Stretch run underway as 16 nationally-ranked teams have started playoff experience.
The postseason is upon us. Sixteen of the teams in this week's Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard have either completed their regular season or started postseason play.
But high-pressure hoops haven't been a burden for the nation's elite as the top 18 teams remained unschathed and held firm this week. That doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of juicy storylines to chew on.
- In Texas, No. 1 Yates (4A) and No. 12 Bellaire (5A) begin their respective state playoff runs.
- Undefeated and No. 22 Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.) faces 23-3 Dwyer of Palm Beach Gardens Tuesday in Sunshine State Class 5A regional semifinal action.
- Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.) and Jesuit (Portland, Ore.) dropped out of the rankings, making way for two high-profile additions.
Read on for this week's complete rankings.
Xcellent 25 National High School Boys Basketball Rankings
1. (1) Yates (Houston, Texas), 28-0
The regular-season carnage is finally over for the Lions after posting winning point totals of 127 and 132, last week. Against Houston Booker T. Washington on Saturday night, senior guard Brandon Peters went off for 17 points in a span of three minutes, according to Maurice Bobb of the Houston Chronicle. Yates meets Houston Sterling tonight in Class 4A Bi-District play. It’s win or go home from here on out for head coach Greg Wise’s squad.
Jared Sullinger, Northland
File photo by Wayne Litmer
The Vikings notched their fourth-straight City League championship with a 65-52 win over Columbus Marion-Franklin on Saturday night behind 25 points and 13 rebounds from Ohio State-bound senior
Jared Sullinger. Northland has won 33 games in a row.
3. (3) Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.), 19-0
The Panthers continued their historic run in Indiana with wins over Indianapolis Meridian (75-59) and Evansville Harrison (70-51) on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. Bloomington South has won 45 games in a row and closes out the regular season Thursday against Indianapolis Decatur Central.
4. (4) Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.), 23-0
The Cougars torched three opponents by an average of 40.3 points per game last week. An undefeated regular season looks like a foregone conclusion for Paterson Catholic, but running the table in New Jersey’s rugged postseason will be a much more difficult task.
5. (5) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 20-1
The Gray Bees closed out their regular season with a 66-37 win over Forest Hills (N.Y.) on Friday night – a full six weeks ahead of early April’s ESPN Rise National High School Invitational where the team will likely earn an invite. Seniors Mike Poole (16 points) and Gilvydas Biruta (13 points) led St. Benedict’s Prep in the scoring column against Forest Hills.
6. (6) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 26-1
The Monarchs breezed through the first two rounds of CIF Southern Section Division I-AA play with wins over Corona (95-46) and Long Beach Jordan (103-77). Pac-10-bound senior wings Tyler Lamb (UCLA) and Keala King (Arizona State) combined for 47 points against Jordan. Mater Dei’s postseason run continues against Los Alamitos on Tuesday night.
7. (7) Ames (Ames, Iowa), 22-0
What? Two single-digit victories in a week for the Little Cyclones? After winning each of their first 20 games by 10 points or more, Ames got all it could handle from Johnston (61-53) and Des Moines Hoover (51-42). Player of the Year candidate Harrison Barnes, a North Carolina signee, posted 18 points and 14 rebounds against Hoover in his final regular season game at Ames.
8. (8) Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 34-1
The Greenies captured the Carolinas Athletic Association tournament title with lopsided thrashings of Asheville School (85-43) and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee of Georgia (99-77). Christ School will enter the NCISAA playoffs as the No. 1 seed. Charlotte Christian, who the Greenies beat 60-57 Dec. 22, is the No. 2 seed.
9. (9) Neumann & Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.), 22-1
Poor Philadelphia Cardinal Dougherty had to face the Saints twice last week and took it on the chin in both contests. Senior forward Daniel Stewart led the way Monday in a 100-68 win with 21 points and Wake Forest-bound guard Tony Chennault piled up 24 points Saturday in a 89-58 victory. The latter was a Catholic League tournament quarterfinal. Next up is St. Joseph’s Prep on Wednesday.
10. (10) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 27-2
The Pilots did not play last week. Findlay Prep will face Westwind Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.) on Friday.
11. (11) Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), 27-1
Providence opened the Class 2A state playoffs with a 68-33 win over Gainesville St. Francis. Gainesville P.K. Yonge will be the opponent Tuesday in regional semifinal action. Don’t pencil in Providence for a state title just yet. Several of Florida’s private school powers, including Florida Air Academy and Weston Sagemont, will make for a rocky road to Lakeland – the site of the FHSAA Finals.
