Eastern Pennsylvania Boys' High School Basketball Team Rankings: 2011-12, 2-16-12
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. These rankings will be updated weekly for the rest of the season.
1. Chester (Chester) (22-0) The defending PIAA Class AAAA state champions have won their last 48 games, dating back to last season. In the Primetime Shootout, in Roselle, NJ, defeated Neptune (Neptune, NJ), 78-62. Previous: #1.
2. Lower Merion (Ardmore) (21-2) Won last 15 games. At Penncrest, defeated Upper Darby, 71-31, in the Central League championship game. Previous: #2.
3. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) (19-3) The defending PIAA Class AAA state champions have won their last five games. Won at St. Joseph's Prep, 66-53. Defeated Lansdale Catholic, 78-35. Previous: #3.
4. Central Dauphin (Harrisburg) (22-1) Won last 14 games. In a Mid-Penn League semifinal game, played at Cumberland Valley, beat Trinity, 55-40. Previous: #4.
5. Malvern Prep (Malvern) (24-2) Won last five games. Defeated Germantown Academy, 55-52. In the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, beat Perkiomen, 61-52. Previous: #8.
6. Westtown (West Chester) (20-9) Won last eight games. This team has played a national schedule, in addition to winning the championship of the Friends Schools League. Beat St. Andrew's (Middletown, DE), 51-36. Lost to Sanford (Hockessin, DE), 43-51. In the 5th Annual MAPL-Friends Schools League Hoop Challenge, beat Hun (Princeton, NJ), 39-36, and lost to Hill, 21-42. In the 39th Annual Peddie School Invitational Tournament, in Hightstown, NJ, lost to Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville, NJ), 37-40; beat Solebury, 69-44; then lost to Phelps, 50-66. Beat George, 54-26. In the Bullis tournament, in Potomac, MD, defeated St. Vincent Pallotti (Laurel, MD), 71-55; lost to Episcopal (Alexandria, VA), 55-59; and beat St. John's Catholic Prep (Buckeystown, MD), 49-48. In the Chick-Fil-A Classic, in Columbia, SC, lost to the top team in the nation, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), 43-93; lost to Richland Northeast (Columbia, SC), 35-47; and beat United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, NC), 64-43. In the 29th Annual Primetime Eastern States Christmas Invitational Tournament, in Hamilton, NJ, defeated Solebury, 66-38, and Rutgers Prep (Somerset, NJ), 31-29. Beat Tatnall (Wilmington, DE), 56-34, and Friends' Central, 54-52. Lost at Academy of the New Church, 40-57. Defeated Moorestown Friends, 56-26. In the 12th Annual Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Philly.com/Rally Classic, at Lower Merion, lost to South Kent (South Kent, CT), 60-65. Beat Shipley, 51-31. Won at Abington Friends, 57-37, and at Germantown Friends, 71-53. Avenged a prior defeat by beating Lawrenceville, 55-39. In a Friends Schools League semifinal played at Germantown Friends, beat Friends' Central, 55-53. In the Friends Schools League championship game, played at Haverford College, avenged a prior defeat by beating Academy of the New Church, 55-46. In the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, beat Episcopal Academy, 61-39, and Kiski Prep, 55-45. Previous: not ranked.
7. Friends' Central (Wynnewood) (20-5) The three time defending Pennsylvania Independent Schools champion has won their last two games. In the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, beat Solebury, 75-44, and Hill, 67-64. Previous: #7.
8. Boys' Latin Charter (Philadelphia) (20-4) Won last 10 games. In the Philadelphia Public League playoffs, at Franklin Learning Center, beat then 21-1 Engineering & Science, 62-59. Previous: #9.
9. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) (16-6) Won last four games. In the Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Philly.com/ Rally Tip-Off Classic, at Coatesville Area, defeated Bayard Rustin, 50-33. Lost to Church Farm, 43-51. Won at Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter, 42-37, and at Bishop Shanahan, 75-49. Won at Hatboro-Horsham, 57-38, in the 4th Annual Coach O Classic. In a tournament in Boston, lost to Hudson Catholic (Jersey City), 40-62, and to East Boston (East Boston, MA), 42-49. Lost to Wissahickon, 44-58. Beat Cardinal O'Hara, 52-50. Won at Lansdale Catholic, 58-22. Beat Father Judge, 66-62. Lost at Neumann-Goretti, 56-72. Won at Bishope McDevitt (Wyncote), 76-63. Beat Monsignor Bonner, 63-35. Beat Neshaminy, 60-46, in the Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Kobe Bryant Classic, at Lower Merion. Won at Archbishop Wood, 64-49, and at LaSalle College, 68-56. Lost to Archbishop Ryan, 42-53. Won at Conwell-Egan Catholic, 61-53. Beat Roman Catholic, 46-45. Won at West Catholic, 68-55. Beat St. Joseph's Prep in double overtime, 67-66. Previous: not ranked.
10. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) (18-4) Lost last two games. Lost to Neumann-Goretti, 53-66. Lost at Archbishop Carroll, in two overtimes, 66-67. Previous: #5.
Dropped out: Hershey (lost two consecutive games) and Coatesville Area (lost to Octorara in the Ches-Mont League championship game).
Under consideration: Bensalem (Bensalem), Central Bucks West (Doylestown), Constitution (Philadelphia), Freedom (Bethlehem), Holy Ghost Prep (Bensalem), Pennsbury (Fairless Hills), and Scranton (Scranton).
