Eastern Pennsylvania Boys' High School Basketball Team Rankings: 2011-12, 12-26-11
Rankings such as these are very subjective, but they are fun to consider. Criteria are wins, recent head-to-head matchups, personal observation, and strength of schedule. This is the first update of the season for the Top 10, and there are a number of changes from the preseason rankings published earlier this month.
The thorniest problem in this edition of the rankings is how to consider Constitution (Philadelphia). The view from here is that Constitution will win the PIAA Class A state championship this season. However, Constitution went 0-3 against strong competition at the City of Palms event at Fort Myers, FL, losing 70-63 to national power Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, TX), 79-62 to Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, FL), and 78-75 to Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, FL). Constitution also lost by 24 points at Chester. For the time being, Constitution is dropped from the Top 10.
1. Chester (Chester) (5-0) Defending PIAA Class AAAA state champion is undefeated in last 31 games, dating back to last season. Beat Coatesville, 79-66, and Constitution, 70-46. Won by the score of 71-61 at J. P. McCaskey (Lancaster). Defeated defending PIAA Class A state champion Math, Civics and Sciences Charter, 64-52, in a tournament at Cheltenham. Beat Newark (Newark, DE), 69-41. Previous: #2.
2. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) (4-1) Defending PIAA Class AAA state champion has won last two. Opened the season playing three games in a tournament at nationally ranked power Gonzaga (Washington, DC), defeating Bishop McNamara (Forrestville, MD), 73-46, and Sidwell Friends (Washington, DC), 76-61, before falling to the host team, 52-56. At Albright College, beat Reading, 86-47. In a league game, defeated Conwell-Egan, 87-36. Previous: #1.
3. Friends' Central (Wynnewood) (6-1) Won last game. In a tournament at Westtown, beat Mercersburg Academy, 54-19, and Peddie (Hightstown, NJ), 52-41. Won at Chestnut Hill Academy, 47-41, and, in a league game, at George, 60-34. In another league game, crushed Germantown Friends, 61-17. In the City of Palms event at Fort Myers, FL, lost to Tilton (Tilton, NH) 50-80, then defeated a team from Germany, 55-51. Tilton has a number of international players and some post-grads on their squad. Previous: #5.
4. Malvern Prep (Malvern) (9-0) Won all nine games. Won at Shipley, 65-41. In a tournament held at Episcopal Academy, defeated Georgetown Prep (Washington, DC), 65-54. Won at Monsignor Bonner, 59-36. In a tournament at Coatesville, beat Pennsbury, 61-48. Beat a team from Australia, 57-30. Won at New Beginnings Academy, 68-29. In a tournament at Coatesville, beat Phoenixville, 74-34. Playing at home, defeated St. Joseph's Prep, 65-62, and West Catholic, 58-42. Previous: not ranked.
5. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) (5-1) The defending PIAA Class AA state champion lost their last game. Beat Hope Charter, 52-39. Defeated defending PIAA Class A state champion Math, Civics and Sciences Charter in overtime in a league game, 63-62. Beat Del-Val Charter, 54-43. In a league game, downed Southern, 45-38. In another league game, won at Simon Gratz, 75-41. Lost at LaSalle College, 54-62. Previous: #3.
6. Lower Merion (Ardmore) (5-1) Won last five games. Lost in double overtime to Roman Catholic, 75-78, in a tournament at Coatesville. Won at Strath Haven, 75-29 in a league game. In another league game, defeated Garnet Valley, 56-22. Beat McDonogh (Owings Mills, MD), 67-48, in a tournament at Coatesville. Defeated Penncrest, 63-41. In a league game, won at Conestoga, 62-47. Previous: #4.
7. Father Judge (Philadelphia) (6-0) Won all six games. At Holy Family U., beat Strawberry Mansion, 71-61. In a tournament at Coatesville, beat defending PIAA Class A state champion Math, Civics and Sciences Charter, 63-62. In home games, defeated Abraham Lincoln (Philadelphia), 72-51, and Central Bucks South, 60-53. Won at Red Land (Lewisberry, PA), 57-56. Beat St. Joseph (Hammonton, NJ), 65-46. Previous: not ranked.
8. Central Dauphin (Harrisburg) (5-0) Won all five games. In a tournament at Boiling Springs (Boiling Springs, PA), beat Big Spring (Newville, PA), 67-53, and Boiling Springs, 67-24. In league games, won at Chambersburg, 58-47, at Steelton-Highspire, 48-46, and at home against Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg), 75-46. Team has been reinforced since the completion of football season from PIAA Class AAAA state champion football team. Previous: not ranked.
9. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) (2-1) Lost last game. Defeated Lower Merion in double overtime in a tournament game at Coatesville, 78-75. Won at Neshaminy, 49-44, then lost to Paul VI (Haddonfield, NJ), 51-59, at Philadelphia U. Previous: #6.
10. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) (5-1) Lost last game. Defeated William Penn Charter, 47-35. In a game at Philadelphia U., beat Germantown Academy, 70-63. In home games, beat Mastery Charter South, 84-41, Roxborough, 69-56, and Palmer, 79-37. Lost at Malvern Prep, 62-65. Previous: #7.
