Every team’s goal at the beginning of the year is to make it Patrick Gymnasium or the Barre Auditorium, where the Vermont Div. I and Div. II-IV basketball championships are held every year.
Once the calendar turns to January, the picture begins to become less fuzzy on what teams may have a chance to accomplish that feat.
On the boys basketball side, many of the common Division I names at the top of the standings have remained the same as last year. Teams like Burlington, Rice, South Burlington and Rutland, among a few others, have proven their success to be sustainable.
Let’s jump into the first installment of our Vermont power rankings for the regular season.
1. Burlington
Record: 2-0
Last rank: 1
Next game: at South Burlington, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.
Burlington is the defending Division I state champion and has shown no signs of slowing this year, despite a major transfer to one of its biggest rivals. The Seahorses beat defending Division II champion Montpelier to open the season, but their most impressive win is their most recent, where they topped CVU 60-50 on Tuesday. Sawyer Judkins was a standout in that game, scoring 22 points and going perfect at the foul line.
2. Rice
Record: 4-0
Last rank: 2
Next game: at Colchester, Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Rice has been a constant in the Division I state title picture for a long time and that doesn’t appear to be changing. The Green Knights have already racked up a pair of wins against quality Division I opponents, topping Burr and Burton Academy and St. Johnsbury. Both those wins came by double figures. The schedule-makers are making hoops fans wait for their showdown with Burlington as the teams don’t square off until Jan. 23.
3. South Burlington
Record: 2-0
Last rank: 4
Next game: vs. Burlington, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.
South Burlington has won a pair of games against Division II opponents thus far and both were double-digit victories, including a blowout win against defending Div. II champion Montpelier. The schedule will ramp up soon, especially with Burlington coming to town this weekend. South Burlington got to Patrick last year and has the depth to make it happen again if it stays the course.
4. Hartford
Record: 7-0
Last rank: 6
Next game: vs. Middlebury, Jan. 3 at 4:30 p.m.
Hartford has been knocking on the door of a Division II state championship in past years, and if the early season is any indication, the Hurricanes are determined to do so this year. The Hurricanes’ most recent win was by 11 points against U-32 on Tuesday, which by their standards this season was a close game. Hartford moved up to the Southern Vermont League’s A Division this year to get higher level of competition and that means a pair of games against Div. I contenders Rutland and Burr and Burton Academy.
5. Rutland
Record: 3-1
Last rank: 3
Next game: at Saratoga Springs (N.Y.), Jan. 2 at 2:15 p.m.
Rutland’s only loss of the regular season came by five points in its opener against CVU. Dominance hasn’t been the team’s calling card with two of its wins by single digits, but Rutland made a nice statement on Tuesday, earning its first blowout win of the season over rival Brattleboro. Big man Cooper Sparks scored 24 points, and the team has very solid depth around him. The game against Saratoga Springs could be interesting as the Blue Streaks are winners of two straight.
6. Burr and Burton Academy
Record: 5-1
Last rank: NR
Next game: at CVU, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.
Burr and Burton Academy is one of the teams that isn’t often in Division I contention but could be breaking into that tier this season. The Bulldogs’ biggest win came against CVU in Rutland’s North-South Challenge. They bounced back nicely from their lone loss of the season to Rice. The SVL-A will be interesting with BBA, Rutland and Hartford battling.
7. CVU
Record: 2-2
Last rank: NR
Next game: vs Mount Mansfield, Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
CVU is a younger team but has looked well ahead of schedule with how well it has competed this year. The Redhawks’ best win remains their first one, over Rutland in their own event to open the season. Junior guard Owen Scott was excellent shooting the ball in that game. CVU will be trying to snap a two-game skid the next time out.
8. St. Johnsbury
Record: 2-2
Last rank: 5
Next game: vs BFA-St. Albans, Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Both of St. Johnsbury’s wins came against Brattleboro, so the Hilltoppers will need to earn more impressive victories to really establish themselves as a contender. They showed a ton of fight down the stretch in their loss to Rutland, so the potential is there to be a dangerous team. The game with BFA-St. Albans should be interesting and a win could solidify their spot as a team to watch.
9. BFA-St. Albans
Record: 4-0
Last rank: NR
Next game: at St. Johnsbury, Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
BFA-St. Albans had beaten three lower division opponents to open the season, but Tuesday’s eight-point win against Division I Essex showed it can be dangerous against its own division as well. The Metro Division games are about come quick so the Bobwhites will be tested if they want to keep winning. If BFA can knock some of their upcoming opponents off, it could shoot up these rankings.
10. Mount Mansfield
Record: 3-1
Last rank: NR
Next game: at CVU, Jan. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Mount Mansfield suffered its first loss of the regular season on Tuesday, falling by a single point to Colchester. The Cougars have been pretty consistently strong, beating their first three opponents by double figures. Similar to BFA, it will be interesting to see how Mount Mansfield fairs against Division I’s best teams. They will see many of them in a gauntlet of a Metro Division schedule.
Dropped out: Montpelier, Harwood Union, Fair Haven, Otter Valley
