High School Power Rankings: Week 19: March 21, 2012

Teams eye state titles with season winding down

One more week left in the Power Rankings and teams are still jockeying for position. Paul VI lost to DeMatha at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational final, and DeMatha also took down St. Benedict (minus Tyler Ennis) in the semis. Simeon and St. Anthony finished the season with state titles, solidifying their slots. Five teams will be playing in the ESPN NHSI next week and Mater Dei will be looking for a state title this weekend. Finals ranks are on the line, strength of schedules will be impacted. Stay tuned.

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: Paul VI, Oak Hill's best win, suffered a tough loss to DeMatha in the finals of the Alhambra Catholic tournament. Time will tell if Findlay Prep and Brewster will finish with a better strength of schedule. Next Up: Season Complete
2	2	Brewster Academy 5th year/prep school Wolfeboro, NH
Record: 33-1 Key Wins: New Hampton (3x), Tilton (3x), Notre Dame Prep (2x), Hargrave Military Academy, Northfield Mount Hermon Key Loss: Northfield Mount Hermon Weekly Report: With their impressive season, we'd imagine that the Bobcats cannot fall lower than No. 3. A lot of it depends on how well Findlay Prep plays at the ESPN NHSI next week. 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: It's going to be a busy week for the Pilots. Anthony Bennett and Brandon Ashley will be competing in the McDonald's All-American game and then heading to the ESPN NHSI where they have an outside shot at climbing to No. 1 in the land. Next Up: 3/29-31 at the ESPN National High School Invitational
4	4	St. Anthony 4-year traditional Jersey City, NJ
Record: 32-0 Key Wins: Huntington Prep, St. Benedict’s Results: Beat Atlantic City, 72-42; beat Plainfield, 66-62 Weekly Report: Kyle Anderson finished a marvelous high school career last night, beating Plainfield to earn the Tournament of Champions title. He finishes his high school career with one — count it — one overall loss. Next Up: Season Complete
5	5	Hargrave Military Academy 5th year/prep school Chatham, Virg.
Record: 36-1 Key Win: New Hampton, Northfield Mount Hermon Key Loss: Brewster Weekly Report: Hargrave proved to be one of the best teams in the nation, finally notching wins against ranked teams at the end of the season. It might be a little too late though with teams playing in the ESPN NHSI angling to move up. 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 lost their two biggest match-ups of the season against Tilton and St. Anthony. They had a chance against Simeon, but the event was cancelled. It leaves them vulnerable for teams playing in the ESPN NHSI to move past them. Next Up: Season Complete
7	7	Simeon Career Academy 4-year traditional Chicago, Ill.
Record: 33-1 Key Wins: Proviso East, Whitney Young, Miller Grove, Southwind Results: Beat Proviso East Weekly Report: The Wolverines finished the season suffering their only loss against a tough Findlay Prep team. Despite all their aggressive scheduling, none of their other opponents outside of Proviso East are ranked. That could play a factor in next week's final rankings. Next Up: Season Complete
8	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: Crusaders big man Steven Adams was a late addition to the Jordan Brand classic game. If he didn't show up late for the season, this team could have been top five. Next Up: Season Complete
9	8	Paul VI 4-year traditional Fairfax, Va.
Record: 34-3 Key Wins: Gonzaga College, DeMatha (3x) Key Losses: Oak Hill, DeMatha Results: Beat Bishop Walsh, 68-27; beat Gonzaga College, 64-63; lost to DeMatha, 71-56; beat Coolridge, 70-64 Weekly Report: The fourth time was the charm for DeMatha after it beat Paul VI in the finals of the Alhambra Invitational, a team that it has lost to three times this season. Paul VI's three wins against DeMatha were by a combined six points. They lost their recent matchup by 15 and will have to drop because of it. Next Up: Season Complete
10	10	Marcus 4-year traditional Flower Mound, TX
Record: 39-2 Key Wins: Montrose Christian Key Losses: Findlay Weekly Report: Oklahoma State Cowboys fans should be happy with the tandem of Marcus Smart and Phil Forte, back-to-back state 4A state champions. Next Up: Season Complete
11	11	Mater Dei High School 4-year traditional Santa Ana, CA
