The PennLive girls’ basketball Class AAA state rankings got a bit of an overhaul this week.
That’s what happens when one team suffers a season-ending loss, and four other teams fall in their respective district playoffs.
Yeah, it was a crazy week in Class AAA; previously undefeated Hickory lost in the District 10 semifinals and saw its season end on the spot; Scranton Prep lost in the District 2 semifinals; previously unbeaten West York lost in the District 3 semifinals; Mercyhurst Prep lost in the District 10 finale; Allentown Central Catholic fell in the District 11 title game; and West Perry lost the District 3 third-place game.
So we had to make some changes, including the addition of two new teams, which turned a lot of heads in their respective district playoffs. Say hello to Greencastle-Antrim, which vaulted to No. 5 after winning the District 3 crown. And Honesdale, in at No. 6, after tripping up then-No. 4 Scranton Prep and going on to win the District 2 crown over North Pocono.
Villa Maria got a bump after beating Mercyhurst Prep, which we kept in the top 10 along with Scranton Prep, 1-loss West York and Allentown Central Catholic, which fell to No. 3 Bethlehem Catholic in the D11 title game.
And yes, we’re well aware that No. 2 Archbishop Wood fell to Class AA No. 1 Neumann-Goretti — by a slim 50-45 count — in the Philly Catholic League championship. Simply can’t penalize the Vikings for that; they rebounded nicely with a 32-point win in the District 12 title game vs. Mastery North. So Wood remains on the 2-line and Becahi stay at No. 3.
It’s all going to play itself out, gang. Be patient.
Blackhawk, fresh off another WPIAL crown, holds steady at No. 1.
And a shout-out to Forest Hills, Gwynedd Mercy, Lewisburg and Punxsutawney, which claimed district titles and are on the verge of breaking into the top 10.
Here is our PennLive Class AAA top 10, plus honorable mention selections, through games of Feb. 28, with home district in parenthesis and overall record …
1. Blackhawk (7) 23-3 — previously: 1
2. Archbishop Wood (12) 22-4 — previously: 2
3. Bethlehem Catholic (11) 26-1 — previously: 3
4. Villa Maria (10) 20-5 — previously: 9
5. Greencastle-Antrim (3) 24-3 — previously: HM
6. Honesdale (2) 22-4 — previously: HM
7. Mercyhurst Prep (10) 21-4 — previously: 7
8. Scranton Prep (2) — 24-2 — previously: 4
9. West York (3) 28-1 — previously: 6
10. Allentown Central Catholic (11) 24-3 — previously: 8
HONORABLE MENTION
Athens (4) 22-5, Beaver Area (7) 19-8, Berks Catholic (3) 23-5, Bonner-Prendergast (12) 14-9, Chartiers Valley (7) 20-5, Conrad Weiser (3) 20-8, Elizabeth Forward (7) 19-6, Forest Hills (6) 20-2, Gwynedd Mercy (1) 22-4, Lancaster Catholic (3) 22-5, Lewisburg (4) 15-10, McGuffey (7) 19-8, Merion Mercy (1) 15-10, Northeastern York (3) 18-9, North Pocono (2) 23-3, Philadelphia Mastery North (12) 18-5, Pope John Paul II (1) 19-7, Punxsutawney (9) 16-7, South Fayette (7) 19-7, South Park (7) 15-12, Universal Audenried (12) 17-6, West Perry (3) 22-5.
