Here’s a brand spanking new venture for you.
It’s our first District 3 girls’ basketball power poll.
Each week, a ranking of the top 12 squads around the district — all classes, all leagues.
These are the teams we think should make the deepest runs in the upcoming District 3 tournament, and how they stack up against the field.
Here’s our first list, with school, league and overall record through Jan. 12.
And away we go ...
1. Cumberland Valley (Mid-Penn Commonwealth, 10-1) — Yes, we know all about the loss at CD East, but the Eagles have soared since, with five wins in a row, including the bracket title at the Diamond State Classic in Delaware over the holidays, and a win over Spring-Ford on Sunday in a rematch of the last two PIAA-AAAA championship games. CV is No. 1 in the state in our rankings and they are the reigning PIAA champs with four starters back, including Villanova commit Kelly Jekot. It’s tough not to put them No. 1 here.
2. CD East (Mid-Penn Commonwealth, 12-0) — Panthers are undefeated, including that sparkling 53-46 triumph over CV on Dec. 23. The rematch is Jan. 26 at CV. Circle it. Panthers simply can’t get caught looking ahead to the Eagles. Fun bunch, with size and athleticism aplenty.
3. Palmyra (Mid-Penn Keystone, 13-0) — We figured the Cougars would be in great shape with four starters back from last year’s PIAA-AAA semifinal squad, and so far so good for Palmyra, the solo leader in the Keystone. The real fun begins in a month for this group, which popped up to Class AAAA this season. That means potential district showdowns with the two teams ranked ahead of them. And wouldn’t that be fun?
4. Red Lion (York/Adams Division I, 11-2) — This is where it starts to get tricky, but we really like the way the Lions have been percolating lately, so we’ll put them on the 4-line. Red Lion has romped to 10 wins in a row after a 1-2 start. Those losses were to CD East and Red Land back in early December. Ever since, the Lions have roared, with wins over CB East, Cocalico, New Oxford (which just knocked off Delone Catholic) and Dallastown. The YAIAA playoffs should be mighty entertaining.
5. Mechanicsburg (Mid-Penn Keystone, 12-1) — The Wildcats have rattled off 10 wins in a row since a 44-39 setback against Keystone rival Palmyra back on Dec. 9. That rematch is Tuesday night at Palmyra. Strong, fundamentally sound team; ‘Cats won’t wow you with a lot of points or a run-and-gun attack. But they’re solid as heck on both ends.
6. West York (York/Adams Division II, 12-0) — It’s our first Class AAA selection, and the Bulldogs are sailing right along without a dent in the L column. Tricky nonleague games against Bishop McDevitt and York Catholic are still out there. Can West York run the table? We shall see.
7. West Perry (Mid-Penn Capital, 13-1) — Just one loss for the reigning District 3-AAA champs, a 39-31 setback at Middletown last week. Other than that, the Mustangs pretty much picked up right where they left off last year, when they won district gold and went to the PIAA quarterfinals.
8. Delone Catholic (York/Adams, Division III, 11-2) — It’s our first Class AA selection, and the Squirettes get the nod since they beat rival York Catholic 54-47 back on Dec. 19. That rematch is Jan. 23 at York Catholic; hang a couple of stars next to that one. Wins include a 46-32 victory over District 6-A kingpin Blairsville, which is really good. Losses are to state-ranked Bishop Guilfoyle and to New Oxford, by 8, last Saturday.
9. Berks Catholic (Berks Section 2, 11-2) — A solid start for the Class AAA Saints, who have played York Catholic twice already; Fighting Irish won 60-58 in OT in Central York’s holiday tourney finale, but Berks Catholic got some payback, 49-46, in a nonleague clash last Saturday. Tack on wins over a team from California and a team from Florida in the KSA Events Holiday Tournament in Orlando over the holidays, and we like what the Saints are up to.
10. York Catholic (York/Adams, Division III, 10-2) — We’ll put the nine-time reigning District 3-AA champs on the 10-line and right behind Delone, since those two will be chasing one another for division, league and district titles in the coming weeks. Fighting Irish are a different animal when the calendar flips to February.
11. Greencastle-Antrim (Mid-Penn Colonial, 11-1) — Class AAA Blue Devils have won three in a row since a 44-38 setback against Dallastown in Lower Dauphin’s holiday tourney. G-A is going for back-to-back Colonial crowns, and gets contenders James Buchanan and Boiling Springs this week — plus a nonleague game against Delone on Saturday.
12. Halifax (Tri-Valley League East, 10-4) — The trouble with ranking teams from all classes is trying to figure out where to put the Class A squads. This Class A team definitely belongs on the list. Halifax is the reigning District 3 runner-up and has spent a good chunk of the season in our state rankings. Wildcats are a heavy favorite to finish the job at Hershey’s Giant Center this time around.
