Our fourth rankings of the season, which are released every Wednesday morning (current record, previous ranking in parentheses):
Previous rankings: Jan. 7, Dec. 20, Preseason
- Pope Francis (7-1, No. 1)
- Springfield Central (5-2, No. 2)
- Chicopee Comp (6-2, No. 3)
- Sci-Tech (5-2, No. 5)
- Amherst (7-2, No. 8)
- Agawam (5-5, No. 4)
- Longmeadow (5-2, No. 6)
- Minnechaug (5-3, No. 7)
- Wahconah (9-1, No. 12)
- Pittsfield (7-2, No. 13)
- Putnam (2-6, No. 9)
- Drury (8-2, No. 11)
- Holyoke (1-6, No. 10)
- Northampton (4-4, No. 14)
- Frontier (9-1, No. 15)
- East Longmeadow (6-3, No. 17)
- Mount Everett (9-1, No. 19)
- Commerce (7-2, NR)
- Easthampton (7-2, No. 20)
- Ludlow (7-2, NR)
ON THE RADAR: South Hadley, Taconic, Monument Mountain, Chicopee, Renaissance
IN: Ludlow, Commerce
OUT: Taconic, South Hadley
Another week in the books, and there’s not a ton of movement in our Western Mass. Top 20 rankings, as the top three teams remain unchanged.
Pope Francis holds onto the top spot for the third set of rankings in a row, after beating Putnam in its only game over the past week. But the Cardinals will get a tough game at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield on Thursday night, when they battle No. 2 Springfield Central in the nightcap of Day 1 (8:30 p.m. tip).
Those Golden Eagles had only one game this past week as well, though their game at Holyoke was never finished due to an on-court altercation in the second quarter. The status of when and how that game will be finished is still to be determined.
Sci-Tech continues its ascension up our rankings into the No. 4 spot, its highest of the season. I’m excited to watch the Cybercats play No. 11 Putnam at Hoophall on Thursday as well, with tip-off for that Springfield showdown slated for 6:30 p.m.
Other movers and shakers this week include Amherst, which has won five games in a row and vaulted into the No. 5 spot. The Hurricanes play No. 3 Chicopee Comp in a huge independent game on Monday.
Ludlow and Commerce move into our rankings this week as both continue to rack up victories. The Lions are 7-2 and fresh off an out-of-area win over Ashland, while Commerce has stormed to the top of the Bi-County East standings with an unblemished league mark.
