They are considered two of the best players – some say the very best – in the state of Texas.
MacArthur's Odyssey Sims scored 25 points in second half.
File photo by Jim Redman
Odyssey Sims and Alexis Jones put on their very best case in arguably the nation’s top showdown of the week.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the MacArthur (Irving) standouts combined for 59 points in a terrific 69-56 win over Duncanville in a battle of nationally-ranked teams on Saturday.
Jones, a 5-foot-9 sophomore, scored a game-high 32 points including 21 in the first half while Sims, who will join the nation’s most dominating college freshman Brittney Griner at Baylor next season, scored 25 of her 27 in the second half. The 5-8 senior made 11 straight free throws in the second half to keep Duncanville at bay.
“I thank God every day for those two,” MacArthur coach Suzie Oelschlegel told the Morning News.
MacArthur (25-0) came into the game ranked No. 5 in the Xcellent 25 and Duncanville (23-1) at No. 16.
SMU-signee Akil Simpson, a 5-11 senior, led Duncanville with 18 points.
With the win, MacArthur moved up to spots to No. 3 in the national rankings.
Other than that, not much movement in the 25 as the squads combined for just three losses. All 25 teams stayed among the nation’s elite. {VIDEO_a07adb5d-486f-4673-bf23-f5a8176787f6,floatRightWithBar}Gatorade G2 National Player of the Week: In this initial award, the remarkable efforts of Monica Jackson (Chatsworth, Calif.) were recognized after the 5-7 senior guard averaged 34.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals over four games at the West Coast Holiday Classic to go along with eight assists and four blocks. See Jackson's highlights and a weekly video national report on girls basketball at the Varsity Center with hosts Megan Peasha and Lindsay Ray.
Here are the teams with records through Jan. 2.
Xcellent 25 National High School Girls Basketball Rankings
1. (No. 1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 14-0
After taking the Nike title, another impressive showing and title at a Nike tournament in Oregon, winning by scores of 74-55, 69-24 and 107-51.
2. (2) St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), 11-1
Responded well from narrow loss to Mater Dei with gritty wins over No. 15 Hoover (50-44) and No. 12 Mt. Lebanon (61-52). MaxPreps editor Jason Hickman, who covered the T-Mobile said of St. Mary’s: "I was so impressed with their ability to cause turnovers and persistence with the full-court pressure. I don't think I saw two of the best games from Afure Jemerigbe, but Chelsea Gray lived up to her billing by taking over in the second half in both games."
3. (5) MacArthur (Irving, Texas), 25-0
MacArthur also had a 70-50 win over West Mesquite during the Holidays and have outscored opponents by an average score of 67-43.
Brea's Alexis Perry was All-Tournament at West Coast Jamboree.
File photo by Mitchell Reibel
After a narrow loss to No. 2 St. Mary’s-Stockton (67-66) at the Nike TOC, the Wildcats cleaned up at the nation’s largest girls basketball tournament, the West Coast Jamboree, winning four straight games including wins over previously Xcellent squads Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) 64-55 and Potter’s House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) 78-66. Kelsey Harris was MVP of the tourney and Keitra Wallace and Alexis Perry all-tournament picks.
5. (4) Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 9-2
Haven’t played since Nike TOC where it endured tough losses to No. 1 Mater Dei (56-51) and No. 3 Brea Olinda (48-46). Back to the lopsided league grind with a home game against Lakewood Friday.
6. (6) Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.), 13-0
Won 42nd and 43rd consecutive game overall with easy wins over Heritage Christian (60-28) and Bloomington South (68-35). All-American candidate Bria Goss had a combined 31.
7. (7) Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), 16-1
Airika Reyna, not Chiney Ogwumike (25.5 ppg), was the leading scorer in the team’s latest win, 70-37 over Jersey Village.
8. (10) Whitney Young (Chicago), 10-0
We flip-flopped Young over Bolingbrook following Young’s 71-37 romp over Ohio power Start (Toledo) 71-37. Bollingbrook barely got by Start, 46-42. Kiana Johnson had 18 points, five assists and five steals against Start, while Gillian Asque added 11 points and 18 rebounds.
9. (93) Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.), 10-1
Had a tough game while defeating Start, but easily handled two other foes by 26 and 19.