12. (12) Bellaire (Houston, Texas), 31-1
Junior wing Sheldon McClellan, a University of Texas verbal commitment, exploded for 38 points to lead Bellaire past a talented Cleveland team Saturday, 93-68. The Cardinals face Houston Eisenhower in 5A Bi-District play Tuesday night.
Anson Winder, Bishop Gorman
File photo by Louis Lopez
After a lawsuit delayed the start of the Sunset Region tournament last week, the Gaels finally hit the court Saturday and blasted Las Vegas Arbor View, 90-51. BYU-bound guard
Anson Winder sparked Bishop Gorman with 33 points. The Gaels face Desert Oasis tonight.
14. (14) Half Hollow Hills West (Dix Hills, N.Y.), 19-0
The Colts began the Section 11 playoffs by routing Lake Ronkonkoma Sachem North, 64-43. Senior All-American candidate Tobias Harris paced HHHW with 25 points.
15. (15) Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), 22-1
The Colonials were impressive in their lone outing of the week, thumping West Chester East 70-28. Junior forward Jaylen Bond posted a 16-point, 11-rebound, 10-block triple-double in that contest – the team’s regular-season finale.
16. (16) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.), 15-1
Senior guard Ray McCallum and 6-10 junior Amir Williams combined for 37 points Tuesday as Detroit Country Day did what was expected against a 1-14 Davison team, winning 74-38. Business picks up Saturday with a meeting against Saginaw Arthur Hill and 5-7 sensation Maurice Jones.
17. (17) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 27-3
The Warriors bounce back from a disappointing loss to St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) at the PrimeTime Shootout with a pair of wins last week. The big one came Saturday night against Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.), getting 27 points from Doron Lamb in a 92-76 win.
18. (18) St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), 21-3
Playing without head coach Kevin Boyle due to a state association-levied suspension, the Celtics had no problems with Absecon Holy Spirit on Sunday night in a 71-41 win. Kyrie Irving led St. Patrick with 19 points. A night earlier, Irving posted a game-high 17 points in a 77-43 win over Elizabeth.
19. (20) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 22-4
The regular season is complete for the Eagles. Expect Montverde Academy to earn a spot in the National High School Invitational.
20. (22) Wagner (San Antonio, Texas), 33-1
Wagner closed the regular season in impressive fashion, roaring past San Antonio Highlands 116-81. Five Thunderbirds scored in double figures, highlighted by 21 points from Jordan Clarkson. Wagner faces San Antonio Warren on Tuesday in Class 5A Bi-District action.
21. (23) Penn Wood (Lansdowne, Pa.), 19-3
Dequan Pelzer scored 20 points and Aaron Brown added 17 points and nine rebounds as Penn Wood dominated Oxford, 80-36, in District 1 Class AAA first-round action. The Patriots face Bensalem on Tuesday in the second round.
22. (24) Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.), 26-0
The Tigers got a game-high 17 points from 5-8 senior guard Jalen Williams to lead a balanced effort in a 62-42 Class 5A state playoff win over West Boca. Fredrick Conner (15 points), Jonathan Randolph (13) and Theudas Butts (10) also notched double-figures point totals as Blanche Ely advanced to face 23-3 Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer on Tuesday in the regional semifinals. The Tigers will have their hands full.
23. (25) Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.), 24-3
Westchester opened Los Angeles City Section play with a 67-30 throttling of Los Angels Lincoln. Fremont is next on Wednesday.
24. (NR) St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), 21-2
The Friars make their Xcellent 25 debut after turning in a defensive gem against state-ranked Linden last Monday. In a 36-20 win, the Friars allowed just five points in the second half. Head coach Bob Hurley’s squad has won eight in a row in advance of tough games against Academy of the New Church (Bryn Athyn, Pa.) and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) down the stretch. Quality wins for St. Anthony this year include Clearwater (Fla.), Newark Nia Prep, Jersey City St. Peter’s Prep and – most notably – No. 25 DeMatha. The Friars have a loss to No. 23 Westchester, as well as Arlington Country Day of Jacksonville, Fla.
25. (NR) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 24-3
After closing out January with a pair of losses, the Stags haven’t lost in February. DeMatha handled Washington Catholic Athletic Conference opponents Paul VI (84-72), Bishop McNamara (71-61) and Bishop O’Connell (62-53) last week. Junior guard Quinn Cook has been on a tear this month, averaging 24.2 points per game.
Dropped Out: No. 19 Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.), No. 21 Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)
