Baltimore Power Rankings 12/11

Public schools have finally started their schedules, meaning the basketball season in the Baltimore area is now in full swing. Some teams made statements, while others fell behind. Let's see how the power rankings for this week have taken shape!   1. St. Frances (8-1) Last week’s ranking: 1 Last week’s games: win vs Goretti (57-52), win vs Riverdale Baptist (64-54) @ Gonzaga, win vs Whitney Young (66-57) @ Gonzaga, win vs Abington (77-54) @ Gonzaga Next three games: vs Calvert Hall (12/12), at Loyola (12/14), Brooklyn Collegiate @ City Legendz Classic (12/16)   The Panthers have made their argument to be the undisputed No. 1 team in Baltimore after taking down Goretti and winning the championship at the Gonzaga Classic. Ace Baldwin, Jordan Toles and Jamal West were all first team all-tournament selections. After losing to Paul IV, this team has responded as well as can be scripted. It seems they are finding themselves as a team and for the rest of the area, that can be very dangerous. Looking ahead to this week, they should have no problem getting wins against Loyola and Calvert Hall. When they travel to New York to face Brooklyn Collegiate in the City Legendz Classic, things could get tricky simply because it is an out of state team that they aren't familiar with. Considering the way they've handled similar situations this season, the Panthers could very well be 11-1 heading into next week.   2. Mount Saint Joseph (7-1) Last week’s ranking: 2 Last week’s games: win vs Gilman (93-50), win vs Calvert Hall (79-41), win @ Loyola (66-61 ) Next three games: vs Glenelg Country (12/12), TBA @ Catonsville Cup (12/15), at St. Frances (12/21)   Similar to the Panthers, the Gaels have taken care of business since suffering a loss in the Charm City vs D.C. event. They've done so in convincing fashion against MIAA A Conference opponents, winning those games by a combined 86 points. Junior transfer Javonte Brown had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Calvert Hall. Scoring has been distributed pretty equally thus far, but Brown will be essential for their future success against teams in the MIAA.   3. Poly (0-2) Last week’s ranking: 3 Last week's games: forfeit @ Digital Harbor, loss vs Wilson (70-56) @ Theordore Roosevelt Next three games: vs Ben Franklin (12/11), @ St. John's DC (12/15), @ Lake Clifton (12/17)   Poly was forced to forfeit their first game due to off-season violations. In the game against a stacked Wilson team, they fell behind early and weren't able to recover. Still, they remain No. 3 in the rankings because of their talent and upside once they get things rolling. They're favorites in the upcoming games against Ben Franklin and Lake Clifton. They'll face yet another huge challenge against St. John's, but it'll be a good measuring point to see who this team really is.   4. Patterson (2-0) Last week’s ranking: 4 Last week's games: win vs Curley (95-53), win vs Aberdeen (88-38) Next three games: @ Southwestern (12/11), @ Edmonson (12/17), vs City (12/20)   Patterson has made an argument to be the most dominant team early on with two wins by a combined 92 points. Marvin Price is proving that he is back to old with 25 and 21-point outings in limited action in their first two games. If they continue playing at their pace, they should have no problem winning the next three games. City has been a disappointment thus far, but with the talent they have, it should make for an intriguing match up.   5. Boys' Latin (7-1) Last week's ranking: 5 Last week's games: @ Mt. Carmel (69-46), @ McDonogh (69-53) Next three games: @ Archbishop Spalding (12/12), vs St. Mary's Ryken (12/14) @ Bullis, TBA @ Bullis (12/15)   The Lakers continue their winning ways, as they've won seven-straight games. Their style of play consists of bombarding their opponents with three's and lay ups. Cam Spencer has been on a tear and continues to shoot at an efficient rate from deep. Sam Grace fired off for 5 three's in the first half in the win over McDonogh. Cam Watts and Jake Nichols continue to fill the stat sheet and be important pieces to round out their starting lineup. This week, they'll face a young Spalding team that has some talent before heading down south to Bullis to take on St. Mary's Ryken. If they can win the Bullis tournament, they have a shot at extending this winning streak to an impressive 11 games and would demand a boost in the rankings.   6. Dulaney (1-0) Last week’s ranking: 6 Last week's games: win vs Curley @ Johns Hopkins (79-51) Next three games: vs Catonsville (12/12), @ Towson (12/19), @ Franklin (12/21)   Dulaney got their season started off last Friday night defeating Curley at Johns Hopkins University. The Lions won handily, as they were predicted. Curley is a young team with a new coach that is still very much a work in progress. Taking a look ahead, Dulaney should win the next three games with relative ease. The Lions have a loaded roster, and while they'll end up winning 20+ games this season, their ranking may not reflect in comparison to other teams because of strength of schedule. Even still, credit will be given where it is due and a strong win to start things off enables them to stay put in this week's rankings.   7. McDonogh (5-1) Last week’s ranking: 7 Last week’s games: win @ John Carroll (79-58), loss vs Boys' Latin (69-53), win vs Mt. Carmel (63-58) Next three games: vs Goretti (12/14), @ St. Paul's (12/15), @ Archbishop Spalding (12/18)   The Eagles dropped their first game of the year against Boys' Latin this past week. The final score didn't accurately describe how close the game was. The young players of McDonogh continue to learn and improve in according to the play of the MIAA, while the older players such as senior Drew Green and junior Curtis Jacobs produce consistent numbers. You can see as a team, they're getting more comfortable with who they are. As time goes on, they'll get more experience and be a much tougher team at the end of the year in comparison to now.   8. Annapolis Area Christian (5-1) Last week’s ranking: 8 Last week’s games: win @ Archbishop Spalding (56-50), win @ Mt. Carmel (74-59) Next three games: @ Loyola (12/12), @ John Carroll (12/14), TBA @ Severna Park Holiday Tournament (12/27)   The Eagles keep winning. Their two wins last week came on the road and taking a look at this week, it'll be much of the same as they travel to Loyola and John Carroll. The game against Loyola should line up to be a great test to see where both teams are. If they end the week with two wins, they'll likely move up in the rankings. Senior point guard Dylin Borden has been playing well thus far as a floor general. Scoring when he needs to, making plays for teammates and strapping up defensively. They'll need all hands on deck this Wednesday as they go for their biggest win in the early goings of the season.   9. Loyola (6-4) Last week’s ranking: 9 Last week’s games: win @ Glenelg Country (56-54), win @ Gilman (73-70), loss vs Mt. St. Joe (66-61) Next three games: vs Annapolis Area Christian (12/12), vs St. Frances (12/14), @ St. Vincent Pallotti (12/19)   The Dons took care of business on the road last week against two MIAA A Conference teams and though they had a lead heading into halftime against Mt. St. Joe's, they came up short it what would've been a huge upset. Still, they remain put in the rankings, but this week could be telling as they face three good teams. Going 2-1 during this three-game stretch would be a great accomplishment for this team.   10. New Town (1-0) Last week’s ranking: 10 Last week's games: win vs Wise (53-52) Next three games: vs Randallstown (12/14), @ Western Tech (12/21), vs Whitman @ Governor's Challenge (12/28)   The Titans escaped with a one-point win against a talented Wise team last week in their home opener. They'll be heavy favorites against Randallstown and Western Tech before heading down to the Eastern Shore for the Governor's Challenge.   Honorable Mention: Glenelg Country (4-1), Dundalk (2-0), Dunbar (1-1), Lake Clifton (2-0), Milford Mill (1-0)