HS: Winter SIMA FAB 50, Dec. 20

by Sheldon Shealer

December 20, 2016

Teams are just entering the holiday break, yet the run for No. 1 is shaping up quite nicely for the top programs.

Four-time defending SIMA FAB 50 boys national champion Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) is now three wins away from another title. The Eagles are finished with regular season play and has only the Montverde Academy Soccer Tournament in January remaining. The MAST features eight teams from four states, including four teams currently rated 11th or better.

On the girls side, it is shaping up that the National Elite Prep Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas, could go along way in determining No. 1 -- at least for the early part of the year. NEPS will feature four teams currently in the Top 10, including Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Over the next two weeks, there will be some jockeying in the rankings, thanks to major events such as the Southern California High School Showcase for boys, the Arizona Soccer Showcase for boys and girls in Arizona and Excalibur for girls in California.

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: South Torrance (Torrance, Calif.). South Torrance moved up six spots to No. 34 this week, but the team could seeing bigger jumps in the rankings if the perfect start continues. The Spartans already have three quality wins in decisions over Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.), Millikan (Long Beach, Calif.) and Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.). ... GIRLS: [Liberty ca-w] (Brentwood, Calif.). Liberty's victory over Monte Vista (Danville, Calif.) vaulted Liberty from No. 38 to No. 9 this week, and made the National Elite Prep Showcase in Texas a bit more interesting. Just after the New Year, Liberty will be facing SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) on the second day of the three-day showcase event.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 25 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), No. 36 [Point Loma ca-m] (San Diego, Calif.), No. 43 Santiago/Garden Grove (Garden Grove, Calif.), No. 48 Garden Grove (Calif.), No. 49 Melbourne (Fla.) and No. 50 Alisal (Salinas, Calif.). ... GIRLS: No. 27 Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.), No 35 California (San Ramon, Calif.), No. 39 Santiago/Corona (Corona, Calif.), No. 41 Palm Harbor University (Palm Harbor, Fla.), No. 42 Mountain View (Calif.), No. 43 Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches, Fla.), No. 44 J.W. Mitchell (New Port Richey, Fla.), No. 45 Viera (Melbourne, Fla.), No. 46 Newsome (Lithia, Fla.), No. 47 Navarre (Fla.) and No. 50 Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.).