Once the calendar turns to February, Vermont high school basketball teams are knee-deep in their league schedules with the playoff push coming up quickly.
Every now and then, a handful of marquee nonleague games pop on the schedule this time of year, and that was the case with the Division I girls basketball showdown between Mount Mansfield and Rutland on Jan 28.
The game pitted squads with a combined one loss head-to-head, so thoughts of a potential state championship between the two were sure to pop up for Vermont hoop heads.
It was Mount Mansfield coming out with a convincing victory over Rutland, handing RHS its first loss of the season. The victory is the catalyst to put MMU back in the top spot in this week’s Vermont girls Top 10.
1. Mount Mansfield (14-1)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: at South Burlington, Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m.
Mount Mansfield has been rolling since its first loss of the season against St. Johnsbury. Since that tight loss, MMU has won seven games in a row in pretty dominant fashion. The crown jewel of those wins has to be the 21-point victory over Rutland, where the Cougars’ stars Maysa Long and Aly Dorman were key in leading MMU to victory. Tests against Metro Division opponents loom, but Mount Mansfield should be favored every time it takes the floor the rest of the way.
2. Rutland (13-2)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: at Rice, Feb. 7, 2:30 p.m.
Rutland was hit with its first bit of adversity since the last rankings, losing to Mount Mansfield, before being upset by an under-.500 Burlington team in its next time out. RHS bounced back nicely in its last game, blowing past rival Mount Anthony for a dominant season sweep. The win against MAU was a return to how well Rutland had been playing on defense all season long. Similar to MMU, RHS should be favored in the rest of its games, but many of those opponents have the potential to knock them off.
3. St. Johnsbury (11-4)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at Essex, Feb. 7, 12:30 p.m.
St. Johnsbury has won three in a row since falling to Rutland for the second time this season. The Hilltoppers’ defense has been very strong during this three-game stretch, holding each opponent to 40 points or less, including holding a quality South Burlington club to just 28 points. Their rematch with Mount Mansfield on Tuesday should bring intrigue, as they are the only team to beat MMU this year.
4. Lamoille (15-0)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Hazen, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
Lamoille is the only team in Vermont girls basketball that is undefeated and has been dominant as of late. Since the Lancers’ close win against Division I North Country, they have won seven of their eight games by 20 points or more. The Friday game against Hazen could be a mighty tough roadblock to its undefeated hopes as the Wildcats have their own state championship aspirations in Division III.
5. North Country (13-2)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: at Lake Region, Feb. 6, 6 p.m.
Good teams take care of teams they should, and North Country has continued to do that. Since the last rankings, the Falcons have won four in a row and have allowed 19.5 points per game to opponents in that span. Their season finale, a rematch with a Lamoille team that beat them, should be fun, and North Country should be favored in the rest of its games heading into that matchup.
6. CVU (10-5)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at Saranac, Feb. 7, 4:30 p.m.
CVU had a bumpy start to the season, going 2-3, but has really hit its stride once the calendar turned to January. The Redhawks are winners of eight of their last 10 games with their losses in that run coming to D-I elites Mount Mansfield and St. Johnsbury. The biggest test left on their schedule is their return affair with MMU on Feb. 18.
7. Hartford (12-1)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: at White River Valley, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
Hartford’s lone loss came to Division I powerhouse Rutland and it has been rolling in SVL B Division play. Reigning Gatorade Player of the Year Charlotte Jasmin has upped an already impressive scoring average from last season and has to be one of the favorites to claim that honor once again this year. The team is much more than just Jasmin too, which will serve them well come the Division II playoffs.
8. Fair Haven (13-1)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: at Windsor, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
Fair Haven is a rough second half away from being undefeated right now as its only loss came in its opener due to Charlotte Jasmin putting on her cape and taking over for Hartford. The Slaters have a chance for revenge on Monday in White River Junction. Fair Haven’s defense has been locked in as of late and Tuesday’s effort against D-IV elite West Rutland was evidence of that, holding the Golden Horde to two first-half points.
9. Milton (13-2)
Previous rank: 10
Next game: vs. Enosburg, Feb. 7, 11:30 a.m.
Milton has pushed its win streak to eight games since a three-point loss to Richford in early January. The Yellowjackets’ more recent wins in that run have been very impressive, topping Division I Colchester by 12 points and besting fellow D-II elite Middlebury in a tight affair. They play both of those opponents one more time to close the regular season on Feb. 18 and 20.
10. Middlebury (11-4)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs Colchester, Feb, 7, 12:30 p.m.
There was some question about how Middlebury would do this season with top scorer Solstice Binder out of action, but the Tigers’ young core has been impressive and kept them in the group of Division II contenders. After an impressive freshman campaign, Louis Orten has continued to shine as a sophomore, taking over the top scoring role that Binder is unable to play this year. There is plenty of depth around Orten, too, making Middlebury a very viable contender to make it to the Barre Auditorium, like it did last year.
