It's time for another installment of our Maine boys basketball top 10 rankings.
York and Camden Hills remain undefeated, while one-loss Windham picked up two impressive wins in the span of a week. A South is shaping up to be a dogfight, but B North has also been ultra-competitive thanks to the likes of Gardiner, Cony, and Hermon — two of which make their debut in this week’s rankings.
Sanford finally dropped its first game at the hands of South Portland, which also dropped a 15-point decision to Windham earlier this month. Meanwhile, Medomak Valley will look to prove itself in a rematch after dropping in the rankings following its loss to Cony.
With three new teams fighting their way into the top 10, the next couple of weeks will certainly be tense. Gear up for the action by catching up on our newest rankings:
1. York (11-0)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: vs. Yarmouth, Jan. 15, 7 p.m.
In the last two weeks, York dominated Edward Little, 63-48, and blew out its next three opponents by an average of 29 points. Reece MacDonald scored 19 points in the Wildcats’ win over Edward Little, continuing his strong season. Their next game against Yarmouth might present a bit more of a challenge, but York has proven itself time and again this season — trusting the Wildcats to pull through yet again might just be the best bet.
2. Camden Hills (9-0)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: at Skowhegan, Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m.
Camden Hills’ undefeated streak is still alive following recent wins over Oxford Hills and Brewer. Nolan Ames scored 33 points in the Windjammers’ win over Oxford Hills, but the 2-8 Vikings managed to put up a fight and only lost by nine — fewer points than the Windjammers are used to winning by. Still, Ames’ ability to put up monster numbers, coupled with his team’s perfect record, speaks for itself.
3. Windham (11-1)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: vs. Biddeford, Jan. 15, 7 p.m.
Windham beat both South Portland and Scarborough in the span of a week, and its only loss remains to Sanford. The Eagles came back from a 17-point deficit to beat Scarborough, despite star A.J. Moody being out due to injury — and that was just four days after they beat South Portland by 15. When all three are on the floor, the combined star power of Tyrie James, Colin Janvrin and Moody is hard to overcome.
4. Sanford (10-1)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Noble, Jan. 15, 7 p.m.
Sanford finally fell from the undefeated ranks. The Spartans’ first loss of the season came at home to South Portland, in a game decided by just two points. Putting that one loss aside, though, Sanford has relied on the power of star seniors Ryan Alexander and Dylan Gendron to pick up 10 wins. Alexander put up 21 points, including four 3-pointers, in Sanford’s 75-60 win over Thornton Academy earlier this month.
5. South Portland (8-2)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at Gorham, Jan. 15, 12 p.m.
South Portland lost to Windham, 68-53, in early January, giving up nine 3-pointers in the process. Then, it did what no other team has been able to do this season: it beat Sanford. Senior Darius Johnson, a 6 -foot-4 three-sport athlete who is committed to West Point to play football, scored 32 points in the win. Johnson has a huge paint presence, crashes the boards, and frequently gets up for dunks, in addition to being quick for his size.
6. Gardiner (10-1)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Lawrence, Jan. 17, 4 p.m.
Gardiner dominated Hermon 54-36 on Jan. 9, starting the second half with an 8-0 run and winning its sixth straight game as Trace Moody and Brady Peacock combined for 29 points and 16 rebounds. The Peacock-Moody duo has been consistent and efficient, including in a 97-90 win over Cony at the end of December. The Tigers have no shortage of capable scorers, as Luke Whalen and Brady Atwater have also proven themselves. Gardiner is the front-runner to capture the first seed in B North.
7. Brunswick (10-2)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Brewer, Jan. 16, 7 p.m.
After blowing out Gardiner earlier this season, but picking up two losses in its first six games, Brunswick has heated up and has won six straight. Brendan Shaw is frequently the top-scoring option and is a serious threat from the 3-point line. Look out for back-to-back tough matchups against Camden Hills and Edward Little as a sign of Brunswick’s chances at shaking up A North, a region Camden Hills has dominated so far.
8. Caribou (10-2)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: vs. Foxfield Academy, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m.
Caribou has lost some momentum after falling to Presque Isle, 56-42, on Jan. 14. Two weeks prior, the Vikings suffered their first defeat of the season in a 72-58 loss to Foxcroft Academy. Caribou has gone 3-2 in its last five games after starting the season so hot, but Owen Corrigan has continued to excel. Chandler St. Peter has also posted big nights, including a 20-point performance in the Vikings’ 70-51 win over Mattanawcook Academy on Jan. 3. That blowout victory came after the Caribou beat the Lynx by just two earlier this season.
9. Hermon (10-1)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Old Town, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m.
After being blown out by Gardiner, 54-36, the Hawks rebounded with a 51-43 win over Foxcroft Academy on Jan. 14. Against Gardiner, no one got going for Hermon except for Mason Kinney, who put up a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double. Earlier double-digit victories over Cony and Foxcroft Academy are not insignificant, however, and Hermon boasts a stifling defense that looks capable of shaking up B North.
10. Medomak Valley (7-2)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: vs. Cony, Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m.
Three Panthers scored 20 or more points on Jan. 9, but it wasn’t enough for a win over Cony as Medomak Valley fell 95–89. A rematch between the two teams on Jan. 15 will show how the Panthers adjust to their loss, particularly defensively, as six scorers put up 13 or more points for Cony last time. Mason Nguyen and Kollin Donlin remain a daunting matchup for opponents, while Micah Fagonde has also broken out. A big question is whether Medomak’s defense can continue to match its dominant offense.
