The Sporting News national high school girls basketball top 25 rankings: Sierra Canyon rises to No. 2; Friends' Central and Oostburg debut

wcc

Mar 2, 2026 - 13:25

0 0

The Sporting News national high school girls basketball top 25 rankings: Sierra Canyon rises to No. 2; Friends' Central and Oostburg debut originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It wouldn't be late February and early March without playoff drama.

Sierra Canyon came back in the fourth quarter to beat Ontario Christian and Friends' Central got its revenge on Westtown in championship games that shook up the pecking order. And two new teams debuted as Wagner and Belleville fell out of the rankings upon their first losses of the season. For Wagner, a 63-59 loss to Glenn means the end of the road after a regular season for the books and three lopsided playoff victories.

Here are The Sporting News national high school girls basketball rankings for the week of Mar. 2.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 2 | Feb. 9 | Feb. 16 | Feb. 23

Top 25 High School Girls Basketball Rankings

1. Bishop McNamara (MD) (27-2 – 1st last week)

Still improving by the week? Bishop McNamara beat Bishop Ireton 59-45 for a WCAC title after beating the Cardinals in overtime the first time and by seven points in their second meeting. The Mustangs open the Maryland private school state playoffs on Monday against ever-dangerous Riverdale Baptist.

2. Sierra Canyon (CA) (28-2 – 5th)

Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn

After missing much of the offseason plus the beginning weeks of the season with an injury and then easing her way back in, Jerzy Robinson is making a serious National Player of the Year push. She dropped 32 points with 12 rebounds in a 69-62 comeback win over Ontario Christian to win her first CIF title with Sierra Canyon, a coveted Southern Section Open Division title. Earlier in the week, the 5-star South Carolina commit had 24 points and 12 rebounds to beat Etiwanda 66-62 in the semifinals.

3. Ontario Christian (CA) (31-2 – 2nd)

Up 56-51 entering the fourth quarter against Sierra Canyon, Ontario Christian went cold and only scored six points in the final frame, making the Knights' CIF-SS championship loss to Sierra Canyon similar to their loss against Bishop McNamara. Kaleena Smith shined with 30 points, five assists, and five rebounds on 50% shooting, and fellow junior Dani Robinson had 16 points on 5-8 shooting. Up next is a battle with Etiwanda, against whom the Knights went 1-1 in two CIF title games a year ago.

4. Princess Anne (VA) (25-0 – 3rd)

The Cavaliers' dominant ways have translated to the VHSL playoffs as usual. Last week they opened the playoffs by blowing out Cox 88-13, Kellam 90-50, and Deep Creek 73-41.

5. Archbishop Mitty (CA) (26-2 – 4th)

As expected, the Monarchs faced their usual WCAL foes in the CIF-Central Coast Open Division playoffs, and the Monarchs won by just as much as usual. They beat Half Moon Bay 89-23, Saint Francis (Mountain View) 78-22, St. Ignatius 66-28, and Archbishop Riordan 90-31 in the finals.

6. Incarnate Word Academy (MO) (20-2 – 6th)

The Red Knights still have only lost to CIF-SS Open Division finalists Sierra Canyon and Ontario Christian this season and go into the playoffs as the heavy favorites against all challengers. Missouri's Division 6 field is no joke, however, with the likes of Staley and Kickapoo looming.

7. Long Island Lutheran (NY) (17-4 – 7th)

As the team is on an extended break from action, seniors Olivia Jones, Emily McDonald, and Savvy Swords are all less than a month out from the McDonald's All-American Game.

8. Etiwanda (CA) (30-3 – 8th)

After trailing by more than 20 points around mid-game, Etiwanda nearly came all the way back against Sierra Canyon before falling 66-62. That ended a run of four straight Southern Section Open Division finals appearances for the Eagles, who won two of them. Now they get a crack at Ontario Christian in the regional semifinals with their season on the line.

9. SPIRE Academy National (OH) (19-0 – 11th)

SPIRE blew out Western Reserve Academy 68-40 in its only game of the week and gets bumped up passively for its December win over St. James with the Strivers winning big.

