So much for the postseason slowing down the nation’s top-ranked team.
The No. 1-ranked Yates Lions of Houston, Texas, have topped 100 points in all five Class 4A state tournament games – winning by an average of 38.4 points per game – and have hit the century mark in 14-straight contests overall, which ties a national record.
The Eagles of Hobbs, N.M., also posted 14 100-point games in a row in 1969-70, according to the NFHS National High School Sports Record Book.
But not everybody is thriving quite like Yates. Fellow Houston-area school Bellaire, ranked No. 12 last week, was stunned by Richmond Bush in the Class 5A regional semifinals.
No. 15 Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) and No. 16 Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.) also went down last week, but both will have an opportunity to continue their respective seasons.
Read on for this week’s complete rankings.
Xcellent 25 National High School Boys Basketball Rankings
Head coach Greg Wise, Yates
File photo by Jim Redman
The Lions are two games away from repeating as Texas’ Class 4A state champions after beating Huntsville (103-74) on Friday in regional semifinal action and La Marque (101-83) in the regional finals Saturday. The victory over La Marque was Yates’ 56th consecutive victory and the 14th in a row with 100 or more points. The Lions, who will play The Colony in the state semifinals Thursday in Austin, are averaging 109.6 points per game in the postseason.
2. (2) Northland (Columbus, Ohio), 21-0
The Vikings eased into the district finals with a 56-26 win over Ashville Teays Valley on Saturday. Teays Valley couldn’t manage to score a single point in the second quarter as seniors Jared Sullinger and J.D. Weatherspoon combined for 29 points to pace Northland. Westerville Central is up next Saturday in the district finals.
3. (3) Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.), 22-0
The Panthers experienced little turbulence in advancing to the Class 4A regionals, blasting Columbus East (76-37) and Columbus North (76-47) on back-to-back nights over the weekend. Against Columbus North, unheralded reserve Ben Whitlatch led a balanced scoring effort with 14 points as South captured the Sectional 15 title. The Panthers continue their march toward a second-straight state championship Saturday against Evansville Harrison.
4. (4) Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.), 28-0
Wins last Thursday and Saturday, respectively, over Morristown-Beard (79-61) and Jersey City St. Mary (93-64) set up a monster game that will decide the North Jersey Non-Public B title. The Cougars face legendary head coach Bob Hurley and No. 20 Jersey City St. Anthony on Thursday at Rutgers University. The winner faces the Non-Public South B winner for a spot in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.
5. (5) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 20-1
Regular season complete. An appearance in the ESPN Rise National High School Invitational (April 1-3) is likely for the Gray Bees.
6. (6) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 29-1
The Monarchs captured the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA title with a 68-65 win over Etiwanda on Saturday night. Mater Dei, led by a combined 43 points from senior stars Tyler Lamb and Gary Franklin, hadn’t played in a game decided by less than 10 points in a month. Clovis Buchanan will be the opponent Tuesday as the Monarchs shift their attention toward winning the Division I state title.
7. (7) Ames (Ames, Iowa), 24-0
Harrison Barnes poured in 35 points as Ames smashed Des Moines North 97-53 last Tuesday, advancing to the state tournament. The Little Cyclones led 44-4 at one point in the first half and racked up 84 points by the end of the third quarter. Cedar Rapids Washington will be Ames’ state quarterfinal opponent Wednesday.
8. (8) Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 37-1
The Greenies captured their fourth North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A championship in as many years on Feb. 27 and expect to earn a spot in April’s National High School Invitational in Baltimore, Md.
9. (9) Neumann & Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.), 25-1
Junior guard Lamin Fulton scored a game-high 25 points as the Saints drubbed Philadelphia Dobbins Tech 75-44 for the District 12 Class AAA title on Friday night. The blowout victory was made even more impressive given the absence of Wake Forest-bound senior guard Tony Chennault, who was serving a one-game suspension he earned for receiving a pair of technical fouls in a Monday win over Archbishop Carroll. Neumann & Goretti has won 20 games in a row since losing to No. 1 Yates in December.
10. (10) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 29-2
Regular season complete. The Pilots expect to be part of the eight-team field at the April 1-3 National High School Invitational in Baltimore.
11. (11) Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), 31-1
Thanks to the bombshell announcement last week that FHSAA member schools would be allowed to compete in the National High School Invitational, the season might not be over for the Stallions despite winning the Class 2A state championship Saturday. Florida signee Patric Young scored 13 points and swatted seven shots to lead Providence past Tampa Prep in the final, 63-46. The Stallions reached the title game by stifling Syracuse-bound 7-footer Fab Melo and future Indiana Hoosier Will Sheehey in a 52-37 semifinal victory.
