The nation is going through a major winter chill, but it’s heating up in high school gyms across the country as league races involving teams in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by Ballislife.com comes into focus. One of the first major season goals is to win a league crown and many will be decided in the coming weeks. There are five newcomers this week led by No. 35 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.).
By Ronnie Flores
Many regions across the country are hoping for warmer weather this week as major winter storms wreak havoc on people’s lives and cause cancellations of many high school sporting events. It may be cold outside in most parts of the country, but the temperature is rising in gyms all over as league and conference races heat up.
One of the main goals for successful teams and those ranked in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by Ballislife.com is to win its league or conference crown and for some that is starting to come into focus before it shifts to district and regional playoffs.
For the teams at the top of the rankings which belong to the EYBL Scholastic Conference, the conference tournament championships is still a ways away. The second annual EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament will take place March 12-14 in Augusta, Ga. For others, league tournaments begin this week.
Sierra Canyon On A Mission
For California’s top ranked team, FAB 50 No. 11 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), it hopes to capture the league tourney crown for the state’s toughest loop this season: The Mission League in the CIF Southern Section. On Monday, the semifinals of the Mission League Tournament will take place, as No. 1 seed Sierra Canyon hosts No. 4 seed Loyola (Los Angeles). The other semifinal will pit No. 2 seed Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) versus No. 6 seed Crespi (Encino, Calif.), which upset No. 3 seed Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) in Saturday’s quarterfinal, 57-52.
Harvard-Westlake started the season ranked No. 19 in the FAB 50, but has now lost three of its last four games in the ultra-competitive league. Notre Dame is one of five newcomers this week into the FAB 50, checking in at No. 48. The only club Notre Dame has lost to that is not ranked in the FAB 50 is the Loyola club Sierra Canyon faces on Monday evening. The league title game is set for February 4 with the higher seed hosting.
Sierra Canyon’s only loss so far is to Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), which plays in the powerful Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC). That conference race is led by FAB 50 No. 7 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), which has spent some time at FAB 50 No. 1 this season. The Panthers are 6-0, while bubble club DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) is currently 6-1 and just knocked previous No. 43 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) out of the FAB 50 with a 50-47 victory on Sunday evening. The Stags came from behind to win behind the play of senior Ace Meeks with 26 points. DeMatha’s defense forced six charging fouls on St. John’s (5-2 in WCAC) while Jared Jeffers had five blocked shots.
DeMatha Catholic hosts Paul VI on Monday with a share of first place on the line. The WCAC Tournament will take place later this month at American University. Paul VI has won the conference crown three of the past four seasons.
Teams Break In, Face Uphill Climb
One of the biggest wins last week was turned in by new No. 49 Layton Christian (Layton, Utah), which knocked off previous No. 16 Timpview (Provo, Utah), 57-56, in come-from-behind fashion. The win wasn’t secured until Emilis Zibuda (8 points) made the game-winning layup as the horn sounded. Roman Avdejev, a 6-foot-8 senior, led Layton Christian with 14 points.
Even though Layton Christian defeated Timpview, it can’t be ranked in front of the Thunderbirds because of the resume of both teams. Layton Christian has a loss to Notre Dame, to unranked Crespi in overtime and to No. 14 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah). As for Timpview, it drops 14 spots to No. 30 because it can’t fall behind No. 31 Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.) because of a head-to-head result at the Tarkanian Classic in December.
Santa Margarita is competing in the first ever Trinity League Tournament, which similar to the Mission League tourney, involves some of the better CIFSS teams. The Eagles will face the winner of Monday’s JSerra (San Juan Capistrano)-Servite (Anaheim) tussle on Tuesday in one semifinal at Hope International University.
FAB 50 No. 37 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) will face the winner of Monday’s Mater Dei (Santa Ana)-Orange Lutheran clash in the second semifinal at Hope International. The championship game is set for Wednesday at the same location. St. John Bosco was upset by Orange Lutheran in league last week, which dropped it 14 spots in the FAB 50 right behind the Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) club it lost to at The Classic at Damien in December.
The highest ranked newcomer in the FAB 50 this week, No. 35 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.), is in a scenario where it has some keys wins that can’t be ignored, but also can’t be higher than No. 34 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) because of a head-to-head result. SFA does own wins over No. 20 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) and No. 25 Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.), but has also lost to four unranked clubs.
St. Frances was able to crack the rankings by downing St. John’s, 75-71, in overtime at the A Very Melo Classic at Morgan State after trailing by 11 points entering the fourth period. Terence Jones III had an incredible four-point play late in the game and hit a clutch 3-pointer to send the game to overtime tied at 67 apiece. He finished with 23 points, while Carter Fisk and Michael Williams each netted 16.
The Baltimore Catholic League went 2-0 vs. WCAC clubs at the A Very Melo Classic, as not only SFA won, but FAB 50 bubble club Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) downed Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 66-56. BJ Ranson led the way with 21 points.
The 55th Baltimore Catholic League Tournament is scheduled for March 1-4 at Reitz Arena on the campus of Loyola University Maryland.
