Three-Peat: No. 2 Rainier Beach (WA) claims third 3A title; Mater Dei remains No. 1 in Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys basketball rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – Here are the latest Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings.

The next rankings will appear March 17. In a big shakeup, four schools have been added to the rankings. There are three rankings left in the 2013-14 season.

What we’re gathering, seven schools have been selected to the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament next month in New York. The slam-dunk picks appear to be Montverde Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Findlay Prep, Rainier Beach, Huntington Prep, La Lumiere School and newcomer Northside Christian Academy. The debate left for the eighth team. We should have an answer within the next two days.

Get out and enjoy a game in your hometown—sooner than later. Hope to see you at a state playoff game soon. — Christopher Lawlor 

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings, March 10, 2014

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (31-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Stanley Johnson, the Arizona-bound superman and McDonald’s All-American, played hero again. Johnson popped in 28 points as the Monarchs won the CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship, slipping by Chino Hills, 48-44. With 26 seconds left, Johnson’s two free throws gave his team a 45-44 lead. Next up is St. Augustine (San Diego) Friday in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern California Region Open Division playoffs.

2. Rainier Beach, Seattle (29-0)*

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 3A state championship, edging Eastside Catholic (Sammamish), 47-45.  Djuan Piper’s off-balance 12-foot jumper with 5.1 second left snapped a 45-all tie. Louisville-bound Shaqquan Aaron scored a game-high 22 points. It was the third straight title and eighth overall) for the Vikings, who became the state’s first ever school in the top four classes to win three in a row. Also, held off Bellevue, 73-61, in semifinals. In the quarterfinals, defeated Shadle Park (Spokane), 74-46, as Elijah Foster scored 16 points. Regular season complete but the Vikings are off to the Dick’s Sporting Good High School National Tournament next month in New York City.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-0)**

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Now the Eagles await the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in April.

4. Northside Christian Academy, Charlotte, N.C. (28-1)*

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Won Class 2A Independent state championship. An invitation to the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament is assured. Regular season complete.

5. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-2)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Next up is a third-straight invitation to the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.

6. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (26-4)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Regular season complete. The Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament is on the horizon.

7. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (39-3)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Warriors closed out the regular season with a pair of victories. Now it’s the Dick’s Sporting High School National Tournament tipping on April 3 in New York.

8. Our Savior New American, Centereach, N.Y. (28-3)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won second straight USA National Prep Championships, beating Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), 75-66, in championship game in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Junior Cheick Diallo stuffed the stat sheet with 28 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks; Pittsburgh-recruit Mike Wilson had 18 points and 8 assists; and Mike Nzei added a double-double, with 17 points and 12 boards. Two weeks ago, the Pioneers captured the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I.

9. Arsenal Tech, Indianapolis (23-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won Class 4A sectional, defeating Roncalli (Indianapolis), 56-54, in final. In semifinals, defeated Lawrence Central (Indianapolis), 77-47. Trey Lyles flipped in 28 points, scoring 16 in the third quarter against Lawrence Central. Next up Richmond Saturday in regional semifinal. The winner faces Brownsburg or Pike (Indianapolis) in the final.

10. Sagemont, Weston, Fla. (33-0)*

Previous: 15.

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

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (30-3)*

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won Division I state championship for a fifth crown in six years. Season complete.

12. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (30-4)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament is next.

13. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (28-6)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Idle. The Panthers play three games at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Frostburg, Md., starting Thursday afternoon.

14. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (33-1)*

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Won third consecutive Division I state championship. Season complete.

15. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (30-5)*

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Won the SIAA championship, nipping Potter’s House Christian (Jacksonville), 53-51. In the semifinals, the Apaches rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat Oldsmar Christian. Season complete.

16. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (35-3)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship, beating then-No. 6 Converse Judson, 57-45, in final. Jarrey Foster, the game MVP, recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds. Season complete.

17. Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep (30-1)*

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won Class 2A state championship for the program’s fifth title in the last seven years. Season complete.

18. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (22-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Kipper Nichols struck for 24 points as the Eagles knocked off Brunswick, 74-62, the Division Broadview Heights District final. Next up is archrivals St. Ignatius (Cleveland) in the Akron Regional semifinals Thursday in Akron.

19. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (23-4)*

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The District 12 champions topped Berks Catholic (Reading), 62-46 in the Class AAA first round. The focus shifts to GAR Memorial (Wilkes-Barre) in the second round Tuesday.

20. Moeller, Cincinnati (23-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Division I district championship, defeating Fairborn, 55-43. Senior Nate Fowler scored a game-high 22 points. Next up are the regional semifinals Wednesday vs. Middletown at Xavier University’s Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

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

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The defending 5A champions advanced to the state semifinals, where it will play St. Augustine (New Orleans) Tuesday in Lake Charles.

22. Callaway, Jackson, Miss. (29-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Chargers aim for a third straight Class 5A state championship, starting Monday against Laurel in the semifinals. The winner gets Pascagoula or Vicksburg in the final. Junior All-American Malik Newman is nursing a chipped bone on his non-shooting hand. The Chargers have won five of the last six titles and six overall.

23. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (23-6)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: What a week for the Royals, who won their fourth New York CHSAA AA title in five years, toppling Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn), 72-61. MVP Travis Atson, a junior, pumped in 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. After a brief break, coach Joe Arbitello’s boys play New York PSAL AA titlists, Cardozo (Oakland Gardens) in the New York State Federation semifinals on March 21 in Albany.

24. Converse (Texas) Judson (37-2)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Fell in Class 5A final to North Shore (Galena Park), 57-45. David Wacker had 13 points and cleared 10 rebounds but it wasn’t enough. Season complete.

25. Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y. (26-4)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Brooklyn Borough champions lost to Jefferson (Brooklyn) in PSAL AA Tournament semifinals. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 2 Curie (Chicago); No. 12 Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.); No. 14 White Station (Memphis, Tenn.); and No. 23 Prime Prep (Dallas).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (23-4)

2. Cardozo, Oakland Gardens, N.Y. (30-2)*

3. Archbishop Carroll, Radnor, Pa.  (22-4)

4. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (32-4)

5. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (26-2)

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

Midlands

1. Whitney Young, Chicago (24-5)**

2. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (28-1)

3. Muskegon, Mich. (23-0)

4. Marian Catholic, Chicago Heights, Ill. (26-2)

5. Rufus King, Milwaukee (24-2)

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

South

1. Prime Prep, Dallas (22-6)                                               

2. Greater Atlanta Christian, Norcross, Ga. (32-0)*

3. Norland, Miami (27-5)*

4. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (28-5)*

5. White Station, Memphis, Tenn. (30-3)

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

Far West

1. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (26-4)

2. Etiwanda, Calif. (26-4)

3. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (24-5)

4. Jefferson, Portland, Ore. (23-1)

5. Monte Vista, Danville, Calif. (28-1)

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

* Won state, national or postseason conference tournament championship

** Includes forfeits

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys High School Rankings are released weekly from September 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 7, 2014. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.