For the seventh straight week, Providence remains the top team in the Fab Five boys basketball rankings after another dominating week. We also welcome some newcomers to the poll as a couple of area teams are red hot and finally made their way into the poll. We also take a look at each district and get an idea on who are the top teams and looking like playoff contenders.
Fab Five Week 7 rankings
1 Providence (14-2)
Last ranking: 1
Last week: def. Atlantic Coast 93-53
Next: NFEI (Jan 15), U.C. (Jan 18), Bolles (Jan 19)
Note: Despite a 5 day layoff Providence jumped on Atlantic Coast early and never trailed in a 40 point win over a decent Atlantic Coast team thanks to Norman Haynes 31 points, Ahren Freeman 19 points and Treston Livingston 19 points. Stallions face a busy week this week with games against NFEI, UC and Bolles, all likely playoff teams.
2 University Christian (16-2)
Last ranking: 2
Last week: def. Bishop Snyder 71-56, def. West Nassau 64-48
Next: at Clay (Jan 14), Beaches Chapel (Jan 17), at Providence (Jan 18), Forest Hill (Jan 19)
Note: UC picked up two more wins this week, including a huge district win over Bishop Snyder. Lenzy Hancock led the Crusaders with 20 points, while Micheal Griffin chipped in 18 points, Rashad Newsome had 11 points, while both G’Shaun Aldridge and Denzel Wiggins scored 10 points each. A 19-5 run in the first quarter a night later helped U.C. role over West Nassau as the Christians ran up and down on the host Warriors for the easy win. U.C. has a extremely big week this week with four games including a huge game with No. 1 Providence Friday, followed by a meeting with Forest Hill (17-0) in the MLK Classic.
3 Bolles (14-2)
Last ranking: 4
Last week: def. Seacoast 70-18, def. Bishop Kenny 41-30
Next: Jackson (Jan 13), at Trinity (Jan 17), at Providence (Jan 19)
Note: A 2-0 week moves the Bulldogs up a spot, including a 52 point win over Seacoast Christian to start the week. The week ended with a big win over arch-rival Bishop Kenny thanks to key contributions from Dave Crouch 15 points and Bobby Crouch 11 points. The schedule gets a lot tougher this week with games against a red hot Jackson team, Trinity and No. 1 Providence on the docket.
4 Paxon (12-2)
Last ranking: HM
Last week: def. Bishop Kenny 42-39 (OT), def. Ribault 62-45
Next: Stanton (Jan 15), at Atlantic Coast (Jan 17)
Note: The week started with a nail biting win over Bishop Kenny in overtime and ended with a convincing win over Ribault to remain perfect in the district. Against BK, Paxon rallied from an early 15-8 first quarter deficit, with a 13-7 run in the second to trail 22-20 at the half. Paxon was led in scoring with a well balanced effort led by Michael Caswell with 9 points and 4 rebounds, Isaiah Adams with 8 points and 5 rebounds, Quinnton Jackson with 8 points and 6 rebounds, JD Kennedy with 6 points and Derrick Johnson with 5 points and 3 rebounds. Maurice Willis led the Eagles with 19 points including five three-pointers while Isaiah Adams added 12 in the win over Ribault.
5 Andrew Jackson (12-4)
Last ranking: None
Last week: def. Episcopal 51-44, def. Fernandina Beach 74-31, def. First Coast 49-38
Next: Bolles (Jan 14), Ribault (Jan 17), Raines (Jan 19)
Note: At 5-4 the Tigers weren’t even on the honorable mention radar, but a seven game winning streak has our attention now. The Tigers rolled through district rivals Episcopal and Fernandina Beach and then stunned First Coast Friday night to keep the streak in tact. Speaking of the streak it will be put to test with games against Bolles, Ribault and Raines this week.
Dropping out: No. 3 First Coast (11-5), No. 5 Impact Christian (15-1)
Honorable Mention: Atlantic Coast (9-5), (Clay (9-4), Englewood (9-4), First Coast (11-5), Fleming Island (10-1), Hilliard (14-3), Impact Christian (15-1), Palatka (11-2), Raines (9-3), St. Augustine (7-4)
District Standings (According to Max Preps)
Overall record, District record
District 1-9A
Mandarin (8-6) (3-0)
Palm Coast (4-5) (2-0)
Spruce Creek (10-7) (1-2)
Sandalwood (5-5) (0-2)
Deland (4-11) (0-2)
District 3-8A
First Coast (11-5) (4-0)
Lee (7-7) (3-2)
Atlantic Coast (9-5) (1-2)
Fletcher (5-10) (0-4)
District 4-8A
Fleming Island (10-1) (4-0)
Bartram Trail (9-6) (3-1)
Buchholz (7-9) (2-2)
Oakleaf (9-5) (1-3)
Creekside (5-11) (0-4)
District 3-7A
Englewood (9-4) (5-1)
St. Augustine (7-4) (5-1)
Ed White (7-9) (2-3)
Nease (5-11) (2-4)
Middleburg (2-9) (0-5)
District 3-6A
Paxon (12-2) (4-0)
Ribault (7-10) (3-2)
Bishop Kenny (8-9) (2-1)
Parker (7-5) (0-0)
Stanton (2-9) (1-3)
Yulee (1-11) (0-3)
District 4-6A
Westside (5-6) (4-0)
Orange Park (7-7) (4-1)
Ridgeview (3-9) (2-3)
Baker County (4-12) (1-3)
Wolfson (0-13) (0-4)
District 5-6A
Palatka (11-2) (5-0)
Clay (9-4) (5-1)
Ponte Vedra (6-10) (2-3)
Matanzas (6-9) (2-4)
Menendez (5-7) (0-6)
District 3-5A
Bolles (14-2) (3-0)
Raines (9-3) (2-1)
Andrew Jackson (12-4) (3-2)
West Nassau (8-6) (3-2)
Episcopal (7-8) (1-2)
Fernandina Beach (7-8) (0-4)
Baldwin (1-11) (0-4)
District 4-5A
Keystone Heights (7-7) (2-0)
Fort White (9-2) (2-1)
Bradford (8-6) (2-2)
Newberry (5-7) (2-2)
Interlachen (3-12) (1-3)
District 2-4A
Providence (14-2) (1-0)
University Christian (16-2) (1-0)
Trinity Christian (3-10) (0-0)
Bishop Snyder (9-8) (0-2)
District 2-3A
Lake Mary Prep (9-3) (3-0)
Christ’s Church (9-3) (2-1)
St. Francis (5-9) (2-1)
Deltona Trinity (2-12) (1-2)
Warner Christian (3-7) (0-3)
District 2-2A
Impact Christian (15-1) (2-0)
Beaches Chapel (11-5) (5-1)
Eagles View (3-7) (3-2)
First Coast Christian (3-8) (2-3)
Temple Christian (1-8) (0-5)
District 3-2A
North Florida Educational (7-7) (3-0)
Calvary Christian (12-5) (6-1)
Seacoast Christian (9-6) (6-2)
Halifax Academy (11-5) (3-2)
Parsons Christian (7-6) (3-3)
Harvest Community (1-8) (1-4)
Cornerstone Academy (5-8) (0-2)
Beacon of Hope (0-9) (0-6)
District 6-1A
Hawthorne (15-1) (6-0)
Hilliard (14-3) (3-1)
Crescent City (5-7) (1-2)
Williston (4-8) (1-2)
Union County (3-12) (0-6)
