Rock Hill area’s high school basketball Power 5: Two new teams crack boys’ rankings

There was no change at the top, but the boys’ side of this week’s Power 5 rankings includes two new teams.

South Pointe and Andrew Jackson have moved into the top five in the boys’ rankings after each scored a pair of victories last week.

Power 5 is a ranking of the top five boys and girls high school basketball teams in York, Lancaster and Chester counties.

The Power 5 rankings are based on season-long performance but will be weighted on how a team has fared in its recent games. We’ll publish the Power 5 at the beginning of each week during the high school basketball season.

Here are this week’s rankings:

Boys

1. LANCASTER (12-1)

Last week: No. 1

Last week’s results: Beat Richland Northeast 60-43; beat A.C. Flora 58-53

Jordan Watford understandably gets a lot of headlines for the Bruins, but forward Columbus Park has been a key contributor. During a recent four-game stretch, Parker averaged 18.5 points and shot 47 percent from the floor. He is averaging 12.2 points a game for the season.

This week: at No. 4 South Pointe (Tuesday); at Camden (Friday)

2. INDIAN LAND (15-1)

Last week: No. 2

Last week’s results: Beat Nation Ford 50-36

This is the week that we find out a lot about the Warriors, as they face their top competition in Region 3 5A.

This week: at Clover (Tuesday); No. 3 Fort Mill (Friday)

3. FORT MILL (14-2)

Last week: No. 3.

Last week’s results: Beat Rock Hill 62-42; beat Northwestern 62-37

Nobody plays defense in the area like the Yellow Jackets. Rock Hill has allowed only two opponents to score more than 50 points this season. That distinction will be put to the test Friday.

This week: at No. 2 Indian Land (Friday)

4. SOUTH POINTE (11-4)

Last week: Unranked

Last week’s results: Beat Camden 69-61; beat York 76-61

Senior Ry’Darius Hill is having an outstanding season. He’s averaging 18.9 points and 11.0 rebounds. He and his teammates face a huge test at home Tuesday night.

This week: No. 1 Lancaster (Tuesday); Dreher (Friday)

5. ANDREW JACKSON (7-5)

Last week: Unranked.

Last week’s results: Beat York Prep 54-38; beat Buford 73-27

Bryce Peterson is averaging 55 percent from three-point range (15 of 29). But the Volunteers don’t shoot from long distance often, averaging only five attempts per game.

This week: at North Central (Tuesday); Pageland Central (Friday); Trinity Collegiate, in MLK Showcase at Marion High (Saturday)

Dropped out: York Prep; Clover

In contention: York Prep (10-4); Clover (11-6)

Girls

1. SOUTH POINTE (15-0)

Last week: No. 1

Last week’s results: Beat Camden 66-54; beat York 69-12

The Stallions always seem to do enough good things to win games. When their shooting is off, they’ve played solid defense and rebounded well. Other nights, their shooting has been terrific. Freshman Kaleigh Lucas (20.9 points per game) is the leader.

This week: Lancaster (Tuesday); Dreher (Friday); Ridge View, Dreher MLK Showcase (Saturday)

2. ANDREW JACKSON (14-2)

Last week: No. 2

Last week’s results: Beat York Prep 84-11; beat Buford 77-16

The Yellow Jackets continue to manhandle all their conference opponents, which makes Saturday’s game in Georgia a big one. Mount Paran Christian is 14-2 and ranked among Georgia’s top private school teams.

This week: at North Central (Tuesday); Pageland Central (Friday); Mount Paran Christian, in MLK Showcase at Kennesaw, Ga. (Saturday)

3. CLOVER (13-2)

Last week: No. 3

Last week’s results: Beat Northwestern 57-20; beat Melbourne (Australia) Camberwell 84-28

Sophomore Olivia Lewter is shooting around 60% from the floor this season on her two-point attempts, and the Blue Eagles continue to play lockdown defense.

This week: Indian Land (Tuesday); at Nation Ford (Friday)

4. LEGION COLLEGIATE (16-6)

Last week: No. 5

Last week’s results: Beat Mountain View Prep 65-8

The Lancers have a big week coming up. They face Greensboro Day (14-6) on the road Thursday, then face one of North Carolina’s top 1A teams, Queen’s Grant Charter, on Saturday.

This week: at Victory Christian (Tuesday); at Greensboro Day (Thursday); Queen’s Grant Charter, in MLK Showcase at Nation Ford (Saturday)

Dropped out: none.

In contention: Fort Mill (9-7); Nation Ford (8-8)