Bishop O'Dowd remains No. 1, Riverdale Baptist moves into top five in this week's rankings.
No. 4 St. Mary's of Phoenix, last year's mythical national champion, is off to a 7-0 start but will face its toughest games of the season at the upcoming Nike TOC.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
The Dragons played two quick games and then took a long break. But they won't ease back into it — No. 11 Rock Bridge is the first-round opponent in the Nike TOC.
2. (2) Whitney Young (Chicago) 3-0Bishop Gorman's one of the better programs in Nevada, but the Dolphins spoiled the Gaels' trip to Chicago with a 30-point win.
3. (3) Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) 8-0The Hilltoppers had to battle to beat Webb 52-43, but the path looks smoother this week.
4. (4) St. Mary's (Phoenix) 7-0The Knights don't have much to worry about in Arizona, and won't leave the state — so their three-game season (in terms of national rankings) will be at the Nike TOC.
5. (6) Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 7-0Western (Baltimore) might provide a bit of a test, but like many others, the Crusaders are just gearing up for the Nike TOC.{PAGEBREAK}
Duncanville continues to rise in the rankings after racing to a 17-0 record.
File photo by Jim Redman
The Warriors are on break until Dec. 21, so this ranking is likely safe for another week.
7. (9) Long Beach Poly (Calif.) 6-0The Jackrabbits are running and gunning, just as they always do. The closest game? An 18-point win.
8. (11) Duncanville (Texas) 17-0The Pantherettes handled tough South Grand Prairie Tuesday, and now draw once-beaten Mansfield Timberview (Arlington) Friday.
9. (12) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 8-0So Troy, one of the long-time Southern California powers, hadn't lost this year. Mater Dei 61, Troy 25.
10. (10) Dreher (Columbia, S.C.) 5-0Many of the top East Coast teams have longer waits until their big event: the Naples Holiday Classic after Christmas. We'll find out about Dreher then.{PAGEBREAK}
Makayla Epps and Marion County continue to move up the rankings, and will play some big games over the holiday break.
File photo by James Conrad
The Bruins shouldn't get too focused on their upcoming Nike TOC game with Bishop O'Dowd. They struggled with Smithville and get unbeaten Notre Dame (Quincy, Ill.) Saturday.
12. (NR) St. John's (Washington, D.C.) 4-0The Cadets got a huge game from sophomore guard
Amari Carter — and then senior guard
Lindsay Allen hit the game-winner in the 77-73 win over previous No. 5 Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.).
13. (14) Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio) 4-0Lebanon should mount a challenge Dec. 15, but Fairmont doesn't get out of state until mid-January.
14. (15) Shabazz (Newark, N.J.) 0-0Still practicing, but the Bulldogs will finally take the court against No. 22 Good Counsel Saturday.
15. (16) Marion County (Lebanon, Ky.) 5-0The Knights are off for a week, and then will upgrade the schedule over Christmas break.{PAGEBREAK}
Junior Naje Gibson has helped No. 18 Seton LaSalle to a 3-0 record by averaging over 13 points per game.
File photo by Eric Elliott
New York City isn't quite the powerhouse it once was, but Nazareth at Christ the King Saturday will have the feel of the glory days.
17. (18) Oregon City (Ore.) 2-0The Pioneers will rough it in Hawaii this week — but they can't afford too much beach time with Texas heavyweight Carroll (Southlake) and Florida's best, Dr. Phillips (Orlando), both in the same tournament.
18. (19) Seton LaSalle (Pittsburgh) 3-0The Rebels have dispatched two Pennsylvania powers — Oakland Catholic and Mt. Lebanon — back-to-back.
19. (20) Reynoldsburg (Ohio) 4-0Reynoldsburg will get its first real test at the well-run Diamond State Classic in Delaware after Christmas.
20. (21) Centennial (Las Vegas) 4-0The Bulldogs might get a run from Arbor View but their placement in the top bracket at the Nike TOC is where their real focus is.{PAGEBREAK}
Brenisha Payne and Pflugerville have experienced a couple of close calls, but they remain undefeated at No. 21.
Photo by Jamie Harms
Close games are sometimes decided by luck, and Pflugerville had two of them — a one-point win over Stony Point (Round Rock) and a four-pointer over Ellison (Killeen). Another good program, Wagner (San Antonio), is on tap Saturday.
22. (5) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) 4-1Still missing senior guard Lindsey Spann, the Falcons couldn't hang onto a late lead against league rival St. John's — but the D.C. area is so good, once-beaten Good Counsel stays in the Xcellent 25.
23. (23) McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.) 3-1A win over previous No. 24 Archbishop Wood keeps McDonogh in the rankings — but unbeaten Archbishop Spalding (Severn) is next.
24. (NR) North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) 6-0The Bulldogs move into the rankings as Georgia's best — at least until they play Norcross in a game postponed because of football playoffs.
25. (25) Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 4-0Things might be a little tougher this year: Last year, the Royals dominated Lakeville North in a postseason win; Tuesday they won just 59-51.
Dropped out: No. 8 Norcross (Ga.), No. 24 Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.)
