High School Power Rankings: Week 18: March 14, 2012

Teams remain stable as season approaches end.

This is the last bit of quiet before the storm. The Alhambra Catholic Invitational kicks off tomorrow and three ranked teams are participating - No. 8 Paul VI, No. 13. St. Benedict's, No. 24 DeMatha (previously ranked Gonzaga College is in too). Then the season will wrap up at the ESPN NHSI where No. 2 Findlay Prep, No. 12 La Lumiere, No. 14 Montrose Christian and No. 18 Montverde will all be battling. End of the season rankings are on the line.

Let the games begin.

Rank	Prev
1	1	Oak Hill Academy 4-year traditional Mouth of Wilson, VA
Record: 44-0 Key Wins: Prestonwood Christian, Grace Prep, La Lumiere, Paul VI, Weekly Report: The Warriors have completed their best season ever. Prestonwood Christian and Grace Prep are both state champs. If La Lumiere and Paul VI can finish the year undefeated, their case for No. 1 will be undebatable. Next Up: Season Complete
2	2	Brewster Academy 5th year/prep school Wolfeboro, NH
Record: 33-1 Key Wins: Tilton (3x), New Hampton (3x), Notre Dame Prep (2x), Hargrave Military Academy, Northfield Mount Hermon Key Losses: Northfield Mount Hermon Weekly Report: If Findlay fails to win the ESPN NHSI, it's safe to assume Brewster will at least finish the season at No. 2. We can try to make a case for No. 1, but that late season loss to Northfield Mount Hermon stings. Next Up: Season Complete
3	3	Findlay Prep 4-year non-traditional Henderson, NV
Record: 29-1 Key Wins: Simeon, Marcus, Bishop Gorman Key Losses: La Lumiere Weekly Report: The Pilots might have a chance to avenge their sole loss to La Lumiere at the ESPN event. They can vastly improve their resume with St. Benedict's, Montrose Christian and Montverde Academy all in the tourney field. Next Up: 3/29-31 at the ESPN National High School Invitational
4	4	St. Anthony 4-year traditional Jersey City, NJ
Record: 30-0 Key Wins: Huntington Prep, St. Benedict’s Results: Beat Gil St. Bernard's, 67-39; beat Hudson Catholic, 53-30 Weekly Report: The Friars are almost allergic to losing. They scored two wins last week that led to a Non-Public B title. Next up is trying to defend the N.J. Tournament of Champions for a team that's on a 63-game winning streak. Next Up: 3/16 in Tournament of Champions
5	5	Hargrave Military Academy 5th year/prep school Chatham, Virg.
Record: 36-1 Key Wins: New Hampton, Northfield Mount Hermon Key Losses: Brewster Weekly Report: They only played two ranked teams this season, but the battle they gave the No. 2 Bobcats was enough for us to put the Tigers this high. The dominating win over New Hampton didn't hurt either. Next Up: Season Complete
6	6	Huntington Prep 4-year non-traditional Huntington, WV
Record: 28-2 Key Losses: Tilton, St. Anthony Weekly Report: The Express had a chance to move up in the rankings but are not allowed in the ESPN NHSI event because they are not recognized by the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission. Next Up: Season Complete
7	7	Simeon Career Academy 4-year traditional Chicago, Ill.
Record: 31-1 Key Wins: Whitney Young, Miller Grove, Southwind Results: Beat Marist, 65-44; beat Evanston, 59-34 Weekly Report: Jabari Parker and company are two games away from another 4A state championship. An undefeated Proviso East team can be their foe in the championship game. Next Up: 3/16 vs. Bloom
8	8	Paul VI 4-year traditional Fairfax, Va.
Record: 32-2 Key Wins: Gonzaga College, DeMatha (3x) Key Losses: Oak Hill Weekly Report: The Alhambra Catholic Invitational starts tomorrow and there is some heavy competition in play, including St. Benedict's, DeMatha and Gonzaga College. Next Up: 3/15 vs. Bishop Walsh
9	9	Notre Dame Prep 5th year/prep school Fitchburg, MA
Record: 20-7 Key Wins: St. Thomas More (2x), New Hampton Key Losses: Tilton, Brewster Weekly Report: One can only wonder howthis team would have been had it started the season with Steven Adams. Regardless, the Crusaders finish the campaign as one of the best teams in the land. Next Up: Season Complete
10	10	Marcus 4-year traditional Flower Mound, TX
Record: 39-2 Key Wins: Montrose Christian Key Losses: Findlay Results: Beat Fort Bend Travis, 56-52; beat Naaman Forest, 59-34 Weekly Report: Marcus Smart and Phil Forte finish their high school careers as 5A state champs after taking out the Harrison twins in the championship game. Next Up: Season Complete
11	11	Mater Dei High School 4-year traditional Santa Ana, CA
Record: 32-2 Key Wins: Bishop Gorman, Lincoln (N.Y.) Key Losses: Grace Prep, Gill St. Bernard’s Results: Beat Mission Viejo, 78-66; beat Crescenta Valley, 66-47; beat Loyola, 75-63 Weekly Report: Katin Reinhardt was healthy enough to play and help his team to a playoff win over Loyola last night. He previously injured his thumb, something many thought would keep him out for the season. Next Up: 3/17 vs. Bullard
12	12	La Lumiere School 4-year traditional La Porte, Ind.
