After three ranked teams suffered losses last week, this week’s PennLive girls’ basketball District 3-AAA rankings look a tad different.
These rankings are based on our observations, and have nothing to do with power points, which the good folks at District 3 use to set up the playoff brackets.
Here’s our Class AAA picks for this week …
1. West Perry (11-0, Mid-Penn Capital, last week: 1) — Coach Scott Moyer’s Mustangs are sailing right along with zero setbacks, and West Perry’s holiday schedule included a pair of wins and the Northeastern York holiday tourney title, plus a nonleague victory over Boiling Springs on Saturday. Steady as she goes for the reigning District 3-AAA champs, who will get three big tests this week: Tuesday at Middletown, Wednesday vs. Susquenita and Friday vs. Camp Hill. All terrific games.
2. West York (9-0, York/Adams Division II, last week: 4) — Bumped the Bulldogs up a couple of spots when Greencastle-Antrim and Lancaster Catholic suffered losses; coach Darrell Wildasin and Co. have certainly earned this spot. West York is undefeated after a pair of wipeout wins to claim York Suburban’s holiday tourney. Go ahead and circle Jan. 12, when the Bulldogs are at Class AAAA No. 7 Dallastown.
3. Greencastle-Antrim (10-1, Mid-Penn Colonial, last week: 2) — Dropped coach Mike Rhine and crew a couple of spots after the Blue Devils fell to Dallastown in Lower Dauphin’s holiday tourney. G-A rebounded with wins over Dover and East Pennsboro — and they’re still out from in the Colonial — starting a new winning streak.
4. Lancaster Catholic (7-2, L-L League Section 4, last week: 3) — Knocked coach Charlie Detz and crew down one peg after the Crusaders dropped a nonleague decision to Class AA No. 3 Trinity on Saturday. Hardly a bad loss for Lancaster Catholic, which is in the driver’s seat in the Section 4 race, and looking to go on a nice run to cap the regular season.
5. Berks Catholic (8-2, Berks Section 2, last week: 5) — Status quo for Bob Birmingham and his Saints, who pushed Class AA No. 2 York Catholic to OT before falling 60-58 in Central York’s holiday tourney finale.
6. Fleetwood (7-2, Berks Section 2, last week: 8) — Coach Matt Kellett and his Tigers are on the prowl after a 2-0 week, including a solid 49-47 win over Exeter on Saturday. Fleetwood’s week ahead: Berks Catholic on Tuesday and Conrad Weiser on Friday. Whew.
7. Conrad Weiser (8-3, Berks Section 2, last week: 7) — We kept coach Mark Owens and his Scouts on the 7-line, despite a loss to Class AAAA No. 9 Cedar Crest in Eastern York’s holiday tourney title game. Circle Fleetwood game on Friday.
8. Middletown (8-4, Mid-Penn Capital, last week: 6) — Bumped coach Ron Stetler and the Blue Raiders down a couple of spots after losing two of their last four games, including a 12-point setback to Hershey in the Trojans’ holiday tourney final. Big week for Middletown, which gets Class AAA No. 1 West Perry on Tuesday and Class AA honorable mention Steel-High on Friday.
9. Susquenita (7-2, Tri-Valley League West, last week: 9) — Blackhawks had an interesting holiday tourney experience, playing — and winning — two games on the same day. Nita beat Brandywine Heights (58-42) and Kutztown (71-30) on Dec. 30. Tester week for the Blackhawks, with a TVL first-place game at Juniata on Tuesday, before a nonleague scrap with Class AAA No. 1 West Perry on Wednesday.
10. Donegal (9-2, L-L League Section 3, last week: HM) — Indians crash the top-10 party after beating Class AAAA honorable mention Cocalico 49-42 last Friday, snapping a tie and taking over sole possession of first place in Section 3 in the process. Coach Chadd Ward’s club can D you up, and they’re a splitting headache in transition.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bishop McDevitt (5-3, Mid-Penn Keystone), Northeastern (7-3, York/Adams Division II), York Suburban (7-3, York/Adams Division II).
