As the 2021-22 high school basketball season nears its conclusion, top-ranked teams continue to cap impressive state championship runs to jockey for higher positioning in the national rankings.
Last week, Duncanville, Centennial, North Little Rock, Glenbard West, Cardinal Hayes, Weddington, Beaumont United and Jonesboro each capped state championship runs to add to their national resumes.
In one of the most incredible turnarounds, No. 1
Duncanville came from behind 30-10 to defeat
Atascocita
50-36 in the Texas Class 6A state semifinals. The Panthers held
Atascocita to four second-half points and finished the game on a
40-6 run over the final 20 plus minutes of game action. The following night, the Panthers left no doubt, capturing their third state Texas crown with a 69-49 title-game blowout of McKinney.
Looking ahead, No. 5 Camden and No. 8 Roselle Catholic are likely to face off on Sunday in the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title game while Centerville looks to complete a special season with 46 consecutive wins and back-to-back Ohio Division I state titles.
Duncanville's C.J. Ford hoists the UIL 6A trophy after the Panthers' 69-49 title win over McKinney on Saturday.
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Record: 35-1 | Last week: 1
Captured the program's third consecutive 6A state championship with a 69-49 victory led by tournament MVP
Anthony Black's team-high 18 points.
Record: 33-1 | Last week: 2
Won their first state championship with a 59-50 victory over Modesto Christian in the CIF Open Division title game. New Mexico signee
Donovan Dent led the Huskies with 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Dismantled No. 25 Sierra Canyon 83-59 in the SoCal title game.
Record: 24-2 | Last week: 3
FHSAA Class 4A state champions. Expected to be the No. 1 seed in the inaugural State Champions Invitational.
Record: 28-0 | Last week: 4
Defending OHSAA Division I state champions advanced to the state semifinals with a 55-39 victory over Fairfield paced by 22 points and 11 rebounds from unsigned senior
Rich Rolf. The Elks face St. Ignatius (Cleveland) in Saturday's semifinals.
Record: 29-2 | Last week: 5
Secured its first Group 2 state title since 2000 with a 93-52 victory over Newark Central (Newark) paced by 20 points from top-ranked junior
D.J. Wagner. The Panthers have a first-round bye before facing the winner of Elizabeth and Paterson Charter (Paterson) on Thursday in the Tournament of Champions semifinals.
Record: 27-3 | Last week: 6
Capped consecutive AHSAA Class 6A state title runs with a 65-47 victory over Bentonville led by 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists from five-star Arkansas signee
Nick Smith.
Record: 37-1 | Last week: 8
The Hilltoppers were dominant in their state title run, defeating four state tournament opponents by an average of 26 points. The senior-laden group defeated Whitney Young (Chicago) 56-34 to capture the program's first state title behind a game-high 21 points from expected Illinois walk-on
Paxton Warden and 19 points and five assists from Gonzaga-bound
Braden Huff.
Record: 27-2 | Last week: 7
Had a pair of close calls last week, defeating Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone) 68-62 led by 18 points from four-star junior
Akil Watson and Trenton Catholic (Trenton) 74-66 behind 21 points and 10 rebounds from Nebraska signee
Jamarques Lawrence to capture the Non-Public B state title. The Lions face the winner between Bergen Catholic (Oradell) and Woodrow Wilson (Camden) in the Tournament of Champions on Thursday.
Record: 26-3 | Last week: 17
Defeated No. 14 Archbishop Stepinac 79-59 to capture the CHSAA Class AA title. The Cardinals were led by a game-high 24 points, nine rebounds and four blocks from unsigned senior
Tobe Awaka while five-star sophomore
Ian Jackson chipped in 21 points and four assists.
Record: 33-2 | Last week: 12
Season complete. Lost in the third round of the 6A state tournament.
Record: 31-5
| Last week: 9
Advanced to the Alhambra Invitational Catholic Tournament championship game after defeating Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore) 56-52 and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) 69-66. The Panthers fell to WCAC rival DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 67-59 in the event title game.
Record: 26-4 | Last week: 13
Blew past their first two PIAA Class 5A state tournament opponents last week, defeating Chichester (Boothwyn) 78-51 and Radnor 62-39. The Panthers take on Marple Newtown (Newtown Square, Pa.) in Tuesday's state quarterfinals before possibly facing the winner of Chester and Shippensburg in the semifinals.
Record: 31-0
| Last week: 15
Completed consecutive unbeaten state title runs with a 75-58 victory over Panther Creek (Cary) in the NCHSAA Class 4A state title game. Much like they were all season, the Warriors were led by seniors
Kyle Frazier (21),
Chase Lowe (20) and
A.J. Cook (17).
Record: 26-4 | Last week: 10
Fell to No. 9 Cardinal Hayes 79-59 in the CHSAA Class AA title game despite 21 points and five rebounds from unsigned senior
Samuel Gibbs. The Crusaders split the season series with Cardinal Hayes 2-2.
Record: 26-3 | Last week: 14
Season complete. NCISAA Class 4A state champions.
Record: 28-0 | Last week: 16
Season complete. TSSAA Division II Class AA champions.
Record: 36-3 | Last week: 20
Last year's state championship game hero came back to shine again as Houston signee
Terrance Arceneaux accounted for 10 points in the final two minutes of the 5A state title game to defeat Mansfield Timberview (Mansfield) 62-57. This group had four games determined by six points or less during their run to consecutive state crowns.
Record: 29-2 | Last week: 18
Season complete. FHSAA Class 7A state champions.
Record: 29-1 | Last week: 19
DCSAA Class AA state champions. Expected to participate in the State Champions Invitational.
Record: 33-1 | Last week: 22
Open KHSAA Sweet 16 play against Perry County Central (Hazard) on Wednesday. The Cardinals are in search of their first Sweet 16 state championship in program history after finishing runner up in 1989 and 1991.
Record: 28-3
| Last week: NR
Make their season debut in the national rankings after surging to the 5A state championship with a 55-28 victory over Marion. Oklahoma State-bound
Quion Williams led the way with 17 points and four rebounds in the title game victory.
Record: 30-1 | Last week: 21
Season complete. NIAA 5A state runner-up.
Record: 27-2 | Last week: 24
WIAA Class 3A state champions. Expected to participate in the State Champions Invitational.
Record: 22-4 | Last week: NR
Season complete. NIAA 5A state champions.
Record: 26-5 | Last week: 11
Fell to No. 2 Centennial 83-59 in the CIF Southern California Open Division title game. The Trailblazers were led by UCLA-bound
Amari Bailey (15) and five-star sophomore
Isaiah Elohim (14) in the loss.
