Go-To 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 5, 2013

BENSALEM, Pa. – Another interesting week for the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 national high school boys’ basketball. Upsets claimed plagued teams but other quietly took care of business inching closer to a state championship. There’s more in store this week.

No. 13 Etiwanda (Calif.) sent shockwaves down the West Coast on Saturday when it knocked off No. 14 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA final. That vaulted Etiwanda into the Go-To 25 rankings and the top-seed in the newly formed Southern California Region Open Division. Coach Dave Kleckner’s received a first-round bye in the bracket, which features schools without enrollment restrictions. This is a great idea and California should be commended for creating this competitive tournament, where a true state champion, regardless of school size will be crowned. Go to www.cif.org to see the loaded brackets for both genders. DeSoto (Texas), considered the top seed in the Class 5A tournament, was bounced in regional play and banished from the Go-To 25 rankings. Expect a few more changes in the coming weeks.

Once again a chunk of states will conclude their seasons this weekend, notably Illinois (Class 1A and 2A), Oregon and Texas. Additionally the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association will decided its Class AA intersectional champion on Sunday at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium. Last weekend No. 4 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) won another Class 5A state title but BYU-bound Nick Emery suffered a broken thumb and will be in a cast for the next four to six weeks. He’s a gutty kid and committed to his religious beliefs as he heads off after high school on a two-year missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  No. 10 Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.) won its second straight Class 7A title and are awaiting a bid to the National High School Invitational, starting on April 4 in North Bethesda, Md.

Hope to see you at a game soon. I’ll be at the New Jersey derby No. 6 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) vs. No. 18 Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) on Wednesday at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway in the Non-Public B semifinals. The winner will likely run the table, including a State Tournament of Champions title. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, March 5, 2013

1. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (34-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Swept a pair of game from Impact Academy (Las Vegas), closing out the regular season. Indiana-bound G Stanford Robinson scored 21 points in the second game. The Pilots will play again on April 4 in the National High School Invitational in North Bethesda, Md.

2. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (27-1)**

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Idle.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Regular season complete.

4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (26-1)**

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Won sixth state championship in eight years, defeating Alta, 72-39, in Class 5A final. Also beat Brighton (Cottonwood Heights), 53-27, in semifinals; Davis (Kaysville), 84-50, in quarterfinals as Talon Shumway scored 25 points, canning 6 of 8 3-pointers; and West Jordan, 90-53, in the first round. Season complete.

5. Whitney Young, Chicago (26-3)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Class 4A King Regional, beating De La Salle (Chicago), 79-53, in the final. Junior C Jahlil Okafor produced 23 points and 10 rebounds. In the semifinals, Okafor had 18 points and nine rebounds in an 83-63 victory over King (Chicago).

6. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (25-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Friars exploded a season-high point total in defeating Saddle River Day, 102-30, in the Non-Public B North quarterfinals. Tarin Smith scored 23 points and Temple-bound Josh Brown had 21. Up next is Hawthorne Christian in semifinals on Monday. A pending date with No. 18 Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) in Wednesday’s final would be played at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway.

7. Morgan Park, Chicago (28-3)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won the Class 3A Julian Regional, beating St. Laurence (Burbank), 86-53, in final. DePaul-bound Billy Garrett Jr. and Josh Cunningham scored 20 points apiece in a lopsided semifinal win over Julian (Chicago).

8. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (29-3)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Closed out regular season, crushing West Oaks (Orlando), 97-79. PG Trae Jefferson contributed 27 points and 13 assists. Opens the third Sunshine Independent Athletic Association Tournament Friday with West Oak (Orlando) or Oldsmar Christian in the semifinals in Jacksonville.

9. Simeon, Chicago (25-3)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A Mount Carmel Regional, beating Marist (Chicago), 66-31, as Duke-bound Jabari Parker had xx points and xx rebounds. In the semifinals, Parker accounted for 24 points and nine boards during a 70-34 victory over Mount Carmel (Chicago).

10. Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (27-1)**

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 7A championship, outlasting Evans (Orlando), 58-50, as Dallas Cameron scored 14 points. In the semifinals, the backcourt of Lance Tejada (24 points) and Cameron (17) combined for 41 points in a 71-52 win over Bartow. The Tigers are expected to receive a bid to National High School Invitational in April. Regular season complete.