10. The St. James Performance Academy (VA) (23-3 – 12th)

Not including a possible appearance at Chipotle Nationals and/or The Throne, The St. James Performance Academy finished the season on a 19-game tear to win the Independent Schools National Championship in year one.

11. Johnston (IA) (24-0 – 10th)

Johnston opens its three-peat bid as IGHSAU state champion against Ankeny Centennial, which it defeated 87-53 and 72-32 in the regular season.

12. Red Bank Catholic (NJ) (26-2 – 13th)

Now up to its highest ranking yet, Red Bank Catholic is the top seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public A playoffs where it opens against Union Catholic after a first round bye. The winner will face either St. Thomas Aquinas or Trinity Hall.

13. St. John Vianney (NJ) (23-3 – 14th)

Thursday will most likely bring one of the top matchups of the season as St. John Vianney and Paul VI are a round away from each other in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public A playoffs. First, however, the Lancers must handle Bishop Eustace Prep.

14. Tualatin (OR) (22-1 – 15th)

After beating West Linn 61-52 the first time around, Tualatin won the rematch 61-53 to finish the regular season unbeaten against in-state competition. Its only loss came in the Nike POA Holiday Classic finals to Etiwanda. The Timberwolves open the OSAA 6A playoffs as the overwhelming favorite against Forest Grove.

15. Westlake (TX) (39-0 – 16th)

Still looking unstoppable. Westlake is in the UIL 6A D2 semifinals after routing formidable Judson 61-38.

16. Westtown (PA) (27-2 – 9th)

The Moose are 2-1 against Friends' Central this season, but they lost the one that counted for the most. Westtown fell 62-54 in the PAISAA championship despite 27 points from Jordyn Palmer.

17. Bullis (MD) (22-6 – 18th)

Entering the state playoffs, Bullis has had more than a week to think about its 59-55 upset loss at the hands of Sidwell Friends. It jumps in against one of the most dangerous unranked teams around, Elizabeth Seton.

18. Hoover (AL) (33-1 – 20th)

Only two games remain between the Buccaneers and another AHSAA 7A state crown. They're the heavy favorite against Bryant in the semifinals and the winner will play either Auburn or Bob Jones, the latter of which played Hoover to a 60-50 finish in November.

19. Sage Hill (CA) (27-5 – 21st)

With Wagner and Belleville going down, Sage Hill rises two spots despite getting blown out in its only game of the week. It fell 86-54 to Ontario Christian in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division semifinals. Now the Lightning face newly-crowned section champion Sierra Canyon, which beat them 75-59 in December, in the regional semifinals/state quarterfinals.

20. DME Academy (FL) (21-3 – 22nd)

DME got back on the right track last week with a 57-46 victory over IMG Academy.

21. Legion Prep (TX) (15-3 – 23rd)

The Bulldogs had a bye week with a pause in the Grind Session schedule.

22. Wauwatosa East (WI) (26-0 – 24th)

So far, Wauwatosa East's overwhelming ways have fully translated to the playoffs. The Red Raiders opened the WIAA Division 1 playoffs – one of the nation's most underrated gauntlets – by crushing West Allis Hale 98-14 and Badger 84-40. There are four games left if they keep winning, and the level of competition will increase sharply.

23. Bishop Gorman (NV) (23-3 – 25th)

Will we see the NIAA 5A champs in a national postseason setting?

24. Friends' Central (PA) (27-5 – Bubble)

The Phoenix make their debut in the top 25 for beating Westtown in the PAISAA finals after spending the entire season on the bubble. Two of their losses came to Westtown with the others coming to Bishop McNamara, The St. James Performance Academy, and Example Academy National, with all except one loss to Westtown coming by single digits. Friends' Central also has wins over Bishop Ireton, Christ the King, and Aussie Travelers.

25. Oostburg (WI) (26-0 – Bubble)

Gary C. Klein/Sheboygan Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn

Also debuting is Oostburg, which opened the WIAA D3 playoffs last week by dominating Mayville 90-38 and North Fond du Lac 71-25. The undefeated Flying Dutchmen hold wins over a handful of in-state powers including Arrowhead, Whitefish Bay, Notre Dame Academy, Appleton East, and Pewaukee.