UPDATED Pacific high school basketball ratings, pre-Far East edition

UPDATES with new girls top 15.

Boys
1. Kubasaki, Okinawa (17-14): Dragons capture second straight OAC season series title.
2. Seoul American (22-7): Bounced back from first high-school loss to win KAIAC tournament title.
3. American School In Japan (13-1): How to contend against the Mustangs? Slow the pace!
4. Morrison Academy, Taiwan (20-1): Far East is next for the Mustangs.
5. Robert D. Edgren, Japan (17-2). Eagles keep soaring after DODDS Japan tourney title.
6. Kadena, Okinawa (11-13): Panthers fall victim to second-hald Dragons rally.
7. Faith Academy, Philippines (19-6). Vanguards open against Seoul American at Far East.
8, Yokota, Japan (18-7): Played well all weekend until the final quarter against Edgren in DODDS Japan final.
9. Okkodo, Guam (9-1): Bulldogs shining atop the Guam heap.
10. George Washington, Guam (8-2): Geckos have dropped two of last three.
11. Daegu High, South Korea (13-9): Lost in KAIAC final; could still contend for Far East D-II title.
12. Matthew C. Perry, Japan (13-9): Didn’t fare well at DODDS Japan; could be a Far East D-II darkhorse.
13. Yongsan International-Seoul, South Korea (13-6): Strong regular season, KAIAC tournament finish.
14. Zama American, Japan (13-11): Trojans could be standing at the cusp of Far East D-II title contention.
15. Taejon Christian International, South Korea (12-6). Not the best showing for the Dragons, but their best season in years.
Dropped out: Father Duenas Memorial, Guam.

Random observations—Seoul American will likely use the first two days of Far East, pool play, to gauge if Bryant McCray is back all the way from an ankle sprain. They’re close to where they want to be. … Take the air out of the basketball, especially with no shot clock. That may be the way to neutralize ASIJ’s full-court game. History shows that formula works, and St. Mary’s International set the template for that. … Trailing 47-34 after three quarters against Yokota in the DODDS Japan final, it looked as if the Robert D. Edgren boys’ “great at home, not-so-great on the road” reputation was safe. Then the Eagles blew that reputation to smithereens, outscoring the Panthers 21-6 in the final period. Not only can they win on the road, they can do it in pressure situations. … Shut down C.J. Crenshaw and you have a fighting chance to stop Kubasaki. Problem with that is, nobody’s been able to lately.

Girls
1. Yokota, Japan (24-1): Panthers swap places with Mustangs based on second straight DODDS Japan tournament title.
2. American School In Japan (10-1): Not that much of a gap between ASIJ and the top.
3. Kadena, Okinawa (16-7): Second straight OAC season series sweep in the books.
4. Faith Academy, Philippines (15-4): Far East D-I tournament next.
5. Seoul American (17-5): Falcons bypass one of their two regular-season tormentors.
6. Daegu High, South Korea (16-2): From regular-season champions to KAIAC tournament bronze medalists.
7. Nile C. Kinnick, Japan (22-7): Not a very good week at DODDS Japan.
8. Zama American, Japan (12-10): Don’t look now, but this team has really come out.
9. Seoul Foreign (17-7). Nice KAIAC tournament run to end season
10. Notre Dame, Guam (season complete). See Faith.
11. Yongsan International-Seoul (14-7): Closed the KAIAC tournament by ousting Seoul Foreign and regular-season champion Daegu High.
12. Simon Sanchez, Guam (season complete).
13. Morrison Academy, Taiwan (8-9): That record might not mean much come Far East D-II. Mustangs always pride themselves on defense.
14. Okkodo, Guam (season complete).
15. Academy of Our Lady of Guam (season complete).

Random observations—They may not be as athletic as the Liz Gleaves-Jordan Elliott-Desintee Harrison teams, but Seoul American is primed to make a run at a fourth straight Far East D-I tournament final berth. … Trinity Davis showed no signs of discomfort from that leg injury suffered in January and Yokota is playing that much better for it. … Beating Kinnick 51-49 in the DODDS Japan tournament? Are you kidding me? Zama went 4-2 for the week, and coach Mark Millington is talking about how the team is bent on “hanging the (D-II) banner” instead of rebuilding as it was in November. … Something’s just not right in Red Devil Nation. … Daegu need not far too much about its middling KAIAC tournament performance. Many a DODDS team that finished third in that tournament went on to win the Far East D-II title. … So much – for now – about the talk that Kubasaki was ready to take down Kadena. But that says more about respect for the Dragons than anything. The Panthers were very concerned going into last Thursday’s game at Kubasaki, and their play showed it. Don’t expect Kadena to look past any foe the rest of the way.

Think your ratings are more accurate? Shout it out! Be true to your school, and remember: You’ve entered THE “No-Hate Zone.” :)

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