Power Pack: RI High School Girls' Basketball
Jack Andrade, GoLocalProv Sports Reporter
Power Pack: RI High School Girls' Basketball
High School Hoops season is in full swing in Rhode Island, and with a little over a month's worth of games to evaluate it's time to unveil the first Power Pack of the season. Several girls' teams have emerged as serious state championship contenders this season, and the best is yet to come in terms of big time rivalry games and matchups among the top teams in the state. Here's a look at the Top 10 on January 20th.
Power Pack: RI High School Girls' Basketball
Smithfield
Division Record: 2-3 (Division 1 North)
Overall Record: 5-4
Smithfield earns the final spot in the Power Pack after their 52-36 victory over Ponaganset last Monday, establishing themselves as the #2 team in Division 1 North at this point in the season. The Sentinels also beat Power Pack contender Johnston earlier in the season. Smithfield faces a big test this Tuesday against Barrington in Division 1 play.
Westerly
Division Record: 3-3 (Division 1 South)
Overall Record: 5-5
Westerly has beaten Smithfield, and they've lost to 3 of the Top 4 teams in this Power Pack so it's apparent the Bulldogs are better than their .500 record. Westerly plays Chariho this Tuesday and then must gear up for a tough game against Bay View on Friday night.
La Salle
Division Record: 3-2 (Division 1 North)
Overall Record: 4-3
La Salle has an impressive resume despite a 4-3 overall record. Their only 2 losses in league play have been to Barrington and Bay View, both of whom will be appearing in this Power Pack. The Rams are the best offensive team in Division 1 North, scoring 56.8 points per game in 5 league games. La Salle has a big game this Tuesday when they play the #7 team on this list.
Portsmouth
Division Record: 5-2 (Division 1 Central)
Overall Record: 7-4
Each of Portsmouth's 4 losses came to teams ranked higher than them in this Power Pack, so while the Patriots may not have a marquee win on their resume yet, their record speaks for itself and so does the defense they play as a team. Portsmouth gives up just a shade more than 35 points per game in league play, the 3rd best rate in Division 1.
Barrington
Division Record: 4-1 (Division 1 Central)
Overall Record: 5-3
Barrington beat Portsmouth on January 8th, and the Eagles look like the second best team in Division 1 Central right now. The road ahead is tough, however. Barrington plays Smithfield and North Kingstown- a pair of Top 10 teams- this coming week.
Juanita Sanchez
Division Record: 4-0 (Division 3 South)
Overall Record: 9-2
Juanita Sanchez seems a little high here, but the defending Division 3 champions are getting some props for continuing to look like the team to beat in Division 3, as well as beating a handful of Division 1 and 2 teams as well. Juanita Sanchez is scoring nearly 70 points per game in league play this season.
South Kingstown
Division Record: 6-0 (Division 1 South)
Overall Record: 8-1
South Kingstown's lone loss this season was in a big upset to East Greenwich, but the Rebels are one of the elite teams in the state and have a chance to prove it Tuesday when they face top rival and fellow Division 1 South undefeated North Kingstown Tuesday night at North Kingstown High School.
St. Mary's Bay View
Division Record: 4-0 (Division 1 Central)
Overall Record: 6-1
Bay View has been terrific in Division 1 thus far, with quality wins over La Salle and Barrington and their lone loss coming to Rogers in on-league action. The Bengals score a whopping 60 points per game in Division 1 play, and they're set to take on Ponaganset and Westerly this upcoming week.
Rogers
Division Record: 4-0 (Division 2 East)
Overall Record: 10-0
Rogers isn't a Division 1 team, but the Vikings are as good as any team in the state, regardless of Division. In addition to dominating Division 2, Rogers has beaten Barrington, Juanita Sanchez, Westerly, Portsmouth (twice), and Bay View in non-league play. With all of those quality wins, it's hard to keep Rogers out of the top spot, but there is one Division 1 team I have ranked ever so slightly ahead of the Vikings.
North Kingstown
Division Record: 5-0 (Division 1 South)
Overall Record: 10-0
It's hard to argue against North Kingstown in the top spot right now. In 5 league games this season, the Skippers are averaging 60 points per game and conceeding an average of only 26 points per game (best in Division 1). They've flat out dominated. The competition gets tougher this week, however, with South Kingstown on Tuesday and Barrington lurking Friday as well.