12. (13) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 30-2
Season complete – Nevada Class 4A state champions.
Tavon Sledge, Half Hollow Hills West
File photo by Lonnie Webb
The Colts survived a challenging week to remain unbeaten and capture the Suffolk County title. Wednesday against Longwood, senior forward
Tobias Harris and junior guard
Tavon Sledge combined for 49 points to spark a 77-69 win in front of a reported 4,000 fans. HHHW needed an even bigger effort from Sledge in a 68-63, come-from-behind win over Greenlawn Harborfields on Saturday night. Sledge tacked up 34 points and dished out 11 assists as the Colts overcame a three-point deficit entering the final quarter. West takes on Uniondale in the Class AA regionals. The date and time has not been announced.
14. (17) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 29-3
Regular season complete. The Warriors will likely be one of eight teams selected for the National High School Invitational.
15. (19) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 22-4
Regular season complete. Expect Montverde Academy to earn a spot in the National High School Invitational.
16. (20) Wagner (San Antonio, Texas), 38-1
The Thunderbirds punched their ticket to Austin for the Class 5A state semifinals with a 50-43 win over Converse Judson on Saturday night as seniors Jordan Clarkson and Andre Roberson combined for 33 points. Wagner will face Garland Lakeview Centennial on Thursday for an opportunity to face either Flower Mound Marcus or Richmond Bush in the finals.
17. (21) Penn Wood (Lansdowne, Pa.), 23-3
Junior Aaron Brown came up big for the Patriots once again Friday night in a 54-49, overtime victory over then-No. 15 Plymouth Whitemarsh. Brown, a 6-5 wing forward, scored 20 points as Penn Wood captured the PIAA Class AAAA District 1 title in front of 6,500 fans at Villanova University. Head coach Clyde Jones’ squad will enter the state playoffs riding a 20-game win streak.
18. (18) St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), 23-3
Season complete. The New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association banned the Celtics from postseason due to improper workouts.
19. (22) Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.), 27-3
The Comets wrapped up their 11th Los Angeles City Section title with a 70-60 win over Woodland Hills Taft on Saturday night. Senior forward Dwayne Polee, one of the nation’s most athletic players, scored 19 points and grabbed 10 boards as Westchester pulled away in the second half. The Comets open the Division I state tournament Tuesday against Ontario Colony. A Westchester-Mater Dei matchup could materialize March 20 in the regional finals.
20. (23) St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), 24-2
The Friars did their part in setting up the aforementioned showdown with No. 4 Paterson Catholic by hammering Gladstone Gill St. Bernard’s (58-30) and Montclair Kimberly Academy (88-32) en route to the North Jersey Non-Public B title game.
21. (24) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 28-3
The Stags will play Gonzaga for the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title tonight after beating St. John’s, 53-47, in the semifinals Sunday night. Junior guard Quinn Cook led a balanced DeMatha offense against St. John’s with 13 points. DeMatha and Gonzaga split a pair of games during the regulars season.
Chris Jones, Melrose
File photo by Jerald Holiday
Behind 42 points from junior guard
Chris Jones, the Golden Wildcats lit up rival White Station, 83-60, on Thursday night for the Region 8-AAA championship. Melrose meets Jackson North Side in sectional play tonight with the winner advancing to the eight-team AAA state tournament.
23. (NR) Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.), 28-5
The Wildcats closed impressively, winning five state tournament games by an average of 21 points per game en route to the Class 6A state title. Behind 23 points from star junior guard Austin Rivers, Winter Park overwhelmed Orlando Dr. Phillips in the final Saturday, 76-57. As a FHSAA member, Winter Park could be selected for participation in the National High School Invitational.
24. (NR) Romulus (Romulus, Mich.), 20-1
The Eagles take Detroit Country Day’s spot in the Xcellent 25 after knocking them off last Thursday night, 56-54. Five-foot-nine senior guard Derrick Stewart scored 20 points and 6-6 junior forward Justin Moss converted a lay-in with three seconds remaining to give Romulus the victory. The Eagles are no one-hit wonder as they have wins over in-state powers Detroit Pershing and Muskegon Heights in addition to teams from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
25. (15) Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), 25-2
Despite the loss to No. 17 Penn Wood, don’t write off the Colonials just yet. Plymouth Whitemarsh will still be in the Class AAAA state tournament field and could face Penn Wood again in the championship game. PW’s only other loss this season came to No. 5 St. Benedict’s Prep by two points.
Dropped out: No. 12 Bellaire (Houston, Texas), No. 16 Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.)
