South Carolina is among the smallest states in the U.S. based on landmass.

Based on girls soccer play this spring, it's emerging as one of the biggest powers.

This week, three South Carolina teams grace the FAB 50, which has happened before -- but sparingly during the 20-year history of FAB 50 rankings. This year, however, the Palmetto State teams are building quite a resume against its Southeast neighbors, with the most significant result posted this past Saturday when J.L. Mann (Greenville, S.C.), clearly the state's No. 3 team so far this season, knocked off former FAB 50 No. 2 and Georgia defending state champion Parkview (Lilburn, Ga,) 2-0. UAB commit Erika Manfre, a junior, scored both goals for J.L. Mann.  

The result allowed J.L. Mann to join the FAB 50 behind fellow South Carolina programs River Bluff (Lexington, S.C.) and Wando (Mount Pleasant, S.C.). River Bluff and Wando tied in February in their head-to-head meeting, which stands as the lone blemish on an otherwise perfect run for both teams. J.L. Mann's lone loss is to River Bluff, which came a day after Wando and River Bluff tied. Those results set the pecking order for South Carolina. But where this state has made good is the fact state No. 4 Clover (S.C.), whose lone loss is to J.L. Mann, has defeated two of North Carolina's top teams this season and South Carolina No. 5 Fort Mill (S.C.), whose only loss is to River Bluff, has a pair of three-goal wins over recent North Carolina top-ranked programs. All told, the top five South Carolina teams are an impressive 8-0 against out-of-state opponents this year.

J.L. Mann takes on FAB 50-ranked Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.) next week in another important interstate battle.

Around the country this week, it was rather quiet as the final week of winter regular season play in Texas coupled with a several spring-playing states on spring break resulted in very limited movement in this week's Winter and Spring FAB 50 rankings.

Now, on with the rankings ... 

SPRING RANKINGS

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.). Bearden did not play last week, but the losses of other teams allowed this Tennessee favorite to advance six spots to No. 23, the largest move among the raned teams. ... GIRLS: Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton, Ill.). Wheaton Warrenville North moves from No. 41 to No. 17 this week, giving Illinois five teams in the Top 20. 

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 25 Memphis University School (Memphis, Tenn..), No. 26 [Washington-Lee va-m] (Arlington, Va.), No. 38 Decatur (Ga.), No. 43 Briar Woods (Ashburn, Va,), No. 44 Jamestown (Williamsburg, Va.), No. 45 Lithia Springs (Ga.) and No. 50 Chancellor (Fredericksburg, Va.). ... GIRLS: No. 18 Lee's Summit West (Lee's Summit, Mo.), No. 27 Waubonsie Valley (Aurora, Ill.), No. 41 J.L. Mann (Greensville, S.C.), No. 42 Millard West (Omaha, Neb.), No. 44 Pinecrest (Southern Pines, N.C.), No. 46 Arapahoe (Centennial, Colo.), No. 47 Waukee (Iowa), No. 48 St. Dominic (O'Fallon, Mo.), No. 49 Columbus (Ga.), No. 50 First Colonial (Virginia Beach, Va.).

CLICK BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE SPRING HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS

SPRING FAB 50 RANKINGS: BOYS (March 26) | GIRLS (March 26)

SPRING REGION RANKINGS: BOYS (March 25) | GIRLS (March 25)

SPRING STATE RANKINGS: BOYS (March 25) | GIRLS (March 25)

 

WINTER RANKINGS

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Palestine (Texas). Palestine inched from No. 48 to No. 47 marking the only positive move by any ranked team this week. ... GIRLS: None. No team moved up in this week's FAB 50.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 50 Dobie (Houston, Texas). ... GIRLS: No. 25 Juarez-Lincoln (Mission, Texas).

CLICK BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE WINTER HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS

WINTER FAB 50 RANKINGS: BOYS (March 26) | GIRLS (March 26)

WINTER REGION RANKINGS: BOYS (March 25) | GIRLS (March 25)

WINTER STATE RANKINGS: BOYS (March 25) | GIRLS (March 25)