1. Chester (Chester) (22-0) The defending PIAA Class AAAA state champions have won their last 48 games, dating back to last season. In the Primetime Shootout, in Roselle, NJ, defeated Neptune (Neptune, NJ), 78-62. Previous: #1.
2. Lower Merion (Ardmore) (21-2) Won last 15 games. At Penncrest, defeated Upper Darby, 71-31, in the Central League championship game. Previous: #2.
3. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) (19-3) The defending PIAA Class AAA state champions have won their last five games. Won at St. Joseph's Prep, 66-53. Defeated Lansdale Catholic, 78-35. Previous: #3.
4. Central Dauphin (Harrisburg) (22-1) Won last 14 games. In a Mid-Penn League semifinal game, played at Cumberland Valley, beat Trinity, 55-40. Previous: #4.
5. Malvern Prep (Malvern) (24-2) Won last five games. Defeated Germantown Academy, 55-52. In the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, beat Perkiomen, 61-52. Previous: #8.
6. Westtown (West Chester) (20-9) Won last eight games. This team has played a national schedule, in addition to winning the championship of the Friends Schools League. Beat St. Andrew's (Middletown, DE), 51-36. Lost to Sanford (Hockessin, DE), 43-51. In the 5th Annual MAPL-Friends Schools League Hoop Challenge, beat Hun (Princeton, NJ), 39-36, and lost to Hill, 21-42. In the 39th Annual Peddie School Invitational Tournament, in Hightstown, NJ, lost to Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville, NJ), 37-40; beat Solebury, 69-44; then lost to Phelps, 50-66. Beat George, 54-26. In the Bullis tournament, in Potomac, MD, defeated St. Vincent Pallotti (Laurel, MD), 71-55; lost to Episcopal (Alexandria, VA), 55-59; and beat St. John's Catholic Prep (Buckeystown, MD), 49-48. In the Chick-Fil-A Classic, in Columbia, SC, lost to the top team in the nation, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), 43-93; lost to Richland Northeast (Columbia, SC), 35-47; and beat United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, NC), 64-43. In the 29th Annual Primetime Eastern States Christmas Invitational Tournament, in Hamilton, NJ, defeated Solebury, 66-38, and Rutgers Prep (Somerset, NJ), 31-29. Beat Tatnall (Wilmington, DE), 56-34, and Friends' Central, 54-52. Lost at Academy of the New Church, 40-57. Defeated Moorestown Friends, 56-26. In the 12th Annual Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Philly.com/Rally Classic, at Lower Merion, lost to South Kent (South Kent, CT), 60-65. Beat Shipley, 51-31. Won at Abington Friends, 57-37, and at Germantown Friends, 71-53. Avenged a prior defeat by beating Lawrenceville, 55-39. In a Friends Schools League semifinal played at Germantown Friends, beat Friends' Central, 55-53. In the Friends Schools League championship game, played at Haverford College, avenged a prior defeat by beating Academy of the New Church, 55-46. In the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, beat Episcopal Academy, 61-39, and Kiski Prep, 55-45. Previous: not ranked.
7. Friends' Central (Wynnewood) (20-5) The three time defending Pennsylvania Independent Schools champion has won their last two games. In the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, beat Solebury, 75-44, and Hill, 67-64. Previous: #7.
8. Boys' Latin Charter (Philadelphia) (20-4) Won last 10 games. In the Philadelphia Public League playoffs, at Franklin Learning Center, beat then 21-1 Engineering & Science, 62-59. Previous: #9.
9. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) (16-6) Won last four games. In the Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Philly.com/ Rally Tip-Off Classic, at Coatesville Area, defeated Bayard Rustin, 50-33. Lost to Church Farm, 43-51. Won at Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter, 42-37, and at Bishop Shanahan, 75-49. Won at Hatboro-Horsham, 57-38, in the 4th Annual Coach O Classic. In a tournament in Boston, lost to Hudson Catholic (Jersey City), 40-62, and to East Boston (East Boston, MA), 42-49. Lost to Wissahickon, 44-58. Beat Cardinal O'Hara, 52-50. Won at Lansdale Catholic, 58-22. Beat Father Judge, 66-62. Lost at Neumann-Goretti, 56-72. Won at Bishope McDevitt (Wyncote), 76-63. Beat Monsignor Bonner, 63-35. Beat Neshaminy, 60-46, in the Scholastic Play-by-Play Network Kobe Bryant Classic, at Lower Merion. Won at Archbishop Wood, 64-49, and at LaSalle College, 68-56. Lost to Archbishop Ryan, 42-53. Won at Conwell-Egan Catholic, 61-53. Beat Roman Catholic, 46-45. Won at West Catholic, 68-55. Beat St. Joseph's Prep in double overtime, 67-66. Previous: not ranked.
10. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) (18-4) Lost last two games. Lost to Neumann-Goretti, 53-66. Lost at Archbishop Carroll, in two overtimes, 66-67. Previous: #5.
Dropped out: Hershey (lost two consecutive games) and Coatesville Area (lost to Octorara in the Ches-Mont League championship game).
Under consideration: Bensalem (Bensalem), Central Bucks West (Doylestown), Constitution (Philadelphia), Freedom (Bethlehem), Holy Ghost Prep (Bensalem), Pennsbury (Fairless Hills), and Scranton (Scranton).
Keep an eye on Hazleton. Finally got to see them play and although they lack superior height in the middle, they are deep, super quick, play outstanding pressure man to man defense, shoot extremely well and have never seen a team without a starter over 6'4 rebound the way they do.
Reply to this