There is a new number one in the second edition of the WCAC Power Rankings.
February is upon us. That means Superbowl, NBA All-Star weekend but more importantly it’s the final month of the WCAC basketball season. Teams are wrapping up the regular season and getting ready for the playoffs. As teams head into the home stretch, see how they rank in the latest Inside The Locker Room WCAC Power Rankings.
1. DeMatha (moved up)
After losing to Gonzaga at home on Jan. 20 and having a week off due to snow, DeMatha got to the swing of things in the right way. The Stags are on a four game winning streak. Their biggest win during the winning streak came against rival Gonzaga on the road. Senior guard Markelle Fultz finished with 28 points and scored 13 in the fourth quarter. If the Stags continue to play the way they are now, they will become a top 10 team in the country again.
2. St. John’s (Moved Up)
St. John’s is having a very impressive season and maybe one of their best in years. They hold a 21-2 record and a 12-1 record in the WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference). St. John’s record is good enough to be No. 7 in the nation according to USA Today. And if the season would end today, they have a chance to play in the Dick’s National Championship tournament. The main reason St. John’s is second is because they lost to DeMatha earlier this season.
The Cadets are on a seven game win streak and they are coming off a win against Gonzaga. Maryland commit Anthony Cowan is averaging 23.1 points per game. Jeff Dowtin is second in the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game. St. John’s won’t face big competition until Feb. 6 when they play Bishop McNamara.
3. Gonzaga (moved down)
Head coach Steve Turner and Gonzaga have hit a major bump on the road. The Purple Eagles have dropped three straight games to three really good teams. The first game was against DeMatha, then it was St. John’s, and recently they lost to Bishop O’Connell. Gonzaga could have won all three games, but they struggles to close those games out. They had leads in both the DeMatha and St. John’s game but allowed them to come back. Their next game is against another tough WCAC opponent in Bishop McNamara.
4. Bishop O’Connell (moved up)
Bishop O’Connell (Va.) is having another good season. The Knights are 14-7 and 7-4 in the WCAC. In their last game against Gonzaga, O’Connell won 69-65. Junior Nate Watson finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds. The victory against the Purple Eagles extended their winning streak to four games.
The Knights have a solid core of good players that can make some noise in the playoffs.
5. Bishop McNamara (moved up)
After dropping two streak games to DeMatha and Bishop O’Connell, Bishop McNamara got back on the right track by winning their last two games. The Mustangs beat Paul VI 78-76 on Feb. 2. Jamir Moultrie played a big role in the victory finishing with 35 points. McNamara then played Bishop Ireton the next day and won 66-52. Moultrie had another solid scoring outing as he had 26 points.
6. Paul VI (moved down)
When it comes to conference play, Paul VI is an up and down team. The Panthers has a 14-8 record but they are 7-6 in the WCAC. They recently lost to Bishop McNamara after they beat Bishop Ireton and St. Mary’s Ryken. The way Paul VI has played this year put them No.6 in the conference and in the power rankings.
You would think Paul VI would be a top three team in the WCAC with the amount of talent they have. But there is still a lot of basketball to be played which means, Paul VI still can make a run towards the end. Their only problem is that they still have to face DeMatha twice.
7. St. Mary’s Ryken (moved up)
St. Mary’s Ryken is showing signs of improvement. They sit with a 11-11 record and is 5-7 in the conference. The Knights last win was against a struggling Archbishop Carroll team on Feb. 2. Ryken are led by sophomore Wynston Tabbs and senior shooting guard Vidmantas Kaciuska. Tabbs is averaging 13 points per game while Kaciuska is averaging 16 points.
Don’t expect St. Mary’s Ryken to move up in the rankings anytime soon. The road ahead will be difficult. Their next three games will feature St. John’s, Gonzaga, and Bishop O’Connell.
8. Good Counsel (moved down)
The Falcons is struggling in the WCAC. They sit with a 3-8 record in the conference which puts them near the bottom of the rankings. Most of their wins in the conference came against the bottom feeders like Bishop Ireton and Archbishop Carroll.
Their victory against Paul VI has been the highlight of the season. They way things look, not even Cameron Norman 16.5 points per game can help Good Counsel move up in the standings.
9. Archbishop Carroll
It’s been another terrible year for Archbishop Carroll. The Lions are on a dreadful seven game losing streak. Their only bright spot is senior forward Nicolas Fennell who has scored 20 or more points in five games this year. But hey, at least they have a few conference victories.
10. Bishop Ireton
The Cardinals are 0-10 in the WCAC. That’s all you need to know.
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