The first girls’ basketball state rankings of the 2012-13 season were released earlier this week.
I’ve included the top three teams plus any Section 9 teams to make the cut. If you’re looking for the full list, here’s the link.
Class AA
1. Ossinig (6-3, Section 1)
2. South Shore (10-2, PSAL)
3. Bethlehem (7-0, Section 2)
21. Monroe-Woodbury (5-0, Section 9)
Class A
1. Holy Names (6-0, Section 2)
2. Wallkill (7-0)
3. Jamesville-DeWitt (8-0, Section 3)
5. John A. Coleman Catholic (4-1)
Class B
1. Irvington (8-1, Section 1)
2. Westhill (7-0, Section 3)
3. Oneonta (7-0, Section 4)
12. Marlboro (4-1)
Class C
1. Alexander Hamilton (6-0, Section 1)
2. Little Falls (5-0, Section 3)
3. Chautauqua Lake (6-0, Section 6)
Class D
1. South Kortright (6-0, Section 4)
2. Elba (6-0, Section 5)
3. Fort Edward (7-0, Section 2)
Obviously, Coleman Catholic is a Class B school this year, not a Class A team. Hopefully that will be corrected by the time the next set of polls are released on Jan. 7.
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Here are the latest Varsity845 top 10 rankings, which haven’t changed much since there were just a few games over the holiday break. Warwick, which won both games in its own Coaches vs. Cancer tournament, did jump into the top 10. Newburgh Free Academy, which lost both games it played in the North Rockland tournament, drops out.
Varsity845 girls’ basketball top 10 rankings, Jan. 2, 2013
1. Wallkill (7-0): The Panthers debuted at No. 2 in the initial Class A state rankings, trailing only Holy Names of Albany.
2. Monroe-Woodbury (5-0): The only team in Div. I without a league loss, the Crusaders are in strong position heading into 2013.
3. Coleman Catholic (4-1): Coleman Catholic lost one game over the break, a one-point defeat at New Rochelle, a Class AA school with a 5-1 record.
4. Cornwall (2-2): Finally at full strength, expect the Dragons to pick up the pace in the second half of the season.
5. Marlboro (4-1): The Dukes have some big games coming up later this month with Red Hook and Wallkill. Marlboro, now a Class B school, won’t have to see those teams in the Section 9 playoffs.
6. Warwick (6-2): Warwick won its own Coaches vs. Cancer tournament over the break, beating New Paltz and Burke Catholic.
7. Kingston (4-3): The Tigers lost to perennial Section 2 power Shenendehowa over the break, but the schedule doesn’t get any easier. Kingston plays Cornwall and Red Hook to open 2013.
8. Valley Central (3-2): Haliann Fitzgerald has averaged 12.4 points per game for the defending Section 9 Class AA champions so far.
9. Monticello (4-1): The Panters will get their first tests of the season next week with Div. III games against Cornwall and Goshen.
10. Chester (4-1): The Hambletonians have a leg up in the Div. V standings entering 2013, but Fallsburg, Tri-Valley and Tuxedo are going to make it a race to the finish.
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Cornwall's Jillian Artrip dribbles the ball upcourt during practice at Cornwall High School on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. (Times Herald-Record photo)
The top 10 rankings will run in Thursday’s paper, as will my story on the Cornwall team, which stumbled to an 0-2 start to the season. There were a number of reasons for Cornwall’s sluggish start. One, many of the players on the basketball team were busy in the fall with volleyball or soccer, both of which won Section 9 Class A titles. Two, key starters such as Leanne Houston and Alex Jurgens missed the first few games with injuries. Jillian Artrip, pictured above, was one of the players to step up during the first few games. Artrip, normally a guard, was also used at center and her versatility will give the Dragons a big boost through the second half of the season.
After two weeks off from playing games, the Dragons feel that they’re finally ready to go now that the calendar has flipped over to 2013.
Again, look for that story tomorrow in the Times Herald-Record and on Varsity845.com
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Your thoughts on my top 10 rankings or anything else going on in the world of girls’ basketball in the Hudson Valley? Let me know on Twitter: @THR_Montgomery.
