Here's installment No. 5 of our PIAA Class AAAA boys' basketball rankings for the 2012-13 season — with a few needed nuggets tossed into the mix. Records current through Jan. 27.
1. Chester (14-3) -- last week: 1 -- Although Chester’s winning streak against Keystone State opponents now sits at 64 games — Rondae Jefferson & Co. opened the week by handling Glen Mills — Larry Yarbray’s Clippers were staring at a five-point deficit (47-42) when the fourth quarter of Thursday’s scrap with Penn Wood began. When the horn sounded eight minutes later, Chester owned a 77-58 victory. Can happen just like that for the two-time state champs. Rather tame week ahead for the Clippers, who have dates with Academy Park and Chichester on tap.
2. Lower Merion (16-2) -- last week: 2 -- While Gregg Downer’s gifted Aces responded following their close loss to Imhotep by popping Central League playmates Conestoga and Harriton — Syracuse recruit B.J. Johnson banked 14 against Conestoga to reach 1,000 career points, but he’s still well behind all-time leader and Twitter novice Kobe Bryant (2,883) — four more league rivals remain on Lower Merion’s regular-season slate. A nice matchup with Ridley will close out a three-game week.
3. Harrisburg (18-1) -- last week: 3 -- Kirk Smallwood may have kept his deep, talented ballclub mighty busy last week by scheduling four games, but the Cougars hardly seemed winded after successes against Bartram, Central Dauphin, CD East and Penn Wood ran their winning streak to 15. Shaquon “Shoop” Sheppard has been extremely effective in the paint lately, but the ‘Burg also has picked up some terrific performances from Steven Stoney and Jamaal Carter. Carter has been handling the point with Jerel Patterson nursing an injury, while Stoney popped a triple-double against Bartram. Can wrap up the Mid-Penn Commonwealth title with a win Tuesday night at State College, but games against Chambersburg and Cape Henry Collegiate (Va.) also sit on Harrisburg’s immediate to-do list.
4. McCaskey (17-2) -- last week: 4 -- McCaskey nearly watched its 16-game winning streak get zapped on Saturday in Reading, where Philly Electrical charged back from an early 14-point deficit to close within a deuce (48-46) in the second half. While Steve Powell’s Tornado eventually shrugged off the Chargers and won their 17th in a row, that lesson may come in handy once the Lancaster-Lebanon League and District 3-AAAA playoffs roll around or when Manheim Twp. visits Tuesday night.
5. New Castle (17-0) -- last week: 5 -- As Ralph Blundo’s Hurricanes continue to level the opposition — last week Pine-Richland fell by 17 (76-59) and North Hills was blown away by 43 (102-59) — one has to wonder if and when New Castle will encounter a really, really stern test. Especially since these guys have filleted 44 straight opponents by 10-plus points. Maybe that stern test will come on Tuesday night when Seneca Valley visits or Friday when Geno Thorpe and his Shaler teammates welcome the Hurricanes. Then again, since New Castle already owns 34-point wins over both sides, maybe not.
6. St. Joseph’s Prep (15-3) -- last week: 6 -- With a grueling close to the regular season already in motion — and five straight victories tucked underneath some Philly bus — Speedy Morris’ Hawks picked the right way to respond following a nasty loss to Neumann-Goretti. While three more wins arrived last week — including quality conquests of Archbishop Ryan and Archbishop Carroll — St. Joe’s will need strong efforts from D-I recruits Stephen Vasturia (Notre Dame) and Miles Overton (Wake Forest) to subdue loaded groups from La Salle College and Roman Catholic. Typical fare in the Philly Catholic League.
7. Cathedral Prep (15-2) -- last week: 7 -- Although the Ramblers are in the final quarter of their regular-season schedule, there’s nothing quite like playing five straight home games to close things out. Ahhh! While Prep took care of McDowell and Warren last week away from home, Mark Majewski’s club will open a five-game stretch at Gannon University’s Hammermill Center by playing Central Tech, Strong Vincent and Pittsburgh’s Perry Traditional Academy. Certainly all three are capable opponents — the Ramblers topped Central Tech 76-66 earlier this season on the road — but they’re the kind one wants to play at home. Nice scheduling job by Majewski and Prep AD William Flanagan.
8. Williamsport (14-2) -- last week: 8 -- Allen Taylor’s Millionaires chalked up their fifth straight victory Saturday night at the Magic Dome, but a workmanlike 67-58 victory over White Plains (N.Y.) that featured 19 points and six assists from Penn State verbal Isaiah Washington wasn’t one of the Cherry & White’s typically sparkling efforts. On the contrary. So it’s back to work for Billtown. And since Monday’s date with Butch Barnhart’s neighboring Jersey Shore Bulldogs was shelved by inclement weather, Taylor’s charges will have plenty of time to work until Philly’s John Bartram shows up on Saturday.
9. North Allegheny (15-1) -- last week: 9 -- Seems as if North Allegheny is returning to form — Dave DeGregorio’s Tigers spent last week starching Section 3 playmates Shaler (69-48) and Seneca Valley (67-51) — since enduring a 45-point blasting by WPIAL wrecking ball New Castle some two-plus weeks ago. Four straight victories has NA upbeat once again and ready to close out the regular season in productive fashion. League play continues to be the focus for DeGregorio’s Tigers, who will take on Butler and Hampton this week before getting ready for a visit to you know who???
10. Martin Luther King (18-1) -- last week: Not ranked -- Have been hearing plenty of good things about Sean Colson’s replenished Cougars — yes, noise was escaping from the Philly Public League’s otherwise pedestrian Division C — but it wasn’t until King pushed Class A hammer Math, Civics & Sciences to overtime at a Sunday showcase that we thought, ‘OK, it’s time.’ Heck, King was down six with 22 seconds left in regulation, but forced the extra session. Has a couple of Division C outings left to navigate (Bok Tech, Central), but a Friday showdown with Vaux could be a dandy.
OUR HONORABLE MENTIONS
While previous No. 10 York (16-2) had a scrape with Reading — the Bearcats won 84-83 at the Geigle Complex — Troy Sowers’ club will be a major contender when the District 3-AAAA tournament tips off. ... State College (12-4) tumbled in overtime at Chambersburg, but that’s the nightly nature when one calls the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division home. Little Lions welcome Harrisburg on Tuesday night. ... Anyone else wondering who’s No. 3 in District 1-AAAA behind Chester and Lower Merion? Abington (13-4), Council Rock North (13-5), Norristown (15-3), Penn Wood (11-6), Pennsbury (12-4), Ridley (15-2), Great Valley (16-0) and Hatboro-Horsham (13-3) all part of a large consortium assembling. ... The WPIAL’s list of contenders also continues to grow longer as Upper St. Clair (13-3) adds its nine-game winning streak to a notable cluster of teams that includes Gateway (11-3), Hampton (14-3), Seneca Valley (14-4) and Bethel Park (14-2). ... Roman Catholic (13-5) and La Salle College (13-4) — both sitting in District 12 — will each take shots this week at No. 6 St. Joseph’s Prep. ... And thanks to a win over Council Rock North at Sunday’s Hoop Group showcase in suburban Allentown, Liberty (11-5) rejoins Parkland (14-4) and Pocono Mountain West (14-2) as District 11’s ongoing search for a postseason favorite continues for a 71st consecutive week.
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n