Bobcats enjoying perfect season; Howard moves to No. 2

Bel Air coach Calvin Skelton (center kneeling) talks to his squad during a timeout. The 12-0 Bobcats debut at No. 20 in the latest VSN Girls Basketball Top 20.
VSN GIRLS BASKETBALL TOP 20 POLL – WEEK 9
1. POLY (18-1)
Previous rank: #1
Last week: The Engineers defeated Dunbar, 60-10, and Reginald Lewis, 87-5.
This week: vs. City College, Feb. 3; at No. 20 Forest Park, Feb. 7
2. HOWARD (16-0)
Previous rank: #3
Last week: The Lions defeated No. 11 River Hill, 66-43, and Hammond, 57-7
This week: vs. Oakland Mills, Feb. 5; at Marriotts Ridge, Feb. 7
3. ST. FRANCES ACADEMY (19-3)
Previous rank: #2
Last week: The Panthers defeated then-No. 5 St. John’s Catholic Prep, 79-57, after losing to then-No. 7 McDonogh School, 65-59, and defeated John Carroll School, 89-29
This week: at Institute of Notre Dame, Feb. 3; at No. 7 Roland Park Country School, Feb. 5; vs. Archbishop Spalding, Feb. 7
4. ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI (16-5)
Previous rank: #4
Last week: The Panthers defeated Archbishop Spalding, 69-56, and Institute of Notre Dame, 78-28
This week: vs. John Carroll School, Feb. 3; at No. 6 St. John’s Catholic Prep, Feb. 5; vs. No. 7 Roland Park Country School, Feb. 7
5. MCDONOGH SCHOOL (15-6)
Previous rank: #7
Last week: The Eagles defeated No. 7 Roland Park Country School, 44-36, and then-No. 2 St. Frances Academy, 65-59
This week: at No. xx St. John’s Catholic Prep, Feb. 3; at Archbishop Spalding, Feb. 5; vs. John Carroll, Feb. 7
6. ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC PREP (15-5)
Previous rank: #5
Last week: The Vikings lost to No. 2 St. Frances Academy, 79-57, and defeated John Carroll School (62-33) and Archbishop Spalding (73-63)
This week: vs. No. 5 McDonogh School, Feb. 3; vs. No. 4 St. Vincent Pallotti, Feb. 5
7. ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL (13-8)
Previous rank: #6
Last week: The Reds lost to then-No. 7 McDonogh School, 44-36, and defeated Institute of Notre Dame, 52-32
This week: at Archbishop Spalding, Feb. 3; vs. No. 3 St. Frances Academy, Feb. 5; at No. 4 St. Vincent Pallotti, Feb. 7
8. WESTERN (12-3)
Previous rank: #8
Last week: The Doves defeated Carver Vo-Tech, 69-8
This week: at Patterson, Feb. 3; vs. Benjamin Franklin, Feb. 7
9. ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL (19-3)
Previous rank: #9
Last week: The Gators defeated Mount de Sales Academy (64-34), No. 17 Maryvale Prep (57-43) and Notre Dame Prep (60-27)
This week: vs. Winters Mill, Feb. 4
10. OLD MILL (15-1)
Previous rank: #10
Last week: The Patriots defeated No. 12 Meade, 61-56, and No. 14 Arundel, 68-54
This week: vs. Southern, Feb. 4; at Glen Burnie, Feb. 7
11. RIVER HILL (13-4)
Previous rank: #11
Last week: The Hawks lost to then-No. 3 Howard, 66-43, and defeated Wilde Lake, 48-19
This week: vs. Atholton, Feb. 5; at Glenelg, Feb. 7
12. MEADE (14-3)
Previous rank: #12
Last week: The Mustangs lost to No. 10 Old Mill, 61-56, and defeated Broadneck, 73-23
This week: vs. No. 15 South River, Feb. 4; vs. Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, Feb. 7
13. SEVERNA PARK (13-3)
Previous rank: #13
Last week: The Falcons defeated Annapolis, 53-30, and Glen Burnie, 41-31
This week: at North County, Feb. 4; at No. 14 Arundel, Feb. 7
14. ARUNDEL (12-5)
Previous rank: #14
Last week: The Wildcats defeated Southern, 70-46, and lost to No. 10 Old Mill, 68-54
This week: at Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, Feb. 4; vs. No. 13 Severna Park, Feb. 7
15. SOUTH RIVER (13-4)
Previous rank: #15
Last week: The Seahawks defeated Broadneck, 57-31, and Northeast, 67-13
This week: at No. 12 Meade, Feb. 4; at Southern, Feb. 7
16. PIKESVILLE (12-4)
Previous rank: #16
Last week: The Panthers defeated Carver A&T, 76-20, and Milford Mill Academy, 67-9
This week: at Dulaney, Feb. 5; at Sparrows Point, Feb. 7
17. MARYVALE PREP (12-7)
Previous rank: #17
Last week: The Lions defeated Severn School, 51-15, and lost to No. 9 St. Paul’s School, 57-43
This week: IAAM B Conference Tournament first round, Feb. 7
18. RESERVOIR (11-5)
Previous rank: #19
Last week: The Gators lost to Tuscarora, 64-59, and defeated Long Reach, 74-27
This week: vs. Hammond, Feb. 5; at Oakland Mills, Feb. 7
19. FOREST PARK (15-2)
Previous rank: #20
Last week: The Foresters defeated Carver Vo-Tech, 65-17
This week: at Benjamin Franklin, Feb. 4; vs. No. 1 Poly, Feb. 7
20. BEL AIR (12-0)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week: The Bobcats defeated Fallston, 40-37
This week: vs. Elkton, Feb. 4; at C. Milton Wright, Feb. 6