Churchill moves into the Top 10 after improving to 25-3 on the season.
Photo by Kenneth Toso
Defense is top priority for DeSoto, ranked second in this week's MaxPreps Texas Top 25.
Coach Chris Dyer removes any doubt by having "Defense'' scripted on the back of the team's jersey, positioned where a players last name would commonly be found. Players that don't go full-out on the defensive end don't play for Dyer.
DeSoto (21-3, 8-1 in District 7-5A) has held 10 opponents below 40 points this season. That list consists of several teams with winning records including No. 5 Fort Bend Bush (Richmond), Berkner (Richardson), Grand Prairie and Cedar Hill twice.
The Eagles avenged their only 7-5A defeat on Friday by putting the squeeze on 2013 state finalist South Grand Prairie 47-43 in overtime. The victory was the eighth in a row for DeSoto.
Terry Maston, a 6-6 Baylor signee, scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Eagles. Maston, a nephew of former 15-year NBA veteran Tony Battie, is averaging a team-leading 12 points and six rebounds.
Guards
Takedrick Brown and
Dominique Thomas average nine points per game. With the clinging man-to-man defense they play, the Eagles don't need to score many points to win games.
Still remaining on DeSoto's regular season schedule is a trip to Duncanville, currently second in the 7-5A standings, on Feb. 4.
Joining this week's MaxPreps Texas Top 25 is Wheatley (Houston).
MaxPreps Texas Top 25 Basketball Rankings
1. Judson (Converse) 26-1 (Last week 1)
The Rockets concluded another 2-0 week with a 79-53 bashing of New Braunfels.
David Wacker led the way with 15 points and eight rebounds. Point guard
Rayshon Winn scored 14 with nine assists and six rebounds. Combined with a 45-36 victory over Canyon (New Braunfels) on Tuesday, Judson is 5-0 in District 25-5A.
2. DeSoto 21-3 (2)
The Eagles avenged their only District 7-5A loss by taking down South Grand Prairie 47-43 in overtime. On Tuesday, DeSoto (8-1 in district) breezed past Cedar Hill, 56-36.
3. North Shore (Houston) 23-3 (3)
The Mustangs improved to 6-0 in District 21-5A with a 71-35 romp over Channelview behind the 23-point effort of 6-3 junior wing
Kerwin Roach.
4. Manvel 23-4 (4)
The Mavericks capped a 2-0 week with a 76-35 rout of Alvin with 6-3 senior guard
Dexter Williams leading the way with 15 points. Earlier in the week, Manvel (9-0 in District 22-5A) crushed Pasadena Memorial 87-60.
5. Fort Bend Bush (Richmond) 20-5 (5)
Brandon Jones, Fort Bend Bush
Photo by Jim Redman
, a 6-6 senior, led the way with 18 points as the Broncos toppled Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City) 91-50. Bush improves to 7-1 in District 23-5A.
6. South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) 18-5 (7)
The Warriors went on the road and took District 7-5A leader DeSoto to overtime before falling, 47-43.
Rick Curry,
Cameron McGriff and
D.J. Thorpe scored nine points each. Earlier in the week, South Grand Prairie polished off Mansfield, 52-40.
7. Plano West (Plano) 16-5 (10)
The Wolves are sitting pretty atop District 10-5A at the halfway mark with a 5-0 record after squeezing past Allen 71-68 behind 21 points from
Avery Johnson Jr. Earlier in the week, Anthony Morgan's team crushed Boyd (McKinney) 92-31.
8. Bowie (Arlington) 21-3 (11)
Tied at halftime, the Volunteers owned the final two quarters of a 51-39 win over Paschal (Fort Worth) to improve to 9-0 in District 3-5A. Earlier in the week, Bowie clobbered Weatherford 72-35.
9. Alamo Heights (San Antonio) 26-1 (12)
The Mules continue to rule District 27-4A with a 9-0 record after outlasting Tivy (Kerrville) 59-53, aided by 18 points from 6-2 junior
David Favorite. Earlier in the week, Alamo Heights turned back Lehman (Kyle) 79-65. But the bad news, a season-ending injury for 6-10 Georgia Tech-bound
Ben Lammers (patella).
10. Churchill (San Antonio) 25-3 (13)
Senior guard
Ben Mammel scored eight of his 29 points in the final 1:25 to lead the Chargers to a come-from-behind 71-69 victory over Madison (San Antonio). Mammel registered 20 points in a 71-57 triumph over MacArthur (San Antonio) to complete a 2-0 week for the District 26-5A leader.
