There is pressure that comes when there is a large goose egg in the loss column.
A team knows it will get the best shot from every opponent. Two of Vermont high school girls basketball’s group of undefeated clubs fell from those ranks last week when Mount Mansfield and Hartford suffered their first losses of the year.
MMU and Hartford’s losses leave just two undefeated teams across the four divisions of girls basketball in the state. Division I Rutland has reached the halfway mark of its regular season unbeaten, while Division II Lamoille has gotten through 12 games unblemished.
Rutland and Lamoille remain very high in this week’s Top 10.
1. Rutland (10-0)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: at St. Johnsbury, Jan. 24, 2:30 p.m.
Rutland is the only undefeated team left in Division I as it continues to build its case as one of the favorites to win it all, something it hasn’t done outright since 2005. Since the last rankings, RHS picked up another statement win, beating previously-undefeated Hartford last week. Lola Sparks and Brinley Gandin continue to shine leading the way and there is ton of depth around them. The matchup with Mount Mansfield next week should be loads of fun.
2. Mount Mansfield (9-1)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: at South Burlington, Jan. 26, 7 p.m.
Mount Mansfield’s loss to St. Johnsbury hasn’t slowed its momentum. Since the tight loss, the Cougars have won two straight. The more impressive of the two wins has to be the first one, where MMU earned a rare blowout of CVU, something you just don’t see a ton in Vermont girls basketball when it comes to the Redhawks. MMU has its first of two regular season matchups with South Burlington coming up before a potential state final preview with Rutland.
3. St. Johnsbury (7-3)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: vs. Rutland, Jan. 24, 2:30 p.m.
St. Johnsbury picked up its biggest win of the regular season this past week, handing Mount Mansfield its first loss. The Hilltoppers would love to hand undefeated Rutland the same fate on Saturday with RHS coming to the Northeast Kingdom. St. Johnsbury competed in the Hoophall Invitational over the weekend in Springfield, Mass., and the Hilltoppers went 1-1.
4. Lamoille (12-0)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Lake Region, Jan. 28, 6 p.m.
Lamoille has been knocking on the door of winning it all in Division II for multiple years and looks every bit a team capable of doing it this year. The Lancers picked up four wins since the last rankings and every one of them was dominant, with the closest coming by 16 points against a very solid Division III Peoples Academy team. Their matchup with Oxbow next Friday figures to be a test, but Lamoille should be favored most times it takes the floor the rest of the way.
5. North Country (9-2)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: vs. U-32, Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m.
Since the last rankings, North Country suffered its second loss of the season, falling to a one-loss Division III Hazen team that has very serious championship aspirations. The Falcons have bounced back nicely from that loss, outscoring its next three opponents 168-49. Despite graduating former Gatorade Player of the Year Sabine Brueck, NCU continues to shine, even in its move up to the Division I ranks.
6. CVU (6-4)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: vs. Saranac, Jan. 24, 2:30 p.m.
CVU has been rolling as of late, winning four of five games since the last rankings. The lone loss in that stretch came against one-loss Mount Mansfield and the Redhawks got back on the winning track, holding a strong South Burlington club to 21 points on Thursday. This year’s CVU club isn’t as dominant as some of its recent predecessors, but it is a team that is very capable of competing with the state’s best on any given night.
7. Essex (7-4)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at BFA-St. Albans, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Essex has been a bit up and down since the last rankings, losing by double digits to strong Mount Mansfield and CVU squads, but the Hornets have bounced back nicely in their last two outings, Essex’s win on Thursday was a big gut check effort. The Hornets trailed a Burlington team that is better than its record lets on by eight points at the half before taking control in the second half.
8. Hartford (8-1)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: vs Bellows Falls, Jan. 24, 2:30 p.m.
Hartford’s only loss of the regular season came this past week against Division I Rutland, but was right with RHS heading into the fourth quarter of that game. The Hurricanes have racked a ton of impressive wins throughout the regular season, beating teams like Brattleboro, Fair Haven, Windsor and West Rutland. Rematches with Windsor and West Rutland this upcoming week should be battles.
9. Fair Haven (10-1)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: at Mount Anthony, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.
Fair Haven opened the season with a close loss to Hartford, but has been excellent in tight games since then. The Slaters had another nail-biter, edging fellow Division II contender Middlebury on Wednesday. Guard Audrey Perry is one of the most underrated guards in the division, with the ability to hit clutch shots while playing lockdown defense on the other end. The guard-post duo of Perry and senior Tori Kelly leads them, and others have stepped up around them.
10. Milton (10-2)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Colchester, Jan. 24, 11:30 a.m.
Milton missed out on making it to the Barre Auditorium last year, falling in the Division II quarterfinals after winning 15 games in the regular season. Since a mini two-game skid around the turn of the calendar, the Yellowjackets have won five games in a row. Milton has a tough week coming up, playing against Division I Colchester and fellow elite Middlebury. The Middlebury matchup is the first of two between the D-II contenders.
