
Joseph Stamps led No. 3 Curie to a thrilling, four-overtime win over then-No. 15 Whitney Young in the Chicago Public League tournament title game, but an eligibility issue could put the Condors' historic accomplishment in jeopardy.
File photo by Mike Braca
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (No. 1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 28-0The Monarchs nearly saw their national title hopes go up in flames Friday night in the first round of Southern Section Open Division playoffs. Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello) took Mater Dei to overtime but the three-time defending state champs survived 66-59. Up next is Mayfair (Lakewood) on Friday.
2. (2) Rainier Beach (Seattle), 25-0Eastside Catholic (Sammamish) took the Vikings to the wire a week ago, but Beach wasn't taking any chances Saturday night in the Sea-King District title game. The two-time defending Class 3A state champs blitzed the Crusaders 78-38 and advance to the regionals and a matchup with Mercer Island this week.
3. (3) Curie (Chicago), 24-1The Condors survived an instant classic Chicago Public League tournament final with Whitney Young, going four overtimes Friday night for a 69-66 victory. Curie was feeling good after winning its first title in an event that dates back to the early 1900s. Then Michael O'Brien of the Chicago Sun-Times
dropped this eligibility bomb late Sunday night. Stay tuned.
4. (4) Montverde Academy (Fla.), 24-1Regular season complete. The Eagles are expected to participate in the Dick's Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in early April.
5. (5) White Station (Memphis, Tenn.), 29-1The Spartans meet Overton (Memphis) on Tuesday following a 55-51 win over Houston (Germantown) in the Region 8-AAA playoffs over the weekend. Illinois signee LeRon Black led the way with 21 points.