Gameday Boys Basketball Power Poll - Jan. 21
STERLING, VA - Now that we're in the middle of District play for every team, let's just say the Dulles, Liberty, and Patriot Districts are making things frustrating. Can a team please step up and take control?!? Is it that hard!?! Wait, I take that back... TC Williams is one team who has finally controlled their own District. Heck, they just took a national powerhouse into double-overtime this past week.
But in all seriousness, the Liberty, Dulles, and Patriot Districts are madhouses. Each District features five teams that can win on any given night and that's made for some entertaining basketball. Football can't say the same thing as it seems to be a very top-heavy sport, but not so in basketball. Anything goes around here, and it's certainly made the Power Poll a very entertaining beast to control. Do we punish a team that plays in a brutal District? Do we reward a team with a weaker District schedule that can rack up easy wins? It's a tough call, but hopefully we get it right. Conversely, it doesn't seem to matter if we do, or not, because the way things are going in Northern Virginia basketball this season, what you see below will undoubtedly change by this time next week.
So here before you is the Gameday Boys Basketball Power Poll - v2. Take a look at where the Northern Virginia area's Best stack up this week. And don't worry if you disagree...because we guarantee it will change.
1. HYLTON 11-2
Previous: 3
Next Up: at Potomac (1/25)
Jumping into our #1 spot are the Hylton Bulldogs. And when we talk about state title contenders, people might want to start throwing Hylton's name in that discussion. They've now successfully established themselves as the kings of Prince William County, and they now seriously look to be a contender. Their victory over #8 Gar-Field last Friday again proved to everyone this team is for real. A game against traditional power, and rival, Potomac, looms large for this team this Friday, and you can bet a win then will help continue to raise this team's stock.
2. TC WILLIAMS 11-2
Previous: 5
Next Up: vs. Hayfield (1/22); at West Potomac (1/25)
The Titans in the past week have easily cemented themselves as the best team in the Northern Region, and are rapidly moving towards the top of the Poll. In taking previously nationally ranked Montrose Christian (a team with 7 D1 recruits) to double-overtime, the Titans looked every bit the state title contender this area has been lacking. Avoiding any lapse from that thriller, TC then easily took care of West Springfield, South County, and Lake Braddock. Two tough contests versus Hayfield and West Potomac are ahead for this team, but as of now, this is the most dominant team in the Northern Region.
3. CHANTILLY 13-1
Previous: 2
Next Up: at Centreville (1/25)
A week after having their perfect season ruined by Robinson, and facing a huge drop in the Power Poll, Chantilly responded with huge wins over Herndon and previously #1 ranked Westfield. Helping put to rest any doubts about this team, Chantilly again looks to be a top contender for the Northern Region title. While they won't go up against the likes of TC Williams during the regular season, the Chargers appear to be the Titans' #1 challenger for a state title, at this point.
4. WESTFIELD 12-2
Previous: 1
Next Up: vs. Herndon (1/22)
After previously occupying the top spot in our Power Poll, Westfield drops three spots following their 13 point loss to Chantilly. The silver lining in all this, however, is if they successfully take out Herndon and everyone below them in the Concorde, they will still find themselves with a high ranking. Their rematch against Chantilly, meanwhile, will probably be their biggest game of the year. A win gets them a shot at the top spot, while letting them regain their status as best in the Concorde.
5. MILLBROOK 14-1
Previous: 4
Next Up: at Skyline (1/22); vs. Handley (1/25)
The one team in the Power Poll who looked to have a serious chance at finishing the season undefeated was the Pioneers of Millbrook. Yet, a loss to Jefferson (WV) dashed any hopes this team had of finishing the season perfect. Also of note, the one thing holding this team back from moving up is their weak schedule. Make no doubt about it though, this team could hang with any of the AAA powers in our area. No AA school up to this point has come close to touching Millbrook and that trend will likely continue until they advance farther on in the playoffs.
