SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25: Roselle Catholic exacts revenge on Camden in New Jersey Tournament of Champions win
The state of Ohio took center stage Sunday with powerhouse Centerville's 45-game win streak on the line.
Then Pickerington Central played spoiler. Standout junior wing Devin Royal and Ohio State football pledge Sonny Styles fueled its OHSA (Ohio) Division I state championship win over Gabe Cupps (Indiana), Tom House (Florida State) and Centerville, the defending champion that climbed as high as No. 16 in the Discount Tire SBLive/SI Power 25.
That ended the Elks' 45-game win streak and vaulted Pickerington Central to a Power 25 debut — at No. 24 — in the latest rankings.
But it wasn't the only consequential result around the country.
Previous No. 11 Roselle Catholic (N.J.) avenged its season-opening loss to No. 9 Camden to win the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions in overtime, 61-58, behind North Carolina pledge Simeon Wilcher's 22 points. The win vaults Roselle Catholic into the top 10, above Camden, who slides to No. 11, but behind Oak Hill, to whom it previously lost. Camden beat Roselle Catholic 67-64 on national TV in its season-opener on Dec. 17.
Find the complete breakdown of the SBLive/SI Power 25 below:
The Power 25, sponsored by Discount Tire, is a collaboration between SBLive and Sports Illustrated. Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Andy Buhler and SI Director of Basketball Recruiting Jason Jordan based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. Reach Andy on Twitter @AndyBuhler or email him at andy@scorebooklive.com.
Watch their weekly Power 25 breakdowns on Instagram @SBLiveSports and @SIAllAmerican.
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SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
March 21, 2022
1. Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Air, Kan.) (25-1)
Last ranking: No. 1
Won the NIBC in its first full season as a league to secure the top overall seed in GEICO Nationals with Duke-bound Mark Mitchell and Kansas pledge Gradey Dick, both consensus five-stars, leading the way.
2. Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.) (35-1)
Last ranking: No. 2
Three-peated as UIL (Texas) 6A state champions by beating McKinney 69-49 in the title game on March 12 behind 17 points from five-star guard Anthony Black.
3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (21-4)
Last ranking: No. 3
Named the No. 2 seed in the GEICO Nationals field and will face No. 7 La Lumiere in the opening round.
4. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (19-4)
Last ranking: No. 4
Defending GEICO Nationals champ secured the No. 3 seed in this year's field, will face AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.) in the opening round.
5. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (32-1)
Last ranking: No. 5
Earned the No. 4 seed in the GEICO Nationals in its first year competing as a national high school program. Plays Oak Hill Academy in the first round.
6. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (24-2)
Last ranking: No. 6
Named the top overall seed in the inaugural State Champions Invitational after repeating as 4A FHSAA state champions. Will face D.C. area champ Sidwell Friends, the No. 4 seed, on April 7 in the semis.
7. La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) (21-4)
Last ranking: No. 7
Named the No. 7 seed in the GEICO Nationals field. Will face No. 2 IMG Academy on March 31.
8. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (33-1)
Last ranking: No. 8
New Mexico-bound senior guard Donovan Dent led the Huskies in a win over Modesto Christian to win its first CIF State Open Division title on March 12, completing a dominant postseason run. Lone loss to No. 2 Duncanville.
9. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (32-7)
Last ranking: 10
Secured the No. 5 seed in GEICO Nationals. Will play No. 4 Link Academy in the opening round on March 31.
10. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) (28-2)
Last ranking: 11
Exacted revenge on Camden in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title game, 61-58 — a win sealed by senior guard Braxton Jones' go-ahead jump shot with 29 seconds left in overtime.
11. Camden (Camden, N.J.) (31-3)
Last ranking: No. 9
Beat Elizabeth (N.J.) in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions semifinals before losing in the finals to UNC-bound Simeon Wilcher and Roselle Catholic, 61-58, on Sunday.
12. North Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.) (27-3)
Last ranking: No. 12
The Charging Wildcats pulled away and beat Bentonville convincingly — 65-47 — to win the AAA 6A state title on March 10. Oregon-bound Kel'el Ware had eight points, 11 boards and seven blocks and Arkansas pledge and McDonald's All-American Nick Smith Jr. was named tournament MVP.
13. Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) (23-4)
Last ranking: No. 13
Patrick Wessler and Jayden Epps combined for 49 points to lead the Goats past Moravian Prep 84-70 for its second straight Phenom Hoop State Championship.
14. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (31-5)
Last ranking: No. 14
After winning its first WCAC title since 2014 on Jaquan Womack's buzzer beater, then taking home the VISAA Division I state title, the Panthers finished Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament runners-up to WCAC foe DeMatha, losing 67-59 on March 12.
15. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) (37-1)
Last ranking: No. 15
Dominance confirmed: The. Hilltoppers gave a final confirmation of its dominance over the state of Illinois on March 12, beating Whitney Young 56-34 in the IHSA Class 4A title behind Paxton Warden's 21 points and Gonzaga-bound Braden Huff's 19 points and five assists.
16. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) (29-1)
Last ranking: No. 17
Knocked off Wilson 46-45 on the strength of sophomore Caleb Williams' buzzer-beater to win the DCSAA Class AA championship on Mar. 6. Lone loss was in overtime to WCAC foe Archbishop Carroll on Dec. 4, then logged multiple wins over members of the vaunted catholic conference, including one over previously ranked Bishop McNamara on Feb. 5. Secured the No. 4 seed in the inaugural State Champions Invitational.
17. Beaumont United (Beaumont, Tex.) (36-3)
Last ranking: No. 18
Houston-bound Terrance Arceneaux garnered Class 5A UIL state title MVP honors after leading it to a 62-57 win over Mansfield Timberview on March 12 with 14 points, 10 boards and three assists to bring Beaumont United off the Power 25 bubble.
18. Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) (14-10)
Last ranking: No. 19
Has not played since the conclusion of the NIBC regular season and did not receive an invite to GEICO Nationals.
19. Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) (26-3)
Last ranking: No. 20
Two weeks after losing to Archbishop Stepinac in the New York Archdiocesan title, the Cardinals snapped its 14-game winning streak in the CHSAA city championship on March 11, 79-59, in the teams' fourth matchup of the season.
20. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) (26-4)
Last ranking: No. 21
The Panthers beat Marple Newtown in the quarters, then Chester (absent its head coach) in the semis on Friday to book a spot in Friday's PIAA Class 5A state championship against New Castle. Two of its losses are to No. 14 Paul VI (by nine) and to No. 3 IMG Academy (by 19).
21. Columbus (Miami, Fla.) (29-2)
Last ranking: No. 22
Its emphatic end-of-season stamp could mark the start of a special multi-year run. Led by standout twin freshmen Cayden and Cameron Boozer — sons of former NBA standout Carlos Boozer — the Explorers finished an FHSAA 7A state title run with a win over defending champ over previously Power 25-ranked Dr. Phillips, 45-44 on Mar. 5.
22. Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Ark.) (28-3)
Last ranking: No. 23
Defeated Marion by 27 to win the AAA 5A state title on March 10. Losses to Link Academy (by 31) and previous Power 25 team Dr. Phillips (by 11) in December is offset by a 14-point win over North Little Rock (Ark.) on Dec. 4.
23. Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.) (26-3)
Last ranking: No. 24
Beat previously ranked Greensboro Day 71-66 for its third N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 4A state title in five years on Feb. 26 behind Belmont-bound senior Cade Tyson's 31 points.
24. Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) (25-2)
Last ranking: NR
Devin Royal, a 6-6 junior forward, had 16 of his game-high 20 points after halftime and the Tigers did two things: ended defending OHSA Division I champ Centerville's 45-game win streak in the state finals Sunday, 55-48, and held off a second half run by containing the Elks' formidable trio of junior guard Gabe Cupps (Indiana commit), Tom House (Florida State) and Rich Rolf.
25. Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) (22-4)
Last ranking: No. 25
Season has finished. After three previous losses, the Patriots upended Nevada power and previous Power 25 mainstay Bishop Gorman 63-62 in overtime to win the NIAA Class 5A state championship, ending the Gaels' near-historic run of nine in a row. Consensus four-star point guard Dedan Thomas' had 20 points.
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Who qualifies for the Power 25?
In order to qualify, programs must be either affiliated with the state high school athletic association in the state it resides in or recognized by the association and allowed to play member high schools in its home state.
— Andy Buhler, SBLive – @AndyBuhler
— Jason Jordan, SI – @JasonJordanSI
