NOTES: Top ranking puts a target on Findlay Prep

Findlay Prep boys basketball coach Andy Johnson is accustomed to life atop the national rankings, despite this being his first season in charge of the Pilots.

So, when Findlay Prep ascended to the top spot in two major polls this week, Johnson didn’t make a big deal out of it. Just a quick chat with his team and a message on social media Monday night acknowledging the achievement.

“It’s a great start,” said Johnson, who spent five years as an assistant at Findlay Prep before taking over. “And the key word is ‘start.’ ”

Findlay Prep emerged from the holiday tournament season No. 1 in the USA Today Super 25 and MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25 rankings, giving the Pilots (16-0) the lead at the quarter pole in the race for the mythical national championship.

That ranking will be put to the test beginning Saturday when Findlay Prep takes on Stevenson (Ill.) at the HoopHall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Stevenson (14-1) is ranked No. 17 by USA Today and is led by senior point guard Jalen Brunson, a Villanova commit.

The Pilots, who have played only one team thus far — Our Savior New American (N.Y.) — ranked in the Super 25 poll, meet 7-2 Wayne (Ohio) at the Flyin’ to the Hoop invitational on Monday in Dayton, Ohio. That’s followed by a Jan. 24 game against Bishop Gorman at the South Point.

“It’s like we told our players, ‘The target on our backs just got bigger. You come to Findlay Prep to play against the best teams in the country. Now you’ve got the opportunity to be able to do that. Every day you’ve got to take the attitude where you’ve got something to prove,’ ” Johnson said.

“Now is our opportunity to try to do that. We’ve got three tough tests in front of us coming up, and we’re excited for the opportunity.”

Should Findlay Prep emerge from this stretch unbeaten, its next major hurdle en route to the national title likely wouldn’t come until April at the High School National Tournament in New York. The Pilots finished No. 1 in USA Today’s rankings in 2009.

“I’m really proud of our guys. They’ve worked extremely hard this year, and their effort is paying off so far,” Johnson said. “But the key, like I said, is it’s a start. Our goal is to be No. 1 in April. And as long as we continue to get better every day, and have a great attitude and a good effort, I think we could have a chance to do it.”

■ GORMAN TRAVELING NORTH — Bishop Gorman’s football team will play nationally ranked Bellevue (Wash.) in Week 2 of the 2015 season, according to the Seattle Times and USA Today. The game will take place in Washington at a site to be determined.

“They are probably the best team in America, by a mile,” Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff told the Seattle Times.

Bellevue had its 67-game winning streak snapped in the Class 3A state final in December. The Wolverines are best known for ending the national-record 151-game winning streak of De La Salle (Calif.) in 2004.

■ COUGARS NOMINATED — Coronado girls volleyball players Berkeley Oblad and Cali Thompson were nominated for national awards by PrepVolleyball.com.

Oblad, 6-foot-4-inch Utah signee, was one of 75 finalists for the National (Senior) Player of the Year award, while Thompson, a 5-10 setter, was among the 41 players nominated for the National Junior of the Year.

The winners of both awards will be announced this month.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.