Record: 33-2 Key Wins: Bishop Gorman, Lincoln (N.Y.) Key Losses: Grace Prep, Gill St. Bernard’s Results: Beat Bullard, 85-66 Weekly Report: Xavier Johnson scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds in the Mauraders' regional final game against Bullard. They will aim for state honors this Saturday against Sheldon. Next Up: 3/24 vs. Sheldon
12	12	La Lumiere School 4-year traditional La Porte, Ind.
Record: 25-2 Key Wins: Findlay Key Losses: Oak Hill, Elgin Weekly Report: With St. Benedict's loss at the Alhambra Invitational, the Lakers could make the biggest leap of all teams playing at the ESPN NHSI. Next Up: 3/29-31 at the ESPN National High School Invitational
13	14	Montrose Christian 4-year traditional Rockville, MD
Record: 20-2 Key Losses: Marcus, Coolidge Weekly Report: The Mustangs haven't played in a long time and cannot come out rusty against a stacked field at the ESPN NHSI. They won the title there last year. Next Up: 3/29-31 at ESPN NHSI
14	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: Mater Dei is one win away from a state title. Montverde has a puncher's chance at the ESPN NHSI. The Lions beat both of those teams this season and can jump in the rankings if they finish out well due to strength of schedule. Next Up: Season Complete
15	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: The Huskies were one of the best teams in the New England Prep region, arguably the toughest competition for any high baller. Next Up: Season Complete
16	13	St. Benedict's 4-year traditional Newark, NJ
Record: 33-2 Key Losses: St. Anthony, DeMatha Results: Beat Carroll, 69-65, Lost to DeMatha, 64-49, Beat Gonzaga College, 64-61 Weekly Report: The Gray Bees didn't have the services of Tyler Ennis and it hurt them this weekend as they lost to DeMatha in the Alhambra Invitational semifinals. They will warm up against Redemption Christian before the ESPN NHSI. Next Up: 3/22 vs. Redemption Christian Academy
17	17	Chester 4-year traditional Chester, Pa.
Record: 30-0 Results: Beat Norristown, 72-53, Beat Coatesville, 87-46 Weekly Report: The Clippers are two games away from successfully defending their 4A state title. Next Up: 3/21 vs. Central Dauphin
18	18	Montverde Academy 4-year traditional Montverde, FL
Record: 21-3 Key Losses: Grace Prep, Hagerty, Ridgeway Weekly Report: This will be Michael Frazier's last go at it before he heads to play for Billy Donovan and Florida. Future Florida guard Kasey Hill will try to help him go out in style. 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' heralded big man Nerlens Noel is down to Georgetown, Syracuse and Kentucky. Next Up: Season Complete
20	20	Milton 4-year traditional Milton, Ga
Record: 28-4 Key Wins: Bishop Gorman, Lone Peak Key Losses: Tift County Weekly Report: If this team didn't have to forfeit some early contests, they could have been a lot higher in the rankings. Nonetheless, a great season for the state champions. 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 might be done for the season, but Shabazz Muhammad isn't. He will be one of the top players at the McDonald's All-American game next week. Next Up: Season Complete
22	24	DeMatha Catholic 4-year traditional Hyattsville, MD
Record: 27-5 Key Wins: Paul VI, Neumann-Goretti, Gonzaga (x2) Key Losses: Paul VI (x3), Gonzaga, Bishop Gorman Results: Beat Benedictine, 65-63; beat St. Benedict's Prep, 64-49; beat Paul VI, 71-56 Weekly Report: The Stags' season didn't go according to plan, letting Paul VI sweep out the WCAC conference. But they did get some sort of revenge by beating them in the finals of Alhambra Invitational. Beating St. Benedict's along the way didn't hurt either. Next Up: Season Complete
23	22	Prestonwood Christian Academy 4-year traditional Plano, TX
Record: 27-4 Key Wins: Grace Prep, Bishop Gorman Key Losses: Grace Prep Weekly Report: There is no better way, outside of earning a No. 1 ranking, to end a season than by winning a state title, and that's exactly what Julius Randle and company did. Next Up: Season Complete
24	23	Columbia 4-year traditional Decatur, GA
Record: 31-1 Weekly Report: Tahj Shamsid-Deen is one of the better guards in the nation that nobody talks about. His recent state title performance should put people on notice. Next Up: Season Complete
25	25	Proviso East 4-year traditional Maywood, Ill.
Record: 32-1 Key Losses: Simeoni Results: Beat Auburn, 55-45; lost to Simeon, 50-48 Weekly Report: Their narrow loss to Simeon in the state finals proved they were a force all season long. They were a couple of possessions away from bringing the Wolverines back to earth. Sterling Brown led all scorers with 25 points. Next Up: Season Complete
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)