Here's one man's impressions — and rankings — of those remaining in the championship bracket of the Open Division. We're down to eight.
Complete Open Division bracket
1. Chino Hills (Calif.) (10-0)No real surprise here. The Huskies are the No. 1 team in the country. By all accounts, they were sluggish and relatively lethargic — a 3,000-mile trip three days earlier will do that to you — yet still won by 39 against Seattle Prep. Besides the much ballyhooed Ball brothers — who put on a dizzying display of offensive skills — I was very impressed with 6-9 freshman
Onyeka Okongwu (nine blocks) and 6-4 wing
Elizjah Scott (19 points).
Eric Lovett, Jonesboro
Photo by David Hood
, a 6-6 junior and reigning MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year, looks like he could carry his team on his back but won't need to with a load of big, physical and skilled teammates. They were in complete command of a talented Windward team. Two-time Georgia state champs are on same side of bracket of Chino Hills so could face in semifinals.
3. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) (8-2)The Gaels have all the pieces and a big advantage in the middle, in 6-10 post Zach Collins. Chuck O'Bannon Jr. in early running for division MVP with 29-point performance. If Gorman plays like it did in second half during 72-58 win over Capital Christian, Gaels should make the finals.
4. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) (7-0) The Spartans and Gorman will play in the best quarterfinal game Monday at 4:30. De La Salle looked very sharp, determined and, of course, defensive in 64-47 win over Prestonwood. The Spartans allow only 37 points per game this season. The senior duo of
Jordan Ratinho and
Nikhil Peters, a pair of fourth-year starters, look strong.
Ryse Williams (0), Redondo Union
Photo by Jann Hendry
The 3-4-5 spots could be interchanged easily. Redondo took it to a very good Folsom squad from the start, led by
Ryse Williams (25 points), and were never threatened. Honestly didn't get to see Redondo-Folsom live, but on stream, so this squad might be even better than ranked.
6. Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.) (8-2)There's
little separation from any of the eight and if Alemany continues to get
wide spread contributions like it did versus Moreau Catholic, Tray
Meeks' team is capable of a title.
DJ McDonald had 17 on Saturday. "We had four or five big contributions but we'll need seven, eight and nine to win this thing," Meeks said.
7. Bentonville (Ark.) (6-1)It was impressive the Arkansas power was in control most of the way in a first-round win over St. Petersburg with
Malik Monk largely deferring. Look for the Kentucky commit to defer less Monday against Redonodo.
8. King (Milwaukee, Wis.) (7-0)The
perennial Wisconsin power showed considerable toughness in an
inartistic win over Santa Margarita. It has one of the top guard tandems
in Cotton and Poole, but will need more big play from its bigs to stay
with Chino Hills Monday.
