Baltimore Power Rankings 1/5
It has been a weird week in the area with freezing, snowy weather that has caused a slew of cancelled games. However, there were still a few match ups that impacted the top of our rankings. 1.St. Frances…
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Continue ReadingIt has been a weird week in the area with freezing, snowy weather that has caused a slew of cancelled games. However, there were still a few match ups that impacted the top of our rankings.
1.St. Frances (25-4)
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Last week’s games: win vs Mt. Carmel (66-52), win vs Boys’ Latin (80-63)
Next three games: @ Calvert Hall (2/6), vs Loyola (2/8), vs Pallotti (2/10)
Just one week after being dethroned from their top ranking, the Panthers made a statement with a huge 80-63 win over the Lakers of Boys’ Latin. Jordan Toles played a huge role scoring 29 points. Usually Toles make his impact felt from his high-flying dunks, but in this game, he was an assassin from the three-point line. Jason Murphy finished with a double-double and was a presence on the offensive glass, which was key in St. Frances separating themselves.
2. Patterson (13-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Last week’s games: win @ Ben Franklin (81-66)
Next three games: vs Wilde Lake (2/6), @ Carver Vo-Tech (2/8), vs Mervo (2/12)
Patterson was one of the teams that experienced postponements throughout the week, but with their win over a scrappy Ben Franklin team and Boys’ Latin losing, they move up to their highest ranking of the season. Aside from Lake Clifton, there isn’t any team left on their schedule that has the firepower to beat them. Even for Lake Clifton, it will be a huge challenge. The Clippers have virtually locked their spot in to compete for the city title. This time will be used to fix tweaks and prepare not only for that game, but also for the 2A state tournament.
3. Poly (12-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Last week’s games: N/A
Next three games: vs City (2/5), @ Forest Park (2/8), vs Douglass (2/12)
The Engineers had the entire week off thanks to the weather, but lace it up today against their rival City. Their confidence should still be high after defeating St. Frances, but with their loss to Patterson earlier in the year, they were eliminated from competing for the city title (thank you to the stupid division splits). From here on out, the focus turns to improving as much as possible as they make their run for their third-straight 3A state title.
4. Boys’ Latin (24-4)
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Last week’s games: win vs McDonogh (49-27), loss @ St. Frances (80-63)
Next three games: vs Spalding (2/6), vs Gilman (2/8), @ Annapolis Area (2/9)
After winning a low-scoring game against McDonogh, the Lakers dropped a game to St. Frances in what was a battle between the two top teams at the time. Boys’ Latin played both games after learning they will be without senior guard, Cam Watts, for the rest of the season. Losing Watts is huge when it comes to their championship puzzle. In the loss against St. Frances, Cam Spencer scored 23 points.
5. New Town (15-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 6
Last week’s games: win vs Owings Mills (80-34)
Next three games: vs Parkville (2/8), vs Hereford (2/11), @ Landsdowne (2/13)
The Titans continue to trounce any Baltimore County opponent put in front of them. This past week, the latest victim was Owings Mills. Looking ahead, they face three respectable teams within the county landscape, including Landsdowne, who they have a possibility of facing in the county title game.
6. Mt. St. Joe (19-6)
Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Last week’s games: loss vs Loyola (62-57), loss @ Goretti (74-52)
Next three games: @ Glenelg Country (2/6), @ Pallotti (2/8), @ Calvert Hall (2/10)
The Gaels had a rough week by suffering two losses. The Loyola loss was an unexpected slip up and while they kept the score close for the majority of the game against Goretti, they couldn’t stop them from going on a run late. This team definitely lives and dies with James Bishop. If they could just get one or two more guys to step up and score in double-digits on a consistent basis, they would be very dangerous.
7. Annapolis Area (13-4)
Last week’s ranking: No. 7
Last week’s games: win vs Calvert Hall (68-47)
Next three games:vs Mt. Carmel (2/5), vs Bishop McNamara (2/6), vs John Carroll (2/8)
The Eagles stay put at No. 7 after claiming a win in their only game in the past week. This upcoming week, they’ll face a very tough Bishop McNamara squad from the WCAC. They’ll also face two weaker teams from the MIAA in Mt. Carmel and John Carroll. Both of those games will be crucial in them holding onto their second place slot in the division.
8. Edmonson (13-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 8
Last week’s games: N/A
Next three games: @ NAF (2/5), vs Reginald Lewis (2/8), vs Southwestern (2/12)
The Red Storm will play two games this week against city opponents. As they look to hold onto their first place ranking in their division and lock in as the team to play Patterson for the city title, each win becomes mandatory.
9. Dulaney (12-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 9
Last week’s games: N/A
Next three games: @ Carver A&T (2/5), vs Pikesville (2/6), vs Patapsco (2/8)
The Lions look to get the bad taste out of their mouth after losing to New Town and Dundalk within the span of three days. They haven’t had the chance to redeem themselves, so they will look to do so this week against three county teams, two of which will be blowout wins.
10. McDonogh (14-7)
Last week’s ranking: No. 10
Last week’s games: loss vs Boys’ Latin (49-27)
Next three games: vs West Nottingham (2/9), @ Mt. Carmel (2/11), vs Spalding (2/13)
The Eagles dropped their lone game this past week to Boys’ Latin. Obviously indicated by the score, they struggled to do much of anything offensively, but they’re still a team in the MIAA that can beat pretty much anybody. If their young players are on, they can catch fire. This week, they’ll face a loaded West Nottingham Academy team followed by two conference match ups that will be important as they prepare for the playoffs.
Honorable Mention: Loyola (16-9), Glenelg Country (15-7), Lake Clifton (11-2), Parkville (13-3)
Feature Photo Credit: Joey O’Dwyer