One of the easiest way to join the The Dallas Morning News’ area basketball rankings?
Blow out a state-ranked opponent.
Keller (18-10) did just that on Friday to enter the area 6A rankings at No. 10. Behind a game-high 31 points from McNeese pledge Parker Hannah and 24 points from junior Brooks Bahr, Keller beat District 4-6A rival Trophy Club Byron Nelson (which dropped from No. 8 to No. 10) 72-51.
Keller, ranked No. 18 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ statewide 6A poll, has now won seven consecutive games since a Jan. 3 loss to Byron Nelson. Bahr, a three-star recruit, leads Keller with 21.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
The other easy way to join the rankings?
Win 17 games in a row.
Enter Carrollton Newman Smith (19-5), which made its 5A/Others debut this week at No. 10. After a 2-5 start to the season, Newman Smith hasn’t lost since Nov. 22 against Richland, and now has a three-game lead over second-place Frisco Wakeland in the District 9-5A standings. In Newman Smith’s 57-49 win over The Colony on Friday, junior Nic Codie scored a team-high 23 points for Newman Smith’s 17th-straight victory.
Of note: Highland Park (20-6) crept up two spots in the 6A rankings with a no-doubt 62-42 win over Richardson on Friday. Texas baseball pledge Jordan Stribling (17 points) was one of three Highland Park players who scored double-digit points ... Keep an eye on this week’s game between No. 5 Plano (18-7) and Plano East (26-3), the state’s No. 12 6A team. The game — which was scheduled for Tuesday, but has been moved to a to-be-determined day later this week due to winter weather — will decide first place in District 6-6A.
Class 6A
Rk. Team, Record
1. Duncanville, 23-1 (Last week: 1)
2. Lake Highlands, 23-3 (LW: 2)
3. Arlington Martin, 25-3 (LW: 3)
4. Allen, 25-6 (LW: 4)
5. Plano, 18-7 (LW: 5)
6. Mansfield Legacy, 19-7 (LW: 7)
7. North Crowley, 23-6 (LW: 9)
8. Highland Park, 20-6 (LW: 10)
9. Keller, 18-10 (LW: Unranked)
10. Trophy Club Byron Nelson, 23-5 (LW: 8)
Just missed the cut: DeSoto, Plano East, Cedar Hill
Class 5A/others
Rk. Team, Record
1. Kimball, 22-2 (LW: 1)
2. Faith Family, 22-3 (LW: 3)
3. Mansfield Summit, 25-3 (LW: 2)
4. Carter, 24-2 (LW: 4)
5. Plano Prestonwood, 25-6 (LW: 5)
6. Forney, 25-3 (LW: 7)
7. Lovejoy, 20-5 (LW: 8)
8. Lancaster, 17-7 (LW: 9)
9. Frisco Liberty, 21-6 (LW: 10)
10. Carrollton Newman Smith, 19-5 (LW: Unranked)
Just missed the cut: Frisco Wakeland, Madison, Red Oak
On Twitter: @McFarland_Shawn
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