SCNext Top 25: Ranking the best girls’ teams in the 2022-23 season
We are closer and closer to GEICO Nationals and the State Champions Invitational, both which will be aired on ESPN networks on back to back weekends. GEICO has announced its field and will play March 30-April 1. The field for the State Champions Invitational (April 6-8) will be announced this week. We expect to see several of the SCNext Top 25 teams competing for those titles.
Out of the Top 25, 14 programs have claimed their respective state championships. Two more, Incarnate Word (Missouri) and Hopkins (Minnesota), are still in the hunt for the state titles. There will be a final power ranking once the state federations and national events are complete that will take into account total résumé, strength of schedule and recent final results.
Sidwell Friends won the DCSAA state championship with a 68-49 win over St. John’s College Prep. Duke-bound McDonald’s All-American Jadyn Donovan scored 20 points and junior Leah Harmon scored 21 points.
Etiwanda (Calif.) won the prestigious Open Division of the CIF state championships after two last-minute wins last week. On March 7, Etiwanda defeated the favorite Sierra Canyon 55-54 in a thriller. Saturday evening, it beat Archbishop Mitty 69-67 in an instant classic at the buzzer. Junior Kennedy Smith led the way with 30 points and 13 rebounds in a dominant performance.
Lone Peak defeated Skyridge 64-49 to win the 6A UHSAA state title. Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and BYU signee Kailey Woolston led the way for Lone Peak.
Sacred Heart secured the KHSAA state championship by beating McCracken 68-53. Super sophomore and Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year Zakiyah Johnson scored 30 points.
The Webb School won the Tennessee Division 2 Class A championship in dominant fashion 73-43.
Hoover won the 7A AHSAA state title by defeating Sparkman 55-44. Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and UNC signee Reniya Kelly helped secure their fourth title in a row.
Hazel Green (Ala.) won the 6A AHSAA state championship with a 53-40 win over Huffman.
Conway defeated North Little Rock to win the 6A AHSAA state championship as Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year and Stanford signee Chloe Clardy scored 20 points.
San Antonio Clark won the 6A UIL state championship in Texas. Their playoff run lands them in the SCNext Top 25 for the first time this season. Junior Arianna Roberson led the way with 24 points and 15 rebounds in their 42-37 win over DeSoto.
Desert Vista dominated its way to the championship in Arizona by defeating Millenium 63-37. Freshman Jerzy Robinson scored 21 points and had nine rebounds. Desert Vista is making its Top 25 debut.
Morris Catholic won the NJSIAA non-public B championship over Immaculate Conception 55-49. The sophomore twin duo of Mia and Mya Pauldo had 26 and 17 points, respectively.
Purcell Marian (Ohio) won the OHSAA Division 2 championship 57-48 over Northwest HS. Super sophomore Dee Alexander led with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 1 sophomore Jazz Davidson and her Clackamas squad won the 6A OSAA state championship in Oregon. Portland-bound Rhyan Mogel led the way with 18 points and despite foul trouble, Davidson had 12.
No. 5 sophomore Sienna Betts was dominant in every facet of the game in Grandview’s (Colo.) win over Monarch. Betts loaded the stat sheet with 22 points and 22 rebounds.
This week’s SCNext Top 25:
1. Sierra Canyon (Calif.) 31-1
2. Sidwell Friends (D.C.) 28-3
3. Montverde Academy (Fla.) 24-1
4. Etiwanda (Calif.) 32-3
5. Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) 19-2
6. Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) 27-2
7. St. John Vianney (N.J.) 32-1
8. La Jolla Country Day (Calif.) 29-4
9. Lone Peak (Utah) 23-3
10. South Bend Washington (Ind.) 27-1
11. Incarnate Word Academy (Mo.) 29-0
12. Sacred Heart (Ky.) 37-3
13. The Webb School (Tenn.) 32-4
14. Hopkins HS (Minn.) 26-2
15. Hoover (Ala.) 35-1
16. Hazel Green (Ala.) 36-1
17. Conway (Ark.) 28-5
18. San Antonio Clark (Texas) 34-3
19. Desert Vista (Ariz.) 28-3
20. DeSoto HS (Texas) 28-6
21. Centennial (Nev.) 24-1
22. Paul VI (N.J.) 21-3
23. Morris Catholic (N.J.) 27-3
24. Purcell Marian (Ohio) 27-2
25. Bedford North Lawrence (Ind.) 27-3