Power 5 prep basketball rankings: Lancaster boys, South Pointe girls stay the course
The Lancaster boys and undefeated South Pointe girls each survived a tough test last week and remain the pacesetters in the Herald’s Power 5 high school basketball rankings.
Lancaster played three times and had a close call Friday night, holding off A.C. Flora 56-52. The Bruins will play three times again this week.
South Pointe downed Region 3 4A rival Camden, sandwiching that game between two blowout victories.
And there is one new face this week, in the girls’ rankings.
Here is this week’s Power 5:
Boys
1. LANCASTER (17-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week: defeated Richland Northeast (72-39), A.C. Flora (56-52) and Dreher (55-42).
Jordan Watford gets the headlines, but Columbus Parker and Malik Tinsley provide a resource that the Bruins might cherish in the playoffs — solid foul shooting. Parker is making 84% of his free throws (37 of 44), and Tinsley is hitting 80% (32 of 40).
This week: at Dreher (Tuesday); at York (Wednesday); South Pointe (Friday).
2. FORT MILL (20-2)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week: defeated Clover 59-49.
Shutting down the Yellow Jacket offense is very difficult, as Fort Mill has four starters averaging between 12.0 and 14.6 points a game. Different players have stepped up in recent weeks on this balanced attack.
This week: Northwestern (Tuesday); Clear Dot Charter (Friday)
3. INDIAN LAND (20-2)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week: defeated Rock Hill (71-52), Northwestern (83-52), and Nation Ford (72-53).
The Warriors’ offense has picked up a gear or two recently. During mid-January, Indian Land averaged 51 points over a three-game stretch.. In the Warriors’ last three games, they’re averaging 76 points.
This week: at Catawba Ridge (Tuesday); Clover (Friday).
4. SOUTH POINTE (14-6)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week: defeated Richland Northeast 69-25 and Camden (61-47).
Tre Raymon is clearly the go-to player on this offense. He has scored in double figures in 19 of the Stallions’ 20 games and is averaging 16.2 points a contest.
This week: York (Tuesday); at Lancaster (Friday).
5. ANDREW JACKSON (13-5)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week: defeated Chesterfield 71-38 and York Prep 70-54.
The Volunteers’ boys don’t get as much statewide attention as the school’s girls’ team, but the Andrew Jackson boys are on a roll, winning 11 straight.
This week: Buford (Tuesday); North Central (Friday).
On the edge: Clover (15-8); Catawba Ridge (10-12)
Girls
1. SOUTH POINTE (22-0)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week: defeated Richland Northeast (64-18), Camden (66-53) and River Bluff (70-19).
The Stallions often turn games into routs because of their defense. Such was the case Saturday against River Bluff, when South Pointe totaled 23 steals in a 51-point victory. Kaleigh Lucas had 10 of those steals.
This week: York (Tuesday); at Lancaster (Friday).
2. ANDREW JACKSON (19-3)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week: defeated Cheraw (101-32), Chesterfield (103-25) and York Prep (95-16).
It’s unusual to see a girls’ basketball team that scores the way Andrew Jackson does. The Volunteers have passed the 100-point mark four times this season and have scored 95 or more points in five of their last six outings.
This week: Buford (Tuesday); North Central (Friday).
3. CLOVER (20-2)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week: defeated Fort Mill (53-31), Northwestern (45-3) and Greenwood (45-42).
The Blue Eagles were finally pushed on Saturday, but their response bodes well for the upcoming playoffs. Trailing Greenwood 39-34 after three quarters, they rallied for the victory and held Greenwood to three points in the fourth quarter.
This week: at Indian Land (Friday)
4. ROCK HILL (15-6)
Last week’s ranking: Unranked
Last week: defeated Indian Land (70-31) and Fort Mill (65-45).
Maybe we’re finally starting to see the Rock Hill team that was expected to be a state power this season. The Bearcats have won five of their last six games..
This week: at Nation Ford (Tuesday); Northwestern (Friday).
5. LEGION COLLEGIATE (18-12)
Last week’s ranking: 4.
Last week: Lost to Life Prep (72-71), Legacy Early College (76-51), 1 of 1 Academy (66-50), and Rabun Gap School (50-40).
The Lancers are facing tough times, losing five in a row. Most of those losses were against tough competition, and the remaining schedule doesn’t get any weaker. They have 1 of 1 Academy on the schedule this week and two N.C. powers, Butler and Porter Ridge, next week.
This week: at Weddington (Tuesday), 1 of 1 Academy (Wednesday), and Gaston Christian (Friday).
On the edge: Fort Mill (12-9), Nation Ford (11-11).