Two weeks remain in the regular season, and district races are growing tighter.
Wellington defeated Palm Beach Gardens last week to continue its season-long unbeaten streak. The Wolverines (21-0) are the No. 2 team in this week’s boys basketball Top 10. (Andres Leiva/Palm Beach Post)
District tournaments begin Feb. 12, and teams are scrambling to move up in the standings and secure top seeds.
Among the most highly competitive districts in the area is 10-9A, with five teams capable of winning the championship. Four are ranked this week, with a fifth just on the outside.
District 13-8A features several teams that could battle for the top seed, among them No. 1 Dwyer and No. 4 Forest Hill. The Panthers and Falcons play a huge game this week. More on it below.
The top four stayed the same this week, with Dwyer, Wellington, Lake Worth and Forest Hill maintaining their spots.
Inlet Grove jumped four spots to No. 5 after beating Village Academy and No. 7 Santaluces last week. The Hurricanes are followed by Atlantic, Santaluces, Spanish River, Suncoast and newcomer Grandview Prep.
Palm Beach Post Top 10
1. Dwyer (19-1)
2. Wellington (21-0)
3. Lake Worth (17-1)
4. Forest Hill (19-1)
5. Inlet Grove (15-6)
6. Atlantic (11-9)
7. Santaluces (15-6)
8. Spanish River (13-6)
9. Suncoast (13-5)
10. Grandview Prep (16-1)
Also considered: Boca Raton (12-8); St. Andrew’s (13-6); Palm Beach Lakes (8-6); Saint John Paul II Academy (14-3); Jupiter Christian (17-4); Oxbridge Academy (13-8); Benjamin (14-7); Palm Beach Central (13-7)
This week’s best games:
No. 4 Forest Hill (19-1) at No. 1 Dwyer (19-1), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: For the first time in many years, the Falcons and Panthers will play a meaningful regular-season boys basketball game. Both teams are unbeaten in district play with no other district games remaining, meaning the winner will earn the No. 1 seed in the District 13-8A tournament. Dwyer and Forest Hill have won a combined 38 games this season, while each team has lost once – the Panthers to nationally ranked Fort Lauderdale-University, and the Falcons to unbeaten Wellington. There is plenty of talent, size and depth on both sides. Expect a packed crowd at Dwyer’s gym.
Benjamin (14-7 )at No. 10 Grandview Prep (16-1), 6 p.m. Tuesday: Ben Lubarsky is back for the Bucs after missing extended playing time because of an injured foot. The junior forward had 18 points and 10 rebounds in Benjamin’s rout of American Heritage on Friday, and he forms a potent scoring combo alongside guard Kaiir Elam and forward Jordan Travis. The Bucs face a surging Pride team that has not lost since an overtime setback to Coconut Creek-Monarch nearly two months ago. Grandview Prep earned a key district win over Atlantic Christian Academy on Friday to clinch the No. 1 seed in its district tournament.
No. 4 Forest Hill (19-1) at No. 3 Lake Worth (17-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday: The Falcons face another huge test this week following their Tuesday clash with Dwyer. The Trojans have been rolling since their only loss – a 1-point setback to Atlantic – on Jan. 12. Lake Worth won four straight district games since that defeat to clinch the top seed in packed District 10-9A, with its guards playing key roles. The Falcons’ only loss came to unbeaten Wellington in a December tournament. Forest Hill is a veteran team with a standout trio of senior starters, and will be eager to continue its momentum.