Dropped out: Constitution; Math, Civics and Sciences Charter; and Shipley.
The thorniest problem in this edition of the rankings is how to consider Constitution (Philadelphia). The view from here is that Constitution will win the PIAA Class A state championship this season. However, Constitution went 0-3 against strong competition at the City of Palms event at Fort Myers, FL, losing 70-63 to national power Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, TX), 79-62 to Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, FL), and 78-75 to Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, FL). Constitution also lost by 24 points at Chester. For the time being, Constitution is dropped from the Top 10.
1. Chester (Chester) (5-0) Defending PIAA Class AAAA state champion is undefeated in last 31 games, dating back to last season. Beat Coatesville, 79-66, and Constitution, 70-46. Won by the score of 71-61 at J. P. McCaskey (Lancaster). Defeated defending PIAA Class A state champion Math, Civics and Sciences Charter, 64-52, in a tournament at Cheltenham. Beat Newark (Newark, DE), 69-41. Previous: #2.
2. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) (4-1) Defending PIAA Class AAA state champion has won last two. Opened the season playing three games in a tournament at nationally ranked power Gonzaga (Washington, DC), defeating Bishop McNamara (Forrestville, MD), 73-46, and Sidwell Friends (Washington, DC), 76-61, before falling to the host team, 52-56. At Albright College, beat Reading, 86-47. In a league game, defeated Conwell-Egan, 87-36. Previous: #1.
3. Friends' Central (Wynnewood) (6-1) Won last game. In a tournament at Westtown, beat Mercersburg Academy, 54-19, and Peddie (Hightstown, NJ), 52-41. Won at Chestnut Hill Academy, 47-41, and, in a league game, at George, 60-34. In another league game, crushed Germantown Friends, 61-17. In the City of Palms event at Fort Myers, FL, lost to Tilton (Tilton, NH) 50-80, then defeated a team from Germany, 55-51. Tilton has a number of international players and some post-grads on their squad. Previous: #5.
4. Malvern Prep (Malvern) (9-0) Won all nine games. Won at Shipley, 65-41. In a tournament held at Episcopal Academy, defeated Georgetown Prep (Washington, DC), 65-54. Won at Monsignor Bonner, 59-36. In a tournament at Coatesville, beat Pennsbury, 61-48. Beat a team from Australia, 57-30. Won at New Beginnings Academy, 68-29. In a tournament at Coatesville, beat Phoenixville, 74-34. Playing at home, defeated St. Joseph's Prep, 65-62, and West Catholic, 58-42. Previous: not ranked.
5. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) (5-1) The defending PIAA Class AA state champion lost their last game. Beat Hope Charter, 52-39. Defeated defending PIAA Class A state champion Math, Civics and Sciences Charter in overtime in a league game, 63-62. Beat Del-Val Charter, 54-43. In a league game, downed Southern, 45-38. In another league game, won at Simon Gratz, 75-41. Lost at LaSalle College, 54-62. Previous: #3.
6. Lower Merion (Ardmore) (5-1) Won last five games. Lost in double overtime to Roman Catholic, 75-78, in a tournament at Coatesville. Won at Strath Haven, 75-29 in a league game. In another league game, defeated Garnet Valley, 56-22. Beat McDonogh (Owings Mills, MD), 67-48, in a tournament at Coatesville. Defeated Penncrest, 63-41. In a league game, won at Conestoga, 62-47. Previous: #4.
7. Father Judge (Philadelphia) (6-0) Won all six games. At Holy Family U., beat Strawberry Mansion, 71-61. In a tournament at Coatesville, beat defending PIAA Class A state champion Math, Civics and Sciences Charter, 63-62. In home games, defeated Abraham Lincoln (Philadelphia), 72-51, and Central Bucks South, 60-53. Won at Red Land (Lewisberry, PA), 57-56. Beat St. Joseph (Hammonton, NJ), 65-46. Previous: not ranked.
8. Central Dauphin (Harrisburg) (5-0) Won all five games. In a tournament at Boiling Springs (Boiling Springs, PA), beat Big Spring (Newville, PA), 67-53, and Boiling Springs, 67-24. In league games, won at Chambersburg, 58-47, at Steelton-Highspire, 48-46, and at home against Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg), 75-46. Team has been reinforced since the completion of football season from PIAA Class AAAA state champion football team. Previous: not ranked.
9. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) (2-1) Lost last game. Defeated Lower Merion in double overtime in a tournament game at Coatesville, 78-75. Won at Neshaminy, 49-44, then lost to Paul VI (Haddonfield, NJ), 51-59, at Philadelphia U. Previous: #6.
10. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) (5-1) Lost last game. Defeated William Penn Charter, 47-35. In a game at Philadelphia U., beat Germantown Academy, 70-63. In home games, beat Mastery Charter South, 84-41, Roxborough, 69-56, and Palmer, 79-37. Lost at Malvern Prep, 62-65. Previous: #7.
Dropped out: Constitution; Math, Civics and Sciences Charter; and Shipley.
wow. excellent.
Reply to this