Six No. 1-ranked boys basketball teams lost games last week, though only two, Milton and Calhoun County, fell in the rankings. Another one, Grayson, was shot down by LeBron James’ son Bryce.
Milton of Class 5A went 1-2 in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., with closes losses against Christ the King of New York and Millennium of Arizona.
Milton entered as the tournament as highest-ranked team, according to MaxPreps, but fell to 13-5 on the season, now with four tight losses to out-of-state teams and one against No. 1 Grayson of Class 6A.
Moving up to No. 1 in Class 5A is Woodward Academy, which is 15-3 and undefeated in Georgia.
Calhoun County (16-1) of Class A Division II lost to No. 4 Randolph-Clay 57-41 in a region game and fell to No. 3. McIntosh County Academy is the new No. 1 team.
Other No. 1 teams that lost were Grayson, Pace Academy of Class 4A, Holy Innocents’ of Class 3A-A private and Putnam County of Class A Division I.
Grayson (17-2) lost to Sierra Canyon of California 60-46 at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. At No. 6 in MaxPreps’ national poll, Grayson was the higher-ranked team, but Sierra Canyon senior Bryce James, younger brother of Bronny James, scored 16 points and made four 3-pointers. Bryce was named tournament MVP.
Also playing in Springfield, Mass., Holy Innocents’ (13-3) took a quality loss to St. Joseph of California 61-57. Holy Innocents’, led by the state’s No. 1 prospect, Caleb Wilson, is No. 67 in MaxPreps’ national poll. St. Joseph is No. 16.
Pace Academy lost to McEachern, the No. 3 team in Class 6A, 64-59. Pace (16-3) remains ahead of defending champion North Oconee in Class 4A. Pace’s previous losses were to out-of-state teams.
Putnam County (18-1) lost to Greenforest Christian, a reigning state champion ranked No. 2 in Class 3A-A private, 66-53. Putnam County and Calhoun County had been two of the only three unbeaten teams. Now only Pickens (18-0), No. 2 in Class 3A, remains.
Entering the rankings this week were South Gwinnett, Rome, Ware County, Luella, Burke County, Brantley County, Early County, Warren County, St. Francis and Christian Heritage.
Falling out were Westlake, Hughes, Midtown, Baldwin, Hart County, Fitzgerald, Turner County, Macon County, Darlington and King’s Ridge Christian.
Three more weeks remain in the regular season.
Class 6A
1. Grayson (17-2)
2. Wheeler (16-3)
3. McEachern (15-3)
4. Newton (13-6)
5. Walton (16-2)
6. Lambert (18-2)
7. Etowah (15-4)
8. Norcross (13-6)
9. Buford (15-3)
10. South Gwinnett (13-6)
Class 5A
1. Woodward Academy (15-3)
2. Milton (13-5)
3. Tri-Cities (13-3)
4. Winder-Barrow (18-2)
5. Gainesville (13-6)
6. Dutchtown (16-2)
7. Habersham Central (16-3)
8. Alexander (13-7)
9. Brunswick (16-2)
10. Rome (14-3)
Class 4A
1. Pace Academy (16-3)
2. North Oconee (16-2)
3. Kell (15-5)
4. Maynard Jackson (13-3)
5. Southwest DeKalb (17-2)
6. McDonough (15-3)
7. Tucker (15-4)
8. Ware County (15-4)
9. Benedictine (15-3)
10. St. Pius (13-4)
Class 3A
1. Cedar Grove (16-3)
2. Pickens (18-0)
3. Sandy Creek (15-2)
4. Cross Creek (18-1)
5. Cherokee Bluff (18-2)
6. East Hall (15-3)
7. Windsor Forest (14-3)
8. Douglass (12-4)
9. Luella (11-5)
10. Westside-Augusta (13-7)
Class 2A
1. Carver-Columbus (13-2)
2. KIPP Atlanta (12-4)
3. Columbia (14-2)
4. South Atlanta (11-6)
5. Laney (14-4)
6. Union County (16-3)
7. Morgan County (14-6)
8. Burke County (11-2)
9. Butler (6-8)
10. Tattnall County (15-2)
Class A Division I
1. Putnam County (18-1)
2. East Laurens (12-2)
3. B.E.S.T. Academy (12-5)
4. Southwest-Macon (15-2)
5. Rabun County (16-3)
6. Temple (14-3)
7. Model (11-5)
8. Vidalia (14-5)
9. Towers (12-6)
10. Brantley County (13-4)
Class A Division II
1. McIntosh County Academy (15-3)
2. Savannah (12-4)
3. Calhoun County (16-1)
4. Randolph-Clay (15-2)
5. Manchester (10-1)
6. Greene County (11-7)
7. Early County (12-6)
8. Clinch County (12-2)
9. Warren County (12-7)
10. Taylor County (11-4)
Class 3A-A private
1. Holy Innocents' (13-3)
2. Greenforest Christian (10-5)
3. North Cobb Christian (16-3)
4. Greater Atlanta Christian (13-5)
5. Calvary Day (10-5)
6. Lovett (11-5)
7. Walker (14-3)
8. Mount Bethel Christian (10-7)
9. Christian Heritage (13-1)
10. St. Francis (10-8)
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