SIMA FAB 50: Run for No. 1 starts this week

by Sheldon Shealer

December 31, 2019

Teams outside of Texas spent November and December jockeying for ranking position.

Now, all hands are on deck.

Starting Thursday, Texas UIL, basically the state's public schools, starts regular season play. Look for tournament action this week to have a major influence on next week's rankings. But for now, the teams are set up like dominoes for this week's play.

The North Texas Elite Showcase for boys features 10 SIMA FAB 50-ranked teams among its 24-team field. Included in that mix is No. 1 San Antonio LEE (Texas), No. 4 Central Catholic (Texas), No. 6 Grand Prairie (Texas) and No. 10 Bellarmine Prep (Calif.). LEE and Bellarmine are in one of the event's three eight-team tournaments, while Grand Prairie and Central Catholic are in another.

Last year, Central Catholic won the tournament, which vaulted the team to No. 1 in the rankings, but it was short-lived as Central Catholic lost the following week to Houston Episcopal (Texas), which went on to finish No. 1 in 2019.

LEE will hang on to No. 1 with a tournament title at NTXES. If LEE falters, Alief Elsik (Texas) is in position to move from No. 2 to No. 1 as long as it wins the tournament in which it is competing. If LEE and Elsik fall, St. Paul's (La.) might have a chance to move to No. 1 if it wins the Tampa Invitiational in Florida. Of course, Central Catholic could leap from No. 4 to No. 1 if it defends its NTXES title as it will have wins over nationally ranked programs.

The possibilities are endless.

But one thing is for sure, the calmness in the rankings the past two weeks will be put to the test.

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

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Cathedral (Los Angeles, Calif.). The Phantoms moved up five spots from No. 27 to No. 22 following a 1-0-1 showing at the SoCal College Showcase. Cathedral tied SIMA FAB 50 No. 17 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) and defeated No. 25 Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.). ... GIRLS: St. Francis (Sacramento, Calif.). Despite not playing last week, St. Francis moved up seven spots to No. 21 as other ranked teams either lost or tied matches. St. Francis' lone loss in a 10-1-1 start is to SIMA FAB 50 No. 5 Monte Vista (Danville, Calif.).

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 44 Millikan (Long Beach, Calif.). ... GIRLS: No. 50 West Shore (Melbourne, Fla.).

CLICK BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE WINTER HIGH SCHOOL REGION AND STATE RANKINGS

WINTER SIMA FAB 50 RANKINGS: BOYS (Dec. 31) | GIRLS (Dec. 31)

WINTER REGIONAL RANKINGS: BOYS (Dec. 30) | GIRLS (Dec. 30)

WINTER STATE RANKINGS: BOYS (Dec. 30) | GIRLS (Dec. 30)