SEISMIC SHIFT: Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings shake, No. 1 Oak Hill (VA) survives

BENSALEM, Pa. – Don’t be alarmed if the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school boys’ basketball rankings have a new look. No, there were no additions this week but the periodically the deck needs to be reshuffled to reflect the season.

At the top of the rankings are No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, both of who are the cream of the crop. After that it’s a mishmash of very good teams still gaining their identity.

Until California’s Southern and Los Angeles City sectionals shake out, the Elite 25 cannot rest. That’s because southern California has several impactful teams and the rankings will bear what occurs in their Open Division sectional and regional playoffs.

Keep an eye on the Philadelphia Catholic League semifinals on Wednesday at the University of Pennsylvania’s famed Palestra. The winner eventually gets a valuable piece of hardware on Feb. 23 and scores big national points. Same goes for the Washington Catholic Athletic Association and North Carolina Independent Schools tournaments. Always, great drama.

No. 7.Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) and No. 8 Plano (Texas) West made the biggest leaps in the Elite 25, with No. 23 Garfield (Seattle) and No. 24 Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.) dropped. Garfield lost in the Metro Division playoffs to rivals Rainier Beach (Seattle). Parkview fell because of its lack of a national scheduling presence.  Others shifted but with the state playoffs on the horizon, the Elite 25 will begin shedding teams and discovering others more deserving.

So, consider it an internal shakeup. Welcome to the playoff basketball, there’s more where it came from!

The next Elite 25 rankings will appear on Feb. 24. In the meantime, please support your local high school teams in the playoffs and on senior nights. There are plenty of great stories and players out there. Drop us an email if there is a story idea or special player locally. We are listening. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 17, 2015

1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (40-0)*

Previous rank: 1.

Low down: The Warriors were pushed to the limit by Nebraska’s second-ranked large school but still prevailed over Omaha South, 59-54, at the Heartland Hoops Classic in Grand Island, Neb. Dwayne Bacon, a McDonald’s All-American, threw in 32 points. If the Warriors win out, they would have a mind-numbing 50 wins this season. That’s still a long way off. 

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (28-1)

Previous: 2.

Low down: It was a homecoming last weekend for coach Kevin Boyle at the Metro Classic in Union, N.J. Boyle, a New Jersey native, previously coached now shuttered St. Patrick (Elizabeth) to national fame before leaving for central Florida. First, the Eagles flew past regionally ranked Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, 71-64, as Florida-bound F Noah Dickerson had 22 points and snared 8 rebounds. Second, they bounced St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), 67-62. Ben Simmons, an LSU signee, threw in 30 points. Now the Eagles, with a 19-game win streak, have off until April 2 when the schedule resumes with the Dick’s High School National Tournament in New York.

3. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (23-2)

Previous: 4.

Low down: The Pilots peeled off three victories last week, capped by a 97-49 thrashing of Westwind Prep Academy (Phoenix). Arizona-bound G Allonzo Grier was named a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Award. Coach Andy Johnson’s team has three more games this week, starting with Planet Athlete Academy (Scottsdale, Ariz.) on Tuesday.

4. Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach, Va. (25-2)

Previous: 5.

Low down: Waxed Bishop O’Sullivan Catholic (Virginia Beach), 78-35, and Peninsula Catholic (Newport News), 88-31, clinching the TCIS regular season championship. Senior Chris Clarke averaged 14 points in the two wins. The TCIS Tournament quarterfinals are Tuesday.

5. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (25-2)

Previous: 8.

Low down: Bilal Abdur-Rahim hit a running, game-winning layup at the horn providing a pulse-thickening 61-59 victory over Pope (Marietta) to annex the Region 5-AAAAAA championship. Also beat Cherokee (Canton), 51-49, in semifinals. Next up is the Class AAAAAA state tournament first round vs. Centennial (Roswell) starting this week.

6. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (25-2)

Previous: 3.

Low down: The Stags had their win streak popped at 15 games, losing to Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 69-65. The curtain drops on the regular season Monday at rivals Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.). The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament follows.

7. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (26-1)

Previous: 23.

Low down: The Knights dispatched Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello), 64-53, and Serra (Gardena), 85-70. The CIF-Southern Section Open Division first round starts Thursday by hosting J.W. North (Riverside) in the first round.

8. Plano West, Plano, Texas (25-2)

Previous: 21.

Low down: The Wolves survived a slowdown game with Flower Mound, 36-21. The score was 8-4 at halftime.  Tyler Davis scored a game-high 10 points. The regular season closes Tuesday at Plano East and the Wolves go for a perfect District 6-6A run through 16 games.

9. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio (18-0)

Previous: 12.

Low down: The Fighting Irish flashed defense in a 65-57 win over Shaker Heights. Josh Williams had 16 points. Next up is Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls) on Tuesday.

10. Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (25-0)

Previous: 13.

Low down: Knocked out Lake Worth, 79-46, in Class 7A, Region 4 quarterfinals. Next up is Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) in regional semifinals on Tuesday.

11. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (18-1)

Previous: 15.

