The holidays are over, and the basketball courts are busy again.
All Palm Beach County teams were in action last week, with many picking up where they left off before the break.
Phillip Lyttle and Forest Hill jumped six spots to No. 4 in this week’s boys basketball Top 10. The Falcons are 16-1. (Allen Eyestone/Palm Beach Post)
No. 1 Dwyer dropped its first game – to the nation’s 12th-ranked team (Fort Lauderdale-University School) – but held on to its top ranking following an impressive win over a strong Miami-Carol City team at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classic.
No. 2 Wellington kept its unbeaten streak intact, moving to 16-0 with a pair of district wins last week. The 16 consecutive wins ties a school record, which the Wolverines can break Tuesday against North Miami Beach-Hillel.
Like Dwyer, Lake Worth also dropped its first game last week, falling 41-40 to Atlantic. The Trojans dropped a spot to No. 3, with streaking Forest Hill just behind at No. 4. The 16-1 Falcons rose six spots – the highest mover of the week. Santaluces held its No. 5 spot.
Suncoast, Spanish River, Atlantic, Boca Raton and Inlet Grove round out the top 10, with the Hurricanes entering the rankings for the first time this season.
Palm Beach Post Top 10
1. Dwyer (15-1)
2. Wellington (16-0)
3. Lake Worth (13-1)
4. Forest Hill (16-1)
5. Santaluces (12-3)
6. Suncoast (11-3)
7. Spanish River (11-4)
8. Atlantic (8-7)
9. Boca Raton (10-5)
10. Inlet Grove (11-4)
Also considered: Palm Beach Lakes (6-5); Saint John Paul II Academy (7-3); Grandview Prep (12-1); St. Andrew’s (10-5); Jupiter Christian (12-4); Oxbridge Academy (9-7).
This week’s top games:
No. 3 Lake Worth (13-1) at No. 5 Santaluces (12-3), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: This is the first of two big district games this week for the Trojans, who also play No. 9 Boca Raton on Friday. Lake Worth had its unbeaten streak snapped Jan. 12 in a 41-40 loss to district rival Atlantic, and will look to get back on track against the Chiefs. Santaluces also dropped a district game last week, falling 73-67 to No. 7 Spanish River. The Trojans, with one district loss, currently hold the lead in the District 10-9A standings, but are being chased by the Chiefs, Eagles, Sharks and Bobcats.
Palm Beach Lakes (6-5) at No. 1 Dwyer (15-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday: This will be the second meeting this season between the longtime rivals, with the Panthers winning the first matchup Dec. 1 in overtime. Since that game, Dwyer has been dominant, winning 13-of-14. Its only loss during that stretch came Jan. 6 to powerhouse Fort Lauderdale-University, which is unbeaten and ranked 12th nationally. The Rams have had an inconsistent season, but all five of their losses have been to very good teams, and all have been close. Palm Beach Lakes has a stable of talented shooters, and a big man in the middle in Giancarlo Rosado. This should be a good one.
No. 9 Boca Raton (10-5) at No. 3 Lake Worth (13-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday: The Bobcats started 3-3 this season, but have picked up the pace. Boca Raton won six straight to close out December, and picked up a key district win against Atlantic during that stretch. Senior guard Cade Long – a Rollins commit – has been outstanding for the Bobcats, averaging nearly 25 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He will lead the charge against Lake Worth, which can extend its district lead with wins Tuesday against Santaluces and Friday against Boca Raton.