MaxPreps Texas Top 25 high school basketball rankings

Video: Top 5 Uncommitted basketball players

Lancaster, up to No. 3 in this week's MaxPreps Texas Top 25, appears to be very capable of defending its 2014-15 Class 5A state championship.

The Tigers (24-2) are undefeated since back-to-back November losses to No. 1 Atascocita (Humble) and Fort Bend Bush (Richmond), the latter in overtime. In a challenging District 14-5A, Lancaster is 12-0.

Coach Ferrin Douglas' club returned three high-quality senior starters in 6-foot-10 Nate Morris (Ole Miss signee), guard Deon Barrett (Texas-El Paso) and 6-5 swingman Jacolby Pemberton (Louisiana Tech).



The Tigers have received key contributions from Darius Anderson and Ike Durham as well.

Atascocita retains its hold on the state's top spot. Tascosa (Amarillo) is the only other undefeated team in the top classification after Brandeis (San Antonio) sustained its first loss of the season to Stevens (San Antonio) last week.


1. (1 last week) Atascocita (Humble) 28-0
Fabian White and Carsen Edwards scored 33 and 28 points, respectively, in an 81-52 thrashing of The Woodlands to complete a 2-0 week.

2. (2) DeSoto 25-1
Marques Bolden, a highly sought-after 6-11 post, scored 22 points in a 64-45 victory over Grand Prairie.

3. (4) Lancaster 24-2
Jakolby Pemberton connected for 28 points in an 80-67 victory over Waxahachie. Coupled with a 75-50 victory over Seguin (Arlington), the Tigers enjoyed a 2-0 week.

4. (5) Benjamin Davis (Houston) 23-2
Royce Hamm, a 6-7 junior, canned 40 points in a 75-56 thumping of MacArthur (Houston) to complete a 2-0 week for the Falcons.
 
5. (7) Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City) 25-2
Chad Bowie, a 6-1 senior guard, accounted for 19 points in a 63-56 victory over Texas City to complete a 2-0 week for the Knights.

6. (3) Brandeis (San Antonio) 25-1
After suffering their first loss of the season, 91-85 to Stevens (San Antonio), the Broncos bounced back with a 74-61 win over Warren behind Kobe Magee's 15 points.

7. (8) Houston Math Science & Tech (Houston) 24-4
Terrell Wilson delivered 30 points in a 106-63 drubbing of Chavez (Houston) to complete another 2-0 week for the Tigers.



8. (9) Cedar Hill 20-3
Trailing by six at halftime, the Longhorns rallied behind 15 points from Jaelun Hollomon and 13 from Jonathan Webb for a 68-63 victory over Midlothian.

9. (10) Skyline (Dallas) 24-1
Marcus Garrett and Richard Turner each scored 14 points in a 65-49 victory over White (Dallas) to complete another 2-0 week for the Raiders.

10. (11) Tascosa (Amarillo) 25-0
Quinn Taylor led the way with 20 points in an 89-52 rout of Frenship (Wolfforth).

11. (6) Steele (Cibolo) 24-2
Despite 24 points from Elijah Payne, the Knights fell 87-83 to Clemens for their first loss in District 25-6A.

12. (12) Shoemaker (Killeen) 26-2
The Wolves overcame only their second halftime deficit of the season to defeat Harker Heights, 53-48. Byrale Carter led the way with 11 points and six steals.

13. (13) North Crowley (Fort Worth) 23-3
Darrius Pace, a 5-11 senior wing, paced the Panthers with 24 points in a 73-51 road win over Arlington to complete a 2-0 week.



14. (14) Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City) 25-4
Ike Mbachu scored 15 points in an 82-54 dispatching of Fort Bend Dulles (Sugar Land) to complete a 2-0 week for the Hurricanes.

15. (15) Fort Bend Travis (Richmond) 23-4
The Tigers polished off Fort Bend Clements (Sugar Land) 66-58 to keep pace in District 23-6A.

16. (16) Vista Ridge (Cedar Park) 26-2
Marquan Hampston scored 15 points in an 86-47 throttling of East View (Georgetown).

17. (18) Prestonwood Christian (Plano) 24-7
Freshman guard Justin Webster led with 18 points in a 76-43 rout of Bishop Dunne (Dallas) in midweek. The Lions completed a 2-0 week with an 83-46 bashing of Liberty Christian (Argyle).

18. (19) Richardson 22-5
Keaton Wallace poured in 29 points in a 92-45 thrashing of Lake Highlands (Dallas) in midweek. Brandon Averette notched 15 in Friday's 51-46 topping of Horn (Mesquite).

19. (20) Westlake (Austin) 23-2
Sophomore forward Brock Cunningham scored 15 points in a 65-38 rout of Hays (Buda) to complete a 2-0 week for the Chaparrals.



20. (21) Plano East 22-6
Marek Nelson scored 16 points in a 77-58 mashing of Marcus (Flower Mound) to complete a 2-0 week for the Panthers.

21. (22) Allen 20-6
Evan Smith scored 16 points as the Eagles held off Hebron, 62-60.

22. (23) Yates (Houston) 18-3
The Lions coasted to a 108-23 rout of Lee (Houston).

23. (25) Fort Bend Bush (Richmond) 21-7
Remy Minor accounted for 16 points in a 78-39 rout of Fort Bend Willowridge (Houston) to complete a 2-0 week for the Broncos.

24. (NR) Clemens (Schertz) 20-7
Samuel Kearns, a 5-10 senior, poured in 43 points in an 87-83 victory over Steele (Cibolo) to complete a 2-0 week for the Buffaloes.

25. (NR) Churchill (San Antonio) 23-4
Clevon Brown and Naasier Fludd each scored 16 points in a 66-55 win over MacArthur (San Antonio) for a 2-0 week.



Dropped out: No. 17 The Woodlands, No. 24 Burges (El Paso)

Teams to watch

Americas (El Paso) 26-1

Beaumont Central 22-5

Cypress Ranch (Houston) 23-4

Liberty (Frisco) 22-5



Klein Forest (Houston) 21-4

Ozen (Beaumont) 21-3

South Grand Prairie 19-8

Dekaney (Houston) 21-7

Veterans Memorial (Brownsville) 26-3

West Mesquite 22-5