As
the hoopla of thrilling upsets and fantastic finishes subsides, the
focus of the high school basketball world turns to the impending GEICO
Nationals announcement on Tuesday. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25, is expected to be similarly seeded when the 10-team field is announced.
The Eagles helped their case with a 61-57 win Friday over No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) to capture the inaugural NIBC championship. Montverde Academy avenged its lone loss and earned the 2-1 season series edge over the Buffaloes.
The 10-team GEICO Nationals is expected to include the Eagles and Buffaloes along with No. 2 AZ Compass Prep
(Chandler, Ariz.) and No. 4 IMG Academy
(Bradenton, Fla.).
No. 6 Duncanville (Texas) solidified its spot in the rankings after defending its 6A state title Saturday with a 66-53
victory over No. 21 Westlake (Austin, Texas). The Panthers are 5-0 in state championship games.
No. 7
Milton (Ga.) captured its first Georgia crown since 2012, beating Berkmar
(Lilburn, Ga.) 52-47 in the AAAAAAA title game. The Eagles are winners of 26 straight and in prime position to earn their first GEICO Nationals berth.
No. 14 Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) was the biggest riser this week, jumping 10 spots after capturing their first Class A state title. The Mustangs finished the season 27-2 after the 84-78 overtime victory against previous No. 16 Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.).
Three teams dropped from the rankings, as Carmel (Ind.) handed previously unbeaten Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.) its first loss of the year in the opening round of the Hoosier state tournament. Previous No. 20 Simeon (Chicago) fell to Evanston (Ill.) and previous No. 23 Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.) lost its ranking after falling to Bellevue West in a 95-94 triple overtime thriller.
Hunter Salis, Millard North
Photo by Samuel Mfinanga
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 1
Five-star junior
Dariq Whitehead scored a team-high 18 points to go with nine rebounds and six steals in the NIBC championship game victory.
Record: 27-1
| Last week: 2
Expected to grab a high seed in GEICO Nationals.
Record: 19-3 | Last week: 3
Kansas commit
Gradey Dick scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss to Montverde Academy.
Record: 20-2 | Last week: 4
Ascenders should receive an invite to defend their 2019 GEICO title.
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 5
Regular season complete.
Record: 29-1
| Last week: 6
The Panthers grueling championship path included wins over No. 15 Waxahachie and No. 22 Richardson.
Record: 28-2 | Last week: 7
Kanaan Carlyle who finished with a game-high 15 points, while
Bruce Thornton had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Lebbeus Overton chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds in their championship victory.
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 8
Regular season complete.
Record: 16-0 | Last week: 9
Defeated Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) 68-59 to capture the program's second Philadelphia Catholic League title. James Madison signee
Jaylen Stinson led the way with a team-high 21 points.
Record: 14-1 | Last week: 10
Top-ranked senior Chet Holmgren went off for 21 points, 17 rebounds, 10 blocks and eight blocks in the Red Hawks 82-47 victory over North Community (Minneapolis).
Record: 18-6
| Last week: 12
Regular season complete.
Record: 1-0
| Last week: 13
COVID-19 concerns wiped out all three scheduled games last week.
Record: 30-3
| Last week: 15
Expected to receive a GEICO Nationals invitation.
Record: 27-2 | Last week: 24
Five-star senior
Hunter Sallis capped off an impressive career with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists in the Mustangs title-game victory.
Record: 20-3 | Last week: 17
Regular season complete.
Record: 28-1 | Last week: 18
Five-star Florida State signee
Matthew Cleveland had 24 points, seven rebounds and five blocks as the Knights beat Columbia (Decatur) 73-42 to repeat as 2A champions.
Record: 27-0 | Last week: 21
Regular season complete.
Record: 29-3 | Last week: 25
The Goats solidified their standing as the Tar Heel State's top independent school, capturing the Phenom Hoop State Championship with a 71-59 win over Liberty Heights (Charlotte). Five-star sophomore
Robert Dillingham had 32 points in the win.
Record: 30-2 | Last week: 19
Kansas signee
KJ Adams finished with 20 points in the Chaparrals title-game loss.
Record: 25-3 | Last week: 16
Wisconsin
pledge
Chucky Hepburn finished with 25 points, nine assists, eight
rebounds and five steals in the Thunderbirds loss.
Hepburn ends his career with 1,706 points.
Record: 10-0
| Last week: NR
After
closing out an unbeaten regular season, the Eaglets open District 6
play with a March 25 semifinal showdown against West
Bloomfield or Avondale (Auburn Hills).
Record: 26-2 | Last week: 11
Falling 68-49 to No. 6 Duncanville in the 6A semifinals.
Record: 18-3
| Last week: NR
Former NBA champion Mike Miller looks to cap off his first
season as Mustangs coach with a state title. First, Houston must get past Clarksville in Thursday's AAA quarterfinals.
Record: 7-4 | Last week: 22
Regular season complete.
Record: 24-2 | Last week: NR
The Fighting Irish are favored to win their third state title in five seasons and ninth overall. LeBron James' alma mater takes on Shawnee (Lima) in Saturday's Division II semifinals.
