SEC boys basketball as close as expected

For the last handful of years, The Southeast Conference has been one of the most exciting leagues in boys basketball.

The league hasn’t seen an undefeated conference champion since the 2018-19 season, and it has been decided by one game or less in each of the last two seasons.

This year seems no different. Although the Top-4 teams in the league seem to have a little separation from the bottom two, it’s anybody’s guess who is going to walk out with a title.

As it stands right now, three-time defending champion Washington is tied atop the league with Burlington and Mt. Pleasant. The greyhounds are looking for their first title since splitting it with the Demons in 2020-21, and the Panthers could get their first since polishing off a third straight in 2017-18.

Sitting on game behind the three, at 2-2, is Fairfield. The Trojans were the last team to finish unbeaten in the conference, winning the SEC In 2018-19, and despite a couple of early losses, they’re right in the thick of the race.

Washington, Burlington and Mt. Pleasant are all 1-1 against each other, with the hosting team winning each matchup. The Demons scored a 59-44 home win over Burlington early on. Mt. Pleasant knocked off Washington 62-49, and then in the last SEC game of 2022, the greyhounds beat the Panthers on 56-54 on a buzz-beater 3-pointer.

Fairfield has yet to beat one of the three first-place teams. The Trojans have lost two home games, a heartbreaking 71-67 defeat against Washington, and a 61-52 loss to Burlington. Against the greyhounds, the Trojans were short-handed, playing without second-leading scorer J.J. Lane.

Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant both have a hefty remaining schedule, as the Trojans and Panthers both have to play each other twice before the end of the season. Washington plays Fort Madison two times before its all said and done, and Burlington gets Keokuk twice.

Before that happens, four teams will begin round two through the league on Jan. 6, as Washington hosts Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant travels to Fort Madison. Burlington and Keokuk will play that round of games on Jan. 24 in Keokuk.

SEC boys basketball standings

T-1. Burlington 3-1, 8-1

T-1. Mt. Pleasant 3-1, 5-3

T-1. Washington 3-1, 4-4

4. Fairfield 2-2, 3-4

5. Fort Madison 1-3, 2-5

6. Keokuk 0-4, 2-5

TOP-FIVE SCORERS

1. Merquiche Lewis Jr. (12), Burlington: 25.8 PPG

2. Max Weaton (12), Fairfield: 18.7 PPG

3. Ethan Patterson (12) Washington: 17.6 PPG

4. JJ Lane (12), Fairfield: 16.6 PPG

5. Payton Hagans (11), Mt. Pleasant: 16.4 PPG

TOP-FIVE ASSISTS

1. Ethan Patterson (12), Washington: 3.6 APG

2. Julian Dear (10), Fort Madison: 3.2 APG

3. Tate Allen (12), Fairfield: 3.0 APG

3. JJ Lane (12), Fairfield: 3.0 APG

5. Carson Rashid (11), Fort Madison: 2.8 PPG

TOP-FIVE REBOUNDS

1. Max Weaton (12), Fairfield: 12.9 RPG

2. Payton Hagans (11), Mt. Pleasant: 9.5 RPG

3. Merquiche Lewis Jr. (12), 8.7 RPG

4. Hunter Cresswell (11), 7.2 RPG

5. Ajay Six (12), Washington: 6.5 RPG