LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lake Creek won two more games to remain undefeated and the No. 1 seed in the 2023 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 for the 17th straight week.
The defending Texas 5A state champion (23-0) Lions have now won 64 straight contests and 102 of 104 over the past three seasons. The only losses during that stretch were a pair of losses (one in extra innings) to eventual state champion Barbers Hill in the best-of-three regional final in May 2021.
Perennial state and national power Roncalli (Ind.) still has a little longer to wait before opening its long-awaited season April 4 against Columbus North, and will likely remain at No. 2 until then. But there was movement underneath them, after rare losses to No. 3 Benton (3-1) and No. 4 Neshoba Central (6-2) allowed two-time winner North Augusta (5-0) to leapfrog both and took over the third position this week.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss at unbeaten Bryant snapped Benton’s 65-game winning streak, while the nine-time defending Mississippi 5A state champion Rockets have lost as many times (twice) this past week as they have in their last 27 games.
Elsewhere there was modest movement. No. 8 St. Amant (18-1) had a 5-0 week to gain two spots in the rankings, while Lakewood Ranch (7-3) and Brazoswood (15-4) traded the No. 21 and 22, and West Johnston (5-0) replaced Esperanza at No. 14.
Seven ranked teams have yet to start their season.
State rankings presented by 2023 NFCA High School Management Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are selected based on performance, roster quality, strength of schedule and active NFCA membership.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – March 16, 2023
1. Lake Creek (Texas)
Record: 23-0 | PR: 1
2. Roncalli (Indiana)
Record: 0-0 | PR: 2
3. North Augusta (South Carolina)
Record: 2-0 | PR: 5
4. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 3-1 | PR: 3
5. Neshoba Central (Miss.)
Record: 6-2 | PR: 4
6. Santa Margarita (California)
Record: 9-2-1 | PR: 6
7. Moorpark (California)
Record: 9-0 | PR: 7
8. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 18-1 | PR: 10
9. Willow Canyon (Arizona)
Record: 13-0-2 | PR: 8
10. Bentonville (Arkansas)
Record: 4-1 | PR: 9
11. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)
Record: 1-0 | PR: 11
12. Basha (Arizona)
Record: 8-1 | PR: 12
13. Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)
Record: 14-1 | PR: 13
14. West Johnston (North Carolina)
Record: 5-0 | PR: NR
15. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)
Record: 0-0 | PR: 15
16. Bend (Ore.)
Record: 0-0 | PR: 16
17. Redmond (Washington)
Record: 1-0 | PR: 17
18. Bingham (Utah)
Record: 0-0 | PR: 18
19. Special Fork (Utah)
Record: 0-1 | PR: 19
20. Queen Creek (Arizona)
Record: 7-1-1 | PR: 20
21. Lakewood Ranch (Florida)
Record: 7-3 | PR: 22
22. Brazoswood (Texas)
Record: 15-4 | PR: 21
23. Immaculate Heart Academy (New Jersey)
Record: 0-0 | PR: 23
24. Donovan Catholic (NJ)
Record: 0-0 | PR: 24
25. Marist (Illinois)
Record: 0-0 | PR: 25
Dropped out: Esperanza, California
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