The long-awaited rematch between Ontario Christian and Archbishop Mitty – more than a year in the making – lived up to the billing this time.
After the Monarchs clobbered Ontario Christian 59-34 to win the Nike TOC in December of 2024 and McKenna Woliczko tore her ACL early in a rematch two weeks later, their meeting on Saturday was a double-overtime instant classic. Kaleena Smith dropped 50 points with seven steals and four assists to lead Ontario Christian to a 12-point comeback in the fourth quarter as the Knights pulled out a 96-87 victory.
Coincidentally, it was the losing team that rose in the rankings, as Ontario Christian was already the No. 1 team in high school girls basketball and Archbishop Mitty moved up a spot.
Meanwhile, some 1,800 miles away, familiar face Incarnate Word Academy jumped all the way from the bubble to seventh with one huge win – an 85-76 upset of Long Island Lutheran.
Here are AllSportsPeople national high school girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 12.
PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5
Top 25 High School Girls Basketball Rankings
1. Ontario Christian (CA) (20-0 – 1st last week)
This is what it looks like when you have the No. 1 player in the country in two different classes and additional star power. Kaleena Smith had one of the very best performances in recent California history given the context, Tati Griffin notched 20 points and 18 rebounds, and Dani Robinson added 16 points, eight rebounds, and four steals. It's now safe to say that Ontario Christian is having one of the better regular seasons of the past decade or more in high school girls basketball.
2. DME Academy (FL) (15-0 – 2nd)
Like Ontario Christian, DME Academy is also unbeaten and also just had its first win of less than 20 points all season. That was an 86-72 win over Example Academy National, which is still worth writing home about.
3. Bishop McNamara (MD) (11-2 – 3rd)
It wouldn't be WCAL play if the overwhelming favorite didn't nearly get upset multiple times right off the bat. Before beating Monsignor Scanlan 58-47 on Saturday, Bishop McNamara was taken to overtime by both Elizabeth Seton and Bishop Ireton, but the Mustangs prevailed.
4. Archbishop Mitty (CA) (12-2 – 5th)
After their first loss with a healthy McKenna Woliczko since the 2023-24 season, the Monarchs move... Up? Long Island Lutheran went down, and a double overtime loss to Ontario Christian is far from a stock-dropper. Woliczko had 25 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks on 10-17 shooting and Ze'Ni Patterson scored 21 points as all five of Mitty's starters cracked double figures.
5. Princess Anne (VA) (14-0 – 6th)
The Cavaliers breezed past Tallwood, Virginia Beach Catholic, and Kellam last week to stay undefeated.
6. Sierra Canyon (CA) (16-1 – 7th)
Last week was business as usual for the Trailblazers, who blew out Chaminade, Louisville, and Mission Hills. But their stock actually rose thanks to Incarnate Word Academy's upset of Long Island Lutheran, as Incarnate Word has lost only to Sierra Canyon and Ontario Christian.
7. Incarnate Word Academy (MO) (9-2 – Bubble)
After Etiwanda snapped the Red Knights' 141-game winning streak – the longest in high school girls basketball history – a year ago, we didn't expect to see the Red Knights anywhere near the top 10 any time soon. But they just beat LuHi and have lost only to Ontario Christian and Sierra Canyon, so why not? Peyton Olufson dropped 31 points on just seven field goal attempts (6-7 FG, 5-5 3FG, 14-16 FT) as IWA went 20-34 from the field and a whopping 37-41 from the charity stripe to take down Long Island Lutheran 85-76 at the Sophie Cunningham Classic.
8. Long Island Lutheran (NY) (11-2 – 4th)
The Crusaders were called for 32 fouls and had four players foul out in their surprising loss to Incarnate Word Academy. That's the big news, but Long Island Lutheran did pick up nice wins before that, 56-42 over Red Bank Catholic and 64-53 over Staley.
9. Johnston (IA) (11-0 – 8th)
Jenica Lewis set a new program record with nine made threes in the Dragons' 87-53 rout of Ankeny Centennial.
10. Bishop Gorman (NV) (13-1 – 9th)
The Gaels opened conference play by blowing out Desert Pines and Las Vegas Centennial.
11. Etiwanda (CA) (16-2 – 10th)
Between Tuesday and Saturday, Etiwanda scored a total of 324 points in four lopsided wins over Los Osos, St. Lucy's, Villa Park, and Moreno Valley. The most competitive was a 69-49 win over Villa Park.