11. Prime Prep Academy, Dallas (31-0)**

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I Tournament in Dayton, Tenn., beating Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.), 61-56, in the final.

12. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (29-3)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Express closed out the regular with two easy wins. Up next is the National High School Invitational, tipping on April 4 in Maryland.

13. Etiwanda, Calif. (27-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Upset then-No. 5 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 54-41, in CIF-Southern Section, Division I-AA final. Kenny Barnes scored 16 points.

14. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (30-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Lost to Etiwanda, 54-51, in CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA final at the Anaheim Civic Center. In the semifinals, eliminated Inglewood, 65-48. Up next is El Camino (Oceanside) Friday in the CIF Southern California Open Division Region first round.

15. Lake Oswego, Ore. (25-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Defeated Tigard, 60-50, in Class 6A second round. Up next is Southridge (Beaverton) Wednesday in the quarterfinals at Portland’s Rose Garden.

16. Pershing, Detroit (20-0)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Despite nearly two weeks off, the Detroit Public League champions recorded a 74-59 win over U-D Jesuit (Jesuit) in the Operation Friendship championship. Kahlil Felder, an Oakland University recruit, flipped in 22 points and handed off five assists and Martez Walker added 13 points. Also opened the Class A regional tournament Monday against King (Detroit).

17. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (24-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Frostburg, Md., from March 14 to 16.

18. Hudson Catholic, Jersey City, N.J. (28-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Georgetown-bound F Reggie Cameron scored 21 of his 24 points after the break as the Golden Hawks beat Newark Academy (Livingston), 74-47, in the quarterfinals of the Non-Public B North. Coach Nick Marinello’s team hosted Montclair Kimberley Academy on Monday in semifinals.  

19. Salesian, Richmond, Calif. (30-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won the CIF-North Coast Division IV championship, beating Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 65-34, for its 20^th consecutive win. Mario Dunn, a Montana recruit, and California-bound Jabari Bird each scored 20 points. The Pride will focus on the newly formed CIF Northern Region open division playoffs, which pits top teams in the region, regardless of school size.

20. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (33-5)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Closed out the regular season, defeating Kingdom Prep (Columbus, Ga.), 98-57. South Carolina-bound Sindarius Thornwell had 27 points and Troy Williams, an Indiana recruit, posted 19 points and 12 rebounds. The Warriors will await an invitation to the NHSI in April.

21. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (29-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is Southern California Region Division IV Tournament.

22. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (25-4)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament from March 14-16 in Frostburg, Md.

23. Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (33-2)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Braxton Blackwell pumped in 20 points in a 65-36 win over East Nashville in the Region 5-AA final. Played Spring Hill Monday in Class AA sectionals.

24. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (36-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won Class 5A, Region 1 championship, edging Lewisville Hebron, 35-33. Also stopped Arlington Martin, 56-28, in semifinals and Killeen Ellison, 45-44, in quarterfinals. Up next is Fort Bend Travis (Richmond) in Class 5A state semifinals on Friday in Austin.

25. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (27-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Upended by Etiwanda, 59-55, in CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA semifinals. Up next is St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the CIF Southern California Region Open Division quarterfinals on Friday.

Dropped out: No. 23 DeSoto (Texas).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (24-2)

2. Chester, Pa. (24-3)

3. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (24-3)

4. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (21-5)

5. Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y. (24-5)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midlands

1. Proviso East, Maywood, Ill. (26-3)

2. Germantown, Wis. (26-0)

3. Omaha (Neb.) Central (23-4)

4. West, Iowa City, Iowa (23-0)

5. Munster, Ind. (25-0)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

South

1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (32-2)

2. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (29-3)

3. Olympic, Charlotte, N.C. (27-0)

4. Fort Bend Travis, Richmond, Texas (31-5)

5. Southwind Prep, Memphis (29-6)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (29-3)**

2. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (22-2)

3. Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (26-5)

4. Westchester, Los Angeles (28-6)

5. Curtis, University Place, Wash. (27-2)**

Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Records are through Sunday.

** State champion or national/conference tournament winner 

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition and quality of league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s senior writer/evaluator Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, evaluators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter @clawlor or BlueStarMedia1, or www.bluestarmedia.org.