MaxPreps Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

Holiday basketball tournaments continued to shake up the national rankings with nine Top 25 teams losing since last week's rankings.

Although the Top 10 remained unchanged, the unpredictable 2018-19 high school basketball season continues to deliver unexpected results. The last two rankings have seen 23 nationally ranked teams suffer at least one defeat over the past two weeks of hoops.

More tournament champions were crowned last week as five teams jumped into the Top 25 after winning event titles. Curie (Chicago) captured the Pontiac Holiday Classic, Shadow Mountain (Phoenix) won the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, Salesian College Prep (Richmond, Calif.) took home the Chick-Fil-A Classic title, Westchester (Los Angeles) was crowned champs of the Beach Ball Classic and Allen (Texas) won its Allen Holiday Invitational.

Federal Way (Wash.) and Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.) also jumped into the rankings after a week off, benefiting from seven teams dropping out.

While the holiday tournaments surrounding the winter break have wrapped up, major events remain on the horizon — with the first being the Cancer Research Classic this weekend in Wheeling, W. Va.

The event features a loaded slate of games highlighted by No. 1 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) vs. No. 10 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), No. 2 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) vs. No. 3 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and No. 2 La Lumiere vs. No. 12 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

Read on for a complete look at this week's Top 25 boys high school basketball rankings.

After a well -deserved week off following their City of Palms Classic championship run, the Indians travel to the Cancer Research Classic and face Findlay Prep and No. 10 Imhotep Charter in a City of Palms title game rematch.

2. (2) La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), 14-0
In the middle of their toughest stretch of games of the year, the Lakers picked up another signature win at the Hoop City Classic this weekend. Trailing by 12 points at halftime, La Lumiere battled back to defeat Findlay Prep 83-79 in overtime. This week the perennial powerhouse faces No. 12 Bishop Gorman and No. 3 Montverde Academy at the Cancer Research Classic.

An opportunity to avenge their only loss of the season awaits the Eagles this weekend against No. 2 La Lumiere in a rematch of their 'Iolani Classic semifinal showdown two weeks ago. The defending GEICO Nationals champions also meet a struggling Norcross (Ga.) at the Cancer Research Classic.

Set to take on local Sunshine State competition until back-to-back showdowns against Top 25 foes await this talented group over Martin Luther King Weekend. The Ascenders will face Huntington St. Joseph Prep at the Flyin to the Hoop Invitational before taking on No. 7 Oak Hill Academy at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

A balanced team effort guided the Trailblazers to four commanding wins at the Les Schwab Invitational. Led by its elite trio of Cassius Stanley, Kenyon Martin Jr., and tournament MVP Scotty Pippen Jr., Sierra Canyon outscored opponents by 22.3 points per contest and took down University (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 68-52 in a convincing title game win.

Took home the title of the DeMatha Christmas Tournament after holding off Wilson (Washington, D.C.) 56-54 in a championship game overtime thriller. The Stags take on Norcross (Ga.) at the Cancer Research Classic on Saturday.

The Warriors have a lengthy break for the holidays before returning to the court on Jan. 11 at the Roundball Classic. Oak Hill has showdowns with No. 4 IMG Academy and No. 3 Montverde Academy looming on Jan. 20 and Feb. 2, respectively.

After a week off, The Tigers return to the court this week against Timpview (Provo) on Jan. 4. The toughest stretch of games remains ahead as trips to the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, Bob Kirk Invitational and Heartland Hoops Classic remain on the horizon.

Won their second event championship of the season, taking home the Centrailia Holiday Tournament crown while outscoring their opponents by 22.5 points per contest. The Maroons have a major test this weekend, facing Vashon (St. Louis) on Saturday at the Highland Shootout.

The Panthers picked up another quality win last week, taking down Kennedy Catholic (Hermitage) 69-67 in overtime. The Panthers take on two quality opponents at the Cancer Research Classic this weekend, with showdowns against Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) and No. 1 McEachern.

Notched impressive semifinal and championship game wins of the John Wall Holiday Invitational knocking off West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) and South Central (Winterville, N.C.), respectively to take home the title. A shaky start to the event saw Ranney receive the benefit of a late technical foul in a game it'd all but lost to Garner Magnet (Garner, N.C.) prior to the additional free throws and the ball.

A massive opportunity awaits this group over the weekend at the Cancer Research Classic when the Gaels face No. 2 La Lumiere and Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.). A pair of signature wins would likely bolster their resume into the Top 10 and potentially the national title conversation later in the year.

13. (15) Rainier Beach (Seattle), 7-0
Will take on their first out-of-state opponent this season when they travel to the Golden State to take on Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.). The Vikings will have a challenging month of basketball ahead headlined by a trip to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.

Capturing the Damien Classic title helped bolster an already strong early season resume. This talented group has its most difficult part of the season ahead with No. 1 McEachern, No. 5 Sierra Canyon and a trip to the Montverde Invitational Tournament in a defining stretch of games to end the regular season.

The now-40-game winning streak dating back to the start of last season was tested last week as the Warriors took down Valparaiso 59-55 and Central Grove (Greenwood) 52-50 in overtime to win the Hall of Fame Classic.

The Condors picked up a pair of quality wins at the 88th annual Pontiac Holiday Tournament, taking down Simeon (Chicago) and Bloom (Chicago Heights) on the same day in the semifinals and championship game, respectively. The Condors convincing win over previously unbeaten Bloom in the title game launched them into the Top 25.

The Matadors took home the title at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic with four convincing wins over quality California foes. The Matadors take on three in-state opponents before traveling to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions on Jan. 17.

After capturing the Chick-Fil-A Classic title by taking down Norcross (Ga.), Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) and Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) — Salesian earns a spot in the Top 25 for the first time this season. The Pride's national ranking will be tested this week as they take on No. 17 Curie and Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) at Mustang Madness.

Won the Allen Holiday Invitational by taking down Steele (Cibolo) 93-91 in double overtime in the semifinals and Lake Travis (Austin) 64-41 in the title game later that day. The defending UIL Texas 6A state champions appear to be rounding into form with their lone loss coming in overtime to Guyer (Denton) in late November.

Jalen Johnson has been making a strong case for MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year this season. Averaging a double-double, Johnson posted consecutive eye-popping stat-lines in the month of December — going off for 28 points and 23 rebounds vs. Grafton (Wisc.) and 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Hamilton (Sussex, Wisc.) on back-to-back nights.

Next 5: Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio), Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.), Vashon (St. Louis)

Dropped Out: No. 12 Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas), No. 17 Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.), No. 18 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), No. 20 Cox Mill (Concord, N.C.), No. 23 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), No. 24 Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W. Va.), No. 25 Roman Catholic (Philadelphia)