12. Westtown (PA) (12-1 – 11th)
It's a make-or-break week for Westtown to stay in the national title hunt with Bullis and IMG Academy on deck.
13. Legion Prep (TX) (10-2 – 12th)
The Bulldogs stayed hot with an 88-72 win against Kingdom Collegiate Academy and a 72-67 over Example Academy National.
14. The St. James Performance Academy (VA) (10-3 – 14th)
St. James is now on a six-game winning streak after a 27-point rout of NC GBB Academy National. The next two weeks bring a handful more opportunities to bolster its resume with the likes of IMG Academy, Crestwood Prep, Monsignor Scanlan, and Kingdom Collegiate Academy on deck.
15. Westlake (TX) (27-0 – 16th)
If Westlake avoids upset against Del Valle and Dripping Springs this week, it will be one more round of district play away from an undefeated regular season.
16. Tualatin (OR) (9-1 – 15th)
The Timberwolves open 6A Three Rivers League play on Tuesday against Oregon City. They faced an unexpected test on Friday at Beaverton but prevailed by nine points over a team that entered 3-9.
17. Red Bank Catholic (NJ) (9-1 – Bubble)
Peter Ackerman/Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn
No surprise to see the Caseys making a top-20 appearance this season. After picking up their first loss of the season against Long Island Lutheran, Addy Nyemchek and company bounced back immediately to put St. John Vianney in the L's column with a 62-51 victory. They nearly got upset themselves later in the week before pulling out a 41-40 win against Gloucester Catholic.
18. St. John Vianney (NJ) (8-1 – 17th)
Going from freshly ranked with a win against St. John's to a double-digit loss to Red Bank Catholic had to be deflating. But the Lancers got back on track immediately by clobbering Rumson-Fair Haven 65-17 and Xaverian 79-39.
19. St. John's (DC) (11-3 – 18th)
The Cadets cruised past Our Lady of Good Counsel 67-43 to move to 2-0 in WCAL play in their only game of the week. This week should be an interesting one with Paul VI (VA), Bishop Ireton, Dexter Southfield, and Rutgers Prep all on deck.
20. Bullis (MD) (11-4 – 19th)
After the loss to Princess Anne, Bullis made the most of a chance to restore momentum before facing Westtown last week by downing Potomac School and St. Frances Academy. Friday's meeting with Westtown is Bullis' only contest of the week.
21. IMG Academy (FL) (12-2 – 20th)
In its only game of the week, IMG smoked Academy of Central Florida 58-34. The Ascenders have one of the toughest remaining regular season schedules left with The St. James Performing Academy and Westtown scheduled for this week and the likes of Montverde Academy, Miami Country Day, Legion Prep, and No. 2 DME Academy coming up too.
22. Wagner (TX) (24-0 – 22nd)
Still unbeaten halfway through district play. If the Timberwolves stay lossless through Friday's rematch with Pieper, which they beat 57-42 previously, the undefeated regular season is a wrap.
23. Arrowhead (WI) (11-0 – 24th)
Arrowhead looks more likely to run the table by the week. Last week it cruised past Oak Creek and Kettle Moraine in conference play.
24. Belleville (MI) (7-0 – 25th)
Through seven games, Belleville has outscored opponents 557-221.
25. Montverde Academy (FL) (10-2 – Bubble)
Back from the bubble but running out of time to guarantee itself a top-25 finish. The biggest games left on the schedule are against IMG Academy and DME Academy in February, but the next couple weeks could be interesting with Bartlett and Miami Country Day coming up.
AllSportsPeople high school girls basketball top 25 bubble
Bishop Ireton (VA)
Bradley Central (TN)
Democracy Prep Agassi Campus (NV)
Dowling Catholic (IA)
Example Academy National (IL)
Friends' Central (PA)
Grace Christian (NC)
Hoover (AL)
Hopkins (MN)
Lancaster (TX)
Miami Country Day (FL)
Millennium (AZ)
Monsignor Scanlan (NY)
Paul VI (NJ)
Pleasant Grove (UT)
Putnam City North (OK)
San Ramon Valley (CA)
St. Frances Academy (MD)
St. Mary's-Stockton (CA)
The St. James Performance Academy (VA)
Valley (IA)
Wauwatosa East (WI)
West Clermont (OH)