Brooks (North Carolina State) continues to blister defenses, scoring 27 points against Saddle River Day.
3. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) (14-2 – 4th)
Defending national champions are nowhere close to giving up throne. After defeating Conway (AR) in first game of GEICO Girls Basketball Invitational, Quakers win in dramatic fashion against Webb (TN) for title.
4. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida) (20-1 – 5th)
How about a pair of wins over nationally-ranked opponents after suffering first loss to Sidwell Friends? First, the Eagles topped ex-No. 1 Long Island Lutheran (67-60), then beat Morris Catholic (54-43) at Big Hoops Shootout.
5. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, New York) (13-2 – 3rd)
Nike Tournament of Champions winner dropped its second game in eight days to Montverde in the Big Hoops Shootout, dropping Crusaders two spots. Now they need help if they want to climb back into No. 1 slot.
6. Incarnate Word Academy (Bel-Nor, Missouri) (15-0 – 8th)
Why doesn't this team with the national-best 83-game winning streak not get talked about more often? Red Knights just posted biggest win of 2022-23 - a 60-48 road win at Sacred Heart (Ky.). F Natalie Potts (19 points) triggers knockout run.
7. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minnesota) (15-0 – 7th)
Ah, the Royals were finally tested - by in-state Wayzata. In fact, they trailed at halftime at home before pulling out a 57-50 win. G Liv McGill scored big basket in final 90 seconds, and F Nunu Agara's late putback bucket sewed up win.
8. Hazel Green (Hazel Green, Alabama) (24-0 – 9th)
Good week against in-state competition as Trojans pick up three wins, including an 87-30 victory over Central-Tuscaloosa at BallN Prep MLK Classic, and then defeating No. 2 Sparkman (7A), 55-29, on the road.
9. The Webb School (Bellbuckle, Tennessee) (18-4 – Bubble)
Jaw-dropper of the week? It has to be the Tennessee powerhouse's 61-41 win over then-No. 6 La Jolla Country Day (CA) in first game of GEICO Girls Basketball Invitational. Webb then played Sidwell Friends down to the wire.
10. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, California) (19-3 – 6th)
Say what you want about the Torreys, they will travel anywhere - anytime. After a stunning GEICO loss to The Webb School (TN), they did rebound for a 73-67 win over Conway (AR) behind a big night from C Breya Cunningham.
11. Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) (22-4 – 10th)
Well, the Pantherettes certainly have their home state taken care of. They've won 15 games in a row, including the rematch against intra-district rival DeSoto (74-69) as G Tristen Taylor (19 points) and company held off a late rally by the visitors.
12. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) (12-3 – 11th)
Opened the week by dominating one of the state's top teams (Skyridge) as G Shawnee Nordstrom and Kailey Woolston each tallied 19 points in a 67-36 win. Knights then handled American Fork (68-31).
13. South Bend Washington (South Bend, Indiana) (21-0 – 12th)
After posting a pair of lopsided victories against Fort Wayne Northrop and Jimtown - Knights seemingly on easy street until the playoffs. Three of top five scorers are sophomores, including F Kira Reynolds (16.6 ppg, 12.6 rpg).
14. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, California) (16-2 – 13th)
Won all three games last week, including one over Valley Vista (AZ) at the SI20 event, hosted by Carondelet. And ninth-grade sensation McKenna Woliczko continues to haul in big-time offers (Florida last week).
15. Paul VI (Haddonfield, New Jersey) (13-1 – 14th)
One of school's three wins last week was a nail-biter - a 72-65 victory over Blair. G Hannah Hidalgo led the way with a game-high 35 points, including a 17-of-18 showing from the free-throw line, and eight steals.
16. Clovis West (Fresno, California) (22-0 – 15th)
Busy 4-0 week for the Golden Eagles, who remain one of two undefeated programs in California, including a victory over Marin Catholic at the Si20 Showcase. One of rare schools now to have 1,000 career wins in both basketball programs.
17. Morris Catholic (Denville, New Jersey) (15-3 – 16th)
Crusaders don't duck good competition as they notched an MLK Day win over Etiwanda, followed by loss to Montverde. Now it's on to their county championship (Morris County) as they were appointed the No. 1 seed.
18. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, California) (21-1 – 17th)
It's about to get serious in southern California as Etiwanda and La Jolla Country Day meet for what could decide homecourt advantage in pivotal playoff games. Eagles won all three games last week following loss to Morris Catholic.
19. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Maryland) (12-5 – 18th)
Big hurdle to clear was WCAC showdown against St. John's - and Mustangs rode G Madisen McDaniel's hot shooting (29 points, seven 3-pointers) in a 59-50 victory. Team's winning streak is now up to nine games.
20. Edmond North (Edmond, Oklahoma) (16-0 – 20th)
Light week for the Huskies, who defeated Norman (59-35) before going on a 10-day layoff before final seven-game stretch to close out regular season. Team is on 20-game winning streak, dating back to last season.
21. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Kentucky) (17-3 – 19th)
Suffered third loss to a top-15 team nationally last weekend against Incarnate Word Academy (MO) - all by 12 or more points (60-48). Valkyries still boast impressive wins, and are getting another MVP season from sophomore ZaKiyah Johnson.
22. Centennial (Las Vegas, Nevada) (13-1 – 21st)
Just finished up busy stretch of six victories in eight days, and now face Coronado - arguably the second-best team in Nevada - on Tuesday. Season-opening loss to Lone Peak (UT) seems like a distant memory.
23. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Virginia) (15-4 – 22nd)
Blowout victories over The Academy of the Holy Cross (74-27) and Bishop Ireton (85-49) push the team's winning streak to nine games. Bigger tests await, starting Jan. 31 against No. 19 Bishop McNamara.
24. Putnam City West (Oklahoma City, OK) (12-3 – 24th)
Hasn't played since its Jan. 10 win over Putnam City (71-57), but rematch looms next month.
25. Monterey (Lubbock, TX) (23-3 – 25th)
Just beat Cooper for the third time in a row after Plainsmen were dealt only loss outside top 25 by this team earlier in year. G Aaliyah Chavez ties season high with 45 points in victory.
BUBBLE TEAMS:
Camas (Camas, WA)
Camden (Camden, SC)
Desert Vista (Phoenix, AZ)
Example Academy (Frankfort, IL)
Hoover (Hoover, AL)
Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, TX)
Mason (Mason, OH)
McDonogh (Owings Mills, MD)
Purcell Marian Catholic (Cincinnati, OH)
Rutgers Prep (Somerset, NJ)
South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)
South Shore (Brooklyn, NY)
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD)
