Mighty Nines: Welcome the kids to the party
So it's about time we find out the last time an area school had both its varsity boys and girls basketball teams get through a season undefeated. If you hadn't noticed, Graham is threatening to run the table on the boys and girls side. The 16-0 Graham boys, who are laying waste to the overmatched Mid-State 1-A/2-A conference, are holding at No. 5 in this week's Mighty Nine -- Greensboro Day, Dudley, Ragsdale and Trinity simply aren't showing signs of faltering -- while the 16-0 Red Devil girls have slid up to No. 3 ahead of Bishop McGuinness, no slight intended toward the Villains, who played two national-level programs in three days in Ohio. Graham is just looking so dominant right now.
Another interesting shift in the boys poll? Stan Kowalewski's baby Nighthawks have jumped into the rankings at No. 9, coming off a competitive loss to Mount Zion at the coliseum and lopsided conference wins over BY and Western Alamance. It was a gutty win at Northeast Guilford 3 weeks ago that had me seriously considering Northern as a legit top area team. Now the Hawks will put their new-found ranking on the line Tuesday night against the Rams in the school's true home opener. Expect emotions, and the competive juices, to be running high in that one.
Here are the new Mighty Nine polls, which you can read in more detail in tomorrow's News & Record:
MIGHTY NINE BOYS
School / Record / LW* ... 1. Greensboro Day / 22-2 / 1 ... 2. Dudley / 14-2 / 2 ... 3. Ragsdale / 16-2 / 3 ... 4. Trinity / 18-1 / 4 ... 5. Graham / 16-0 / 5 ... 6. Thomasville / 11-1 / 7 ... 7. Grimsley / 14-3 / 6 ... 8. Andrews / 12-4 / 9 ... 9. Northern Guilford / 11-6 / NR.
Dropped out: Asheboro (8). *_last week’s ranking
MIGHTY NINE GIRLS
School / Record / LW* ... 1. Grimsley / 18-0 / 1 ... 2. Northwest Guilford / 16-2 / 2 ... 3. Graham / 16-0 / 5 ... 4. Bishop McGuinness / 14-5 / 3 ... 5. Southeast Guilford / 16-4 / 7 ... 6. Ragsdale / 14-3 / 4 ... 7. Page / 14-3 / 6 ... 8. East Davidson / 16-2 / 8 ... 9. Dudley / 11-4 / 9.
Dropped out: None. *-- Last week’s ranking
A couple more quick thoughts on the girls rankings ...
* It's dangerous to be in the 7-9 range given the quality teams that are lurking just outside the poll. Such as: Glenn (13-3), Eastern Guilford (14-3, winners of 7 straight), Thomasville (11-3), Wesleyan (16-5 if my math is right), not to mention solid Triad 3-A rivals Northeast Guilford and Rockingham County.
* After dismantling a very good Northwest Guilford team Friday night, it's hard to envision Grimsley losing a game this year before seeing either Wakefield or Hillside in the 4-A finals unless a) the Whirlies turn in a very flat effort somewhere along the way or b) run into a very hot team that handles defensive ball pressure very well.