Record: 25-2 Key Wins: Findlay Key Losses: Oak Hill, Elgin Weekly Report: The Lakers are officially in the ESPN NHSI and have a chance to make one last jump in the rankings. Findlay Prep will be looking for revenge against them. Next Up: 3/29-31 at the ESPN National High School Invitational
13	13	St. Benedict's 4-year traditional Newark, NJ
Record: 31-1 Key Losses: St. Anthony Results: Beat Mont Clare Academy, 78-53 Weekly Report: The Gray Bees can be the biggest movers in the rankings from now to the end of the season. They are playing in a stacked Alhambra Catholic Invitational field and then will be in the ESPN NHSI at the end of the month. Next Up: 3/15 vs. John Carroll
14	14	Montrose Christian 4-year traditional Rockville, MD
Record: 20-2 Key Losses: Marcus, Coolidge Weekly Report: The Mustangs, reigning ESPN NHSI champs, are waiting to defend their title late next week. They must take advantage of the extra practice time. Next Up: 3/29-31 at ESPN NHSI
15	15	Grace Prep 4-year traditional Arlington, TX
Record: 27-4 Key Wins: Prestonwood Christian, Montverde, Mater Dei Key Losses: Oak Hill, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Trinity Christian, Kimball Weekly Report: Finishing the season as state champs not only solidifies their position but gives value to Oak Hill's No. 1 spot. If Mater Dei and Montverde do well over the next two weeks, they could even jump up by strength of schedule. Next Up: Season Complete
16	16	New Hampton 5th year/prep school New Hampton, NH
Record: 26-9 Key Wins: St. Thomas More, Tilton (2x), Northfield Mount Hermon Key Losses: St. Thomas More, Brewster (x2), Hargrave, Notre Dame Prep Weekly Report: It's on to the travel season for sensational sophomores Noah Vonleh and Jared Terrell. Next Up: Season Complete
17	17	Chester 4-year traditional Chester, Pa.
Record: 28-0 Results: Beat McCaskey, 86-43 Weekly Report: The Clippers extended their winning streak to 54 with their win over McCaskey. Only thing hurting them is the lack of a ranked team on their schedule. Next Up: 3/14 vs. Norristown
18	18	Montverde Academy 4-year traditional Montverde, FL
Record: 21-3 Key Losses: Grace Prep, Hagerty, Ridgeway Weekly Report: It seems like Montverde has been practicing forever. Hope they can wipe that rust off before the ESPN NHSI kicks off. Next Up: 3/29-31 at ESPN NHSI
19	19	Tilton School 5th year/prep school Tilton, NH
Record: 27-7 Key Wins: Notre Dame Prep, New Hampton, Huntington Prep, Key Losses: South Kent, New Hampton (2x), Brewster (3x), St. Mark’s, Weekly Report: The Rams had a season full of ups and downs, but with the season over, their ranking should stay pretty stable from now on. Now, the focus turns to Nerlens Noel and his recruitment, as he is reportedly down to Georgetown, North Carolina, Kentucky, Syracuse and UConn. Next Up: Season Complete
20	20	Milton 4-year traditional Milton, Ga
Record: 28-4 Key Wins: Bishop Gorman, Lone Peak Key Losses: Tift Count Results: Beat Savannah, 79-67; beat Harrison, 73-52 Weekly Report: Charles Mann was serving a suspension, but that didn't stop the Eagles from earning 5A state title honors. Shaquille Johnson notched 23 points in his finale. Next Up: Season Complete
21	21	Bishop Gorman 4-year traditional Las Vegas, NV
Record: 28-4 Key Wins: DeMatha, Whitney Young (2x), Miller Grove Key Losses: Prestonwood Christian, Mater Dei, Findlay Prep, Milton Weekly Report: The Gaels were clearly one of the best teams on the West Coast, an assertion proved by their season-ending state title run. Next Up: Season Complete
22	22	Prestonwood Christian Academy 4-year traditional Plano, TX
Record: 27-4 Key Wins: Grace Prep, Bishop Gorman Key Losses: Grace Prep Weekly Report: Prestonwood's season is over the but the future is bright for Julius Randle and company. Next Up: Season Complete
23	23	Columbia 4-year traditional Decatur, GA
Record: 31-1 Results: Beat Drew, 65-46; beat Eagle's Landing, 64-50 Weekly Report: The Eagles won their third straight state championship with their win over Drew. Tahj Shamsid-Deen had a game-high 17 points. Next Up: Season Complete
24	24	DeMatha Catholic 4-year traditional Hyattsville, MD
Record: 27-5 Key Wins: Neumann-Goretti, Gonzaga (x2) Key Losses: Paul VI (x3), Gonzaga, Bishop Gorman Weekly Report: The Alhambra Catholic Invitational begins this week, and St. Benedict's, Paul VI and Gonzaga College are all in the field. Next Up: 3/15 vs. Benedictine College Prep
25		Proviso East 4-year traditional Maywood, Ill.
Record: 30-0 Results: Beat Aurora West, 62-51; beat Schaumnburg, 78-39 Weekly Report: The Pirates are one of the nation's top undefeated teams and can really make a mark be beating Simeon this weekend in the 4A state championship finals. Next Up: 3/16 vs. Auburn
Best of the Rest Northfield Mount Hermon, St. Thomas More (Oakdale, CT), St. Mark's, St. Augustine (New Orleans, LA), Southwind (Memphis, TN), Priviso East (Maywood, Ill.), Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio), Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.), Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, TX)