Head coach Mike Bethea and Rainier Beach capped a dominant run through Seattle's competitive Metro League by crushing rival Franklin 92-40.
File photo by Brian Murphy
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (No. 1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 25-0National Player of the Year candidate
Stanley Johnson scored 29 points to lead Mater Dei past St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 76-68 in a major test Friday night. The Monarchs close the regular season out this week against Servite (Anaheim) and JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano).
2. (2) Rainier Beach (Seattle), 20-0Louisville signee
Shaqquan Aaron led the way with 20 points as the Vikings embarrassed South Seattle rival Franklin (Seattle) 92-40 on Friday night. Rainier Beach jumps into Metro League tournament play this week.
3. (3) Curie (Chicago), 21-1The Condors will meet four-time defending Class 4A state champion Simeon in the Chicago Public Schools tournament quarterfinals next Sunday. Curie knocked off Simeon once already this season in the final of December's Pontiac Holiday Classic.
4. (4) Montverde Academy (Fla.), 22-1After a week off, the Eagles head to New Jersey for the Metro Classic this weekend. Montverde will meet Garden State powers Roselle Catholic and St. Joseph's (Metuchen) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
5. (5) White Station (Memphis, Tenn.), 26-1Behind 31 points and nine rebounds from senior forward
LeRon Black, the Spartans smoked Arlington 83-66 on Sunday to capture the Shelby County Interscholastic Athletic Association title. White Station will have a week off before beginning district play Feb. 17.
