There are solely two new groups capable of crack the newest version of the FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com, however there may be motion as groups look to keep away from being upset proper earlier than the competitors heats up within the playoffs. It seems to be like No. 1 Dawn Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) would be the high seed at GEICO Nationals, whose subject will likely be introduced on March 12.
By Ronnie Flores
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Solely two groups have a powerful sufficient resume to crack the FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com this week, as a overwhelming majority of the nation’s elite groups received video games final week. The playoffs have began in some chosen states, will start this week in others, whereas some look to keep away from a late-season upset that will trigger unfavorable seeding or playoff positioning.
The 2 new ranked groups this week are No. 44 North Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and No. 50 Catholic Central (Grand Rapids, Mich.). North Hills is rewarded as an unbeaten membership and because the Keystone State’s top-rated crew in Class 6A. The Cougars had been beforehand ranked and have performed sufficient to warrant a return within the nation’s longest-running weekly ballot in entrance of King (Detroit, Mich.) as Michigan’s top-rated crew by the Detroit Free Press.
Earlier No. 37 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) needed to drop out after dropping 57-56 to unranked St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) in Washington Catholic Athletic Convention (WCAC) play. It was Gonzaga’s second shut loss to the Cadets, as coach Steve Turner’s membership now must be behind bubble membership DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) within the WCAC pecking order. FAB 50 No. 29 Bishop McNamara (Forrestville, Md.) sits at 11-1 in WCAC play, whereas No. 21 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) is 10-2, one sport forward within the loss column of DeMatha Catholic (10-3) and two video games forward of Gonzaga (9-4). Bishop McNamara’s solely convention loss is to DeMatha, who will host Gonzaga on senior evening this Friday in a key sport.
St. Francis Prep (Contemporary Meadows, N.Y.) misplaced in first sport in New York Catholic Excessive Faculty Athletic Affiliation (CHSAA) play to unranked Christ the King (Center Village, N.Y.), 59-56. The Terriers ran right into a CTK membership that struggled with accidents early within the season, however is now rounding into type and is a formidable foe. St. Francis Prep drops 5 spots this week to No. 34 and its loss final week means a success for different New York membership. The Terriers have performed sufficient to stay in entrance of Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) due to the head-to-head consequence and Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.), which has a break up with Cardinal Hayes.
One other membership that joins Cardinal Hayes and Archbishop Stepinac in dropping 4 spots this week is No. 22 Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.), which fell to Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), 69-65, in its district championship sport. E.J. “Jizzle” James, a 6-foot-1 2023 guard and the son of NFL Corridor of Fame working again Edgerrin James, had 31 factors.
Coach Ben Witherspoon’s membership can’t fall any additional within the FAB 50 due to its general resume and since it performed the district title sport with out McDonald’s All-American heart Ernest Udeh Jr., however the consequence does have an effect on what may occur down the highway. Though Dr. Phillips stays the highest ranked crew within the FHSAA energy rankings system, it drops to No. 5 in its area behind 4 district champions and should journey to play any district champion it meets in regional play. In keeping with Witherspoon, Udeh will likely be able to play on Thursday and in a probable contest at residence subsequent Tuesday towards No. 6 ranked area crew Windemere Prep (Windermere, Fla.) and Duke commit Sean Stewart.
Dawn Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) solidified its standing because the No. 1 crew within the nation with a 74-65 victory over No. 4 Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.) final Friday night in a showcase sport on the Heartland Hoops Traditional in Grand Island, Neb. With the victory, the Buffaloes, this season’s Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention (NIBC) champion, all however secured the highest seed at GEICO Nationals, which can happen in Ft. Myers, Fla., March 31-April 2. Your complete eight-team subject will likely be introduced on March 12. Regardless of the loss, Hyperlink Academy didn’t drop within the FAB 50 this week and ought to be one of many groups invited for the end-of-season event for impartial golf equipment.
Dawn Christian acquired out to a quick begin and led 21-13 after one interval of play. The Buffaloes prolonged their result in 12 within the second interval, however when the sport acquired sloppy within the third interval, Hyperlink Academy capitalized. The primary-year program closed its deficit to 48-44 initially of the fourth quarter.
That’s when Dawn Christian’s expertise in massive showcase video games versus different highly-ranked foes made a distinction, because the Buffaloes transformed some clutch photographs and restricted the quantity of errors down the stretch. Layden Blocker, a 2023 level guard who completed with 11 factors, made important performs for the victors, whereas a 3-pointer with three minutes remaining by Kansas-bound Gradey Dick (16 factors) gave the Buffaloes some respiration room. Dawn Christian additionally hit its late free throws to seal the victory.
Duke-bound Mark Mitchell netted a game-high 23 factors, whereas 2023 wing Scotty Middleton (13 factors) additionally got here up massive. Tarris Reed Jr., certain for Michigan, led Hyperlink Academy with 22 factors, whereas Arkansas-bound McDonald’s All-American Jordan Walsh added 16.
