Power rankings - 12/14

Another week is in the books.

Here’s our Week 2 rankings through games played 12/12:

Boys basketball

1. Burlington (4-0): The Seahorses had to eke out a win over Rutland on Day 2 of the North-South Challenge. O’Shea was limited to eight points, but Brendan Corriveau sank the key, go-ahead three-pointer. Still the team to beat. Last week’s rank: 1.

2. Essex (3-1): Behind Demir Smajovic and Ben Ferris, the Hornets cruised to double-digit wins over southern powers (Rutland and Brattleboro) in the North/South Challenge. Last week: 3.

3. South Burlington (3-0): The Rebels have started well without Josh Varney. A quick glance at their schedule and they should be 6-0 by the time they meet Essex on December 30. Last week: 2.

4. Champlain Valley (3-0): The Redhawks have been consistent — never allowing more than 49 points nor scoring more than 65 — during their 3-0 start. Last week: 4.

5. Mount Anthony (2-0): So the Patriots have racked up wins of 79-21 (over Windsor) and 63-33 (over Massachusetts’ Mount Greylock). The jury is still out on how good the Pats are, but they certainly fit nicely at No. 5 at this point in the season. Last week: Not ranked.

Girls basketball

1. Rutland (4-0): They’re beaten a feisty Rice team twice thus far this season — and edged a very good BHS squad in overtime. Last week: 2.

2. Milton (2-0): The Yellowjackets didn’t play last week. Doesn’t help their cause to stay No. 1 – not with Rutland playing so well. Last week: 1.

3. Champlain Valley (3-0): The Redhawks are off to a good start. Allison Gannon’s 17 points led CVU’s comeback vs. SBHS last Tuesday. Last week: 4.

4. Brattleboro (3-0): A third-quarter surge lifted the Colonels past previously ranked Spaulding. Bratt also has wins over St. Johnsbuy and Windsor, but last Tuesday’s comeback win over Spaulding was a marquee triumph. Last week: Not ranked.

5. Burr and Burton (2-0): The defending D-II champs are now in D-I. So we will have to wait and see how they stack up against the higher-division opponents. For now, defeating Bellow Falls 72-9 is nothing to overlook — that’s impressive no matter what. Last week: Not ranked.

Boys hockey

1. Essex (2-0): The Hornets are buzzing: Nice wins over South Burlington and BFA-St. Albans gives us no reason not to place Essex in the No. 1 slot. In Saturday’s win over BFA, Essex converted power play chances. Coach Bill O’Neil must like that. Last week: 3.

2. South Burlington (3-1): The Rebels bounced back from a loss against Essex to edge Burlington. Tom Royer has scored in three straight games (four goals total) and Charlie Vallee has been solid in net. Last week: 1.

3. Harwood (3-0): The Highlanders have crushed Peoples on back-to-back Saturdays. Nik Laskaris has been a scoring machine. Will it continue against D-I competition? Last week: 2.

4. Rutland (2-0-1): How’s this for a turnaround: The Raiders tie the Lakers in the season-opener, then rout them for a 8-1 win 10 days later. It was the second straight game Rutland has scored eight goals, and Taylor Porrier has five of them. Last week: Not ranked.

5. Burlington (2-2): Although they lost to SBHS 3-2, the Seahorses stay in the top 5 on the strength of the previous week’s wins. Plus, no other team has a better resume to displace them. Last week: 5.

Girls hockey

1. Essex (3-0-1): The Hornets finished second in BFA’s tournament, claiming a 4-1 win over N.Y.’s Salmon River and falling to Hanover, N.H. in a shootout. (although, it goes down officially as a tie). Chelsea Normand scored twice during Day 2 of the tournament. The Hornets have scored 13 goals in four goals, while yielding just 2. Last week: 1.

2. BFA-St. Albans (3-1): The Comets were within a period of winning their tournament, before falling to Hanover, N.H., 3-2. That said, one-sided wins over Missisquoi and Salmon River, N.Y. put BFA near the top of this ranking Last week: 5.

3. Champlain Valley (3-0): Gotta like CVU’s resolve. Down 3-0 entering the third period, the Redhawks rallied past South Burlington for a 5-4 win. After winning a pair of blowouts earlier this season, CVU showed it can comeback and win a close game. Last week: 3.

4. Spaulding (3-0): Should the Crimson Tide be ranked higher? Their latest win — a 5-3 triumph over Hartford — saw the return of all-state goalie Kaitlyn Lague. Spaulding will be a force with her back. Last week: 4.

5. U-32 (3-0-1): The Raiders bumped off previously ranked Montpelier to capture the 11th annual Dr. Dick Butsch tournament. Other teams could — and likely will — knock U-32 from this list. But, for now, the Raiders earned some recognition. Last week: Not ranked.

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