UPDATED FAB 50: State Championships On The Line!

Groups that captured 2023-24 state championship precipitated motion within the newest version of the FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com. As well as, there are six newcomers this week, led by Arizona state open champ No. 34 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.). Extra state champs in energy states can be topped this weekend.

By Ronnie Flores

It is not the way you begin, however the way you end and for groups that do endure a loss at an inopportune time, the hope ought to be that their foes do effectively the remainder of the best way. That theme undoubtedly utilized to the crew at Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.). The Pumas started No. 33 within the preseason FAB 50 after capturing the primary ever Arizona Interscholastic Affiliation (AIA) open division state tile in 2222-23. Perry dropped out of the nation’s longest-running weekly nationwide rankings earlier this season after dropping video games to Arizona golf equipment, together with Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.), the crew it beat in final yr’s open title recreation.

This week the Pumas made a grand return as the very best of six newcomers at No. 34 after defeating then No. 38 Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), 71-67, to repeat as AIA open division state champs. Millennium had an early 17-point lead, however Perry chipped away at its deficit behind some massive photographs by guard Barron Silsby down the stretch and the clutch play of All-American Koa Peat. Silsby had 10 second half factors to assist Perry overcome a 41-32 halftime deficit, whereas Peat, nonetheless a junior and a returning first crew Elite All-American, completed with 21 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 assists.

Millennium’s Sabien Cain completed with 33 factors, together with an unbelievable seven 3-pointers within the first 10 minutes of the sport for a crew that drops 5 spots this week. Sunnyslope was the one in-state crew Perry did not find yourself defeating, as its out of state losses have been to No. 18 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) and to No. 10 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), twice. On Tuesday, Harvard-Westlake hosts No. 24 Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) within the California InterscholasticFederation (CIF) SoCal open division regional title recreation with the winner taking up both No. 37 Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) or unranked Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.) for the CIF Open Division state title on March 9 on the Golden One Middle in Sacramento.

It goes with out saying Perry would profit from Harvard-Westlake profitable back-to-back open state crowns, whereas Salesian would hop the Pumas if it goes on to win its ultimate two video games to seize its first CIF open state title. Perry has now gained three consecutive AIA state titles and Peat has by no means misplaced a AIA playoff recreation in his stellar three-year profession. Perry defeated Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) within the semifinals, 83-79, as Peat poured in 35 factors and grabbed 16 rebounds.

One other crew having fun with a three-peat that completed robust is No. 28 Sidwell Pals (Washington, D.C.), which captured the District of Columbia State Athletic Affiliation (DCSAA) Class AA title with a 47-37 victory over St. John’s (Washington, D.C.). The Quakers obtained 16 factors from Acaden Lewis and 15 from Jalen Rougier-Roane within the title recreation victory. The large win when it comes to rankings place, was the 53-52 semifinal victory over then No. 16 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), because the Quakers’ Lewis was a difference-maker in a good recreation with 21 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists.

Sidwell Pals has now gained three consecutive DCSAA state titles and 4 up to now 5 seasons and is up 18 spots this week. The Purple Eagles, who have been runners-up within the WCAC Event to No. 3 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) on Monday, drop 13 spots however cannot go down any additional. No. 30 Nice Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) has solely misplaced in additional time to WCAC member Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), a crew Gonzaga break up with. No. 31 Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) has additionally misplaced to Bishop O’Connell with one other loss to a membership Gonzaga beat: Westminster Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). Oak Ridge’s third loss is to FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy of Florida.

This Friday, Oak Ridge will battle No. 46 Winter Haven (Winter Haven, Fla.) within the Florida Excessive Faculty Athletic Affiliation (FHSAA) Class 7A semifinals. The opposite semifinal pits Evans (Orlando, Fla.) vs. No. 2 Columbus (Miami) with the winners of every recreation taking part in on Saturday night.

Along with Florida and California, one other energy state that can crown state champions this week is Texas. The College Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 6A Ultimate 4 will happen at The Alamodome in San Antonio. No. 5 and unbeaten Plano East (Plano, Texas) will tackle Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas) in a single semifinal, with No. 6 Stony Level (Spherical Rock, Texas) dealing with new No. 49 Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas) within the different. Beaumont United can be making its fourth consecutive state Ultimate 4 look, whereas Stony Level has solely misplaced to Plano East.

One other enticing state ultimate takes place in Georgia, the place the Georgia Excessive Faculty Affiliation (GHSA) Class AAAAAAA title recreation on the Macon Coliseum pits No. 20 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) vs. No. 35 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) on Saturday night. Grayson has solely misplaced to state champ and No. 25 Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) and to Perry.

The 2023-24 season will conclude with the Chipotle Excessive Faculty Basketball Nationals, April 4-6, at Brownsburg (Ind.) simply exterior of Indianapolis. Anticipate an invitation for Columbus offered it captures a state title and the opposite prime 4 groups within the FAB 50. All video games on the occasion can be broadcast stay on ESPN platforms.

