The last couple of weeks have been nothing short of chaotic in Maine boys basketball, and the result is a Top 10 list featuring no undefeated teams.
Camden Hills lost its first game to Cony, which is the only new team entering the conversation.
York, Windham and South Portland all suffered rare losses, too, and the field — especially among the top five — is as open as ever.
Here’s the newest edition of our rankings as teams head into their final few games of the regular season.
1. Camden Hills (14-1)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: vs. Lewiston, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.
Camden Hills was undefeated until a meeting with Cony last weekend, which ended in a 70-61 loss for Nolan Ames and the Windjammers. Ames had 28 and Kiefer Healey put up 19, but a hot start for Cony put the game out of reach. The loss came on the second night of a back-to-back after the Windjammers knocked off No. 7 Brunswick, and Camden followed it up with a 59-53 win over Mt. Ararat a few days later.
Ames is still the frontrunner to win Mr. Basketball; he's averaging upwards of 25 points, and his team is a legitimate contender for the Class A title.
2. Sanford (14-1)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: at Portland, Jan. 30, 6 p.m.
The only thing holding Sanford back from the top spot is the fact that it’s played less top contenders than the other teams in the top five. Don’t get it twisted, though: the Spartans are no joke. They’re the only team to beat then-No. 1 Windham this season, and their sole loss was by two to South Portland.
First-year head coach John Morgan and his squad have put up 86 points twice in the last two weeks, including in an 86-47 win over Morgan’s prior team, Noble.
3. York (14-1)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: vs. Poland, Jan. 31, 6:30 p.m.
York has dropped out of the top spot for the first time since the preseason following a 74-71 defeat at the hands of Yarmouth (12-3). Reece McDonald scored 13 points in the fourth quarter alone, but it wasn’t enough as Yarmouth outscored the Wildcats 39-21 in the second and third quarters.
York stumbled a bit in its next game, too, beating 2-10 Freeport by just six. Despite those subpar performances (by York’s standards which, to be fair, are pretty high) the Wildcats have picked up consecutive blowout wins, outscoring opponents by a combined 79 points.
4. Windham (13-2)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at Cheverus, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Windham was riding steady. The Eagles had not lost since early December, and had just knocked off South Portland for the second time this season in a rematch of last year’s Class AA state championship. But the defending champs fell to A South foe Bonny Eagle (9-6) in an overtime upset this week. Tyrie James' 41 points were not enough and the Eagles were outscored 17-9 in OT.
The Eagles had a shot at the top spot, where they were to start the season, after both Camden Hills and York lost games. Following the defeat to Bonny Eagle, though, Windham has slid behind the three one-loss teams in the top five.
5. South Portland (12-3)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: at Falmouth, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.
Windham beat South Portland 70-64 last week for the second time this season. Israel Muzela put up a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double in the loss, while Leonel Despacho and Gabe Jackson combined for 33 points (including five 3s).
South Portland beat Bonny Eagle by 21 earlier this season, though, and is also the only team that has knocked off Sanford. A six-point loss to Windham is another mark in the loss column, but it’s not enough to knock the Red Riots down in this week’s rankings.
6. Cony (14-2)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Erskine Academy, Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Cony has caused quite the commotion among Maine’s top teams in the last couple of weeks. It beat Medomak Valley twice in six days, then downed Gardiner and Camden Hills back-to-back a week later.
Two losses earlier this season to Gardiner and Hermon had been enough to keep Cony out of the top 10, but this recent string of wins has made it hard to deny the Rams’ potential. Class of ’29 point guard Carter Brathwaite looks like one of the best freshmen in the entire state. In addition to his shooting and playmaking, he’s racking up steals left and right.
7. Brunswick (11-4)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: vs. Mt. Blue, Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m.
Brunswick lost to Edward Little for the second time this season, falling 65-61 in overtime this week. Senior Brendan Shaw made four threes — including one with 3.4 seconds left to cut Edward Little’s lead to two — and scored 18 points. But Akol Maiwen took over with 25 points (13 from the free-throw line) and stole an A North win for the Red Eddies (11-4).
The Dragons also fell to No. 1 Camden Hills, 55-52, last week. Back-to-back tight losses has them sitting with four on the season, but those games were decided by a combined seven points. Plus, Brunswick beat Gardiner by 33 earlier this season.
8. Gardiner (13-2)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at Belfast, Jan. 30, 5 p.m.
Gardiner beat Hermon by 18 earlier this month, and is also one of the only teams to knock off Cony this season. It dropped its second game to Cony last week, though, losing 75-69 as Brathwaite went off for 29 points and 13 rebounds.
Junior Trace Moody and senior Brady Peacock have been consistently impressive. Peacock is an elite paint finisher with a quick handle and has been particularly clutch this month, scoring the game-winner over Lawrence and putting up 14 points and nine rebounds in Gardiner’s win over Hermon.
9. Hermon (14-1)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: vs. Presque Isle, Jan. 31, 4:30 p.m.
Hermon’s only loss of the season came to Gardiner back on Jan. 9. The Hawks have won five straight since then, and sit at the top of Class B. They are also one of two teams that’s beaten Cony.
The Brody Hurd-Carter Wiggin duo presents a true challenge for opposing defenses. Hurd scored 18 points (with three 3s) earlier this month in a win over Ellsworth as senior guard Wiggin went off for 21. Wiggin also hit not one, but two buzzer-beaters in the second and third quarters in a 67-36 victory over John Bapst last month.
10. Medomak Valley (12-3)
Previous rank: 10
Next game: vs. Houlton, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.
Two of Medomak Valley’s losses this season have come to No. 6 Cony, and the other was to No. 1 Camden Hills. Senior Mason Nguyen has remained one of the top scorers in the state, leading his team to a perfect record in B South. Kollin Donlin has also continued his ascent, using his speed and physicality to dominate on both ends of the floor. He scored 19 points and grabbed eight boards in a win over Lincoln Academy this week.
With three games left, including a season-finale matchup against Gardiner, Medomak Valley is looking to defend its place at the top of a stacked B South.
