Another wild week of high school hoops saw two Top 10 teams take drastic falls in the Top 25 rankings as previous No. 10 Ranney (Tinton Falls, N.J.) dropped 11 spots and previous No. 5 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) dropped out of the rankings.
Along with the Tigers, two other teams dropped out of the Xcellent 25 this week as previous No. 18 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) lost 65-59 to Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) and previous No. 23 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) fell 63-60 to Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.).
No. 18 Fairfax (Los Angeles) made the biggest splash in the rankings this week, jumping into the Top 25 for the first time following a signature 50-48 win over previous No. 13 Westchester (Los Angeles). Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) and Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) also climbed back into the rankings this week prior to big showdowns over the weekend.
A massive week awaits high school basketball as matchups of No. 4 Montverde Academy (Montverde Academy, Fla.) vs. No. 5 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), No. 6 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) vs. No. 25 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) vs. No. 19 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.), No. 15 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) vs. No. 21 Ranney and a potential Bob Kirk Invitational title game showdown between No. 1 La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) and No. 8 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) loom large.
A big weekend awaits the Lakers as they will travel to the Bob Kirk Invitational to face Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) on Friday before a potential massive title game showdown with No. 8 Sunrise Christian Academy the following day.
2. (2) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 22-0Signature wins over No. 25 Paul VI, No. 12 Mountain Brook, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) (twice), Findlay Prep (Henderson, Va.), No. 17 Shadow Mountain, No. 8 Sunrise Christian Academy and No. 22 Rancho Christian have proven this group is capable of capturing the national title this season. The Indians will come into the Georgia Class AAAAAAA state tournament as heavy favorites in search of the program's first state championship.
For the first time in the 42 year history of the McDonald's All-American game three players from the same high school were selected for the premiere All-Star game with North Carolina pledge
Armando Bacot Jr., Villanova bound
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Arizona signee
Josh Green all set to participate in late March.
4. (4) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 17-2Captured its 11th Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament crown in 16 appearances over the weekend, dismantling No. 22 Rancho Christian 79-56 in the title game. The Eagles continue the toughest schedule in high school basketball this week, facing their eighth ranked opponent in a monster showdown Saturday with No. 5 Oak Hill Academy.
Picked up a pair of wins against decent California competition over the weekend, knocking off Santa Margarita 92-67 and Modesto Christian 97-72. The real test for the Warriors is this week when they face their third ranked opponent of the season at the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest against No. 4 Montverde Academy in a nationally televised showdown set for ESPNU.
6. (7) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 19-2A big week awaits the Stags as they travel to No. 25 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) in a showdown between the final two unbeaten teams in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play. A win over the Panthers would put DeMatha in the driver's seat in the loaded WCAC.
7. (8) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 23-2Defending CIF Open Division state champions has its biggest in-state test of the year this weekend against No. 19 Rancho Christian in a battle of serious Open Division contenders to cap off the regular season for both squads.
8. (9) Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 16-3
Notched a huge 70-62 road win over No. 19 University in a back-and-forth nationally televised affair. This week, the Buffaloes take on Rock Creek Christian and Bishop Walsh before a likely title game showdown with No. 1 La Lumiere at the Bob Kirk Invitational.
Impressed over the weekend at the Crush in the Valley, suffocating Clark (Las Vegas) with relentless defense to take home a convincing 65-41 victory. This group will be motivated by a first-round exit last season in the CIF Open Division state tournament as the Pride will be heavy favorites to reach the Open Division state title game from NorCal.
Continue its ascension in the Top 25 after picking up a signature 51-47 win over Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.). The Spartans have an opportunity to avenge their only in-state loss of the season this week when they face Wenonah (Birmingham) on Thursday, before wrapping up their regular season against Pinson Valley (Pinson) the following night.
11. (12) Belleville West (Belleville, Ill.), 21-1
Ohio State signee
E.J. Liddell came up huge down the stretch for the Maroons this weekend. He scored 18 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of clutch free throws to go-ahead with 29 seconds remaining in the 74-73 triumph over defending Illinois Class 3A runner-up Springfield Southeast (Springfield).
