There’s a new No. 1 this week in boys hoops.
Lavorris Givins (center), in a game vs. Dwyer Jan. 10, has helped the Rams take over the top spot in the boys basketball top 10 with a week remaining in the regular season. (Photo by Allen Eyestone)
Palm Beach Lakes took over the top spot for the first time this season, jumping from No. 3 to No. 1 after its 70-63 win over No. 7 Suncoast on Friday.
St. Andrew’s dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 following an overtime loss to Fort Lauderdale-Pine Crest on Friday, while Wellington and Dwyer moved up to the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, respectively. Grandview Prep lost a pair of games last week, and dropped to No. 5.
Cardinal Newman, Suncoast, Oxbridge Academy, Lake Worth, and newcomer Boca Raton round out the top 10.
One week remains in the regular season.
Boys basketball Top 10 after Week 8
1. Palm Beach Lakes (18-3): Rams take over top spot
2. St. Andrew’s (21-2): 600 career wins for coach John O’Connell
3. Wellington (20-3): Trent Frazier averaging 26.8 points
4. Dwyer (17-5): Panthers have won seven of their past eight
5. Grandview Prep (21-3): The Pride have dropped their last two
6. Cardinal Newman (17-5): Crusaders close at home vs. No. 4 Dwyer
7. Suncoast (17-6): Chargers fall to No. 1 Palm Beach Lakes
8. Oxbridge Academy (13-6): Big win over No. 5 Grandview Prep Thurs.
9. Lake Worth (14-4): Trojans won 2-of-3 last week
10. Boca Raton (14-8): Bobcats have won five straight
Also considered: Atlantic (15-8); Royal Palm Beach (14-8); Atlantic Christian Academy (15-4); Village Academy (17-6)
This week’s top games:
No. 3 Wellington (20-3) at No. 10 Boca Raton (14-8), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: The Wolverines hit the 20-win mark Friday with an 84-66 win over district rival Palm Beach Central, and hope to collect No. 21 Tuesday against the streaking Bobcats. Wolverines senior guard Trent Frazier has turned in another standout season for the Wolverines, averaging 26.8 points and 6.0 assists per game. Senior guard Sage Chen-Young (10 ppg, 6.2 apg) also has played a key role for Wellington. The Bobcats, who have won five in a row, are led by junior guard Cade Long (17.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and sophomore guard Maxime Demeus (14.6 ppg, 5.9 apg). Boca Raton finished 7-3 in District 10-9A, good for the No. 2 seed in next week’s district tournament.
No. 4 Dwyer (17-5) at No. 6 Cardinal Newman (17-5), 7:30 p.m. Thursday: The Crusaders close their season for the second straight year against the Panthers; Dwyer won last year’s contest at home 88-67. Both teams have been on a roll, with Cardinal Newman winning eight of their past nine games, and the Panthers winning 7-of-8. Guard Miles Coleman has given Dwyer a big boost after his return from injury, scoring a game-high 25 points in Dwyer’s 98-52 win over Olympic Heights on Wednesday. Cardinal Newman guard KJ Fitzgerald had 15 points for the Crusaders Saturday as they picked up their 17th win against Class 9A Palm Beach Gardens.
Royal Palm Beach (14-8) at Atlantic (15-8), 7:30 p.m. Thursday: This non-district contest features two teams capable of winning their respective district championships, with Atlantic going into next week’s 10-9A tournament as the top seed, and the Wildcats holding the third seed behind No. 1-ranked Palm Beach Lakes and No. 4 Dwyer. The Wildcats’ tandem of Leonard Thorpe and Jules Jasmin has been big this year, but Royal Palm also has gotten great production out of Christian Crespo, Jordan Samuels and Rodson Etienne. Junior guard Rodwens Albert averaged nearly 30 points for the Eagles during a three-game stretch for the week ending Jan. 22, while junior forward Michael Lankford also has played a key role for Atlantic this season.
