Wildcats chasing Anne Arundel County finals spot; IAAM championships on line this week

Ariana Harmon has Arundel in the thick of the Anne Arundel County championship hunt. The Wildcats are No. 12 in the new VSN Girls Basketball Top 20.by Derek Toney

 
In the hunt for a spot in the Anne Arundel County final, Arundel High is the biggest mover in this week’s VSN Girls Basketball Top 20.
 
The 12th-ranked Wildcats move two spots after edging then-No. 13 Severna Park last week. Anne Arundel has five teams in this week’s poll, No. 10 Old Mill, Arundel, No. 13 South River, 14th-ranked Meade and Severna Park (15th).
 
Old Mill, the defending league champs are 13-0 in league play and has the inside track to the county title game, Feb. 22. Arundel (10-2 Anne Arundel), South River (9-3) Meade (9-3) and Severna Park (10-4) are battling for the other final spot.
 
Poly remains the area’s No. 1 team followed by Howard, St. Frances Academy, St. Vincent Pallotti and McDonogh School. The IAAM playoffs are underway, with the championship games taking place Sunday at Stevenson University.
 
St. John’s Catholic Prep, Roland Park Country School, Western, St. Paul’s School and Old Mill completes the Top 10.
 
Here is the VSN Girls’ Basketball Top 20 for week 10:

VSN GIRLS BASKETBALL TOP 20 POLL – WEEK 10

1. POLY (20-1)

Previous rank: #1

Last week: The Engineers defeated No. 19 Forest Park, 53-42, and City College, 71-41

This week: vs. Douglass, Feb. 11

2. HOWARD (18-0)

Previous rank: #2

Last week: The Lions defeated Marriotts Ridge, 56-46, and Oakland Mills, 70-47

This week: at No. 18 Reservoir, Feb. 11; vs. Long Reach, Feb. 15

3.  ST. FRANCES ACADEMY (22-3)

Previous rank: #3

Last week: The Panthers defeated Archbishop Spalding (72-49), Institute of Notre Dame, and No. 7 Roland Park Country School (59-32)

This week: vs. Institute of Notre Dame, IAAM A Conference Tournament quarterfinal, Feb. 11

4. ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI (19-5)

Previous rank: #4

Last week: The Panthers defeated No. 7 Roland Park Country School (55-45), No. 6 St. John’s Catholic Prep (69-68) and John Carroll School (72-17) 

This week: vs. John Carroll School, IAAM A Conference Tournament quarterfinal, Feb. 11

5. MCDONOGH SCHOOL (18-6)

Previous rank: #5

Last week: The Eagles defeated John Carroll School (61-27), Archbishop Spalding (64-55) and No. 6 St. John’s Catholic Prep (59-52)

This week: vs. Archbishop Spalding, IAAM A Conference Tournament quarterfinal, Feb. 11

6. ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC PREP (15-7)

Previous rank: #6

Last week: The Vikings lost to No. 4 St. Vincent Pallotti, 69-68, and No. 5 McDonogh School, 59-52

This week: vs. No. 7 Roland Park Country School, IAAM A Conference Tournament quarterfinal, Feb. 11

7. ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL (14-10)

Previous rank: #7

Last week: The Reds lost to No. 4 St. Vincent Pallotti (55-45) and No. 3 St. Frances Academy (59-32), and defeated Archbishop Spalding, 72-50

This week: at No. 6 St. John’s Catholic Prep, IAAM A Conference Tournament quarterfinal, Feb. 11

8. WESTERN (15-3)

Previous rank: #8

Last week: The Doves defeated Benjamin Franklin by forfeit, and Patterson, 90-19

This week: at Reginald Lewis, Feb. 11

9. ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL (20-3)

Previous rank: #9

Last week: The Gators defeated Winters Mill, 56-34

This week: vs. Mercy, IAAM B Conference Tournament quarterfinal, Feb. 11

10. OLD MILL (17-1)

Previous rank: #10

Last week: The Patriots defeated Glen Burnie, 65-55, and Southern, 62-41

This week: at Annapolis, Feb. 12; vs. Northeast, Feb. 14

11. RIVER HILL (15-4)

Previous rank: #11

Last week: The Hawks defeated Glenelg, 62-20, and Atholton, 60-36

This week: vs. Mount Hebron, Feb. 11; at Centennial, Feb. 13

12. ARUNDEL (14-5)

Previous rank: #14

Last week: The Wildcats defeated then-No. 13 Severna Park, 45-43, and Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 60-47

This week: vs. Northeast, Feb. 12; vs. Broadneck, Feb. 14

13. SOUTH RIVER (15-4)

Previous rank: #15

Last week: The Seahawks defeated Southern, 57-36, and then-No. 12 Meade, 57-55 

This week: vs. Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, Feb. 12; vs. Annapolis, Feb. 14

14. MEADE (15-4)

Previous rank: #12

Last week: The Mustangs defeated Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 75-49, and lost to then-No. 15 South River, 58-55

This week: at No. 15 Severna Park, Feb. 12; at North County, Feb. 14

15.  SEVERNA PARK (14-4)

Previous rank: #13

Last week: The Falcons lost then-No. 14 Arundel, 45-43, and defeated North County, 31-18

This week: vs. No. 14 Meade, Feb. 12; vs. Southern, Feb. 14

16. PIKESVILLE (14-4)

Previous rank: #16

Last week: The Panthers defeated Sparrows Point, 59-17, and Dulaney, 59-45

This week: vs. New Town, Feb. 10; at Catonsville, Feb. 12

17. MARYVALE PREP (13-7)

Previous rank: #17

Last week: The Lions defeated Severn School, 46-22, IAAM B Conference Tournament first round

This week: at Glenelg Country School, IAAM B quarterfinal, Feb. 11

18. RESERVOIR (13-5)

Previous rank: #18

Last week: The Gators defeated Oakland Mills, 63-49, and Hammond, 64-47

This week: vs. No. 2 Howard, Feb. 11; vs. Marriotts Ridge, Feb. 13

19. FOREST PARK (15-3)

Previous rank: #19

Last week: The Foresters lost to No. 1 Poly, 53-42, and defeated Benjamin Franklin by forfeit

This week: at Dunbar, Feb. 11

20. BEL AIR (14-0)

Previous rank: #20

Last week: The Bobcats defeated C. Milton Wright, 48-46, and Elkton, 49-28

This week: vs. Joppatowne, Feb. 11; at Aberdeen, Feb. 13