There are public schools and private schools. There are prep schools and sports academies.
In short, high school sports is a complicated mass of competitors with different goals, different rules and different attitudes, and trying to fit them all into one big category is all but impossible. So the folks who run the GEICO postseason events have cooperated with the inevitable by splitting their championships into two groups.
The GEICO Nationals' group is drawn from schools that do not compete for state championships. They may or may not be affiliated with their state high school association, but for whatever reason, when postseason comes, they're not part of the state playoffs.
Of course, the vast majority of high schools do compete for state titles, and that group will now play in the State Champions Invitational.
In this first year of the split, five schools in the GEICO Nationals will play at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., from March 31 to April 2. Then four teams will compete in the State Champions Invitational at Berkeley Prep in Tampa from April 7 to 9.
GEICO Nationals field
No. 8
New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)No. 12
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)State Champions Invitational field
No. 1
Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)No. 15
Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)No. 17
Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
Eventually, organizers hope to expand both events to eight teams. Of course, since eight states now allow teams to participate, there's a limited pool, but the plan is to add more and more states as time goes on to create a truly national event that is a fitting conclusion to the high school basketball season.
Kayla Whitner, Woodward Academy
Photo by Ed Turlington
1. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 28-0 |
Last week: 1
The Quakers could have stayed home and not risked this ranking, but they haven't backed down all year long — which makes it no surprise that they're headed for the State Champions' Invitational April 7 through 9.
2. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 35-2 |
Last week: 2
The Eagles have completed their season, but both their losses are to No. 1 Sidwell Friends.
3. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 3
The Trailblazers left no doubt against previous No. 24 Archbishop Mitty in the California Open Division title game, winning 85-61. California isn't one of the eight states that permits its champions to play in the GEICO events.
4. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 4
The Lancers face the winner of 28-5 Westfield and 26-3 Sparta on Friday in the New Jersey Tournament of Champions, with the title game set for Sunday. Manasquan, 30-4 and a long-time rival, could be the opponent in that one.
5. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 5
Season complete.
6. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Record: 23-1 |
Last week: 6
The Royals should have little trouble with 18-10 Lakeville North on Wednesday, but the 4A state tournament competition gets tougher with each game. Shakopee, 30-2, for example, is the No. 2 seed.
7. Classen SAS (Oklahoma City)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 7
The Comets left absolutely no doubt as to the better team in the 4A final. Unbeaten Tuttle was ranked ahead of Classen SAS by the Oklahoma folks, but after a 55-22 thumping, it was clear Classen was the class of the state.
8. New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)
Record: 27-2 |
Last week: 8
Though New Hope may be favored to win the GEICO Nationals, there's no path for the top spot in these rankings, as losses to No. 3 Sierra Canyon and No. 7 Classen SAS limit how high the Maryland school can rise.
9. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 25-3 |
Last week: 9
Season complete — but note that the entire starting lineup returns in the fall.
10. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 10
The Red Knights won their opener in the Class 6 championships by 38, and are expected to move past St. Joseph's Academy almost as easily on Thursday. The championship game Friday, however, will be a tougher test.
11. Cedar Park (Texas)
Record: 37-0 |
Last week: 11
Season complete.
12. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 12
The Eagles may have a chance to avenge one of those three losses in the GEICO Nationals, as DME is a possible opponent.
13. Hazel Green (Hazel Green, Ala.)
Record: 35-0 |
Last week: 13
Season complete.
14. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 14
Like Montverde, DME could avenge a loss at the GEICO Nationals, as that 68-58 defeat at the hands of IMG still rankles.
15. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 25-4 |
Last week: 15
The Highlanders slipped past No. 17 Woodward Academy 74-70 on Jan. 8, and a potential rematch in the GEICO State Champions Invitational should be just as close.
16. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 16
Season complete.
17. Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 17
The War Eagles have a chance to make a serious jump in the rankings at the GEICO State Champions Invitational, as they can avenge a loss to No. 15 Lake Highland Prep and then maybe get a shot at No. 1 Sidwell Friends.
18. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 34-3 |
Last week: 18
Season complete.
19. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 34-7 |
Last week: 19
Season complete.
20. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 20
Season complete.
21. Garfield (Seattle)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 21
Season complete.
22. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 23-0 |
Last week: 23
Season complete.
23. Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.)
Record: 31-0 |
Last week: 25
The Colonials face the winner of the game between 28-1 Cedar Cliff and 27-4 Pennsbury on Friday, but note that Plymouth Whitemarsh beat Pennsbury 52-15 earlier in the season.
24. Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)
Record: 24-4 |
Last week: NR
On Dec. 31, Ensworth was 7-4 — but 17 wins later, they jump into the MaxPreps Top 25. And though Bearden has a slightly better record and won a Tennessee title in a tougher division, when the two teams played on a neutral court, Ensworth won.
25. West Bloomfield (Mich.)
Record: 24-1 | Last week: NR
The Lakers lost their first game of the season, and have since spiced up that glittering record with a pair of wins against out-of-state opponents and a takedown of longtime Michigan power Edison Academy. But West Bloomfield needs two more wins to stay in the Top 25, with the Division 1 title game Saturday.
Dropped out: No. 22 Millard South (Omaha, Neb.); No. 24 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.).
