4 new groups crack the newest version of the FAB 50 Nationwide Crew Rankings powered by Ballislife.com, as groups are starting to wrap up their 201-22 season. We have now our first huge playoff upset as earlier No. 11 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) falls to Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) within the Nevada Class 5A state title sport. The Gaels are actually finished, however will Liberty play on within the State Champions Invitational? Highest-ranked newcomer is No. 42 Chesterton (Chesterton, Ind.).

By Ronnie Flores

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When the brand new State Champions Invitational (April 7-9) was introduced two weeks in the past, it gave new life to groups seeking to lengthen their season past a state championship. With GEICO Nationals internet hosting an eight-team subject March 31-April 2, not all eligible state champions from Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Washington, D.C., would ever make the sphere underneath the outdated format.

With the State Champions Invitational within the combine, occasion operators clearly eyed Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) going into final week’s Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation (NIAA) Class 5A state finals in Reno. The Gaels have been the nine-time defending champion and entered their sport with No. 35 Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) because the No. 11 staff within the FAB 50 Nationwide Crew Rankings powered by Ballislife.com.

Bishop Gorman had already crushed Liberty three groups previous to Saturday’s assembly, together with an unimaginable double-overtime win over the Patriots within the title sport of the Tarkanian Basic in December. The outdated teaching adage “it’s laborious to beat a superb staff twice” undoubtedly got here to fruition because the Gaels couldn’t maintain off the Patriots for a fourth time, dropping in additional time, 63-62. The Patriots trailed by six factors (52-46) late, however fought again to outscore Gorman, 8-2, to shut regulation. In additional time, sophomore Dedan Thomas Jr. (20 factors) scored 4 factors and junior Angelo Kambala made a clutch lay-up to make it a two possession sport. Gorman obtained a 3-pointer from sophomore John Mobley Jr. (20 factors) with 2.4 seconds remaining to chop the deficit to at least one level and the Gaels extremely stole the inbounds cross. Senior Ryan Abelman fired a 3-pointer on the buzzer, however it was off and Gorman’s streak of 9 consecutive state titles was over.

St. Mary’s-bound Josh Jefferson had 16 factors and 7 rebounds for Liberty, which had one different stinker loss to Serra (Gardena, Calif.), whereas Nevada-bound Darrion Williams completed with 18 factors and eight rebounds in his remaining sport for the Gaels.

Liberty rose 4 spot to No. 31 this week, whereas Gorman tumbled down 21 spots to No. 32. Gorman should stay in entrance of the No. 34 Oak Cliff Religion Household (Dallas, Texas) staff it defeated within the Torrey Pines Vacation Basic title sport. Liberty didn’t have a lot room to rise within the FAB 50 this week, however an important factor is there isn’t a asterisk (***) by its season won-loss document indicating the season is full. Liberty shall be thought of for the State Champions Invitational and is a worthy champion.

As for Gorman, its remaining FAB 50 rating is way from full. Liberty may play extra video games and that would play within the Gaels’ favor positively or negatively. Gorman may even end above Liberty relying on the outcomes of potential further video games for the Patriots.

Earlier than Gorman was knocked off, the opposite front-runner to be chosen for the brand new occasion was No. 10 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The Eagles should seize the Florida Excessive College Athletic Affiliation (FHSAA) 4A title to be eligible and are heavy-favorites in that classification. They’ve solely misplaced to No. 3 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and to Milton (Ga.). That makes March 2’s Georgia Excessive College Affiliation (GHSA) Class AAAAAAA quarterfinal sport between battle-tested Milton and No. 44 Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.), which participated within the Tarkanian Basic, one to look at.

One other staff that could be a prime candidate for the brand new occasion is No. 24 Garfield (Seattle, Wash.), which wants three extra victories to seize the Washington Interscholastic Actions Affiliation (WIAA) Class 3A state title.

This yr, the New York Federation Event of Champions won’t be performed for the third consecutive season. One of many annual contenders for the Feds crown (which pits the winners of the NYSPHSAA, CHSAA, NYSAIS and PSAL), Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.), obtained a reprieve of types when it was invited to the sixtieth annual Alhambra Catholic Invitational Event. After being cancelled the previous two seasons, Alhambra returns to Frostburg State College in Cumberland, Md., March 10-12. The host faculty for the occasion is Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention (NIBC) member Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.).

Becoming a member of bubble membership LuHi on the ACIT shall be No. 37 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) and No. 38 Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.). These two golf equipment may meet for the Baltimore Catholic League (BCL) title this upcoming weekend.

The highly effective Washington Catholic Athletic Convention (WCAC) invitees to Alhambra are No. 19 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), No. 25 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) and bubble golf equipment DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) and Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.).