IHSAA boys basketball: Four undefeated teams top Fab 15 rankings headed into 2024
Welcome to the 2024 portion of the 2023-24 season. We have some changes to the high school basketball Fab 15, though the top four teams are all still undefeated as the new year begins. A look at this week’s Fab 15, a weekly ranking of the top teams in Central Indiana:
1. Lawrence North (9-0)
The Wildcats knocked off Franklin Central (68-51) and Marion (98-72). Kobi Bowles had 20 points, five assists and four rebounds to lead the balanced Wildcats in the win over Marion. One of the toughest games to date is coming Friday when Lawrence North visits Warren Central. Previous: 1.
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2. Fishers (11-0)
The Tigers rolled to the championship of their own holiday tournament with wins over Bloomington North (94-48), Portage (62-45) and Chesterton (74-42). The toughest test was the semifinal win over Portage, which was a 2-point game going into the fourth quarter. Seniors Keenan Garner and Taden Metzger were named co-MVPs of the tournament. Fishers hosts Pike on Friday. Previous: 2.
3. Cathedral (8-0)
Cathedral knocked off Bishop Chatard 66-47 as sophomore Keaton Aldridge had 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead a balanced team. Junior Aidan Hughes had 14 points. The Irish have not played a game closer than 12 points. Up next: at Hammond Noll (Wednesday) and at Providence (Saturday). Previous: 4.
4. Westfield (6-0)
The Shamrocks did not play over the holiday week. This will be an interesting three-game week with games vs. Mt. Vernon (Tuesday), at Yorktown (Friday) and vs. Carmel (Saturday). Previous: 3.
5. Noblesville (8-1)
The Millers won their own four-team holiday tournament with wins over McCutcheon (54-25) and getting a shot from Aaron Fine in the final seconds to defeat Crown Point 56-55 in overtime in the championship. Up next: vs. Pike (Tuesday) and at Muncie Central (Saturday). Previous: 5.
6. Ben Davis (6-2)
The Giants were off during the holiday week and will return to action this week against North Central (Friday) and Washington (Saturday). Ben Davis knocked off Knoxville Catholic, Tenn. (76-52) and Pinson Valley, Ala. (67-48) the previous week. Previous: 6.
7. Crispus Attucks (9-3)
The Tigers make a three-spot jump after winning the Hall of Fame Classic with wins over Kokomo (69-59) and Brownstown Central (76-51). Mason Lewis earned most valuable player honors after putting up 20 of his 23 points in the championship against Brownstown Central, but it was an impressive overall performance with Chris Hurt and Dezmon Briscoe both making the all-tournament team. Up next: vs. Gary 21st Century on Saturday afternoon. Previous: 10.
8. North Central (6-2)
The Panthers recorded a pair of victories over Louisville Trinity (52-50) and Evansville Reitz (63-55) behind a big performance from junior Papi Rivera, who averaged 20.0 points and shot 7-for-14 from the 3-point line in the Paul Loggan Memorial invite. Up next: at Ben Davis (Friday). Previous: 9.
9. Greenfield-Central (10-0)
The Cougars cruised to victories over Tri-Central (73-43) and Bishop Chatard (66-49) at the Morristown Holiday Showcase. Junior Braylon Mullins had 23 points, four rebounds and four steals in the win over Tri-Central and 28 points in the win over Chatard. A tough Hoosier Heritage Conference game this week as the Cougars host Mt. Vernon on Friday. Previous: 11.
10. Warren Central (5-4)
The Warriors are ascending after an 0-3 start. Jevon Guess had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Warren Central’s 72-70 win over Brebeuf Jesuit, a fifth win in six games for the Warriors. A big weekend lies ahead with Lawrence North at home on Friday and at Hamilton Southeastern on Saturday. Previous: 13.
11. Plainfield (8-3)
The Quakers lost two games at the Kokomo tournament since our previous Fab 15, including to Warren Central. After watching the Quakers in person, I’m more impressed. Plainfield knocked off Southport 75-53 last week as sophomore Noah Smith went for 19 points, 12 rebounds and three assists and Collin Schmidt added 18 points. Plainfield will host the winner of Brownsburg-Avon in a Hendricks County tournament semifinal on Friday. Previous: 7.
12. Brebeuf Jesuit (7-2)
The Braves knocked off Evansville Memorial 70-58 before seeing their five-game winning streak snapped with a 72-70 loss to Warren Central. Butler commit Evan Haywood had 23 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Memorial and 31 points in the loss to Warren Central. Up next: at Zionsville (Friday). Previous: 12.
13. Franklin (9-1)
The Grizzly Cubs make a reappearance in the Fab 15 after running their winning streak to eight games with a 61-40 victory over Shelbyville. Micah Davis continued his strong senior season with 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals against the Golden Bears. Up next: vs. Mooresville (Friday). Previous: NR.
14. New Palestine (7-2)
The Dragons went 3-1 at the Ray Furney Holiday Classic in Lawrenceburg, knocking off Jennings County (83-59), Bethesda Christian (69-49) and Pike Central (91-48) with only a loss to eventual champion Newport, Ky. (72-66) in the semifinal. A tough game this week as New Palestine hosts 10-1 Delta, one of the state’s top 3A teams. Previous: 15.
15. Brownsburg (6-5)
The Bulldogs had won three of four games (the only loss in overtime to Ben Davis) coming into the Hall of Fame Classic but lost 56-48 to Brownstown Central and 87-58 to Kokomo in two games in New Castle. Up next: at Avon on Tuesday in the Hendricks County tournament. The winner of that game will play at Plainfield in the semifinals on Friday (championship is Saturday). Previous: 7.
Dropped out: Lawrence Central (14)
Next five in line: Park Tudor (6-2), Center Grove (6-4), Mt. Vernon (6-4), Hamilton Southeastern (7-3), Guerin Catholic (9-4)
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school boys basketball rankings: Kyle's updated Fab 15