RELATED:  Preseason 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | “In The Paint” Podcast (Spotify) |  “In The Paint” Podcast (YouTube) 

Up to date FAB 50 Nationwide Staff RankingsPowered by Ballislife.com

(eleventh ballot of 2023-24 common season; By way of video games performed on Sunday, March 3; *Signifies forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Signifies forfeits and defaults not included; ***Signifies season full.)

No. Prev. Excessive Faculty (Metropolis)File

11Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)29-0

22Columbus (Miami, Fla.)25–4

33Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)33-2

44Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.)19-4

55Plano East (Plano, Texas)38-0

66Stony Level (Spherical Rock, Texas)37-1

77Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.)26-2

88Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)29-5

99Link Academy (Branson, Mo.)20-6

1010Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)31-3

1111Central Cabarrus (Harmony, N.C.)29-0

1212AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)25-5

1313IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)17-8

1414Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.)26-0

1515Fishers (Fishers, Ind.)25-1

1618De Pere (De Pere, Wis.)25-1

1717St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.)27-2

1819Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)23-4

1920Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)27-3

2021McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)26-5

2122Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.)24-2

2225St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)22-1

2323Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) 21-2

2424Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.)31-3

2532Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.)27-2***

2645Bullis (Potomac, Md.)25-2

2740John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)24-3

2846Sidwell Pals (Washington, D.C.)27-4

2916Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)28-6

3029Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.)31-1

3130Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.)26-3

3227La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)23-5

3328Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)26-7

34NRPerry (Gilbert, Ariz.)24-5***

3533Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)29-2

3635St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)26-7

3736Salesian (Richmond, Calif.)30-1

3839Bartlett (Bartlett, Tenn.)30-4

3934Patrick Faculty (Elizabeth, N.J.)26-4

40NRCamden (Camden, N.J.)28-2

4137North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.)26-3

4248Curie (Chicago, Ailing.)31-2

4338Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.)25-5***

4443Kell (Marietta, Ga.)27-3

4542Cordova (Cordova, Tenn.)29-3

4649Winter Haven (Winter Haven, Fla.)27-1

47NRMater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)29-5

48NRWayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)25-1

49NRBeaumont United (Beaumont, Texas)34-3

50NRMoeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)24-1

Dropped Out: Earlier No. 26 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), No. 31 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), No. 41 Westfield (Westfield, Ind.), No. 44 Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.), No. 47 Huntsville (Huntsville, Ala.), No. 50 Pascagoula (Pascagoula, Miss.).

Bubble Groups: Alexander (Douglasville, Ga.) 29-2; Bay Shore (Bay Shore, N.Y.) 23-0; Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.) 24-1; Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 24-5***; Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 31-5***; Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) 25-3; Christian (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 21-2; Dale (Dale, Okla.) 27-2; De Paul Prep (Chicago, Ailing.) 32-2; Downers Grove North (Downers Grove, Ailing.) 31-4; East Lansing (East Lansing, Mich.) 22-2; Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 21-3; Fort Bend Clements (Sugar Land, Texas) 32-1***; Garfield Heights (Garfield Heights, Ohio) 22-1; Homewood Flossmor (Flossmor, Ailing.) 30-4; Hoover (Hoover, Ala.) 30-3***; Imhotep Constitution (Philadelphia, Pa.) 24-3; Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.) 33-3; Kennedy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 23-0; Kokomo (Kokomo, Ind.) 25-3; Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.) 25-1; Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) 24-3; Lehi (Lehi, Utah) 24-4***; Lexington (Lexington, S.C.) 28-2***; Lexington Catholic (Lexington, Ky.) 30-2; Liberty Magnet (Baton Rouge, La.) 31-4; Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.) 22-3; Madison Prep (Baton Rouge, La.) 29-3; Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) 21-2; Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) 36-5***; Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) 22-3; Newport (Newport, Ky.) 29-3; Noblesville (Noblesville, Ind.) 22-3***; Northwest (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 22-0; Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) 31-4***; Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 21-4; Pewaukee (Pewaukee, Wis.) 22-4; Raymond (Raymond, Miss.) 31-4***; Reidsville (Reidsville, N.C.) 25-0; Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas) 35-4**; Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 26-4***; Southern Guilford (Greensboro, N.C.) 28-1; St. Anne’s-Bellfield (Charlottesville, Va.) 26-4***; St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) 20-3; St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey Metropolis, N.J.) 26-2; St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 23-5; Thornton (Harvey, Ailing.) 29-4; Union (Tulsa, Okla.) 24-2; Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.) 22-6; Veterans Memorial (San Antonio, Texas) 40-1; Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 26-1; Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah) 15-5; Westfield (Westfield, Ind.) 19-3***; Woodside (Newport Information, Va.) 27-1.

Notice: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the Nationwide Sports activities Information Service scores that started in 1952. These have been the primary nationwide highschool rankings and the late Artwork Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They have been compiled for a few years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 24 years in the past.

Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He might be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores