Category: North County Feature

Anne Arundel squad makes inaugural appearance; Mount St. Joseph moves to 4th

A new coach combined with a senior-laden roster has equaled success this season for North County High boys' basketball. The Knights, in the hunt for a spot in the Anne Arundel County final, have their first VSN Top 20 ranking.

Under first-year coach Trumaine Johnson, the Knights are second in the Anne Arundel County league behind Old Mill. North County plays at the 12th-ranked and defending league champ Patriots Friday evening after a match at last year's Class 4A East Region champ Annapolis Tuesday.

New Town (No. 18) is back in the rankings. St. Frances Academy remains No. 1, followed by John Carroll School, Dunbar, Mount St. Joseph and Poly.

Pictured above: Rodney Black is part of a veteran nucleus for North County. The Knights have their first VSN Boys' Basketball Top 20 ranking.

Here is the VSN Boys' Basketball Top 20 for week 9:

VSN BOYS BASKETBALL TOP 20 - WEEK 9

1. SAINT FRANCES ACADEMY (28-2)

Last week's ranking: #1

Last week: The Panthers ran their win streak to 13, defeating Gilman School (83-58), then-No. 15 St. Vincent Pallotti (65-61) and then-No. 11 McDonogh School (54-41).

This week: vs. Calvert Hall College, Feb. 6; at Loyola Blakefield, Feb. 9

2. JOHN CARROLL SCHOOL (21-5)

Last week's rank: #2

Last week: The Patriots defeated Archbishop Spalding (84-59), Annapolis Area Christian School (84-53), and then-No. 4 Poly (75-67).

This week: vs. Loyola Blakefield, Feb. 5; at Mount Carmel, Feb. 7; vs. Annapolis Area Christian School, Feb. 9

3. DUNBAR (17-0)

Last week's rank: #3

Last week: The Poets defeated Patterson (56-55), Douglass (68-49) and Reservoir (58-40).

This week: vs. No. 9 Lake Clifton, Feb. 6; vs. No. 5 Poly, Feb. 9

4. MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH (23-3)

Last week's rank: #5

Last week: The Gaels defeated Loyola Blakefield, 69-52, and Calvert Hall College, 73-62.

This week: vs. Glenelg Country School, Feb. 7; at No. 13 St. Vincent Pallotti, Feb. 9

5. POLY (11-5)

Last week's rank: #5

Last week: The Engineers defeated Mount Carmel (73-60) and Edmondson (75-42) after a 75-67 loss to No. 2 John Carroll School.

This week: at Patterson, Feb. 6; at No. 3 Dunbar, Feb. 9

6. BOYS' LATIN SCHOOL (19-5)

Last week's rank: #6

Last week: The Lakers lost to St. Maria Goretti, 65-50, after victories over then-No. 11 McDonogh School (55-45) and Pikesville (75-48).

This week: vs. McDonogh School, Feb. 6; at Archbishop Spalding, Feb. 7; at Gilman School, Feb. 9

7. MILFORD MILL ACADEMY (12-2)

Last week's rank: #7

Last week: The Millers defeated Patapsco, 75-44, and Pikesville, 86-63.

This week: vs. Hereford, Feb. 7; at No. 20 Dundalk, Feb. 9

8. WOODLAWN (14-2)

Last week's rank: #8

Last week: The Warriors defeated Lansdowne, 75-53, and Towson, 71-46.

This week: at Western Tech, Feb. 7; at Kenwood, Feb. 9

9. LAKE CLIFTON (14-3)

Last week's rank: #12

Last week: The Lakers defeated Douglass, 72-53, and Benjamin Franklin, 70-39.

This week: at No. 3 Dunbar, Feb. 6; vs. City College, Feb. 9

10. RIVER HILL (15-2)

Last week's rank: #10

Last week: The Hawks defeated Wilde Lake, 59-43, and Reservoir, 67-40.

This week: vs. Hammond, Feb. 6; vs. Marriotts Ridge, Feb. 9

11. PERRY HALL (13-5)

Last week's rank: #12

Last week: The Gators defeated Overlea (88-34), Western Tech (87-34), and Parkville (82-70).

This week: at Catonsville, Feb. 7; at Eastern Tech, Feb. 9

12. OLD MILL (13-4)

Last week's rank: #13

Last week: The Patriots defeated Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 64-47, and Severna Park, 68-28.

This week: at Arundel, Feb. 6; vs. No. 19 North County, Feb. 9

13. SAINT VINCENT PALLOTTI (20-8)

Last week's rank: #15

Last week: The Panthers defeated New Jersey's Bishop Eustace (72-46) and Glenelg Country School (62-45), after a 65-61 loss to No. 1 St. Frances Academy.

This week: vs. Gilman School, Feb. 6; vs. No. 4 Mount St. Joseph, Feb. 9

14. GERSTELL ACADEMY (14-8)

Last week's rank: #16

Last week: The Falcons defeated St. John's Catholic Prep, 80-62, and St. Mary's, 59-48.

This week: vs. No. 16 Severn School, Feb. 6; at St. Paul's School, Feb. 7; vs. Friends School, Feb. 9

15. INDIAN CREEK SCHOOL (15-1)

Last week's rank: #17

Last week: The Eagles did not play.

This week: vs. St. Paul's School, Feb. 5; at St. Mary's, Feb. 7; vs. Chapelgate Christian Academy, Feb. 9

16. SEVERN SCHOOL (19-5)

Last week's rank: #19

Last week: The Admirals defeated Chapelgate Christian Academy (74-35), Friends School (66-46) and Broadneck (64-51).

This week: at No. 14 Gerstell Academy, Feb. 5; vs. Archbishop Curley, Feb. 7; at St. John's Catholic Prep, Feb. 9

17. DULANEY (12-4)

Last week's rank: #20

Last week: The Lions defeated Carver A&T, 82-29 and Owings Mills, 91-55.

This week: at Pikesville, Feb. 7, at Patapsco, Feb. 10; at Mount Carmel, Feb. 10

18. NEW TOWN (14-3)

Last week's rank: Not ranked

Last week: The Titans defeated then-No. 17 Dundalk, 56-52, and Hereford, 58-32.

This week: at Parkville, Feb. 9

19. NORTH COUNTY (13-5)

Last week's rank: Not ranked

Last week: The Knights defeated then-No. 14 Meade, 62-50, and Arundel, 68-50.

This week: at Annapolis, Feb. 6; at No. 12 Old Mill, Feb. 9

20. DUNDALK (13-3)

Last week's rank: #17

Last week: The Owls lost to New Town, 56-52, after victories over Loch Raven (86-60) and Franklin (77-63).

This week: vs. Sparrows Point, Feb. 7; vs. No. 7 Milford Mill Academy, Feb. 9

20. MEADE (14-5)

Last week's rank: #14

Last week: The Mustangs lost to North County, 62-50, after victories over South River (60-34) and Francis Scott Key (52-46).

This week: at Broadneck, Feb. 6; at Glen Burnie, Feb. 9