A tough stretch awaits this group as its next four opponents have a combined 69-18 record this season. The Cardinals will begin their difficult stretch with Henry Clay (Lexington) and Walton-Verona (Walton) this week.
13. (15) Curie (Chicago) 24-1
The Condors capped off their regular season with a 67-50 victory against Hazelwood Central (Florissant, Mo.) over the weekend. They will have the week off before taking on Fenger (Chicago) in the opening round of the Chicago Public League City Playoffs.
14. (17) Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.), 14-1
After outscoring their previous three opponents by 45 or more points, the Knights are now beating in-state opponents by over 33 points per contest. Nicolet's lone loss came to Paul VI at the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest in Washington, D.C. early in the season.
15. (21) Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), 14-1The Lions notched a convincing 97-66 win over Camden (N.J.) in preparation for their biggest in-state showdown of the season. Roselle Catholic takes on No. 21 Ranney on Wednesday in what may be a preview of the New Jersey tournament of champions title game.
16. (22) Shadow Mountain (Phoenix), 19-3
Will signature wins over No. 12 Belleville West and No. 25 Paul VI be enough to get this group back to GEICO Nationals for a third consecutive season? A fourth consecutive state championship is the first step in the Matadors quest to return to the Big Apple.
Massive in-state showdown awaits Warren Central this week as they take on newly minted McDonald's All-American
Trayce Jackson-Davis and Center Grove (Greenwood) on Thursday. The showdown will be telling on how this group handles a high-level big man with their tallest player listed at just 6-foot-6.
18. (NR) Fairfax (Los Angeles), 20-1
After a 12-day layoff due to the Los Angeles teacher's strike, the Lions picked up three wins in three days last week with quality wins over previous No. 13 Westchester 50-48 and Long Beach Poly (Long Beach.) 59-53. Fairfax climbs into the Top 25 for the first time this season with a rematch against Westchester set for Thursday.
Annihilated previous No. 5 Wasatch Academy 74-47 before being overpowered by No. 4 Montverde Academy 79-56 in the title game of the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament. The Eagles get defending CIF Open Division state champions No. 7 Sierra Canyon in their regular season finale.
20. (20) University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 16-4
Although the Sharks picked up their fourth loss of the season over the weekend, they battled tooth-and-nail with No. 8 Sunrise Christian Academy in a tough 70-62 loss. McDonald's All-American
Vernon Carey Jr. was impressive in the losing effort, finishing with 26 points against one of the best defensive big men in high school basketball.
21. (10) Ranney (Tinton Falls, N.J.), 15-2After
jumping back into the Top 10, the Panthers suffered a crushing 62-60 loss
over the weekend to Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone). Ranney must rebound quickly from the tough loss with a massive
showdown this week against No. 15 Roselle Catholic.
22. (13) Westchester (Los Angeles), 18-2Returning to the court after a 14-day layoff due to the Los Angeles teacher's strike, the Comets lost their first game back against crosstown rival Fairfax. Westchester has an opportunity to avenge their loss to No. 19 Fairfax this week just six days after their meeting over the weekend.
23. (25) Federal Way (Wash.), 18-2Jaden McDaniels outscored Beamer (Federal Way, Wash.) by himself on senior night, going off for 51 points in the 106-42 win. His 51 points broke a 37-year school record of 49 set by Donny Marshall in 1991.
24. (NR) Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W. Va.),16-3Jump back into the rankings after three blowout wins last week prior to their trip to the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest in Tampa, Fla. this weekend. The Irish face Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) and Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) in back-to-back nights at the event.
25. (NR) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.),15-4With three teams dropping out of the Top 25, the Panthers jump back into the rankings after spending a week in the Next 5. Paul VI faces its biggest conference test of the season this week, taking on No. 7 DeMatha on Tuesday in a battle of the only remaining unbeaten teams in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play.
Dropped out: No. 5 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), No. 18 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), No. 23 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Wendell Green Jr., La Lumiere
Photo by Mike Braca