6. LANGLEY 12-2
Previous: 10
Next Up: vs. Marshall (1/22); at McLean (1/25)
Langley just continues to impress. Beating #7 ranked Madison last week, the Saxons look to be the best team in the Liberty and that says a lot, seeing as three Liberty District teams currently reside in the Power Poll. Langley, however, did lose to Woodson in the past week and that has prevented them from moving up any higher in the poll. A huge rematch with bitter rival McLean is up next, and another loss there might raise serious doubts about this team's ability to go far in regionals.
7. MADISON 12-2
Previous: 7
Next Up: vs. Woodson (1/22); vs. Marshall (1/25)
Madison stays in the 7 spot, thanks in part to their loss to #6 Langley. They rose a few notches after losses by teams ahead of them, but the Saxon loss put them right back where they started. With a game against Woodson on Tuesday, a loss there would put this team in serious jeopardy of staying in the Power Poll. Yet this is a quality team with only two blemishes on their record up to this point, so don't expect them to go away anytime soon. The Liberty right now is a jumbled mess of 4 highly ranked teams, so anything could happen from here on out (see Dulles and Patriot District).
8. GAR-FIELD 11-3
Previous: 8
Next Up: at Freedom-Woodbridge (1/25)
Gar-Field came within a last second shot against Hylton of being in the #4 spot in our Power Poll. Yet solid wins earlier in the week against Potomac and Woodbridge ensure this team won't drop any in the rankings. Don't look for this team to go away anytime soon, either. Assuming they take care of business against Freedom-Woodbridge and Potomac, this team will be moving into, and staying in, the top five all year.
9. SOUTH LAKES 11-3
Previous: NR
Next Up: at McLean (1/22); vs. Jefferson (1/25)
A team that has come on strong of late has been the Seahawks. Winning against Woodson, Marshall, and Stone Bridge, the Seahawks have gained entrance to the Power Poll. As we said with Madison, we could see a team like South Lakes shuffle in and out of the rankings for the rest of the year. For now though, this team is hitting its stride and is a one point loss away (against Langley) from a possible top-five spot in the Poll.
10. LOUDOUN COUNTY 12-3
Previous: NR
Next Up: vs. Park View
Welcome to the Show, Raider Nation! This is our favorite to take the Dulles District crown. With an impressive 12-3 record, they've won 4 of their last 5 and also look to be that one team that can win consistently. They are also the one team with a win against a quality AAA team in Loudoun Valley. But whether it be Loudoun County or any other team in the Dulles (currently 4 teams are tied for the lead), if there's a team that can win night in and night out, they will certainly garner serious interest to enter the Power Poll. Their staying power will be put to the test however when they go up against Park View on Thursday.
HONORABLE MENTION
HAYFIELD 8-4: With nearly every Patriot District team taking a beating, the one team who emerged with the least damage was Hayfield. Beating Lee and West Potomac certainly helped their cause, but losing to upstart Annandale leaves this team licking its wounds. Luckily for Hayfield, everyone has been losing to Annandale recently, so Hayfield ends up looking not so bad. Keep in mind this is a young team, so they can only get better as the year goes on.
WOODSON 9-5: In what might be the most underappreciated team in the whole area, Woodson is finally making its comeback. Last week's win over Langley, and dominant wins against Jefferson and McLean, prove that point. Keep in mind Woodson has lost to national power Bishop O'Connell, DC power Dunbar, and 2 teams ranked in the Power Poll. So that 9-5 record is hardly indicative of how good Woodson really is.
HANDLEY 9-3: Don't look now, but here come da Judges! Playing their best basketball at the right time of the year, Handley sits at 5-1 in the Northwest district, behind #5 Millbrook. A big game with the Pioneers is coming up this week.
LOUDOUN VALLEY 9-3: (OK...we know we are going to feel some heat with this one...) What is killing this team right now is their ability to beat a big name team. Losing to Culpeper certainly hurt in helping this team climb into the Power Poll, and their weak schedule will also certainly hurt their cause. Other losses to Osbourn Park and #10 Loudoun County makes it tough to put this team up in the Power Poll, despite their 9-3 record. Yet future wins (all rematches) against Liberty, Culpeper, and Osbourn Park, as well as no losses to AA teams along the way, will give this team a strong case to be included. Until then, we will play the waiting game with this team.
