Top 30 Power Poll: Week 8
The last two weeks of high school basketball has been crazy with makeup games and big time matchups across the state, which are reflected in our Top 30 Power Poll. #2 Paul VI is closing the gap on Blue Ridge with big WCAC wins over Gonzaga and Bishop O’Connell, however Blue Ridge answered with a rivalry win of their own over Miller School. #3 LC Bird remains undefeated and got a big win at home over #4 Trinity Episcopal, who don’t drop after losing their first game in a close matchup.
As for the rest, it was as unpredictable and ever changing as the weather in our great state. Take a look at the shakeups, and remember to expect the unexpected! With no further ado, here’s the top 30 teams in the VISAA/VHSL regardless of classification!
1) Blue Ridge
Overall Record: 19-1
Notable Wins: Bishop Sullivan, Atlantic Shores, Episcopal, Miller School (2X), Word of God (NC), Hargrave
Notable Losses: Huntington Prep (WV)
Last Week: Wins over Hargrave, Miller School and Liberty Christian Academy
Previous Rank: #1
2) Paul VI
Overall Record: 16-2
Notable Wins: St. Mary’s-Ryken (MD), Pebblebrook (GA), John Carroll (MD), Bishop O’Connell (2X), Neumann-Goretti (PA), Bishop McNamara (MD), Gonzaga (DC)
Notable Losses: St. John’s, Bishop Loughlin (NY)
Last Week: Wins over Gonzaga, Bishop O’Connell and Archbishop Carroll
Previous Rank: #2
3) LC Bird
Overall Record: 13-0
Notable Wins: Trinity Episcopal, Varina, Woodside, Bethel, Salem (VB), George Wythe, Norcom
Notable Losses: N/A
Last Week: Wins over Clover Hill, Midlothian, James River, Trinity Episcopal
Previous Rank: #3
4) Trinity Episcopal
Overall Record: 18-1
Notable Wins: Episcopal, VA Academy, St. Stephen’s St. Agnes, Hargrave, Varina, Henrico, St. Chris, Oscar Smith
Notable Losses: LC Bird
Last Week: Wins over FUMA and Christchurch; Lost to LC Bird
Previous Rank: #4
5) Bishop O’Connell
Overall Record: 13-7
Notable Wins: Middleburg Academy, Bishop Ireton, Bullis, Episcopal, VA Academy, Westlake (GA), Bishop Gorman (NV), Norcross (GA), St. John’s
Notable Losses: IMG Academy (FL), Paul VI (2X), Gonzaga (DC), Dillard (FL), Westchester (CA)
Last Week: Wins over Norcross and St. John’s; Lost to Paul VI
Previous Rank: #5
6) John Marshall
Overall Record: 11-2
Notable Wins: Armstrong, George Wythe, Benedictine, Highland Springs, Miami Christian, Mills Godwin
Notable Losses: Varina, Pebblebrook (GA)
Last Week: Win over Glen Allen
Previous Rank: #10
7) Potomac
Overall Record: 15-2
Notable Wins: CD Hylton (2X), Battlefield, Freedom, Decatur (MD), Olympic (NC), Osbourn, CD Hylton
Notable Losses: Linden (NJ), Norcom
Last Week: Wins over Brooke Point and North Stafford; Lost to Norcom
Previous Rank: #6
8) Oscar Smith
Overall Record: 14-2
Notable Wins: Deep Creek, Western Branch, Bishop Sullivan, Green Run, Granby, King’s Fork
Notable Losses: Tallwood, Trinity Episcopal
Last Week: Win over Grassfield
Previous Rank: #11
9) Loudoun Valley
Overall Record: 14-0
Notable Wins: Heritage, Millbrook (2X), Freedom, Potomac Falls, John Champe
Notable Losses: N/A
Last Week: Win over Rock Ridge
Previous Rank: #15
10) Hampton
Overall Record: 14-3
Notable Wins: Heritage, Varina, Woodside, Norcom (2X), Bethel, Warwick
Notable Losses: Cape Henry, Williamsburg Christian, Bethel
Last Week: Win over Gloucester; Lost to Bethel
Previous Rank: #9
11) IC Norcom
Overall Record: 14-3
Notable Wins: Maury, Lake Taylor, Cape Henry, HD Woodson (DC), Woodside, Landstown, Potomac
Notable Losses: Hampton (2X), LC Bird
Last Week: Wins over Heritage, Wilson and Potomac
Previous Rank: #13
12) Gate City
Overall Record: 11-3
Notable Wins: Tennessee HS (2X), Daniel Boone (TN) (2X), Knoxville Christian (TN), Lebanon
Notable Losses: Wings Academy (NY), Sandy Creek (GA)
Last Week: Wins over Abingdon, Union and Lee
Previous Rank: #17
13) Green Run
Overall Record: 14-2
Notable Wins: Bayside, Cox, Landstown, Norview (2X), Kellam, Maury (2X)
Notable Losses: Salem (VB), Oscar Smith
Last Week: Wins over Kempsville, Maury and Norview
Previous Rank: #16
14) Wakefield
Overall Record: 13-3
Notable Wins: South Lakes, Battlefield, Orem (Utah), Tuscarora
