HS: Winter SIMA FAB 50, March 1

by Sheldon Shealer

March 1, 2016

Two of the nation's storied high school programs returned to championship form last week -- Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii) boys and Ursuline Academy (Dallas, Texas) girls.

Between the programs, they have 44 state titles.

And Saturday's state title wins secure places among the SIMA FAB 50 Top 25 for the season.

Ursuline Academy returned to its familiar place among the TAPPS field, winning the state title with a 1-0 decision over rival Bishop Lynch (Dallas, Texas), the very same program that ended Ursuline's national record 24 straight state title last winter. Ursuline has won won 25 of the past 26 TAPPS titles. To put Ursuline's run in perspective, women from that first title team in 1992 are now in their 40s. The one-year title gap has allowed coach Kelly Wilmoth, in her second season, a chance to set a forge a new run of titles. Of course, TAPPS is a bit more balanced at the top end nowadays with Bishop Lynch joining perennial title challenger Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth, Texas).

In Hawaii, Punahou had gone four seasons without a title -- the second-longest drought for the program since winning its first crown in 1976. The Buff 'n Blu won a closer-than-it-appeared 2-0 match with Kapolei (Hawaii). Punahou was able to shut down Kapolei's Air Force-bound Shandon Hopeau, and finished the season allowing only two goals in 16 matches. Punahou got the second goal in extra time, just before the final whistle.

BIG MOVERS -- BOYS: Plano West (Plano, Texas). Plano West is at it again, jumping from No. 41 to No. 24 this week. The Wolves are quickly returning to the form that had them ranked among the Top 5 in early January. GIRLS: Clovis East (Clovis, Calif.) vaulted from No. 32 to No. 17 this week, putting the finishing touches on an undefeated, section title. The team is bound for the Southern California Regional tournament, where it will face top programs from the Southern, San Diego and Los Angeles sections.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 19 Santa Barbara (Calif.), No. 26 Warren (Downey, Calif.), No. 40 Peninsula (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.), No. 44 Sam Houston (Arlington, Texas), No. 45 Granada Hills Charter (Granada Hills, Calif.), No. 46 Pasadena (Calif.), No. 47 Pleasant Valley (Chico, Calif.), No. 49 Monte Vista (Danville, Calif.) and No. 50 Clark (San Antonio, Texas). GIRLS: No. 19 Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.), No. 20 Chino Hills (Calif.), No. 22 San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.), No. 33 Tesoro (Las Flores, Calif.), No. 42 West Hills (Santee, Calif.), No. 44 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.).