10. (11) Murry Bergtraum (New York City), 10-0
Bergtraum starting to get tested with wins over Archbishop Molloy and St. John’s 89-79. Has big showdown with Manhattan Center tonight.
11. (12) Shabazz (Newark, N.J.), 5-0
Point guard Ka-Deidre Simmons has been out with an injury but her twin Desiree has picked up the slack as has Aliyyah Handford, who has come back from an ACL injury last season. Australian transfer Evelyn Adu has played well off the bench, according to the Star-Ledger.
12. (8) Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh) 8-2
Also responded well from slight Nike TOC setback, splitting at T-Mobile. After losing to St. Mary’s, the Blue Devils swamped Hillsboro (Nashville, Tenn.) 78-39 behind 16 points from Jess Babe. Said Hickman: “Enjoyed watching their coach, Dori Oldaker. There is no doubt who is in charge in that program, the players all buy in and play about as hard as you could ask a team to.”
13. (13) St. Michael Academy (New York, N.Y.), 9-1
New York power knocked off Maryland power Western in the Big Apple Recruiting Christmas Classic.
14. (14) Redan (Stone Mountain, Ga.), 10-0
Rolled over South Carolina powers Goose Creek (69-56) and Spring Valley (58-53). Unlike most of the Xcellent ones, have played in several competitive games.
15. (15) Hoover (Birmingham, Ala.), 17-1
Excellent showing at T-Mobile, beating Hillsboro 64-32 behind 15 points by Auburn-bound Tyrese Tanner, who had 13 points in the 50-44 championship loss to No. 2 St. Mary’s. Hoover raced to a 9-0 lead in that game but were eventually caught down the stretch. Said Hickman: “There’s no question Hoover is one of the top teams in the country. The Buccaneers are going to be kicking themselves for the St. Mary's loss all season. They are deep and talented. Everybody talks about Tyrese Tanner and she is great, but Meghan Dunn deserves more recognition for her all-around guard play.”
16. (16) Duncanville (Texas) 23-1
We’ll see how Panthers react with games this week against Grand Prairie and Nimitz.
17. (17) Timberview (Mansfield, Texas), 19-2
Have won six straight since narrow 56-52 loss to Duncanville. Won a squeaker over Canyon 49-47 in final of MISD Rotary Tournament thanks to a combined 25 from Alysse Barlow and Meagan Conwright.
18. (19) South Broward (Hollywood, Fla.) 12-0
Had tough time with Boone (59-49) and Jupiter (37-33) but remain undefeated thanks largely to University of Miami-bound Krystal Saunders.
19. (20) Neptune (N.J), 6-0
So far so good for the Scarlet Fliers, who will find out just where the stand in coming games with Bergtraum (Jan. 17) and the Peddie School (Feb. 15). According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Shakena Richardson, Syessence Davis, Sehmonyeh Allen – those are three long Ss – have been playing extremely well as has Chyna Golden. If nothing else, Neptune wins the All-Name team.
20. (21) Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.) 12-0
After winning by 49 and 32 the previous week, the Red Knights were tested in three tough games, winning over Fort Zumwalt (60-49), St. Joseph’s Academy (57-51) and Lincoln (73-60).
Brittany Knighton is Oregon City's leading scorer at 13.6 ppg.
File photo by Mitchell Reibel
Won the Energy Classic championship in Wyoming with a 75-59 win over Lynwood (Calif.) as Taylor Belmont led four players in double figures with 18 points and six assists.
22. (18) Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.), 17-3
Lost in the championship game of the West Coast Jamboree 78-66 to Brea Olinda despite All-Tournament selections Shalethia Strinfield and Antionette Banniseter. High-scoring team broke 90 again in wins over California teams West Park (Los Angeles) 93-35 and Berkeley 91-69.
23. (22) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.) 7-0
The Yellowjackets have dominated early but will get very stiff tests from Renaissance on Saturday and East Lansing Tuesday.
24. (23) Midwest City (Okla.), 6-1
After long layoff, defeated Edmond Memorial 53-34.
25. (25) Memphis Central (Tenn.) 8-2
After avenging earlier loss to Riverdale Baptist, the Warriors upended Mitchell 76-56 and face Melrose at its place on Friday.
Dropped out: none.
