HS: Winter SIMA FAB 50, Jan. 31

by Sheldon Shealer

January 31, 2017

The first state champions for the winter season will be crowned this week in Hawaii (girls only) and Mississippi.

SIMA FAB 50 No. 32 Northwest Rankin (Flowood, Miss.) is the lone FAB 50 team vying for a title this week, as no Mississippi girls or Hawaii girls programs cracked the SIMA FAB 50. Of course, depending on this week's state title winners and how others fare around the country, that is subject to change. Mississippi has three girls teams that could make compelling arguments for SIMA FAB 50 rankings in the future, and Hawaii's state champ traditionally has cracked the rankings in the bottom 25.

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Strake Jesuit (Houston, Texas). Strake Jesuit is beginning to show the form that carried the program to a state runner-up finish seven years ago. Last week Strake tied Cinco Ranch and defeated regionally ranked Seven Lakes to move from No. 45 to No. 14, a spot behind Cinco Ranch, in this week's SIMA FAB 50. ... GIRLS: Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.). In a week where movement was held to a minimum, Aliso Niguel made the biggest jump -- six spots -- to No. 35.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 17 Flower Mound (Texas), No. 33 Cypress Bay (Weston, Fla.), No. 35 San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.), No. 43 North Shore (Houston, Texas), No. 44 E.D. White (Thibodaux, La.), No. 45 Fleming Island (Orange Park, Fla.), No. 46 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), No. 48 Gilbert (Ariz.), No. 49 Kapolei (Hawaii) and No. 50 Palm Harbor University (Palm Harbor, Fla.). ... GIRLS: No. 49 Serrano (Calif.) and No. 50 Moorpark (Calif.).