BENSALEM, Pa. – Now that most of the power states are knee-deep in the postseason, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings will continue to evolve. When late February rolls around, teams are suddenly on red alert—one loss and it could mean curtains.

That’s why states such as California, Georgia, Florida and Pennsylvania are going strong in the postseason. That also goes for the Philadelphia Catholic League, which is down to the semifinals on Wednesday at the famed Palestra. The New York and Washington Catholic leagues are quick to follow along with states Illinois, Ohio and Texas on the cusp. A lot can happen in the final two week of this month, setting up an exciting finish to the national high school scene in March and April.

Of course, the only event defining April—besides the NCAA Final Four—is the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in New York. It’s safe to say five Elite 25 schools have qualified: Oak Hills Academy, Findlay Prep, Montverde Academy, St. Benedict’s and La Lumiere School. That leaves three openings and according to sources, schools from Florida, Utah, South Carolina and Arizona are under consideration.

The eight-team tournament tips off March 31 and April 1 at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, Queens before shifting to Madison Square Garden across the river in Manhattan for the championship games on April 2. The invitations will be handed out in early March. We will bring the news of the Dick’s Nationals here first.

No. 25 Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) re-enters the Elite 25 and needs two more victories this week to cap a Lake Conference championship campaign. After that the Royals set their sights on another Class 5A state championship.

No. 9 St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) made the biggest leap, moving up seven spots.

The Elite 25 rankings are back next week on February 16. The girls’ rankings appear on Wednesday. Check back to www.bluestarmedia.org for the latest in basketball news and announcements. Until next week, hope to see you at a game soon. –-Christopher Lawlor

 Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings, Feb. 16, 2016

1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (33-1)

Previous: rank 1.

Low-down: The Warriors defeated Orangeville Prep (Ontario, Canada), 77-67, at the Jordan Brand Invitational in Toronto, Ontario. This was considered a light week, but the upcoming one has four home games. Coach Steve Smith’s team has a firm grip on the Elite 25 rankings but it ultimately comes down to the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.

2. Chino Hills, Calif. (27-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Huskies closed out a perfect regular season and were named the top seed in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Tournament. Next is No. 16 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) Friday in the first round. In the regular season finale, Li’Angelo Ball poured in 32 points in a 92-72 dismantling of Etiwanda.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Coach Kevin Boyle’s team made the annual pilgrimage north to his frigid home state of New Jersey for three games. The Eagles defeated St. Joseph (Metuchen), 78-44, and Roselle Catholic, 59-55, at the Metro Classic in Union; they also topped Pope John XXIII (Sparta), 83-43, at the PrimeTime Classic in Roselle.

4. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (24-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Pilots were in overdrive during a 145-81 waxing of Athlos Leadership Academy (San Antonio, Texas). Two games remain before coach Andy Johnson’s team regroups in March for the Dick’s Nationals in New York.

5. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (32-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The three-time district champions defeated The Woodlands (Conroe), 60-52, and Conroe, 80-52. The regular season is complete.

6. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (21-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Georgetown-bound Jagan Mosley dropped in 18 points and Shyquan Gibbs added 14 as the Friars trounced Bergen Catholic (Oradell), 61-38. Also drilled Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 60-42, at the PrimeTime Shootout in Roselle. Coach Bob Hurley’s team has a doozy on Saturday afternoon at undefeated St. Augustine Prep (Richland) in the Shoot Down Cancer Classic.

7. U of D Jesuit, Detroit (16-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: For the fourth straight year, the Cubs are Detroit Catholic League Central champions after rallying to beat De La Salle (Warren, Mich.), 51-47. Michigan State-bound G Cassius Winston flipped in 18 points and Gregory Eboigbodin posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The league playoffs are next.

8. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (24-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Knights capped the regular season with a 60-52 win over Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello) going 8-0 in the Del Rey League. Next is Orange Lutheran in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division first round on Friday.

9. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (26-1)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: In what amounts to a late-season quality win, the Gray Bees bounced Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, 78-68, at the PrimeTime Shootout in Roselle. The victory all but assures coach Mark Taylor’s team an invitation to the Dick’s Nationals next month in New York. This week they host the Prep A State Tournament with the semifinals on Thursday and the final on Saturday.

10. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-3)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Brandon Cyrus netted 25 points and Brian Bowen and Jeremiah Tilmon scored 18 apiece to defeat Lighthouse Christian (Nashville, Tenn.), 90-69. The Lakers are a virtually lock for the Dick’s Nationals next month on New York.

11. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (23-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Cody Riley tossed in 17 of his 21 points in the opening half and Remy Martin added 19 as the Trailblazers won the Gold Coast League tournament, beating Windward School (Los Angeles), 83-52.

12. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (21-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree produced 18 points, 8 rebounds and 8 blocks and Zane Martin fired in 22 points, sinking six 3-pointers, in a 104-65 rout of Bonner-Prendergast (Drexel Hill, Pa.) in the Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinals. The Saints face Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia) in the semifinals on Wednesday at the famed University of Pennsylvania Palestra, with the winner playing Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) or Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) on Monday back at the same venue for the championship.

13. Morgan Park, Chicago (21-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Charlie Moore’s 32 points were enough to hold off North Lawndale (Chicago), 85-76, in the Chicago Public League quarterfinals. In the second round, the Mustangs edged Hyde Park (Chicago), 81-76, as Morgan netted 28. The semifinals are Friday against rival No. 16 Simeon (Chicago) and the final Sunday.

14. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (24-3)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The win streak was halted at 10 games when Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) knocked off the Cadets, 67-60. However, all was not lost because Jeffrey Dowtin Jr. bucketed 22 points, making four 3-pointer, in a 61-54 win over then-No. 10 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.). The regular season wrapped up Monday at Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) and then the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoffs begin later this week.

15. Stevens Point, Wis. (20-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Panthers are two games short of a perfect regular season with D.C. Everest (Schofield) on Tuesday and Wausau East on Friday standing in their way.

16. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (23-4)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Stag dropped one and still had one on Monday but it’s all good because the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament—the nation’s best tips off later this week.

17. Simeon, Chicago (20-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: In the Chicago Public League Tournament, the Wolverines downed Whitney Young (Chicago), 71-45, in the quarterfinals and Dunbar (Chicago), 82-48, in the second round. Next is No. 12 Morgan Park (Chicago) in the semifinals on Friday. The winner gets Kenwood (Chicago) or Curie (Chicago) in the final on Sunday.

18. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (22-0)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Warriors won the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central with a 12-0 record. Next is West Carrollton in the Division I Wright State 2 district first round.

19. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-3)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Monarchs finished another perfect season in the Trinity League, stretching their league win streak to 58 games. A stingy defense is allowing 50 points per game heading into the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs, where they face Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello) Friday in the first round.

20. Patrick School, Elizabeth, N.J. (18-5)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Jordan Walker flipped in a game-high 21 points during a 76-55 win over Westfield. The Celtics were upended by St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.), 68-65, at the PrimeTime Shootout in Roselle. STM is a post-graduate team with fifth-year seniors, so the Celtics do not take a hit in the Elite 25.

21. DeSoto, Texas (28-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Eagles eked two District 8-6A victories, stopping Cedar Hills, 56-53, and Midlothian, 50-45. The season finale is Tuesday against Duncanville. The Eagles are 10-1 in district play.

22. Chaminade, St. Louis (20-5)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Jayson Tatum, a semifinalist for the Naismith High School Player of the Year award, scored 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting and cleared 9 rebounds in a 67-38 win over league rival DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis). The Red Devils also throttled Christian Brothers College (St. Louis), 79-57. The regular season ends on Tuesday with Hazelwood East (St. Louis).

23. Peabody, Alexandria, La. (28-1)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The high-octane offense pumped in 106 and 97 points in two District 3-3A wins.

24. Garfield, Seattle (20-2)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Jaylen Nowell pumped in a game-high 25 points when the Bulldogs avenged their lone in-state loss in taking down rival Rainier Beach (Seattle), 65-63, in the Metro League tournament final. In the semifinals, they crushed Cleveland (Seattle), 80-52. The title gives the Bulldogs the top seed from the conference to the Sea-King 3A District 2 tournament.

25. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (23-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Should the Royals win both games this week, they will move to 7-1 in the Lake Conference and capture the title with the Class 5A postseason on the horizon.

Dropped out: No. 25 East, Memphis, Tenn.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Archbishop Carroll, Radnor, Pa. (21-2)
2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (21-4)
3. H.D Woodson, Washington, D.C. (27-0)
4. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (21-6)
5. Cardozo, Oakland Gardens, N.Y. (25-2)

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

Midwest

1. Apple Valley, Minn. (23-1)
2. Fenwick, Oak Park, Ill. (22-2)
3. Althoff Catholic, Belleville, Ill. (23-2)
4. New Albany, Ind. (18-1)
5. Merrillville, Ind. (19-1)

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

Southland

1. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (25-2)
2. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (22-3)
3. Christian Brothers, Memphis, Tenn. (26-1)
4. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (28-2)
5. Greenforest Christian Academy, Decatur, Ga. (25-2)

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

Far West

1. Foothills Christian, El Cajon, Calif. (19-4)
2. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (25-3)
3. West Linn, Ore. (18-3)
4. Modesto (Calif.) Christian (25-1)
5. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (22-4)

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

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November until the conclusion of the high school season in early April. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators, administrators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.