BENSALEM, Pa. – It was a crazy week on the Left Coast and those doings shook up the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings. The California Open Division featured a series of upsets, showing that winning that grouping is no small task. When the bracket continues play with the semifinals on Tuesday.

At least four upsets occurred in the bracket last when the opening two rounds were contested. Among the casualties were Elite 25 teams Salesian College Prep (Richmond, Calif.), Fairfax (Los Angeles) and Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.). That leaves No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) and Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) left in the Southern California Region, with the winner going to Sacramento this weekend for the state final.

In Georgia, top-ranked McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) is 32 minutes away from the Class AAAAAAA state championship. The Indians play Meadowbrook (Norcross) in Saturday’s final in Macon.

There are two additions to the Elite 25. No. 18 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) joins after winning the Washington Catholic Athletic Association championship. That’s fourth WCAC chip for coach Steve Turner, who still have three games this weekend. In Nevada, No. 24 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) re-enters after winning an eighth straight state title. Eight? Wow, that’s quite a feat for coach Grant Rice and the Gaels. Rice’s team will go for a ninth consecutive title in 2019-20 with four returning starters and one of the nation’s top teams.

Well, it appears the pool of eight teams that will participate in the GEICO High School Nationals is nearly complete. Those that appear in are defending champion Montverde (Fla.) Academy, La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) and Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.). The final spots would go to top-ranked McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) or Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). McEachern is a lock while University has the inside track but must win out this week at states.

The field will be announced next week and the single-elimination tournament is played at Christ the King High School’s Father John Savage Gymnasium in Middle Village, New York from April 4-6.

With the state tournaments going full throttle, the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament tips off Thursday afternoon at Frostburg State University’s Bobcat Arena in western Maryland. The annual tournament’s eight-team field is comprised mainly of powerhouse programs from Catholic leagues from nearby Baltimore, Washington (D.C.) and Virginia. In the past, teams from New York, Philadelphia, Utah and Canada have participated. Since 1961 this event is the standard for the private school postseason tournaments.

The event is organized by the Wamba Caravan No. 89 International Order of the Alhambra, which is a worldwide charitable Catholic fraternal organization. Over the years, ACIT has donated proceeds to several worthy causes. The entire community is behind the event, which packs Bobcat Arena.

Two teams from the Elite 25 rankings accepted invites with three others looking to make one last push to land in the rankings.

Thursday’s first round pairings are: St. John’s College (Washington) vs. Maria Goretti (Hagerstown, Md.), 4 p.m. ET; St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) vs. No. 17 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 5:45; No. 18 Gonzaga vs. Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.), 7:30; and Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore) vs. Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 9:15.

The Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on March 12. That means we are less than a month from the GEICO Nationals and the club circuit takes over for four months.

Thank you to all our readers; we cannot do it without you. Get out to a game before the season ends. Remember to turn your clock’s back this weekend—spring ahead!

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor 

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 5, 2019

1. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (31-0)

Previous ranked: 1.

Low-down: Sharife Cooper’s 22 points and Isaac Okoro’s 18 points and four free throws in overtime gave the Indians a narrow 66-62 win over Norcross in the Class AAAAAAA semifinals. That sets up a matchup with defending state champions Meadowbrook Saturday for the state crown in the Macon Centreplex. In the quarterfinals, the Indians registered an easy 70-50 thrashing of Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee).

2. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (28-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Idle. The Lakers will likely earn the top seed at the GEICO Nationals that start on April 4 in New York.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (21-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Idle. Next stop is New York to defend their GEICO Nationals championship.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (26-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Idle. The GEICO Nationals are next starting on April 4 in New York. The Ascenders will send a record three players to the McDonald’s All-American Game in Atlanta later this month.

5. Curie, Chicago (30-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Condors defeated Fenwick (Oak Park), 76-51, in the Class 4A Fenwick Regional final and Schurz (Chicago), 74-38, in the semifinals. The Proviso West Sectional semifinals versus Riverside-Brookfield are Tuesday and the final is Friday back in Hillside.

6. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (30-3) 

Previous: 8.

Low-down: It was a crazy week in the California playoffs but the Trailblazers held it together to beat Westchester (Los Angeles), 65-60, in the CIF-Southern California semifinals. That means Sierra faces Mater Dei (Santa Ana) for the SoCal crown Tuesday in Simi Valley. The winner is headed to Sacramento’s Golden 1 Arena for the title game on Saturday against Modesto Christian or Sheldon (Sacramento).

7. Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Ala. (31-3)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won a third straight Class 7A state championship, taking out Baker (Mobile), 61-42. The Spartans set an Alabama record with three straight titles in the state’s largest classification. All-American F Trendon Watford closed out his brilliant prep career with a double-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. In the semifinals, Watford collected 14 points and 13 rebounds but Alexander Washington was the star, pumping in a game-high 19 points, canning 5 of 5 3-pointers, in a 59-48 triumph over Lee (Montgomery). Coach Bucky McMillan also posted career win No. 300 in the semis. Season complete.

8. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (31-4)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: It was Senior Night in southwestern Virginia and the Warriors’ seniors did not disappoint in a 108-67 win over Lakeside (Rock Hill, S.C.). Cameron Thomas fired in 28 points, Cole Anthony posted a triple-double of 26 points, 13 dimes and 12 caroms, BJ Mack had 18 points and 11 rebounds and big man Kofi Cockburn also dropped a double-deuce of 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Warriors pummeled three opponents last week, averaging 102 points. Next stop is New York for the GEICO Nationals.

9. Moeller, Cincinnati (24-0)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Defeated Colerain (Cincinnati), 67-51, in the Division I Dayton 1 District semifinals and Talawanda (Oxford, Ohio), 58-17, in the first round. The final is Saturday against Winton Woods (Cincinnati) at the University of Dayton Arena.

10. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (23-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Idle. The Crusaders are off until the New York State Federation Class AA semifinals on March 22 or 23 in Glens Falls.

11. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (26-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Idle. The Tigers are in line for the GEICO Nationals.

12. Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (23-3)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Downed Iona Prep (New Rochelle), 59-47, in New York CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals. Next are the semifinals versus Christ the King (Middle Village) are Thursday and the final is Sunday at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx.

13. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (22-5)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Buffaloes closed the regular season with five straight wins and now await an invite to the GEICO Nationals.

14. Ranney School, Tinton Falls, N.J. (26-3) 

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Bryan Antoine, a Villanova recruit, netted 18 points to defeat Trenton Catholic (Lawrenceville), 68-54, in the Non-Public B South quarterfinals. Also beat Timothy Christian (Piscataway), 101-40, in the first round. The Panthers hosted Rutgers Prep (Somerset) in the semifinals on Monday night.

15. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (25-3)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Lions need two wins for a return visit to this weekend’s Non-Public B state championship game in Toms River. Kahlil Whitney’s 19 points kick-started that quest stopping Morristown-Beard School, 94-29, in the Non-Public B North first round and they also beat Marist (Bayonne), 82-62, in the quarterfinals. The Lions played Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) in the semifinals on Monday. The sectional final (or state semifinals) is Wednesday. 

16. Cox Mill, Concord, N.C. (27-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Defeated Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem), 61-41, in the Class 3A third round. Next up is Freedom (Morganton) in the fourth round on Tuesday.

17. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (29-5)*

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won Maryland Private School title, beating Rock Creek Christian Academy (Meadows), 85-53. Junior C Hunter Dickinson pumped in 20 points in the final and was named MVP. The Stags open the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament against MIAA State and Baltimore Catholic League champions St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) Thursday in Frostburg, Md.

18. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (27-7)* 

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The newly minted Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champions are headed to the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament beginning Thursday afternoon in Frostburg, Md. The WCAC title was the fourth under coach Steve Turner and eighth overall. Junior Terrence Williams was named First Team All-WCAC. Williams has several offers from Top 25 programs.

19. University School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (25-4)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Sharks return to the Class 5A Final Four in Lakeland after surviving Westminster Christian, 39-36, in the Class 5A, Region 4 final. Also beat Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood), 68-56, in semifinals. Next is The Villages Charter Wednesday in the 5A semifinals and the title game is Thursday.

20. Carmel, Ind. (22-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A Carmel Sectional, beating Southeastern Hamilton (Fishers), 45-39, and Fishers, 62-52, in the semifinals. The Greyhounds face Northrop (Fort Wayne) Saturday in the 4A Logansport Regional semifinals. The final is later that night.

21. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (31-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Upset by Modesto Christian, 56-55, in the CIF-Northern California Region semifinals. Season complete.

22. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (26-6)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Upset by Westchester (Los Angeles), 74-57, in the in CIF-Southern California Region Open Division first round. Season complete.

23. Nicolet, Glendale, Wis. (22-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Beat Marshall (Milwaukee), 70-63, Division 2 regional final and Slinger, 66-56, in the semifinals. Next is the section semifinal against Port Washington Thursday and the final is Saturday.

24. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (28-4)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Gaels re-enter the Elite 25 after winning their eighth straight Nevada Class 4A state championship, beating crosstown rivals Clark (Las Vegas), 68-60. Junior C Isaiah Cottrell scored 10 his 23 points in the pivotal third quarter. Zaon Collins added 14 points. Season complete.

25. Shadow Mountain, Phoenix (26-3)*

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won the Arizona 4A state championship. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 7 Federal Way (Wash.) and No. 11 Fairfax (Los Angeles).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (22-4)*

2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (36-5)* *

3. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (23-5) 

4. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (24-3)

5. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (20-6)

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

Midwest

1. Morgan Park, Chicago (28-4)

2. Bogan, Chicago (26-3)

3. Benton Harbor, Mich. (21-1)

4. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (23-1)

5. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (22-3)

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

Southland

1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (33-2)

2. Duncanville, Texas (30-7)

3. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (30-5)*

4. Carmel Christian, Matthews, N.C. (31-3)*

5. Bartlett, Tenn. (31-2)

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

Far West

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-4)

2. Gonzaga Prep, Spokane, Wash. (25-2)*

3. Federal Way, Wash. (26-3)

4. Fairfax, Los Angeles (27-2)

5. Pinnacle, Phoenix (27-3)*

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

* Won a state, national or conference/league postseason tournament championship

(Note some schools have won multiple tournament titles]

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. 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 Senior Writer Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in April. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.