Mother Nature remains undefeated.
Last weekend’s snow storm wreaked havoc on some important games in this week’s Western Massachusetts boys basketball slate, and it probably won’t be the last time games are halted this winter due to weather (see this upcoming weekend, potentially).
The top of our rankings stayed the same, though league title races are heating up across the region. Add in teams trying to get on the right side of the state tournament bubble, and there’s a lot on the line over the course of the next three weeks.
With that in mind, here is our Top 20 rankings. Just a reminder that these are released every Wednesday morning (current record, previous ranking in parentheses).
If there are missing statistics, coaches can please send them to sports@masslive.com
Previous rankings: Jan. 21, Jan. 14, Jan. 7, Dec. 20, Preseason
- Pope Francis (12-2, No. 1)
- Springfield Central (8-4, No. 2)
- Chicopee Comp (10-2, No. 3)
- Sci-Tech (9-3, No. 4)
- Longmeadow (9-3, No. 6)
- Agawam (7-7, No. 5)
- Wahconah (11-2, No. 8)
- Amherst (8-5, No. 7)
- Minnechaug (7-5, No. 9)
- Drury (11-2, No. 10)
- Putnam (3-10, No. 12)
- Holyoke (2-7, No. 13)
- Pittsfield (8-5, No. 11)
- East Longmeadow (9-3, No. 14)
- Frontier (14-1, No. 15)
- Monument Mountain (8-6, No. 19)
- Northampton (5-6, No. 16)
- Hoosac Valley (7-6, NR)
- Mount Everett (12-2, No. 18)
- Belchertown (7-6, NR)
NEXT TEAMS UP: South Hadley, Commerce, Chicopee, Easthampton, Libertas Academy, Baystate Academy
IN: Hoosac Valley, Belchertown
OUT: Commerce, South Hadley
No changes at the top, and overall not a ton of movement as many teams only played one game and some didn’t play at all since last week.
Monument Mountain moved up a few spots as the Spartans won six games in a row after a 2-5 start prior to Tuesday’s loss to Drury. That streak includes wins over ranked teams in South Hadley, Pittsfield and Hoosac Valley. Monument has climbed all the way to No. 12 in the most recent MIAA Division IV power rankings as a result.
Hoosac Valley jumps into the top 20 after three straight wins over Mount Everett, Lee and Taconic, showcasing the depth of the Berkshire League as five of its six teams are inside our top 20 right now.
Belchertown also slides into the rankings after back-to-back wins over Westfield and Commerce has the Orioles back above the .500 mark.
Commerce has dropped three games in a row, though injuries have plagued the Raiders during that stretch and with key players expected back this week, they can climb right back into the rankings with a win or two. South Hadley’s loss to West Springfield on Tuesday also bumped the Tigers just outside the top 20.