Notable Losses: Wasatch Academy (Utah), Smokey Hill (CO), Glenelg County
Last Week: Win over JEB Stuart
Previous Rank: #19
15) West Potomac
Overall Record: 12-2
Notable Wins: Hayfield, Madison, West Springfield, TC Williams, STAB, WT Woodson
Notable Losses: Chantilly, Albemarle
Last Week: Wins over West Springfield
Previous Rank: #26
16) Varina
Overall Record: 9-3
Notable Wins: Armstrong, John Marshall, St. Chris, Henrico (2X), Prince George, Highland Springs
Notable Losses: Trinity Episcopal, LC Bird, Hampton
Last Week: Wins over Atlee, Meadowbrook, Henrico
Previous Rank: #27
17) Albemarle
Overall Record: 16-2
Notable Wins: Louisa (2X), Western Albemarle (2X), Fauquier, West Potomac
Notable Losses: Western Albemarle
Last Week: Win over Charlottesville and Louisa; Lost to Granby
Previous Rank: #7
18) Episcopal
Overall Record: 11-6
Notable Wins: Georgetown Day, Calvert Hall, Atlantic Shores, Pallotti (MD), Sanford (DE), St. John Paul the Great, St. Alban’s
Notable Losses: Trinity Episcopal, Bishop O’Connell, Richard Montgomery (MD), Blue Ridge, St. Stephen’s St. Agnes, Georgetown Prep
Last Week: Wins over St. Albans and Flint Hill; Lost to Georgetown Prep
Previous Rank: #14
19) Lake Taylor
Overall Record: 12-3
Notable Wins: Norview, Maury, Greensville County, Tallwood, Granby (2X)
Notable Losses: Oak Hill Academy, Norcom, Bethel
Last Week: Wins over King’s Fork, Great Bridge and Wilson
Previous Rank: #21
20) Bethel
Overall Record: 13-3
Notable Wins: Jamestown, Kecoughtan, Phoebus, Lake Taylor, Hampton
Notable Losses: Hampton, Woodside, LC Bird
Last Week: Wins over Hampton and Nansemond River
Previous Rank: #23
21) Handley
Overall Record: 15-1
Notable Wins: Eastern View, John Champe, Charlottesville, Spotswood, Potomac Falls, James Woods
Notable Losses: Spotswood
Last Week: Wins over Sherando and Hampshire (WV)
Previous Rank: #24
22) Miller School
Overall Record: 10-4
Notable Wins: STAB, Union City (TN), Oldsmar Christian (FL) Bloomfield Tech (NJ), St. John Paul the Great, Virginia Episcopal
Notable Losses: Bishop Ireton, Blue Ridge, Middleburg Academy
Last Week: Win over VES; Lost to Blue Ridge
Previous Rank: #22
23) Hargrave Military Academy
Overall Record: 10-3
Notable Wins: FUMA, Benedictine, Woodberry Forest, Liberty Christian, Carlisle
Notable Losses: Trinity Episcopal, Blue Ridge, Kingswood Christian (KY)
Last Week: Wins over Larue County and Lafayette (KY); Lost to Blue Ridge and Kingswood Christian
Previous Rank: #25
24) Middleburg Academy
Overall Record: 7-6
Notable Wins: Battlefield, Cape Henry, Takoma Academy, Charlotte Basketball Academy
Notable Losses: Bishop O’Connell, Boys Latin (MD), Legacy Charter (SC)
Last Week: Idle
Previous Rank: #8
25) Northside
Overall Record: 12-4
Notable Wins: Cave Spring (2X), Salem, Blacksburg, William Byrd (2X), North Cross
Notable Losses: Alleghany, NW Guilford (NC), William Fleming, Spotswood
Last Week: Win over Lord Botetourt; Lost to Spotswood
Previous Rank: #18
26) Virginia Episcopal School
Overall Record: 5-3
Notable Wins: Teays Valley Christian, Amelia Academy, Millwood
Notable Losses: First Love Christian, Wesley Christian, Miler School
Last Week: Lost to Miller School
Previous Rank: #12
27) WT Woodson
Overall Record: 13-3
Notable Wins: Robinson, Fairfax, South Lakes, Lake Braddock, Stone Bridge, West Springfield
Notable Losses: St. John’s (MD), Downington East (PA), West Potomac
Last Week: Wins over TC Williams and Mount Vernon
Previous Rank: #29
28) Jamestown
Overall Record: 14-1
Notable Wins: Lafayette (2X), Warwick, Grafton, Smithfield, Granby
Notable Losses: Bethel
Last Week: Wins over Lafayette and Warhill
Previous Rank: Unranked
29) Salem (VB)
Overall Record: 14-3
Notable Wins: Green Run, Cox, Tallwood, Bayside, Kellam , Freedom
Notable Losses: LC Bird, Maury
Last Week: Win over Indian River; Lost to Norview
Previous Rank: #30
30) Eastern View
Overall Record: 11-3
Notable Wins: Heritage (NN), Culpeper County, Caroline, Kettle Run, James Monroe
Notable Losses: Culpeper County, Fauqier, Handley
Last Week: Wins over Culpeper County and Courtland
Previous Rank: Unranked