POWERADE GIRLS' BASKETBALL FAB 50

(Week 17 rankings for the 2010-2011 season)

By Chris Hansen

After 17 weeks of play, the Monarchs of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) finish the season exactly where they started it – ranked No. 1 in the country. A senior-laden squad with more star power than any other team in the country this winter, Kevin Kiernan’s group duplicated an incredible feat, finishing the season with just one loss despite a tough schedule and cross-country travel, for the third season in a row.

Behind the 33-point effort of the nation’s top-ranked senior, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Mater Dei downed No. 34 Berkeley (Berkeley, Calif.) in the California Interscholastic Federation Division I championship game this weekend.

New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin also crowned champions during the season’s final week. Nazareth (Brooklyn, N.Y.) polished off a chaotic season with a New York AA Federation title, securing a final ranking of 16th, with a 60-54 win over Murry Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.).

Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) finished its season strong with a convincing run through the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Wood cut down the AAA nets with a 53-41 win over Mercyhurst Prep (Erie, Pa.) and a final record of 28-4. In the AAAA championship game, Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.) outlasted Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) 47-46 and finished the season 25-6 and back in the regional rankings.

Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.) took Wisconsin’s top honor with a 58-54 win over Middleton (Middleton, Wis.). The state championship boosted the Knights into the FAB 50.

Six of the preseason top-10 teams finished the season back in the top 10, highlighted by Mater Dei’s reclamation month of March. And while reflecting on the season, it is also worth looking at Mosqueda-Lewis and her fellow seniors’ four-year run – a 123-7 (.946) overall record, a Nike Tournament of Champions top division crown (2009), two state titles (2010, 2011), and two seasons as national No. 1 (2010, 2011).

This group, which set the bar incredibly high for future teams, now hands the torch to a junior class that has been an integral part of the success. Point guard Jordan Adams and shooting guard Alexis Williamson will take the lead and look to continue the success that was truly a monarchy in high school basketball.

Note: Records are through March 28, 2011 games, where reported. No. 44 Dr. Phillips tacked on three more wins and was crowned champion of the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational on April 2.