"Griddy" Gaels dance to No. 1 in latest VSN Boys Basketball Top 20

Mount St. Joseph at top after MIAA A title triumph; state public playoffs kick in full gear

by Derek Toney

For the third straight week, there’s a new No. 1 in the VSN Boys Basketball Top 20. You might know the name.

Mount St. Joseph is in the top spot after collecting a record seventh MIAA A Conference championship Sunday. The Gaels (28-5 overall) followed John Carroll School, which No. 1 reign ended after a loss to Archbishop Spalding in the MIAA A quarterfinals. St. Frances Academy, which held No. 1 nearly the entire regular season, fell after losing two of three in the final week of regular season play.

Mount Carmel, which took Mount St. Joseph to the wire in Sunday’s MIAA A final, is No. 2 followed by Spalding, John Carroll and St. Frances. The teams will now battle for the 51st Baltimore Catholic League Tournament title, with quarterfinal action Wednesday.

The MIAA season concludes Tuesday with No. 11 St. Mary’s taking on Annapolis Area Christian School at Gilman’s Finney Center.

The state public tournament resumes Monday with region semifinal play. No. 9 Milford Mill Academy will visit No. 13 City College in a Class 3A North Region I semi. The winner plays 15th-ranked Patterson Wednesday for a spot in the 3A state Elite Eight.

Two potential Top 20 matches could take place Wednesday with 19th-ranked Randallstown and No. 10 New Town (2A North Region I) and a rematch of the Anne Arundel County final with No. 16 Arundel and 17th-ranked Meade (4A East Region I).

The state quarterfinals will take place Friday.

Here’s the complete VSN Boys Basketball Top 20 for week 10:

1. MOUNT ST. JOSEPH (28-5)

Previous rank: 4

Last week: defeated then-No. 3 Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 63-60, (MIAA A Conference Tournament final), and then-No. 6 Archbishop Spalding, 68-60 (MIAA A semifinals)

This week: vs. No. 8 Loyola Blakefield, 51st Baltimore Catholic League Tournament quarterfinals, March 2

2. OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL (25-7)

Previous rank: 3

Last week: lost to then-No. 4 Mount St. Joseph, 63-60 (MIAA A Conference Tournament final); defeated No. 12 Gilman School (79-47; MIAA A semifinal), and No. 8 Loyola Blakefield (78-77; MIAA A quarterfinal)

This week: vs. No. 3 Archbishop Spalding, 51st Baltimore Catholic League Tournament quarterfinals, March 2

3. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING (24-9)

Previous rank: 6

Last week: lost to then-No. 2 Mount St. Joseph (68-60; MIAA A Conference Tournament semifinals); defeated then-No. 1 John Carroll School (67-53; MIAA A quarterfinals) and Boys’ Latin School (66-37; MIAA A first round)

This week: at No. 2 Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 51st Baltimore Catholic League Tournament quarterfinals, March 2

4. JOHN CARROLL SCHOOL (19-10)

Previous rank: 1

Last week: lost to then-No. 6 Archbishop Spalding, 67-53, MIAA A Conference Tournament quarterfinals

This week: vs. St. Maria Goretti, 51st Baltimore Catholic League Tournament quarterfinals, March 2

5. ST. FRANCES ACADEMY (31-6)

Previous rank: 2

Last week: lost to No. 12 Gilman School, 70-69, MIAA A Conference Tournament semifinals

This week: vs. Calvert Hall College, 51st Baltimore Catholic League Tournament quarterfinals, March 2

6. PARKVILLE (21-0)

Previous rank: 5

Last week: defeated Randallstown, 80-72, Baltimore County final

This week: vs. Dundalk, Class 4A North Region I semifinal, Feb. 28

7. LAKE CLIFTON (16-1)

Previous rank: 7

Last week: defeated No. 14 Edmondson, 57-52, Baltimore City final

This week: vs. Reginald Lewis, Class 1A North Region II semifinal, Feb. 28

8. LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD (16-11)

Previous rank: 8

Last week: lost to then-No. 3 Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 78-77 (MIAA A Conference Tournament quarterfinal), and Glenelg Country School, 79-56 (MIAA A quarterfinal)

This week: at No. 1 Mount St. Joseph, 51st Baltimore Catholic League Tournament quarterfinals, March 2

9. MILFORD MILL ACADEMY (14-1)

Previous rank: 9

Last week: defeated Woodlawn, 69-31, Class 3A North Region I first round

This week: at No. 13 City College, Class 3A North Region I semifinal, Feb. 28

10. NEW TOWN (15-3)

Previous rank: 10

Last week: Did not play

This week: vs. Lansdowne, Class 2A North Region I semifinal, Feb. 28

11. ST. MARY’S (27-7)

Previous rank: 11

Last week: defeated Severn School, 73-49, MIAA B Conference Tournament semifinal, and Indian Creek School, 88-50, MIAA B quarterfinal

This week: vs. Annapolis Area Christian School, MIAA B Conference final at Gilman School, March 1

12. GILMAN SCHOOL (10-12)

Previous rank: 12

Last week: lost to then-No. 3 Our Lady of Mount Carmel (79-47; MIAA A Conference Tournament semifinal); defeated then-No. 1 St. Frances Academy (70-69; MIAA A quarterfinal), and McDonogh School (; MIAA A first round)

SEASON COMPLETE – MIAA A CONFERENCE SEMIFINALISTS

13. CITY COLLEGE (16-2)