For the fourth consecutive week, the WCI Vikings have earned top billing in the weekly CWOSSABasketball.com power rankings; this (shortened) week saw them handle another top-10 team, the Bluevale Knights, by a 57-29 margin.
The Vikes, along with St. John's, who move up to #2 in this week's ranking, are in action this weekend at the St. Thomas More tournament in Hamilton with several other provincially ranked opponents (more on that later).
For now, a look at this week's rankings:
1. Waterloo CI Vikings / Waterloo
Last Week: #1
The Vikes look like a clear-cut favourite to win the WCSSAA title at this point; they have yet to budge from the #1 spot this season.
2. St. John's College Green Eagles / Brantford
Last Week: #3
The Eagles defeated Assumption at home this week, and as a result flipped spots with them in this week's ranking. I'm sure we haven't heard the last out of that rivalry yet, though.
3. Assumption College Lions / Brantford
Last Week: #2
The Lions have been dealing with a couple "injury" issues of late, but they should be back at full strength soon. This weekend, they're in London at the Fanshawe College tournament.
4. Waterloo-Oxford DSS Crusaders / Baden
Last Week: #4
Alongside WCI, WODSS is the other still undefeated team in WCSSAA --- though they do have Bluevale , WCI and Jacob Hespeler (all top-10 CWOSSA teams) on their schedule within the next two weeks.
5. Jacob Hespeler SS Hawks / Cambridge (AAA)
Last Week: #5
No change this week for JHSS, as they handled Galt with ease in their lone league game. They have a couple of important league affairs next week to take care of in AAA rivals Preston and KCI.
6. Bishop Macdonell HS Celtics / Guelph (AA)
Last Week: #7
The Celtics are now two games clear of second place in the D10 league, and as such it looks as though they'll finish in first place in the regular season standings. According to UW head women's coach Tyler Slipp, they looked very good in their game against Lourdes on Tuesday.
7. Bluevale CI Knights / Waterloo
Last Week: #5
The Knights ran up against the buzz-saw known as the WCI Vikings yesterday, but are still in solid position to possibly claim one of the 4 "first-round byes" in the WCSSAA league. Keep an eye on next Thursday's game against Waterloo-Oxford.
8. North Park CVS Trojans / Brantford (AAA)
Last Week: #8
With all the talk about St. John's and Assumption, the North Park Trojans have been a bit under the radar to this point. However, they've certainly come together to this point and might have a shot at a playoff upset against one of those "AAAA" Brantford schools.
9. Cameron Heights CI Golden Gaels / Kitchener
Last Week: #10 (Tie)
The Gaels are at 6-1 in league play and handled Forest Heights with ease yesterday. Grade 10 Hunter Johns has developed throughout the season and will be counted upon (alongside Liz McLellan, of course) if the Gaels are to have a strong stretch drive and playoff run.
10. Resurrection CSS Phoenix / Kitchener
Last Week: #10 (Tie)
Sarah Schulz and company continue to lead the D8 standings with an unblemished record. I don't think anyone in D8 can catch them at this point, but it will be interesting to see how they perform this weekend at the Southwood tournament (playing KCI in the first round, and potential matchups against SSS & JHSS also loom).
Dropped Out: Our Lady of Lourdes / Guelph (Last Week: #9)
Honourable Mentions / "On The Radar"
Our Lady of Lourdes / Guelph
JF Ross / Guelph
Southwood / Cambridge
St. James / Guelph
Kitchener CI