The fifth and final newcomer this week is No. 50 Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.). The Vikings took some early losses, but currently lead the Philadelphia Catholic League with a 10-1 mark over 8-2 Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.). The Vikings beat Roman Catholic, 70-65, on Jan. 14.
The 2026 Philadelphia Catholic League semifinal doubleheader is scheduled for Feb. 18 at the iconic The Palestra. The PCL title game will be held at the same historic venue on Sunday, Feb. 22.
McDonald’s All-American Announcement
The boys and girls rosters and the host city of the 2026 McDonald’s All-American Game is scheduled to be released on Monday afternoon (Feb. 2).
Updated FAB 50 National Team Rankings
Powered by Ballislife.com
(7th poll of 2025-26 regular season; Through games played on Sunday, Feb. 1; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Indicates forfeits and defaults not included)
No. Prev. High School (City)Record
11Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio)21-1
22AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)15-1**
33Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)22-2
44Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 17-2
55Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)17-1
66Prolific Prep (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) 23-3
77Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)20-2
88Principia (St. Louis, Mo.)16-2
99Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas)29-0
1010Fishers (Fishers, Ind.)18-0
1111Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)21-1
1212Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.)20-1
1313Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)24-3
1414Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)16-4
1515Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.)17-0
1617CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)13-3
1722Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)25-1
1819Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.)28-2
1920Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)14-5
2021Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)16-4
2123Bartlett (Bartlett, Tenn.)19-4
2227Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)18-5
2326East Lansing (East Lansing, Mich.)16-0
2418Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas)23-7
2525Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.)24-2
2629Concord Academy (Concord, N.C.)24-2
2728Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.)19-3
2830North Crowley (Ft. Worth, Texas)24-3
2931Gainesville (Gainesville, Ga.)22-0
3016Timpview (Provo, Utah)17-2
3133Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.) 24-3
3237St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)25-2
3334Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 7-8
3435IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)17-7
35NRSt. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)27-5
3638Salesian (Richmond, Calif.)21-3
3724St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)19-6
3839Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)17-1
3932Columbus (Miami, Fla.)19-6
4036Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando, Fla.) 30-8
4140La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)14-3
4241Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) 16-1
4342Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)11-7
4444Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.)16-5
4545DePaul College Prep (Chicago, Ill.)21-3
4649Kankakee (Kankakee, Ill.)19-1
47NRHeritage (Frisco, Texas)23-2
48NRNotre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)18-6
49NRLayton Christian (Layton, Utah)18-3
50NRArchbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.)14-6
Dropped Out: No. 43 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.), No. 46 North Broward Prep (Conocut Creek, Fla.), No. 47 Plainfield (Plainfield, N.J.), No. 48 Crown Point (Crown Point, Ind.), No. 50 Muskegon (Muskegon, Mich.).
Bubble Teams: Appleton North (Appleton, Wis.) 15-2; Arvada West (Arvada, Col) 16-0; Atascocita (Humble, Texas) 21-6; Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.) 25-1; Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 16-3; Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) 15-1; Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 23-3; Bryant (Bryant, Ark.) 19-3; Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) 19-1; Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 15-0; Chaparral (Parker, Col.) 15-2; Crown Point (Crown Point, Ind.) 14-1; Curie (Chicago, Ill.) 19-1**; DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 17-5; DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 19-6; Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 15-6; East Kentwood (Kentwood, Mich.) 13-1; East St. Louis (East St. Louis, Ill.) 21-3; Forsyth Country Day (Lewisville, N.C.) 23-2; Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 18-1; Houston (Germantown, Tenn.) 14-5; La Mirada (La Mirada, Calif.) 21-6; Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) 15-2; Little Elm (Little Elm, Texas) 26-2; Millwood (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.) 16-2; Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) 24-5; Mt. Vernon (Fortville, Ind.) 16-2; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Baltimore, Md.) 21-7; Petersburg (Petersburg, Va.) 11-4; Pike (Indianapolis, Ind.) 15-3; Plainfield (Plainfield, Ind.) 17-1; Plainfield (Plainfield, N.J.) 17-2; Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.) 22-3; Ralston Valley (Arvada, Col.) 15-1; Rangeview (Aurora, Col.) 13-3; Richland (Richland, Wash.) 19-0; Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 15-9; Rockford (Rockford, Mich.) 13-2; Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 14-5; Silver Creek (Sellersburg, Ind.) 18-1; South (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 12-0; Southern School of Energy & Sustainability (Durham, N.C.) 17-3; St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) 17-6; St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 21-4; Tartan (Oakdale, Minn.) 15-0; The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 19-8; Veritas Prep (Chino Hills, Calif.) 13-6; Warren Township (Gurnee, Ill.) 21-2; Waukee Northwest (Waukee, Iowa) 14-2; West Allis Central (West Allis, Wis.) 16-1.
Note: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the National Sports News Service ratings that began in 1952. These were the first national high school rankings and the late Art Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They were compiled for many years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 26 years ago.
Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He can be reached at ronnie@ballislife.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
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