Title run put Cougars in final poll of regular season; Roland Park slides up to No. 6

Mount Carmel coach Rob Long (kneeling) talks during a timeout in Sunday’s IAAM B Conference title game at Stevenson University. The Cougars are No. 17 in the latest VSN Girls Basketball Top 20.
by Derek Toney
VSN GIRLS BASKETBALL TOP 20 POLL – WEEK 11
1. POLY (21-1)
Previous rank: #1
Last week: The Engineers defeated Douglass, 90-5
This week: Off; next game – vs. No. 8 Western, Baltimore City final at Morgan State University, Feb. 25
2. HOWARD (20-0)
Previous rank: #2
Last week: The Lions defeated Long Reach, 54-21, and No. 18 Reservoir, 55-35
This week: vs. Hammond, Feb. 19; vs. Wilde Lake, Feb. 21
3. ST. FRANCES ACADEMY (25-3)
Previous rank: #3
Last week: The Panthers won the IAAM A Conference championship, defeating No. 4 St. Vincent Pallotti, 55-51, in the final after victories over No. 7 Roland Park Country School (51-48; semifinal) and Institute of Notre Dame (forfeit)
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
4. ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI (21-6)
Previous rank: #4
Last week: The Panthers lost to No. 3 St. Frances Academy, 55-51, in the IAAM A Conference final at Stevenson University after victories over No. 5 McDonogh School (46-44; semifinals) and John Carroll School (68-30; quarterfinal)
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM A CONFERENCE FINALIST
5. MCDONOGH SCHOOL (19-7)
Previous rank: #5
Last week: The Eagles lost to No. 4 St. Vincent Pallotti, 46-44, in IAAM A Conference semifinals, after a quarterfinal victory over Archbishop Spalding, 57-38
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM A CONFERENCE SEMIFINALIST
6. ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL (15-11)
Previous rank: #7
Last week: The Reds lost to No. 3 St. Frances Academy, 51-48, in IAAM A Conference semifinals, after a 56-54 quarterfinal victory over then-No. 6 St. John’s Catholic Prep
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM A CONFERENCE SEMIFINALIST
7. ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC PREP (15-8)
Previous rank: #6
Last week: The Vikings lost to then-No. 7 Roland Park Country School, 56-54, IAAM A Conference quarterfinal
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM A CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALIST
8. WESTERN (16-3)
Previous rank: #8
Last week: The Doves defeated Reginald Lewis, 90-10
This week: Off; next game – vs. No. 1 Poly, Baltimore City final at Morgan State University, Feb. 25
9. ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL (23-3)
Previous rank: #9
Last week: The Gators won the IAAM B Conference championship, defeating Mount Carmel, 58-54, in the final at Stevenson University after victories over No. 17 Maryvale Prep (64-28; semifinal) and Mercy (63-31; quarterfinal)
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM B CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
10. OLD MILL (19-1)
Previous rank: #10
Last week: The Patriots defeated Northeast, 75-27, and Annapolis, 75-47
This week: vs. No. 13 South River, Feb. 19; Anne Arundel County final, Feb. 22
11. RIVER HILL (17-4)
Previous rank: #11
Last week: The Hawks defeated Centennial, 50-43, and Mount Hebron, 57-44
This week: vs. Wilde Lake, Feb. 19
12. ARUNDEL (16-5)
Previous rank: #12
Last week: The Wildcats defeated Broadneck, 70-44, and Northeast, 84-48
This week: at No. 14 Meade, Feb. 19
13. SOUTH RIVER (17-4)
Previous rank: #13
Last week: The Seahawks defeated Annapolis, 57-39, and Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 46-32
This week: at No. 10 Old Mill, Feb. 19
14. MEADE (17-4)
Previous rank: #14
Last week: The Mustangs defeated North County, 55-20, and No. 15 Severna Park, 43-37
This week: vs. No. 12 Arundel, Feb. 19
15. SEVERNA PARK (15-5)
Previous rank: #15
Last week: The Falcons defeated Southern, 43-26, and lost to No. 14 Meade, 43-37
This week: at Northeast, Feb. 19
16. PIKESVILLE (17-4)
Previous rank: #16
Last week: The Panthers defeated Loch Raven (59-26), Catonsville (44-38), and New Town (60-50)
This week: vs. Lansdowne, Feb. 19
17. MOUNT CARMEL (14-14)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week: The Cougars lost to No. 9 St. Paul’s School, 58-54, in IAAM B Conference final at Stevenson University after victories over St. Timothy’s (31-27; semifinal) and St. Mary’s (55-43; quarterfinal)
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM B CONFERENCE FINALIST
18. MARYVALE PREP (14-8)
Previous rank: #17
Last week: The Lions lost to No. 9 St. Paul’s School, 64-28, in the IAAM B Conference semifinals, after a 58-42 victory over Glenelg Country School in the quarterfinals
SEASON COMPLETE – IAAM B CONFERENCE SEMIFINALIST
19. FOREST PARK (17-3)
Previous rank: #19
Last week: The Foresters defeated Green Street Academy, 87-0, and Dunbar, 60-14
This week: vs. Coppin Academy, Feb. 18
20. BEL AIR (15-1)
Previous rank: #20
Last week: The Bobcats lost to Aberdeen, 56-48, and defeated Joppatowne, 50-33
This week: vs. Patterson Mill, Feb. 19; vs. North Harford, Feb. 21