SBLive Power 25 national girls basketball rankings: Sierra Canyon (California) closes in on national title

Top-ranked Sierra Canyon is another week closer to being crowned the 2022-23 high school girls basketball national champion.

The Trailblazers are the top seeds in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Open Division playoffs - and could end up seeing No. 15 Etiwanda in the finals soon.

On an eight-game winning streak, reigning national champion Sidwell Friends (D.C.) moved up one spot to No. 2 - after St. John Vianney (N.J.) was nearly upset over the weekend.

And after seeing its national-best 87-game winning streak end, Hazel Green (Alabama) dropped from No. 7 to No. 20.

Read the full breakdown of our Week 9 (Feb. 6-12) SBLive Power 25 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.

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8

SBLIVE POWER 25 NATIONAL GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Feb. 6, 2023

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California) (26-0 – 1st)

Regular season officially over. Now it's on to Southern Section Open Division playoffs where top seeds will be heavy favorites against Bishop Montgomery, Ontario Christian, and Sage Hill in pool play.

2. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) (17-2 – 3rd)

Back in position and right on Sierra Canyon's heels after winning eight games in a row. And Quakers have seven games remaining in the DSCAA guantlet, including rematches with Georgetown Visitation Prep and Bullis.

3. St. John Vianney (Holmdel, New Jersey) (23-0 – 2nd)

Nearly got upset in showcase play Sunday, but undefeated they still stand. They held off Immaculate Conception - another one of the top teams in New Jersey - 72-68.

4. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida) (23-1 – 4th)

Off bye week - upcoming battle with in-state IMG Academy looms large. With its one loss (Sidwell Friends) and tough national schedule, one of few teams that can make legitimate argument for national title.

5. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, New York) (15-2 – 5th)

Routed Maryland powerhouse Riverdale Baptist (87-51) on 'Senior Night' (which there are not a lot of on this roster). Still has nearly three weeks of regular season games to go.

6. Incarnate Word Academy (Bel-Nor, Missouri) (20-0 – 6th)

They had it, lost it - and now the Red Knights regained nation's longest winning streak (88 games) after win over Vashon - a game in which Nebraska signee Natalie Potts scored a game-high 36 points.

7. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, California) (25-3 – 9th)

Even with 4-star SG Taj Roberts out a month (injury), Torreys are on way back up. Since loss to The Webb School (TN), they've won seven games in a row - with wins over Conway (AR), Etiwanda, and recently, Mission Hills.

8. The Webb School (Bellbuckle, Tennessee) (18-4 – 8th)

Since Dec. 28 loss to South Shore (NY), Webb has won 14 of 15 games, including a 20-point win over short-handed La Jolla Country Day and four-OT thriller over Columbia Academy.

9. Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) (25-4 – 10th)

Currently riding an 18-game winning streak, the Pantherettes finish the regular season Tuesday against Skyline. Barring a major upset, they'll enter the playoffs as the team to beat in big, bad Texas.

10. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) (15-3 – 11th)

Unlike most teams on the list, Knights still have two full weeks of regular season action to go. The way they've dominated in-state competition - only one win has been by less than 30 points - plenty left in the tank.

11. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, California) (20-2 – 12th)

Not uncommon to see this program stand alone untouched atop the WCAL. But to see any team sweep such a competitive conference in such dominant form – all wins have been by at least 20 points – is a rare feat.

12. South Bend Washington (South Bend, Indiana) (26-0 – 13th)

During three-game annihilation of Section 3 playoff bracket, the Panthers beat Mishawaka, South Bend Adams, and Plymouth by a combined 227-111. Standalone Indiana playoff favorite used to lopsided bloodbaths.

13. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Maryland) (16-5 – 14th)

Another week, another huge win for the Mustangs. They beat Paul VI (Chantilly), 51-36, on Tuesday to move to 9-0 in one of the nation's toughest conferences.

14. Morris Catholic (Denville, New Jersey) (18-3 – 17th)

Defeated Boonton and Pequannock to reach the Morris County tournament semifinals this week, and close in on league title in NJAC-Liberty. Heavy favorite to win (Non-Public 'B') state title.

15. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, California) (26-2 – 16th)

For second consecutive postseason, will play all CIFSS Open Division pool-play matchups on homecourt - and will need to beat Santiago (Corona), Windward and Mater Dei for potential Sierra Canyon rematch.

16. Hoover (Hoover, Alabama) (29-1 – 24th)

No more playing second fiddle to anyone in Alabama. After Hazel Green handed Buccaneers only in-state loss last season (59-32), they avenged it Tuesday in 52-38 win, ending longest winning streak in AHSAA history.

17. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Kentucky) (23-3 – 17th)

Now 19-0 against in-state teams, Valkyries are heavy favorites to repeat as champions in Kentucky. Three of their best wins are from out of state - Purcell-Marian (OH), Bixby (OK), and St. John's (D.C.), all by double-digits.

18. Centennial (Las Vegas, Nevada) (18-1 – 22nd)

On a 17-game winning streak, Bulldogs could see one of their bigger tests Monday as they head to Faith Lutheran in search of 5A Southern League title. Only loss was season opener (66-46) to Lone Peak (UT).

19. Edmond North (Edmond, Oklahoma) (17-0 – 19th)

Of Edmond North's 17 wins, 15 have come by double-digit margins. That includes its most impressive one - a 60-50 victory a month ago against nationally-ranked Putnam City West.

20. Hazel Green (Hazel Green, Alabama) (29-1 – 7th)

Couldn't stay perfect forever - and program held up just long enough to make AHSAA history with its 87-game winning streak. But loss to Hoover all but ended long shot hopes of winning national title.  

21. Putnam City West (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) (14-3 – 20th)

Only played three games since Jan. 7 setback against Edmond North, but all three have been convincing wins. Don't be surprised to see them get a rematch against Edmond North in Oklahoma's 6A playoffs.

22. Paul VI (Haddonfield, New Jersey) (16-2 – 21st)

Bounced back from loss to South Shore (NY) to cruise against Camden and Camden Catholic in league play. Notre Dame signee Hannah Hidalgo cracked 2,000-point mark in win over Camden Catholic.

23. Monterey (Lubbock, Texas) (26-3 – 22nd)

A win Tuesday at Lubbock, which the Plainsmen defeated by 21 points in last meeting, cements a tie atop district standings. PG Aaliyah Chavez will one of top scorers in the country (30.4 ppg).

24. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas) (31-3 – 23rd)

Unless there's a 60-point turnaround from the last time the Wolves faced Seguin, Tuesday will mark a clean sweep of district play. Junior guard Chrishawn Coleman just eclipsed 1,000 career points.

25. Mason (Mason, OH) (21-1 – Bubble)

In defeating Lakota East on Saturday (58-36), Mason avenged its only loss of the season, clinched a league title, and now makes its Power 25 debut. Team wraps up regular-season action Wednesday against Anderson.

BUBBLE TEAMS:

Clackamas (Clackamas, OR)

Clovis West (Fresno, CA)

Example Academy Red (Frankfort, IL)

Hopkins (Minnetonka, MN)

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)

McDonogh (Owings Mills, MD)

Piedmont (Piedmont, CA)

Providence Academy (Plymouth, MN)

Purcell Marian Catholic (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Rutgers Prep (Somerset, NJ)

South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)

South Shore (Brooklyn, NY)

St. John's (Washington, D.C.)