"March Madness" is reaching its peak as state tournaments and postseason action continues to shape the MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings.
No. 1
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) battles No. 3 Sunrise Christian
Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) on Friday in the NIBC championship. This is the
third meeting between the Eagles and Buffaloes this season with
Montverde taking the opener 58-52, while Sunrise Christian grabbed a
69-66 overtime victory in February that snapped the defending national
champions' 44-game win streak.
No. 20 Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.) earned back-to-back titles with a 51-32 win over Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the 2A championship, extending and extended the Warriors' win streak to 48.
The UIL Class 6A state semifinals are set for Tuesday night as No. 6 Duncanville takes on No. 11 Richardson and No. 19 Westlake (Austin) battles Atascocita (Humble). The winners will face off in Saturday's title game.
No. 7 Milton climbed three spots and takes on Berkmar in Saturday's AAAAAAA title game after beating Pebblebrook 74-67 in the Final Four. No. 17 Pace Academy (Atlanta) also advanced to a Georgia state championship game, knocking off Thomasville 56-44. The Knights face Columbia (Decatur) in Thursday's AA title game.
No. 2 AZ Compass Prep won the Grind Session championship tournament over the weekend before picking up a convincing 76-35 victory Monday over
Emoni Bates and Ypsi Prep (Ypsilanti, Mich.).
Montverde Academy's Caleb Houstan battled Sunrise Christian Academy's Kendall Brown earlier this season. The Eagles and Buffaloes meet Friday in the NIBC championship after splitting two games earlier this season.
Photo by Annette Wilkerson
Record: 20-1 | Last week: 1
Can solidify their top-seed status in GEICO Nationals with a victory on Friday.
Record: 27-1
| Last week: 2
Solidified their case for GEICO Nationals after a dominant week.
Record: 19-2 | Last week: 3
The Buffaloes are 6-2 against MaxPreps Top 25 opponents this season and look to beat Montverde for the second time this season.
Record: 20-2 | Last week: 4
Regular season complete.
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 5
Regular season complete.
Record: 27-1
| Last week: 9
Avenged only loss of the season with 70-65 win over No. 8 Waxahachie (Denton), capturing the program's third consecutive 6A Region II title.
Record: 27-2 | Last week: 10
Five-star sophomore
Kanaan Carlyle poured in a game-high 24 points in the Eagles' semifinal victory.
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 6
The Panthers have won 38 consecutive games dating back to last season after an unbeaten run in a shortened season. Top-ranked sophomore
D.J. Wagner averaged 22 points in his sophomore campaign.
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 7
Survived an overtime scare against Bishop McDevitt (Wyncote) Sunday with a 71-69 victory. The Vikings finish the regular season Wednesday against Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia).
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 11
Top-ranked senior prospect
Chet Holmgren stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, 23 rebounds, seven assists and six blocks in the Red Hawks 94-66 victory over previously unbeaten Waseca.
Record: 26-1 | Last week: 17
Breezed past Dallas Jesuit (Dallas) 66-43 to advance to the UIL Class 6A Final Four.
Record: 18-6
| Last week: 12
Regular season complete.
Record: 1-0
| Last week: 13
The Crusaders face Portledge (Locust Valley) for a second time this season before a pair of games against Knox (St. James).
Record: 25-0
| Last week: 14
Spartans open 4A state tournament play Saturday against reigning state champion Carmel.
Record: 30-3
| Last week: 15
Fell to club program BFL Prep in Grind Session semifinals. The loss doesn't impact the Crew's record or national resume.
Record: 23-2 | Last week: 18
Opens Class A tournament play Tuesday against Lincoln East (Lincoln).
Record: 20-3 | Last week: 8
Oklahoma pledge
C.J. Noland poured in a game-high 30 points in the Indians' season-ending 70-65 loss to No. 6 Duncanville in the UIL Class 6A Region II championship game.
Record: 27-1 | Last week: 19
Florida State signee
Matthew Cleveland pumped in 14 points and 12 rebounds in the Knights' state semifinal victory. Cleveland surpassed the 2,000 career point mark in the second round of the state tournament.
Record: 29-1 | Last week: NR
Jumps into the rankings for the first time prior to their Final Four showdown against Atascocita (Humble).
Record: 4-0 | Last week: 20
Grabbed two overtime wins over the weekend, defeating Hyde Park (Chicago) 67-64 and Bogan (Chicago) 57-51.
Record: 27-0 | Last week: 22
Junior guard
A.J. Brown led the way with 18 points, six rebounds and four steals as the Warriors repeated as Florida 2A champions.
Record: 7-4 | Last week: 21
Regular season complete.
Record: 22-2 | Last week: 23
Junior Jays open Class A tournament play Tuesday against Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion).
Record: 24-2 | Last week: 24
Mustangs begin Class A tournament play Tuesday against Millard South (Omaha).
Record: 25-3 | Last week: 25
Regular season complete.