11. Tascosa (Amarillo) 20-1 (8)
The Rebels suffered their first loss of the season, 59-57 in overtime on the road against Midland on Friday, but rebounded the following day to split the road trip by scoring the game's first 20 points in a 59-47 win over Lee (Midland).
12. Andress (El Paso) 22-2 (14)
The Eagles breezed to victories over Bowie (El Paso) 43-29 and Chapin (El Paso) 88-68 to improve to 9-0 in District 1-4A.
13. Bel Air (El Paso) 22-1 (15)
The Highlanders collected a pair of wins, downing Franklin (El Paso) 67-55 and Eastwood (El Paso) 55-34 to go to 7-0 in District 1-5A.
14. Dunbar (Fort Worth) 16-3 (16)
The Wildcats continued their roll in District 6-4A with a win over Carter-Riverside (Fort Worth).
15. Allen 19-5 (6)
Nick Rutherford, Allen
Photo by Glenn Gunn
It was a rough 0-2 week for the Eagles. Following a 74-63 loss to Plano East on Tuesday, Allen came up short in a 71-68 District 10-5A showdown with Plano West. Junior guard
Nick Rutherford scored 44 points in the two games, including 25 against Plano West.
16. Prestonwood Christian (Plano) 22-2 (17)
Schnider Herard, a 6-11 sophomore, scored 16 points and 6-3 sophomore guard
Evan Peters had 15 in a 59-56 road victory over Westbury Christian (Houston). The Lions are 7-0 in league play.
17. Madison (Dallas) 18-4 (18)
The Trojans remained unbeaten in District 11-3A at 5-0 with a 74-68 takedown of Triple A Academy (Dallas) behind
Admon Gilder's 19 points. Earlier in the week, Madison routed Ferris 81-51.
18. Atascocita (Humble) 20-6 (19)
Zach Haney scored 17 points and Oklahoma State-bound
Joe Burton had 16 as the Eagles leveled Klein Oak (Spring) 84-40 to improve to 11-0 in District 13-5A.
19. Lancaster 21-4 (21)
The Tigers remain at the top of District 15-4A with a 75-50 thumping of Waxahachie behind the 23 points of
Elijah Thomas. Earlier in the week, Lancaster had little trouble subduing Legacy (Mansfield) 66-44.
20. Marcus (Flower Mound) 20-3 (9)
The Marauders suffered their first District 5-5A loss at the hands of Lewisville, 81-74, in double overtime despite 29 points from
Michael Mayhew. Earlier in the week, Marcus rolled over Ryan (Denton) 68-42.
21. Hebron (Carrollton) 18-7 (22)
Diamante Langston, Lewisville
Photo by Keith Owens
The Hawks limited Ryan (Denton) to only 13 points through three quarters of a 51-32 victory to complete a 2-0 week.
Connor McClenaghan led Hebron with 14 points. Earlier in the week, Hebron clipped Coppell, 54-43.
22. Keller 18-4 (23)
Nolan Taylor sparked the Indians with 22 points in a key District 4-5A victory over Fossil Ridge (Keller) on Tuesday. It was a lot easier for the 8-1 Indians in a 61-32 4-5A rout of Haltom on Friday.
23. Lewisville 17-5 (24)
The Farmers climbed back into the District 5-5A race with a gutsy 81-74 double-overtime victory, handing Marcus (Flower Mound) its first league defeat.
Diamante Langston led the way with 31 points.
24. Northwest (Justin) 20-5 (25)
The Texans stayed alive in the District 4-5A race by holding off Carroll (Southlake) 51-50.
Elijah Christman led Northwest (7-2 in 4-5A) with 15 points.
25. Wheatley (Houston) 22-4
Ronald Johnson tallied 30 points in 107-69 mauling of Milby (Houston). The Wildcats are now 10-0 in District 21-4A.
Dropped out: No. 20 Harker Heights
On the bubble
Berkner (Richardson) 18-5,
Duncanville 15-9,
Highland Park (Dallas) 23-3,
Lakeview Centennial (Garland) 18-6,
Pearland 20-6,
Rowe (McAllen) 26-1,
Westfield (Houston) 21-5,
Trinity (Euless) 19-6,
Wagner (San Antonio) 20-6,
Yates (Houston) 12-9
