Here's installment No. 5 of our PIAA Class A boys' basketball rankings for the 2012-13 season — along with some background info. Records are current through Jan. 27.
1. Math, Civics & Sciences (19-0) -- last week: 1 -- Although Dan Jackson’s Mighty Elephants are still lugging that prominent zero on the right side of their ledger — and not many Pennsylvania teams still can trumpet that noise at this point of the season — MC&S was pushed to overtime by No. 2 Vaux and a previously unbeaten Martin Luther King outfit. Still perfect, however. Can wrap up the Philly Public League’s Division A title by sweeping Prep Charter and Boys’ Latin — and should — but could get a test from Brooklyn’s Bishop Loughlin Saturday in Atlantic City.
2. Vaux (13-6) -- last week: 2 -- Aside from Thursday’s overtime loss to No. 1 Math, Civics & Sciences before a packed house — perhaps too packed according to the folks in Philly — Vaux enjoyed a tremendous week. Not only did Rysheed Jordan, Sammy Foreman & Co. take down a pair of Maryland sides (Mount St. Joseph’s and Princeton Day Academy), but the Cougars blistered former Class AAA No. 1 Imhotep Charter by 22 points (73-51). Have league dates remaining against Philly Electrical and Prep Charter, but a Friday skirmish with Martin Luther King could be a dandy.
3. Lincoln Park (11-5) -- last week: 3 -- Enjoyed a nice mid-week win over District 10-A favorite Kennedy Catholic, but fell victim in overtime (66-64) to a good Seneca Valley side on some late free throws during Sunday’s Pittsburgh Basketball Classic. Won’t stay idle too long, as a scrap with WPIAL playmate Our Lady of Sacred Heart highlights a four-game week (in five days) that also includes dustups against Rochester, Cornell and East Liverpool (Ohio).
4. Church Farm (11-5) -- last week: 4 -- While the Griffins tumbled to a quality Salesianum (Del.) outfit at a Monday showcase in Philadelphia, the two-time District 1-A champs evened the slate by hanging another setback on a struggling Devon Prep group. Will get a second shot at 1-AAA power Holy Ghost Prep on Tuesday — this time at home — but a hook-up with Council Rock South on Thursday should be another decent test as CFS begins to ready for postseason play.
5. Johnsonburg (15-1) -- last week: 5 -- Bill Shuey’s guys are definitely on a serious roll as the high-octane Rams ran their impressive winning streak to 11 games — nine of those 11 victories during J-burg’s sizzling stretch have come by 20-plus points — by annihilating Sheffield and handling perennial 9-A contender Elk County Catholic for the third time (second by 20-plus points). Only one game on the docket this week — Monday night at Kane — as Shuey & Co. prep for round No. 3 with Ridgway.
6. Bishop Carroll (13-2) -- last week: 6 -- Make that 10 consecutive victories for Cosie Aliquo’s Huskies, who began the week by vanquishing North Star and ended it by squeezing past Laurel Highlands playmate Johnstown by a single point. Should be an interesting week ahead, too, since Carroll will sandwich trips to Central Cambria and Richland around a visit from No. 10 Guilfoyle. Hmmm.
7. Vincentian (15-1) -- last week: 7 -- Although nasty weather scuttled games all over the place late last week, VA had plenty left after spending a day shoveling or playing in the snow to pummel Fairview (89-50) and put miserable looks on plenty of faces before the Tigers journeyed back to Erie. Another anticipated scrap comes Tuesday night — VA moved this game off campus — when WPIAL Section 2 rival North Catholic stops by seeking revenge for an earlier setback. Will close out the week at Quigley.
8. Ridgway (13-3) -- last week: 8 -- Still miffed by a 20-point loss to No. 5 Johnsonburg, the Elkers responded by wiping out (pick any verb synonymous with destruction) Curwensville and DuBois Central Catholic by a combined 80 points. And while the Elkers will be busy this week (at Brockway, Kane and at Sheffield), one has to think these guys are already readying for next week’s visit from Johnsonburg.
9. St. John Neumann (15-0) -- last week: 9 -- With big man Alize Johnson popping a dandy double-double (29 points, 15 rebounds) against Millville, Williamsport’s East End Knights capped a perfect week that also featured decisive victories over Bucktail and Benton. Can add several victories to the school’s best start (CMVT and at Montgomery) before welcoming Heartland-III rival Sullivan County to close out week. Should mean plenty of business for the Burger King just down the street.
10. Bishop Guilfoyle (12-2) -- last week: 10 -- Although Chris Drenning’s Marauders ran their winning streak to seven games by downing Richland on Wednesday at home in Altoona, Guilfoyle’s recent run will certainly be tested by road games at Penn Cambria and No. 6 Bishop Carroll. Slip past either or both of those formidable foes and that’s a mighty good week.
OUR HONORABLE MENTIONS
Let’s start in District 3, where reigning Class A champion Greenwood (16-2) extended its winning streak to 16 games by pounding Tri-Valley League rival Juniata. Lebanon Catholic (13-6) got bumped up a little by L-L Section 4 playmates Lancaster Mennonite and Lancaster Catholic, but the Beavers took out their frustrations on Veritas Academy. Meanwhile, New Hope (15-2) will cap the week by visiting Class AAA No. 10 Berks Catholic. ... North Catholic (11-4), Union Area (13-2), OLSH (14-3) and Clairton (8-5) remain hopeful of making noise in the WPIAL (District 7) playoffs, as does Wilkinsburg (8-7). A win over Clairton — OLSH hammered the Bears — brought a Wilkinsburg side that's won five straight into the mix. ... Some folks in District 9 prefer Smethport (14-1) and North Clarion (16-1) over Ridgway, but A-C Valley (14-2) and Clarion (13-4) also have backers. Clarion stays in after a three-point loss at North Clarion. ... Mahanoy Area (14-3) may be edging ahead in District 11 after turning back Shenandoah Valley (13-5), but Pius X (12-2) is still a factor. Same for Marian Catholic (14-5), if the Colts can shrug off losses to Lourdes and North Schuylkill — the latter by 30 points. ... Lourdes (13-4) is a legitimate contender in District 4. And if Sullivan County (16-1) can win at No. 9 Neumann on Saturday night, the 4-A tourney will be a toss-up. ... Shade (14-1) and Shanksville-Stonycreek (13-2) — those two meet again next month — are the top contenders in District 5. ... And despite an eight-point loss at No. 3 Lincoln Park, Kennedy Catholic (11-4) is clearly the favorite to collar District 10’s available championship trophy. ... Delco Christian (12-5) continues to quietly churn out victories in District 1.
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n