HS: Spring FAB 50 rankings, May 28

by Sheldon Shealer

May 28, 2019

When the FAB 50 rankings debuted 20 years ago, the organizers agreed on a simple concept known as the "Hardware Rule."

Basically, you can't argue against who's holding the title.

As each season draws to a close, this rule comes into play, and it can shake up the order at any given time. Now, the "Hardware Rule" doesn't always mean the state runner-up is automatically No. 2 -- that is a case-by-case situation based on playoff formats and results. But what it does emphasize is postseason results become the ultimate final gauge.

Take for example this past week where former FAB 50 Top 10-ranked Christian Brothers (Tenn.) was upset in the state semifinals. That result helps Montgomery Bell Academy (Tenn.) jump into the rankings with the win over Christian Brothers and also moves Tulsa Union (Tulsa, Okla.) down since Union lost to Christian Brothers. Christian Brothers remains in front of Union, but now behind MBA and McCallie School (Tenn.), the team that defeated MBA in the state final.

Expect similar such ranking re-assignments to occur in the upcoming weeks as the remaining power states close out the spring season.

While there are only four new boys teams and six new girls teams among the 100 ranked programs, the order -- outside the Top 10 -- for both rankings saw quite a bit of movement. This week, Illinois girls and Iowa boys close out their seasons, and the state tournament results could have a profound influence on next week's Top 5s.

It's best put -- come Saturday night, let's see who is holding the hardware.

Now, on with the rest of the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: McCallie School (Chattanooga, Tenn.). McCallie jumped from No. 26 to No. 10 after winning the Tennessee Division II-AA state title. ... GIRLS: Lyons Township (LaGrange, Ill.). Lyons jumps from No. 43 to No. 16 after advancing to the Illinois state quarterfinals.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 24 Puyallup (Wash.), No. 26 Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), No. 33 Mount Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.) and No. 50 First Colonial (Virginia Beach, Va.). ... GIRLS: No. 42 Deep Run (Glen Allen, Va.), No. 44 Anchor Bay (Fair Haven, Mich.), No. 47 Glen Allen (Va.), No. 48 Wauconda (Ill.), No. 49 Lee's Summit West (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and No. 50 Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kan.).