Findlay to test Marcus' win streak in battle of No. 1's

Saturday's matchup between Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) at the Throwdown in D-Town Classic features several intriguing storylines.

First, the game pits the No. 1-ranked team in MaxPreps.com's Xcellent 25 high school rankings (Marcus) against the No. 1-ranked team in the Academy Top 10 (Findlay Prep).

Second, Marcus owns the nation's second-longest winning streak at 39 games. The Marauders are 8-0 this season and won their last 31 games in 2010-11 en route to the Texas Class 5A state title. Three-time defending Kansas Class 6A champion Wichita Heights is tops on that list at 44 games.

Findlay Prep head coach Michael Peck wasn't aware of Marcus' streak but is familiar with Marauder backcourt stars Marcus Smart and Phil Forte through film and their appearances in Las Vegas the past two summers with club team Texas Assault.

"They are winners," Peck said. "They have played together for so long. They have great camaraderie on and off the court. They are very competitive and complement each other well."

The Pilots have eight new faces on the roster this year but the integration is looking promising. Findlay Prep is 5-0 and averaging 105.2 points per game while limiting opponents to just 72.2.

"We are making progress," Peck said. "I'd say we are a work in progress. We had some good returners and that has helped.

"But you don't go on a streak like that and win a state championship in Texas without being a really good team. It's going to be a dogfight and I think our guys are up for the challenge."

Marcus and Findlay Prep tip at 6:15 p.m. CST as part of the Throwdown in D-Town Classic at the Lancaster Coliseum outside of Dallas.

Nation's longest winning streaks
44 – Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.)
39 – Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas)
33 – St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
28 – Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.)
28 – Linn-Mar (Marion, Iowa)
26 – Chester (Pa.)
25 – Amphitheater (Tucson, Ariz.)
25 – West Oso (Corpus Christi, Texas)
23 – Hope Christian (Albuquerque, N.M.)
22 – Butler (Huntsville, Ala.)
22 – Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)