Vermont
Vermont Varsity Insider: High school boys basketball power rankings (Feb. 10)
Burlington and Montpelier continue to motor along, making their claims atop the Varsity Insider high school boys basketball power rankings undisputable.
But how did the rest of the top 10 shake out? Read on below.
Enjoy!
The rankings (through 2/10):
1. Burlington High School
Record: 15-1
Feb. 3 ranking: 1
▶ Burlington’s two wins last week included a season-high 95 points in its rout at BFA-St. Albans.
2. Montpelier High School
Record: 16-1
Feb. 3 ranking: 2
▶ Last week, Carson Cody, on this week’s athlete of the week ballot, became the program’s all-time leading scorer and, in the same game, Carter Bruzzese reached 1,000 career points. The good times keep rolling for the Solons, winners of 15 in a row.
3. Rice Memorial High School
Record: 12-3
Feb. 3 ranking: 3
▶ Rice lost at Albany Academy (N.Y.) on Saturday, but that defeat won’t hurt its position in the top 10. Rice hosts Champlain Valley on Tuesday.
4. South Burlington High School
Record: 10-6
Feb. 3 ranking: 4
▶ South Burlington has not played since the Feb. 3 power rankings. The Wolves continue a three-game road trip this week (at Essex and St. Johnsbury).
5. St. Johnsbury Academy
Record: 11-4
Feb. 3 ranking: 5
▶ Like South Burlington, St. Johnsbury also has not resumed action since last week’s rankings. But the Hilltoppers have a big week upcoming: vs. South Burlington and Rice.
6. Hartford High School
Record: 13-3
Feb. 3 ranking: 6
▶ Riding a five-game winning streak, Hartford is ready for one of its biggest challenges of the season: A home game vs. Fair Haven on Tuesday (see Games to Watch below).
7. Fair Haven Union High School
Record: 11-4
Feb. 3 ranking: 10
▶ Power forward Phil Bean, on this week’s boys athlete of the week ballot, has helped the Slaters build a five-game winning streak, highlighted by last week’s 56-50 home decision over Rutland.
8. Rutland High School
Record: 11-5
Feb. 3 ranking: 7
▶ Rutland rebounded from the Fair Haven defeat with a resounding, 62-37 win over Burr and Burton on Monday night.
9. Mount Mansfield Union High School
Record: 9-6
Feb. 3 ranking: 8
▶ The Cougars were another team affected by Thursday’s postponements due to weather and will resume their slate Tuesday vs. St. Johnsbury.
10. White River Valley High School
Record: 16-0
Feb. 3 ranking: 9
▶ The Wildcats torched Twin Valley for a season-high 105 points and also toppled Woodstock 59-41.
On the bubble
Harwood, Hazen, Otter Valley, West Rutland.
Games to watch
St. Johnsbury at Mount Mansfield, 7 p.m. Tuesday: St. Johnsbury won the first matchup 68-51.
Fair Haven at Hartford, 7 p.m. Tuesday: A heavyweight showdown between two Division II title contenders.
South Burlington at St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. Thursday: The Wolves took Round 1 vs SJA, a 59-48 win last month.
West Rutland at White River Valley, 2:30 p.m. Saturday: West Rutland will likely bring a nine-game winning streak into town vs undefeated White River Valley.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.