HS: Spring SIMA FAB 50, May 3

by Sheldon Shealer

May 3, 2016

TOP STORY LINES: Naperville North (Naperville, Ill.) girls played their way into the SIMA FAB 50 national title chase with a stellar performance at the Naperville Invitational. In a field loaded with nationally ranked opponents, Naperville North went undefeated and unscored on to ru its win streak to 13 matches. ... Dalton (Ga.) and Greenbrier (Ga.) both won first-round playoff matches setting up the two Top 10 teams for an unfortunate second-round meeting. By week's end, one of these national Top 10 programs will be finished while the winner advances to the state quarterfinals. This was a potential matchup that would have been better served as a state semifinal or final contest. ... The 25 teams in last week's boys Top 25 combined to go 30-1-3 last week, leaving very little changed among the nation's elite.

BIG MOVERS -- BOYS: Bingham (South Jordan, Utah). Although the team's six-spot move was not the largest of the week (four teams jump up seven spots), Bingham's advance placed it in the SIMA FAB 50 Top 25 for the first time ever. GIRLS: Forest Hills Central (Grand Rapids, Mich.). After knocking off two state-ranked opponents last week, Forest Hills Central moved to No. 1 in the state, No. 1 in the region and jumped from No. 37 to No. 10 in the SIMA FAB 50.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 31 Wesleyan School (Norcross, Ga.), No. 45 West Potomac (Alexandria, Va.), No. 46 T.C. Williams (Alexandria, Va.), No. 47 Puyallup (Wash.), No. 48 Douglas Freeman (Tuckahoe, Va.), No. 49 Riverwood (Sandy Springs, Ga.) and No. 50 Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.). GIRLS: No. 25 St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), No. 29 Naperville Central (Naperville, Ill.) and No. 50 James Madison (Vienna, Va.)