The Newton boys basketball team continues its climb up the national rankings even as it continues its quest for a state title and possible undefeated season.
With Saturday’s hard fought 82-73 win over Class A Private No. 3 Southwest Atlanta Christian, the top-ranked Rams improved to 21-0 overall -- it's best start in 52 years. In so doing, Newton has climbed to No. 9 in the MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 poll that rates the best high school basketball teams in the country.
In the Southwest Atlanta Christian game, Isaiah Miller tallied 22 points and six rebounds while J.D. Notae and Ashton Hagans helped with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Now, with region contests this week against Grayson and Rockdale and home games next week against Shiloh and Archer – the only road game in this stretch is Friday at Rockdale – Newton has a good chance of becoming the first basketball team in modern history and just the second in overall school history to finish the regular season undefeated. The 1965 team won 34 straight games before losing in the state semifinals -- this, one year removed from Newton's only state championship squad in 1964.
Here is the MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 Poll in its entirety:
http://www.maxpreps.com/news/XNbAnBidwUak6uxQrUl19w/maxpreps-high-school-top-25-boys-basketball-national-rankings.htm
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(Smartphone Format)
1. Nathan Hale (Seattle, WA)
2. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
3. Chino Hills (CA)
4. Memphis East (Memphis, TN)
5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
6. McEachern (Powder Springs, GA)
7. DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD)
8. Jonesboro (AR)
9. Newton (Covington, GA)
10. Paul VI (Fairfax, VA)
11. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, PA)
12. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, CA)
13. Simeon (Chicago, IL)
14. Gonzaga (Washington, DC)
15. Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, AZ)
16. Linden (NJ)
17. Patrick School (Elizabeth, NJ)
18. Basha (Chandler, AZ)
19. Klein Forest (Houston, TX)
20. Federal Way (WA)
21. Wagner (San Antonio, TX)
22. Champlin Park (Champlin, MN)
23. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, OH)
24. Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, LA)
25. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, NC)
Newton also raised one spot from No. 16 to No. 15 in the USA Today Super 25 Poll.
