HS: Fall SIMA FAB 50, Sept. 27

by Sheldon Shealer

September 27, 2016

The new SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 team is the squad predicted to be in the title chase in the preseason -- St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio).

The Wildcats make a jump from No. 3 to No. 1 this week, powered by plenty of dominating performances, a compelling instate and out-of-state schedule and a lineup featuring several NCAA Division I recruits. Usually, the No. 2 team is poised to take the top spot when No. 1 falls, but St. Ignatius' recent performances were impossible to overlook while current No. 2 Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Scotch Plains, N.J.) has been eeking out wins.

St. Ignatius started the season at No. 2, slipped to No. 4 following a tie and has now worked its way to the top -- just in time for a showdown with St. Louis University High (St. Louis, Mo.) this week. SLUH recently won the top flight at the CYC/Bob Guelker tournament, which showcases almost all of the top programs in St. Louis. If St. ignatius can get through this week, next week it travels to Colorado to take on two of the state's top programs. If the Wildcats can remain undefeated through that run of contests, it will be hard to argue against them for the SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 ranking.

On the girls side, there was no change among the Top 5, which is led by Davis (Kaysville, Utah).

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, N.J.). A senior-loaded CBA team had high expectations for the season and the squad delivered a 2-0 showing at the Delbarton Invitational. CBA's wins over DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) and Chaminade (Mineola, N.Y.) helped CBA jump from No. 24 to No. 10 this week. ... GIRLS: Seattle Prep (Seattle, Wash.). Seattle Prep's 11-spot jump from No. 31 to No. 20 this week is the largest move among the ranked teams. Some of the comparison results may make a case for Seattle Prep as the state's No. 1 team in due time.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 34 Urbana (Ijamsville, Md.), No. 38 Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.), No. 39 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.), No. 40 St. Charles Prep (Bexley, Ohio), No. 41 [St Francis de Sales oh-m] (Columbus, Ohio), No. 42 Minnechaug (Wilbraham, Mass.), No. 43 Greenwich (Conn.), No. 44 Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.), No. 45 Rockwood Summit (Fenton, Mo.), No. 46 Weddington (Matthews, N.C.), No. 47 St. Anthony's (Melville, N.Y.), No. 48 Green Hope (Cary, N.C.) and No. 50 Middleton (Wis.). ... GIRLS: No. 27 Simon Kenton (Independence, Ky.), No. 28 Avon (Ind.), No. 31 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), No. 32 Bonneville (Washington Terrace, Utah), No. 33 Skyline (Salt Lake City, Utah), No. 35 Ridgefield (Conn.), No. 42 Niskayuna (N.Y.), No. 43 Baldwinsville (N.Y.), No. 44 Whitman-Hanson (Whitman, Mass.), No. 45 Hingham (Mass.) and No. 50 Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.).