Gameday Boys Basketball Power Poll - Feb. 4
STERLING, VA - It's the same familiar faces at the top of the Power Poll, and the usual shakeups at the bottom. For 1st place TC Williams, they again impressed against a national power, and are continually giving fans hope that they could be the team to end the Northern Region's 27 year state title drought.
In the Cardinal District, things are getting even more intense as there are four teams that could claim to be in the Power Poll. Two of them, Potomac and Freedom-Woodbridge, got off to lackluster starts but are now hanging with the best of them. All in all, it makes for quite an interesting district race that consists of some darn good basketball teams.
Out in the Liberty, they are again mixing things up, which has completely dropped out our previous #8 Madison, but rose up the status of Langley and Woodson. For those paying attention, Madison leaving the Power Poll means there is an opening. To fill in the 10th spot is the Judges of John Handley high school. Winning consistently for nearly the past two months, with the exception of the loss to top AA power Millbrook, we've decided to give the Judges their fair shake. Of course, all of our honorable mention teams from last week lost, making the decision a bit easier for us here at Gameday.
Remember, district tournament play starts up soon which is when the poll could need some major reconstructive surgery. So enjoy now your newest installment of the Gameday Power Poll!
1. T.C. WILLIAMS 15-3
Previous: 1
Next Up: at West Springfield (2/5); at South County (2/8)
The Titans pillaged the Northern Virginia, yet again, as they took down Patriot District powers Annandale and R.E. Lee. However, upon traveling to Richmond last Friday night, and crossing paths with national power Benedictine, the Titans again fell short of an upset by a couple baskets. Make this two games in a row where T.C. Williams has fallen short to nationally recognized teams by a few possessions. So while the Titans may have lost this week, there's no reason to ever doubt this is the best team in our area, in spite of their 3 losses on the season.
2. CHANTILLY 16-1
Previous: 2
Next Up: vs. Robinson (2/5); vs. Herndon (2/7)
The Chargers stay put at the number 2 spot as they continue to roll right on through their Concorde District schedule. Wins over Fairfax and Oakton push Chantilly to 16-1, and are one loss away from being undefeated and grabbing a #1 overall spot. Their lone loss on the year, however, came at the hands of Robinson, a team they play this Tuesday. Expect revenge to be sweet for the Chargers as they are on a collision course with #3 Westfield next week.
3. WESTFIELD 15-2
Previous: 3
Next Up: vs. Centreville (2/5); at Robinson (2/8)
Just like Chantilly, the Bulldogs keep on rolling through their Concorde District schedule. Like we stated above, Westfield is on a collision course with their friendly rivals of Chantilly. Until that date comes, the Bulldogs have a test with Robinson, but earlier in the year dismissed them by a whopping 30 points in a 76-46 victory.
4. MILLBROOK 18-1
Previous: 5
Next Up: at Sherando (2/5); at Brentsville (2/8)
After Millbrook's big win over Handley, it seemed the Pioneers were caught napping against Central and won by only nine points, instead of their usual 20. However many fans are used to seeing Millbrook clobber their opponents, the Pioneers do continue to win and move up one spot as a result.
5. LANGLEY 16-2
Previous: 6
Next Up: vs. Jefferson (2/4); at Madison (2/7)
Langley again pulled out a tight win over South Lakes, this time winning by two points. The Saxons now improve to 16-2 and are looking more and more to be a championship contender each time they take the court. Despite playing in the ultra-tough Liberty District, Langley has managed to post a 16-2 record, making them seem all the more legitimate.
6. WOODSON 13-5
Previous: 9
Next Up: vs. #8 South Lakes (2/4); vs. Jefferson (2/7)
Another week goes by and Woodson picks up two more wins. Make that 9 wins in the last 10 games for the Cavaliers who appear to be hotter than hot. Remember, many predicted this team, at the beginning of the year, to contend for a region title, and it appears Woodson is now at that level. This is one team that should be fun to watch the rest of the way.
7. GAR-FIELD 13-4
Previous: 10
Next Up: at Potomac (2/5); at #9 Hylton (2/8)
Gar-Field moves up three spots after winning by a combined 50 points over Forest Park and Woodbridge last week. Yet don't expect things to be so easy this week for the Indians. With match-ups against upset capable Potomac and the rematch with #9 Hylton, the Indians will have their hands full.
8. SOUTH LAKES 14-4
Previous: 7
Next Up: at #6 Woodson (2/4); vs. Marshall (2/7)
South Lakes drops one spot after losing to #6 Langley, but on the other side of the token, they went out and demolished former #8 Madison by 20 points. Despite the loss to Langley, this is still a front-running team in the Liberty and even the region. Every week, this team is hanging in the back of the Power Poll, but still manages to get the job done against quality opponents.
9. HYLTON 12-4
Previous: 4
Next Up: vs. Woodbridge; vs. #7 Gar-Field (2/8)
The Bulldogs became the latest victim to the red hot Freedom-Woodbridge Eagles, and as a result they again drop, this time five spots to #9. This team is starting to scare us a bit about their ability to contend as they've now lost two in a row since beating #7 Gar-Field. Yet a rematch against their rivals from Gar-Field on Friday will tell us a lot about the current state of this team.
10. HANDLEY 11-4
Previous: NR
Up Next: vs. Sherando (2/5); vs. Brentsville (2/7)
With the tenth spot up for grabs this week, it was the Judges rushing in to take it. Every school in our honorable mention lost this week except for Handley, thus paving the way for them to enter the Power Poll. Their wins came over Skyline and Warren County, and did so in dominating fashion, as they won by a combined 52 points. With Sherando and Brentsville up next for this team, expect them to continue to roll.
HONORABLE MENTION:
MADISON 15-4: Previously ranked #8, the Warhawks drop out of the Top 10 by virtue of their 20 point loss to then #7 South Lakes last week, but theystay on our radar as a team that may still shake things up in the Liberty district, and we could see them right back in the mix.
HAYFIELD 12-5: The Hawks right now are soaring as evidenced by their four game win streak and critical win over Lake Braddock. We're putting this team high up on the honorable mention due to their body of work over the last several weeks and we look forward to see how they do in the brutal Patriot District.
FREEDOM-WOODBRIDGE 10-7: Continuing their hot surge, Freedom-Woodbridge went out and dethroned another top Northwest Region team, and this time their victim was Hylton. Yet, only a couple days later, Potomac knocked the Eagles off their pedestal and can blame that loss as to why they are not currently in the Top 10. The silver lining in all this, however, is that they are in 1st place in the Cardinal District.
LOUDOUN VALLEY 13-4: Losing a crucial game to first-place Osbourn Park, the Vikings, much like Freedom-Woodbridge, will not enter the Top 10. A big win over Liberty however keeps them in contention for entrance into the poll, but to gain acceptance, it'll likely take a deep run into their district playoffs.
HERITAGE 9-7: It seems that a "Power Poll curse" resides over every Dulles District team. The curse's first victim was Loudoun County, then it was Park View, and up next is Heritage. They have two huge games against Loudoun Valley and Broad Run, and judging by past history, this Gameday staff writer is betting the curse strikes again over another Dulles team...this time Heritage.
ANNANDALE 10-7: After going to town on all their tough Patriot District opponents, the Atoms fell eight points short to #1 TC Williams. We still like this team to do well, as it takes some serious skill to be in second-place in the Patriot, so we'll leave them hanging out at the bottom and see how they materialize. But, one word is key to their rise... Defense! The Atoms are one of the top scoring teams in the Northern Region, but rank only 7th out of the 8 team Patriot District, on defense.
