No. 2 Sunrise Christian (KS) bags NIBC championship; Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings top two boys’ teams meet Friday at Heartland Hoops Classic in Nebraska

BENSALEM, Pa. – The inaugural season in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference is in the books. And to sum it up?

Slam dunk!

Last weekend, the final stop on the national tour of the eight-team conference reserved for the powerhouse academy teams, touched down in Toms River, New Jersey with nine games during the Metro Classic, a four-day hoop bonanza down the Jersey Shore.

Sunrise Christian Academy of Bel Aire, Kansas, No. 2 in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings, defeated No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 57-52, on Saturday to clinch the conference championship. The game was tightly played but the Buffaloes emerged with a big third quarter.

Sunrise needed to win to claim the outright title or had IMG won, there would have been co-champions. Sunrise swept the two scheduled games and took home the hardware.

IMG trailed 14-10 after one but poured it on in the second for a 28-23 lead. Undeterred the Buffaloes outscored the Ascenders by nine points and were up 42-38. Gradey Dick, a Kansas-bound guard and McDonald’s All-American selection, scored 16 points and handed off 3 assists in 32 minutes. Mark Mitchell had 5 points and 9 rebounds in the win.

Jarace Walker notched a double-double, with 14 points and 14 rebounds, for IMG. The game featured eight times and five lead changes but the big difference was Sunrise’s 18-3 edge for bench scoring. That showed quality depth and certainly punched Sunrise’s ticket to the GEICO High School Nationals in April. Several of the teams from the NIBC are headed to GEICO and we’re hearing there will be two separate GEICO boys’ events, one for the super academies and another for state association championship squads.

The final NIBC standings:

1-Sunrise Christian (Kan.) 9-1. 2-IMG Academy (Fla.) 7-3. 3-Montverde (Fla.) Academy 7-3. 4-Oak Hill Academy (Va.) 6-4. 5-La Lumiere School (Ind.) 6-4. 6-Legacy Early College (S.C.) 2-8. 7-Wasatch Academy (Utah) 2-8. 8-Bishop Walsh (Md.) 1-9.

Armed with an NIBC chip, the Buffaloes continue their frenetic schedule in Grand Island, Nebraska and face No. 1 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) on Friday at the Heartland Hoops Classic. The game tips 8 p.m. ET from Grand Island Central Catholic High School. It will determine the top team in the Elite 25 rankings but might not be the last meeting between them. A second game could manifest itself at the GEICO Nationals.

The Heartland Classic shifts to the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island on Saturday for two sessions. The entire schedule and ticket information can be accessed here.

No. 22 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) re-enters the Elite 25 rankings with a 29-3 record and on target to capture the Baltimore Catholic League and MIAA A Conference championships. The Panthers are also in play for the GEICO Nationals.

No. 25 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) is on the verge of crashing out the Elite 25 but the Eagles have a strong strength of schedule and play in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, considered the nation’s top league (outside of the NIBC). The Eagles face No. 18 St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) on Thursday. That’s big-boy basketball.

Keep an eye on St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) because the Terriers are on the verge of being ranked. Prep is 16-1 and unbeaten in the uber-competitive New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Brooklyn-Queens AA. The Terriers have four games this week and end the season at No. 20 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) on Feb. 15 and last week knocked off No. 23 Cardinal Hayes (Bronx).

Last weekend in Chicago, No. 14 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) nipped No. 16 Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), 67-64, on a buzzer-beater before a sellout of more than 10,000 at the Wintrust Arena. Sierra Canyon is back at it later this week in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Open Division playoffs. The Blazers (22-3) earned the second seed in the Open Division. The playoffs tip Friday on neutral courts.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Feb. 15.

So, here’s to everyone getting vaccinated or scheduling to get their booster shot. Vaccinating is working as the Omicron variant numbers are plummeting in most places. Stay safe and mask up whenever possible.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 8, 2022

1. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (26-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Lions were idle but head to Grand Island, Nebraska this weekend for two nationally-charged games against No. 2 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) on Friday and Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) on Saturday at the Heartland Hoops Classic. The former game will be played at Grand Island Central Catholic High School.

2. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (21-1)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: At the Metro Classic in Toms River, New Jersey, the Buffaloes defeated Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.), 75-29, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.), 54-53, and No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 57-52. The games against Walsh and IMG moved their NIBC record to 9-1 and capturing the championship.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (22-4)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: The Ascenders had a rough weekend at the Metro Classic, dropping to games in Toms River, N.J. They went 7-3 in NIBC play with the losses.

4. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (21-4)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Coach Kevin Boyle returned his home state of New Jersey, winning all three games at the Metro Classic in Toms River. The Eagles went 2-0 in the NIBC and finished with a 7-3 record in the national conference.

5. Richardson, Texas (26-1)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Defeated Berkner (Richardson), 94-46. The Eagles need three more wins for a perfect run in District 7-6A.

6. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (15-4)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: The Lakers went 2-1 at the Metro Classic in Toms River, N.J. They split two games in the NIBC but beat No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 93-91, and fell to No. 4 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 70-55.

7. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (21-3)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: At the Court XIV Classic, the Dragons defeated Vertical Academy (Charlotte, N.C.), 83-58, and Moravian Prep (Hudson, N.C.), 70-53.

8. Duncanville, Texas (25-1)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Defeated Mansfield Lake Ridge, 71-63, and Waxahachie, 91-50. The Panthers finish up the regular season with three games in District-11-6A.

9. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (26-1)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: The Huskies concluded the regular season, taking down Big VIII opponents, Roosevelt (Eastvale), 78-59, and Corona, 85-37. The CIF-Southern Section playoffs start on Friday, where the Huskies are top-seeded in the vaunted Open Division.

10. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-0)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: The Gaels swept by Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas), 76-40, Durango (Las Vegas), 66-57, and Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 84-56. John Mobley and Darrion Williams scored 16 points apiece against Durango.

11. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (26-7)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: At the Metro Classic, the Warriors beat Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.), 77-55, and Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 75-70, in overtime. Both were NIBC contests and Chris Livingston totaled 36 points in them. Additionally, they beat then-No. 13 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, 61-54, as Judah Mintz scored 23 points.

12. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (16-2)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: The regular season closed with two wins. The Eagles tip off the postseason this week in the District 13-4A semifinals on Tuesday.

14. Camden, N.J. (14-2)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: At the Metro Classic in Toms River, N.J., the Panthers edged Gill St. Bernard (Gladstone), 57-55, and St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 70-46. In the former game, junior guard D.J. Wagner scored 18 points and Aaron Bradshaw added 7 points and 13 rebounds. Nine games remain in the regular season.

14. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (22-3)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: In Chicago, the Blazers ghghgh then-No. 11 Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), 67-64, as Dylan Metoyer nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Junior Bronny James scored 18 points, making six 3-pointers. Also won the Gold Coast Conference title with a perfect record, beating Windward (Los Angeles), 60-32.

15. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (22-3)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Idle. The Crew have two games this weekend in Jersey City, N.J.

16. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (26-1)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: In Chicago, lost to then-No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.), 67-64, on a buzzer-beater. Gonzaga-bound center Braden Huff scored 13 points for the Hilltoppers. Also beat Downers Grove North 57-17 and York (Elmhurst), 71-39. Only four games are left in the regular season.

17. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (17-2)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: At the Metro Classic, the Lions bowed to then-No. 12 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of the Wilson, Va.), 61-54, in Toms River, N.J. In the regular season, they beat Elizabeth, 49-44, and Manasquan, 67-44. North Carolina-bound Simeon Wilcher scored 17 points against Manasquan.

18. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (18-3)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: The Panthers kept the machine running, stopping DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 82-69, and then needed three overtimes to beat St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 81-76. The Panthers have another WCAC showdown on Thursday.

19. Centerville, Ohio (19-0)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Ryan Keifer’s 12 points were enough to beat Fairmont (Kettering), 51-39. With the win, the Elks stretched their win streak to 35 games and clinched at least a share of the Greater Western Ohio Conference title. They also stopped Vertical Academy (Charlotte, N.C.), 67-63.

20. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (16-3)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Isaiah Alexander put up 16 points, 11 rebounds and Samuel Gibbs scored 15 points to defeat Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx), 60-49. The Crusaders have four games this week, including archrivals Iona Prep (New Rochelle) on Saturday.

21. North Little Rock, Ark. (19-3)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Defeated Little Rock Central, 76-74, the last week’s lone contest.

22. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (29-3)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Panthers return to the Elite 25 rankings after winning an MIAA A Conference showdown at archrivals Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 66-60. Daquan Davis scored 23 points, including 11 straights in the third quarter, and Bryce Lindsay added 22. The Panthers are 10-0 in the Black Division standings. The Panthers have four scheduled games, culminated on Saturday with Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.).

23. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (17-2)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Defeated Portledge School (Locust Valley), 91-68, but lost to St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows), 61-56. With the regular season winding down, the Cardinals play four league games this week.

24. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (21-4)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Denzel Aberdeen scored 14 points and Ernest Udeh Jr. added 13 as the Panthers closed out the regular season with a 56-53 win over Windermere. They now host the District 5-7A tournament semifinals on Wednesday.

25. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (13-4)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: The Eagles play No. 18 St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) on Thursday in a pivotal WCAC game.

Dropped out: No. 25 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. (16-1)
2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (13-5)
3. St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark, N.J. (17-1)
4. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (17-4)
5. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (20-1)

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

Midwest

1. Glenbrook South, Glenview, Ill. (25-2)
2. Simeon, Chicago (22-3)
3. Chesterton, Ind. (17-0)
4. Westside, Omaha, Neb. (19-1)
5. Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central (13-1)

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

Southland

1. Westfield, Houston (24-1)
2. George Rogers Clark, Winchester, Ky. (22-1)
3. Pebblebrook, Mableton, Ga. (20-2)
4. Beaumont (Texas) United (26-3)
5. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (26-3)

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

Far West

1. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (21-2)
2. Garfield, Seattle (16-0)
3. Poly, Riverside, Calif. (25-2)
4. Campolindo, Moraga, Calif. (21-1)
5. Damien, La Verne, Calif. (26-2)

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

Records through Sunday’s games

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 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.