BENSALEM, Pa. – The final weekend of the schoolboy basketball was highlighted by three teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings capturing state championships.

The conquering heroes came from Indiana, New York and Ohio—all in the large-school classifications. That’s a job well done. Kudos to all involved!

The most notable result was No. 8 Moeller (Cincinnati) Crusaders becoming Ohio’s large school (Division I) champion to go unbeaten since 1995. Coach Carl Kremer and the boys did a masterful job and closed out the title on Saturday, beating St. Vincent St. St. Mary (Akron)—a.k.a. the school that produced LeBron James. No. 9 Long Island Lutheran Crusaders won the New York State Class AA Federation crown.

Well, that’s a wrap on the high school season for the most part. 

Now it’s grand daddy of all tournaments—the GEICO High School Nationals—to decide the 2018-19 national champions and who’s No. 1 in the Elite 25 rankings.

The GEICO Nationals quarterfinal pairings (all on ESPNU) on April 4 at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York, with all eight teams from the Elite 25, are: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) vs. Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.), 12 p.m. EDT; defending champions Montverde (Fla.) Academy vs. University School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 2 p.m.; Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), 4 p.m.; Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) vs. Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 6 p.m.

The semifinals are April 5 at 3 and 5 p.m. on EPSN2 and the title game is April at noon on ESPN. The girls’ tournament starts April 5 with the semifinals at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on ESPNU. The final is April 6 at 10 a.m. on ESPN.

For the second straight week there is change and this time no movement in the Elite 25. That will change the next go-around.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 final rankings will be revealed on April 8.

Thank you to all our readers and congratulations to all the state champions. Hope to see you at the GEICO Nationals. – Christopher Lawlor 

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 26, 2019

1. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (32-0)*

Previous ranked: 1.

Low-down: Won the Class AAAAAAA state championship and turned down an invitation to the GEICO Nationals. Will it cost the Indians in the end? Season complete.

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.

5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (32-3)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won second straight CIF Open Division state championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won a third straight Class 7A state championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Idle. The GEICO Nationals for next for coach Steve Smith and the Warriors.

8. Moeller, Cincinnati (29-0)*

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won second straight Division I state championship, defeating St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron), 52-44. Senior forward Alec Pfriem collected 19 points and 8 rebounds in his fourth consecutive trip to the Ohio’s large-school Final Four. The Crusaders bagged their fifth state title, becoming the first Division I champion to go undefeated since 1995 (accomplished by Xenia). In the semifinals, coach Carl Kremer’s club defeated St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 72-52.Pfriem posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and Miles McBride netted 13 points. Season complete.

9. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (25-2)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won New York Federation Class AA, defeating Christ the King (Middle Village), 51-31. Andre Curbelo tossed in 23 points and Essam Mostafa added 10. In the semifinals, the Crusaders beat South Shore (Brooklyn), 77-53.  Curbelo scored 31 points and dished off 5 assists. Season complete.

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

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Idle. The Tigers are going to the GEICO Nationals.

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

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Idle. The Buffaloes accepted an invitation to the GEICO Nationals.

12. Ranney School, Tinton Falls, N.J. (31-3)* *

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won first-ever New Jersey State Tournament of Champions title. Also captured the Non-Public B state crown. Season complete.

13. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (33-5)* *

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament and Maryland Private Schools titles. Season complete.

14. Carmel, Ind. (26-1)*

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship, defeating conference rivals Ben Davis (Indianapolis), 60-55, for the program’s fourth overall title. Four players struck for double figures, including senior captain Pete Suder with 14 points and John Michael Mulloy with 13. The Greyhounds saw their lead trimmed to one point (44-43) with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter but Andrew Owens’ 3-pointer seconds later bumped the edge to four and the finish line was in sight. Season complete.

15. University School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (27-4)*

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Idle. Florida’s two time Class 5A state champions are headed back to the GEICO Nationals on April 4 in New York.

16. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (27-5)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Advanced to the Non-Public B final. Won The Non-Public B North title. Season complete.

17. Nicolet, Glendale, Wis. (27-1)*

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Won Division 2 state championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won eighth straight Class 4A state championship. The Gaels accepted in invite to the GEICO Nationals on April 4 in New York.

19. Belleville (Ill.) West (34-4)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

20. Southwest Guilford, High Point, N.C. (32-0)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won Class 3A state championship. Season complete.

21. Curie, Chicago (35-2) 

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals and wound up placing third winning the consolation game. Season complete.

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

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Advanced to the CIF-Northern California Region semifinals. Season complete.

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

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Advanced to the CIF-Southern California Region Open Division tournament. The Eagles played the nation’s most aggressive schedule. Season complete.

24. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (28-9)* 

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 25.

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

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (27-4)* 

2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (38-7)* *

3. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (25-6)*

4. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (20-11)* 

5. Kennedy Catholic, Hermitage, Pa. (27-3)*

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

Midwest

1. Bogan, Chicago (30-4)

2. East St. Louis, Ill. (30-6)*

3. Vashon, St. Louis (26-5)*

4. Morgan Park, Chicago (29-5)

5. Lincoln, Ypsilanti, Mich. (23-4)*

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

Southland

1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (35-2)*

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

3. Timberview, Mansfield, Texas (38-2)*

4. Duncanville, Texas (32-7)*

5. Starkville, Miss. (26-1)*

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

Far West

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

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-5)

3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (27-6)

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

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.