HS: Fall state, regional rankings, Nov. 5

by Sheldon Shealer

November 5, 2018

Little more than a decade ago, Sacred Heart Academy (Ky.) and McDonogh School (Md.) struck up a shortlived rivalry played out in Baltimore in early September.

Coaches have changed, times has moved on and the teams no longer come in contact. Yet these programs remain national powers and both secured titles and final regional No. 1 rankings over the weekend. McDonogh won the IAAM A Conference final in an eye-popping 5-0 margin over Archbishop Spalding (Md.). The teams entered the match at 14-0-2 and tied their regular season meeting. The teams were so even that it took a coin toss by the league to determine which team got the No. 1 seed. Around the same time McDonogh was putting the final touches on its title, Sacred Heart was celebrating the end of a 25-1-1 season and a state title of its own on a late goal in a 2-1 win over Highlands (Ky.).

It's interesting to note, McDonogh and Sacred Heart were both participants in the Lady Eagle Invitational in Zionsville, Ind., at the start of the 2018 season but did not play each other in the mixer event. Titles by McDonogh and Sacred Heart means the final state No. 1s from Indiana (Carmel), Maryland and Kentucky all played in the event. In addition, Indianapolis Cathedral (Ind.), which competed in the Lady Eagle Invitational as well, also won a state title.

On the boys St. Benedict's Prep (N.J.) and Naperville North (Ill.) capped perfect seasons with state titles last week. Top-ranked St. Benedict's rolled to a pair of lopsided wins while Naperville North had to gut out a 1-0 state final decision over Libertyville (Ill.) in a clash between the FAB 50 No. 2 and 3 teams. St. Benedict's and Naperville North started 1-2 in the FAB 50 and will finish in that order, marking the first time ever both the preseason 1 and 2 teams have gone wire-to-wire in those positions.

Now, on with the champions and rankings ...

LAST WEEK'S STATE CHAMPIONS:

Boys -- Illinois: 3A: Naperville North, 2A: Crystal Lake South, 1A: Quincy Notre Dame; Kansas: 6A: Olathe East, 5A: Blue Valley Southwest, 4A-1A: Bishop Miege; Kentucky: All: St. Xavier; Maine: A: Lewiston, B: Presque Isle, C: Waynflete, D: North Yarmouth Academy; Maryland: MIAA A: McDonogh School, MIAA B: Concordia Prep, MIAA C: Mount Carmel, WCAC: The Heights School; Michigan: Div. I: Ann Arbor Skyline, Div. II: Detroit Country Day, Div. III: Unity Christian; Div. IV: Leland; Minnesota: AA: Stillwater, A: Blake School; New Hampshire: Div. I: Bedford, Div. II: ConVal, Div. III: Campbell, Div. IV: Sunapee. New Jersey: Prep A: St. Benedict's Prep, Prep B: Montclair Kimberley Academy; Vermont: Div. I: Champlain Valley Union, Div. II: Harwood, Div. III: ppd., Div. IV: Arlington. West Virginia: AAA: George Washington, AA-A: Winfield; Wisconsin: Div. 1: Milwaukee Marquette, Div. 2: Oregon, Div. 3: Pius XI Catholic, Di. 4: University School of Milwaukee.

Girls -- Kentucky: All: Sacred Heart Academy; Maine: A: Gorham, B: Cape Elizabeth, C: Fort Kent, D: North Yarmouth Academy. Maryland: IAAM A: McDonogh School, IAAM B: Roland Park, IAAM C: Catholic, WCAC: Good Counsel; Minnesota: AA: Minnetonka, A: Mahtomedi; New Hampshire: Div. I: Manchester Central, Div. II: Hanover, Div. III: Hopkinton, Div. IV: Epping; New Jersey: Prep A: Pennington School, Prep B: Princeton Day School; Vermont: Div. I: Champlain Valley Union, Div. II: Milton, Div. III: Thetford, Div. IV: Arlington; West Virginia: AAA: Hurricane, AA-A Robert C. Byrd.