Low down: The Friars won twice in easy fashion, beating Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 71-46, and West Side (Newark), 82-41. Markis McDuffie fired in 25 points against West Side.

12. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (28-1)

Previous: 18.

Low down: Sprinted past St. Mary’s (Phoenix), 98-80, to win the Division I Super Sectional II. In the semifinals, PG Alex Barcello dropped a game-high 27 points to fend off Phoenix Central, 66-63. The Aztecs received a bye to the Division I state tournament second round on Saturday, where they meet Apollo (Glendale) or Desert Ridge (Mesa).

13. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (20-2)

Previous: 11.

Low down: Routed Mundelein, 102-47. This week features three games on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday before the playoffs.

14. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (24-3)

Previous: 20.

Low down: The Trinity League champions won two games to finish with a 10-0 record. The CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs open Thursday with Price (Los Angeles). The winner plays Poly (Long Beach) or Chino Hills in the quarterfinals on Feb. 25.

15. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (18-2)

Previous: 19.

Low down: The Lakers pulled away to beat St. Joseph’s (South Bend), 62-50. The La Lumiere Classic starts Thursday for a three-day run on campus.

16. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (27-2)

Previous: 22.

Low down: Trounced two opponents, including a one-sided 90-54 win over Millwood (Midlothian, Va.). Three games this week, with the most intriguing against Hamilton Heights Christian (Chattanooga, Tenn.) on Friday.

17. Wesleyan Christian School, High Point, N.C. (28-4)

Previous: 14.

Low down: The Trojans clinched the conference title, beating Calvary Baptist (Winston-Salem), 89-42. Michael Buckland hit for 19 points and sank all five of his 3-point attempts. Next up is the NCISAA 3A state tournament, which tips on Tuesday. The tournament runs for three days, beginning Thursday in Asheville. The winner could secure an invite to the Dick’s Nationals in New York.

18. Fairfax, Los Angeles (27-2)

Previous: 7.

Low down: Upended by archrivals Westchester (Los Angeles), 50-49. The Lions are still the top seed in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section playoffs, opening Saturday vs. Gardena. The winner plays El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) or Narbonne (Harbor City) in the semifinals on Feb. 28. The final is March 7.

19. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (21-3)

Previous: 9.

Low down: Devearl Ramsey scored 28 points, but a hit the decisive free throw with 6.4 seconds left in a 71-70 win over Windward (Los Angeles) to take the Gold Coast League championship. Ramsey’s foul shot capped Sierra’s nine-point rally in the final 1:53. The Trailblazers tip off the loaded CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs on Thursday against St. John Bosco (Bellflower). The winner plays Etiwanda or Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello) in the quarterfinals on Feb. 25.

20. Greensboro (N.C.) Day (30-2)

Previous: 16.

Low down: The Bengals avenged one of their two losses, throttling Davidson Day, 66-40. The NCISAA 3A tournament starts Tuesday at the higher seed’s venue. The event resumes Thursday through Saturday on neutral courts in Asheville.

21. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (19-4)

Previous: 17.

Low down: The Dragons close out the regular season this week with Berkeley and San Leandro.

22. Muskegon, Mich. (14-1)

Previous: 24.

Low down: Michigan State-bound F Deyonta Davis drummed up a double-double, with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks in an 81-26 win over Mona Shores (Muskegon). Daryl Kirkland had 19 and Joeviair Kennedy added 17. The Big Reds play Zeeland East on Tuesday.

23. Garfield, Seattle (21-1)

Previous: 6.

Low down: Upended in the Class 3A Metro League final by rivals Rainier Beach (Seattle), 84-81. The Bulldogs were down big in the second half but the spirited rally fell short as a last second 3-pointer missed the mark.

24. Parkview, Little Rock, Ark. (19-0)*

Previous: 10.

Low down: Two more victories leave the Patriots with three games left in the regular season.

25. Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Cleveland (15-2)

Previous: 25.

Low down: The Vikings whipped St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 76-57, and

Trinity (Garfield Heights), 83-49, as G Simon Texidor totaled in 45 points in the pair. Texidor, a 6-1 unsigned senior, netted 25 points, sinking seven 3-pointers against St. Ignatius. 

Dropped out: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (22-1)

2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (21-2)

3. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (19-3)

4. Jefferson, Brooklyn, N.Y. (24-3)

5. Sacred Heart, Waterbury, Conn. (17-0)

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

Midlands

1. Champlin Park, Champlin, Minn. (24-0)

2. Simeon, Chicago (22-2)

3. Reitz, Evansville, Ind. (21-0)

4. St. Rita, Chicago (21-3)

5. Chaminade, St. Louis (18-3)

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

South

1. Providence School, Jacksonville, Fla. (30-1)

2. Jonesboro, Ga. (27-1)

3. Callaway, Jackson, Miss. (25-3)

4. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (30-1)

5. Ballard, Louisville, Ky. (26-2)

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

Far West

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (22-6)

2. Rainier Beach, Seattle (19-2)

3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (21-4)

4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (22-3)

5. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (21-5)

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

* Record adjusted include forfeits

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys’ Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December 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 April 6, 2015. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.