It's been a long season — and it seemed even longer given the convoluted path COVID charted — but it winds down this weekend in Florida. The State Champions Invitational, open to teams that won state titles in 2022, runs Friday and Saturday, with No. 1 Sidwell Friends hoping to cap off a so-far perfect season with two more wins.
The opening game is Friday at 2 p.m. (all times Eastern) on ESPNU — all three games will be shown on that channel — and though Centennial totally dominated Nevada this season, Sidwell is a heavy favorite. The 4 p.m. game is a rematch between No. 15 Lake Highland Prep and No. 17 Woodward Academy, with the winner looking for a shot at the upset of the year against Sidwell Friends – or a chance to simply rise in the rankings if Centennial somehow pulls off the upset.
The final will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, requiring another early morning for West Coast fans to see the game, but it should be worth missing a little sleep to see how the last game of the 2021-22 season plays out.
Woodward Academy celebrates its Georgia AAAAA championship.
Photo by Ed Turlington
Record: 28-0 |
Last week: 1
The Quakers will have to work at it to lose the No. 1 spot, as they beat No. 2 DeSoto twice, and No. 4 St. John Vianney once – and No. 3 Sierra Canyon has two losses. That means there's no obvious replacement for Sidwell in the top spot, even should unranked Centennial pull off the upset Friday.
2. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 35-2 |
Last week: 2
Season complete.
3. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 3
Season complete
4. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 32-1 |
Last week: 4
Season complete.
5. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 5
Season complete.
6. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Record: 26-1 |
Last week: 6
Season complete.
7. Classen SAS (Oklahoma City)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 7
Season complete.
8. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 20-3 |
Last week: 12
The Eagles jump into the top 10 after avenging an earlier defeat to DME with a 67-54 win in the GEICO Nationals, and then storming back to knock off previous No. 8 New Hope in the finals.
9. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 25-3 |
Last week: 9
Season complete.
10. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 29-0 |
Last week: 10
Season complete.
11. Cedar Park (Texas)
Record: 37-0 |
Last week: 11
Season complete.
12. New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)
Record: 28-3 |
Last week: 8
The Tigers put the hurt on IMG in the first round of the GEICO Nationals, 80-50, but couldn't hold on against Montverde, losing 61-57. Still, a 28-3 record, with wins over some top teams, still counts as a pretty good season.
13. Hazel Green (Ala.)
Record: 35-0 | Last week: 13
Season complete.14. DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Record: 23-4 |
Last week: 14
DME had beaten new No. 8 Montverde earlier this year, but couldn't replicate the feat at the GEICO Nationals, and thus remains at No. 14.
15. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 25-4 |
Last week: 15
The Highlanders beat No. 17 Woodward Academy by four in early January, so it's not as if LHP can just expect to coast through Friday's opener in the State Champions Invitational. In other words, it just might be the best game of the tournament.
16. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 16
Season complete.
17. Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 17
The War Eagles lost to No. 15 Lake Highland Prep 74-70 on a neutral court, and will give it another go Friday at the State Champions Invitational. A win there likely earns a shot at No. 1 Sidwell Friends and a chance to take a serious jump in the final rankings.
18. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 34-3 |
Last week: 18
Season complete.
19. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 34-7 |
Last week: 19
Season complete.
20. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 20
Season complete.
21. Garfield (Seattle)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 21
Season complete.
22. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 23-0 |
Last week: 22
Season complete.
23. Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.)
Record: 34-0 |
Last week: 23
The
Colonials rolled over 27-2 Mt. Lebanon 60-40 to win the PIAA 6A
championship Saturday and cement this national ranking. Plymouth
Whitemarsh also beat the state's 5A champion Cardinal O'Hara and
Delaware titlist Caravel.
24. Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)
Record: 24-4 |
Last week: 24
Season complete.
25. West Bloomfield (Mich.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 25
Season complete.
