It’s our second District 3 girls’ basketball Top 12 Power Poll.
There are some changes this week, with New Oxford and Lancaster Catholic joining the list.
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.
1. Cumberland Valley (Mid-Penn Commonwealth, last week: 1, 13-1) — Eagles are sailing along with eight wins in a row since a 53-46 loss at CD East back on Dec. 23. This week: Commonwealth clashes against Central Dauphin, Chambersburg and Mifflin County. Also circle: Jan. 26 vs. CD East, Jan. 31 vs. Parkland and Feb. 7 vs. Mt. Lebanon.
2. CD East (Mid-Penn Commonwealth, last week: 2, 14-0) — Got some national love from USA Today last week, and open this week as the only undefeated team in the Mid-Penn. This week: Commonwealth games at Mifflin County and against Chambersburg, and a nonleague makeup game Saturday at Altoona, a pesky District 6 club.
3. Mechanicsburg (Mid-Penn Keystone, last week: 5, 15-1) — Bumped the Wildcats up a couple of notches after Mechanicsburg bumped off previously undefeated Palmyra 29-26 last Tuesday. Wildcats have won 13 games in a row since only loss, Dec. 9 vs. Palmyra. This week: A couple of tricky Keystone contests, at Red Land and home with Cedar Cliff.
4. Palmyra (Mid-Penn Keystone, last week: 3, 15-1) — Knocked the Cougars down a spot after the loss to Mechanicsburg last week, but Palmyra rallied nicely with wins over Red Land and Cocalico; the latter, on Saturday, was skipper Ron Berman’s 300th as Cougars’ coach. This week: Keystone games vs. Hershey and at Susquehanna Twp.
5. West York (York/Adams Division II, last week: 6, 14-0) — Three wins last week, including a 7-point victory over
Dallastown to remain undefeated; Bulldogs are the only unbeaten squad in York/Adams. This week: Y/A DII games at Susquehannock and at York Suburban, which is in second place behind West York, so circle that one. Bulldogs are also in Red Lion’s showcase on Saturday.
6. Delone Catholic (York/Adams Division III, last week: 8, 14-2) — Squirettes put the 4-point loss to New Oxford on Jan. 10 behind them with three wins last week, including a 20-point nonleague W over Greencastle-Antrim. This week: Busy week for Delone with four games: At Eastern York, Littlestown, the big rematch at York Catholic and a date in Red Lion’s showcase on Saturday.
7. York Catholic (York/Adams Division III, last week: 10, 13-2) — Three wins in a row for the Fighting Irish since a 3-point setback vs. Berks Catholic on Jan. 10, including a 1-point nail-biter over Dallastown. Rematch vs. Delone is Friday. Hang a couple of stars next to that one. Saturday vs. Steel-High is also an intriguing nonleague matchup this week.
8. West Perry (Mid-Penn Capital, last week: 7, 14-2) — Slipped into a gnarly 3-way tie for the Capital lead after a 40-35 loss to Trinity on Friday, but still in line for a conference crown, while prepping for a repeat run in the district playoffs. This week: Milton Hershey and Steel-High in Capital games, and an intriguing trip to undefeated Juniata for a nonleague clash on Wednesday.
9. New Oxford (York/Adams Division I, last week: NR, 13-2) — The win over Delone got everyone’s attention, and the Colonials hit the week riding a 5-game winning streak. This week: Division I dates with Spring Grove and Dallastown (circle that one) and a spot in Red Lion’s showcase on Saturday.
10. Lancaster Catholic (L-L League Section 4, last week: NR, 13-2) — Crusaders are coming off a 4-0 week that saw them win twice in overtime, and by a grand total of six points in the four games. They also clinched their fifth outright Section 4 championship in a row. Hard to believe, but Lancaster Catholic already has a spot in the L-L playoff bracket, and they’re awaiting their quarterfinal foe (the Section 1 runner-up). This week: Section 4 games at Lancaster Mennonite and vs. Lebanon Catholic, plus a nonleague date vs. Section 1 entrant Penn Manor.
11. Greencastle-Antrim (Mid-Penn Colonial, last week: 11, 13-2) — Suffered a 20-point loss at No. 6 Delone last Saturday, but still large and in charge in the Colonial race — and a return trip to the Mid-Penn playoffs. This week: Colonial clashes at Waynesboro and vs. Big Spring, which is in a fight with Boiling Springs and James Buchanan for second place, behind the Blue Devils.
12. Halifax (Tri-Valley League East, last week: 12, 11-4) — Our pick to win District 3-A honors stays on the 12-line after a bounce-back win over Millersburg last Thursday. This week: Three games for the Wildcats, all on the road: Greenwood, Lancaster Country Day and East Juniata. Also circle Jan. 28 against Susquenita and Feb. 2 vs. East Pennsboro.
