HS: Winter FAB 50 rankings, Feb. 12

by Sheldon Shealer

February 12, 2019

For the first time ever, a Southwest Preparatory Conference program tops the FAB 50 rankings.

Houston Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas) inches into the top spot this week, trading places with Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), which was held to a tie in a league match last week.

Episcopal, led by several members of the Houstonians national title-winning club team, was the first SPC program to be ranked in the FAB 50 in more than a decade when it cracked the list last year. This year's team quickly vaulted up the charts after a defining win over Central Catholic (San Antonio, Texas), which was coming off victories over Loyola (Los Anegels, Calif.) and Cathedral (Los Angeles, Calif.).

If Episcopal can complete a perfect season with the SPC title, it will make a pretty strong case for finishing No. 1 this winter and ending Montverde Academy's (Montverde, Fla.) six-year run of national titles.

Now, on with the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Simi Valley (Calif). Simi Valley jumped 12 spots to No. 27 in this week's FAB 50, which was the biggest move for the ranked teams. Simi Valley narrowly won its first two CIF Southern Section playoff matches, but now are in the section quarterfinals with a chance to earn a spot in the regional tournament. ... GIRLS: Ursuline Academy (Dallas, Texas). Ursuline jumps 11 spots this week to No. 22. The Bears begin postseason play this week.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 29 Godinez (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 30 Santa Ana (Calif.), No. 44 [Daytona Seabreeze fl-m] (Daytona Beach, Fla.), No. 45 Celebration (Fla.), No. 46 Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.), No. 48 Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii), No. 49 Gulfport (Miss.), No. 50 [Seminole (Seminole) fl-m] (Seminole, Fla.). ... GIRLS: No. 35 J.W. Mitchell (New Port Richey, Fla.), No. 44 Carlsbad (Calif.), No. 45 Los Gatos (Calif.), No. 48 Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.), No. 59 Carrollton School (Miami, Fla.), No. 50 Lourdes (Miami, Fla.).