Baltimore Power Rankings 1/30

This past week was a telling one in the Baltimore area. Overall, the month of January has been tremendous for the DMV as a whole in the high school hoops scene. Similar to last week's power rankings, there have been some shake up to the top five. Looking forward with the games still to come, this is most likely not how the list is going to end up when the playoffs roll around. Without further ado...   1. Boys Latin (22-3)   Last week's ranking: No. 2   Last week's games: win vs Mt. Carmel (64-50), win vs John Carroll (80-52)   Next three games: vs McDonogh (1/31), @ Annapolis Area Christian (2/1), @ St. Frances (2/4)   The Lakers take the No. 1 spot for the first time this season after the former team took a loss. All season long, they have been proving people wrong by overcoming a lack of size with elite three-point shooting and outstanding play from Cam Spencer. In their win over John Carroll, the Loyola (MD) commit finished with 30 points as he continues to build his player of the year resume. This week will be extremely challenging, playing four games in seven days. The biggest match up comes when they head to St. Frances to make up for the game that was originally canceled due to weather. It'll be the match up between the two top teams in the area, which will help get a better feel for the pecking order heading into the postseason.   2. St. Frances (22-4)   Last week's ranking: No. 1   Last week's games: win @ Goretti (62-58), loss vs Poly @ Towson U (59-58), win vs Gilman (71-58)   Next three games: vs Pallotti (1/30), vs Mt. Carmel (2/3), vs Boys' Latin (2/4)   The Panthers had a roller coaster of a week both on and off the floor. With adversity hitting their team Thursday evening having to do with a player's family member, they traveled to Hagerstown and earned a massive win over Goretti. Ace Baldwin had a huge fourth quarter to help put his team over the top. He finished with a team-high 22 points to go with five rebounds, five assists and five steals. In their one-point loss to Poly, Rajeir Jones led the way with 21 points. The Panthers led by nine in the fourth, but couldn't hold on and missed some easy looks as time expired. The Panthers will have another chance to regain their No. 1 spot that they've held all season. All they have to do is beat Boys' Latin in what should be a tremendous game.   3. Patterson (12-3)   Last week's ranking: No. 4   Last week's games: win vs Mt. Carmel (60-47)   Next three games: vs ACCE (2/1), vs Wilde Lake (2/6), @ Carver Vo-Tech (2/8)   Patterson faced a bunch of postponements due to weather and other issues, so they were limited to playing just one game this week. They earned a win over Mt. Carmel behind Jalen Willis' 17 points and eight rebounds. As we look at the remaining schedule for the Clippers, they'll be favorites in each match-up, including what should be their toughest games that remains against Lake Clifton in a couple of weeks. As long as they win one of their games against a Baltimore City opponent, they lock in their slot to compete for the Baltimore City Championship.   4. Mt. St. Joe (19-4)   Last week's ranking: No. 3   Last week's games: win vs Mt. Carmel (71-40), win @ Gilman (61-56), win vs Pallotti (57-48)   Next three games: @ Calvert Hall (1/30), vs Loyola (2/1), @ Goretti (2/3)   The Gaels picked up three wins over the week in their three-game home stand. As we approach final stretch of the regular season schedule, each game holds more weight. One of those games will be Sunday when they take the trip to Hagerstown to battle Goretti. Goretti handled them earlier this season on their own court, so now Mt. St. Joe will look to return the favor.   5. Poly (12-5)   Last week's ranking: No. 5   Last week's games: win @ Edmonson (49-48), win vs NAF (77-64), win vs St. Frances @ Towson U (59-58)   Next three games: vs Poly (2/1), vs City (2/5), @ Forest Park (2/8)   The Engineers earned their first marquee win of this season after defeating St. Frances in front of a packed SECU Arena. Ian Wallace played the hero by burying a deep three-pointer with 15 seconds left to give his team the one-point win. Brandon Murray continues to be a force in every game. He finished with a team-high 21 points against St. Frances and earlier in the week, hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to escape with a one-point win over Edmonson. Murray is certainly making a name for himself in the area and low major D1 schools are tracking him closely.     6. New Town (14-1)   Last week's ranking: No. 7   Last week's games: win @ Dulaney (78-54), @ Sparrows Point (66-36)   Next three games: vs Hereford (1/30), @ Dundalk (2/1), vs Owings Mills (2/4)   New Town made their statement by dismantling Dulaney on their home floor this past week. Andrew Mills continues his breakout season by leading his team with 33 points. His outside shooting was key early on and helped the Titans get off to a early lead in which they would never give up. This win makes them undoubtedly the best team in Baltimore County and barring any collapse, earns them a spot to compete for the county title.   7. Annapolis Area (12-4)   Last week's ranking: No. 8   Last week's games: win vs Archbishop Spalding (57-52)   Next three games: vs Mt. Carmel (1/30), vs Boys' Latin (2/1), vs Calvert Hall (2/5)   Annapolis area had a close one with a pesky Spalding team this past week, but earned a five-point win to stay in second place in their division. This upcoming week, they'll face a huge task going against Boys' Latin in a game that carries playoff-seed indications. This is the part of the season where having seniors can be most important. For the Eagles, a senior-heavy roster, they'll try to prove why that theory has come to be.   8. Edmonson (13-3)   Last week's ranking: No. 9   Last week's games: loss vs Poly (49-48), win @ Edgewood (75-51), win vs Green Street Academy (78-70)   Next three games: @ NAF (2/5), vs Reginald Lewis (2/8), vs Southwestern (2/12)   The race between Edmonson and Lake Clifton is tighter than ever. Both teams are undefeated in conference play, so if Edmonson can win out, they should solidify their spot to play Patterson in the city title game. But if any hiccups come along the way and Lake Clifton can pull an upset against Patterson, the Lakers will be the one representing the 'Division A' side. This week, Edmonson will be favorites in their three games. They're in the best position possible because they control their own destiny.   9. Dulaney (12-3)   Last week's ranking: No. 6   Last week's games: loss vs New Town (78-54), win @ Loch Raven (86-74), loss vs Dundalk (78-66)   Next three games: @ Carver A&T (2/1), vs Pikesville (2/6), vs Patapsco (2/8)   Dulaney faced adversity this past week not once, but twice. Both times they resulted in losses. The game against New Town was viewed as both team's Super Bowl considering they had blown out everyone else in the county. In the loss, Ryan Conway was tremendous and showed outstanding heart even when his team was down by 20. It's a very rare occurrence to see Dulaney lost twice at home all season, let alone in the same week, so dropping the game to Dundalk certainly calls for eyes to be on their team and how everyone responds. They won't be able to compete for a county title, so now they're focus has to shift on being the best team they can possibly be when the 4A state tournament tips.   10. McDonogh (14-7)   Last week's ranking: No. 10   Last week's games: win vs Loyola (52-50), win vs John Carroll (50-43), loss vs Pallotti (50-41)   Next three games: @ Boys' Latin (1/31), @ Mt. Carmel (2/1), vs West Nottingham (2/9)   McDonogh hangs onto their No. 10 ranking after two close wins this week. They dropped a game to a tough Pallotti squad, but still remain in the chase for the second seed in the Black Division of the MIAA. The Eagles and Annapolis Area Christian view every game from here on out as a must-win. Both teams play Boys' Latin this week, which will help sort out the playoff picture a bit more. Sophomore guard Dave Brown continues to lead McDonogh as a scorer. They'll need all they can get out of him for their next three games.   Honorable Mention: Palloti (11-8), Lake Clifton (11-2), Parkville (13-3), Landsdowne (10-3)