Though there were some interesting boys basketball results since my last installment, none of them were powerful enough to push or pull any of Harford County's teams up or down my list, so, you are getting the same power poll you saw last week, with a few more tidbits added. Since Wednesday's games were snowed out, this list takes into account only those contests that took place through Tuesday. Here goes:
1. Edgewood: Talking to Edgewood coach Austin Hill after his Rams beat Aberdeen a few weeks ago, which established Edgewood as the front runner in the Chesapeake Division's title race, he said, "we're tired of being the little brother in this county; we want that conference championship." Well, they're just a few games away from securing a spot in the UCBAC title game, having defeated Aberdeen for the second time last Friday. Fact: Edgewood's last appearance in the UCBAC final came following the 2005-2006 regular season, in which the Rams won a Susquehanna (lower) Division title with a perfect 12-0 record. They played Aberdeen, which was on its way to a sixth straight UCBAC crown, and lost, 65-36. Six seasons later, the Rams have paid their dues, and if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on them to win the whole thing.
2. Aberdeen: As I've said many times, I don't root for teams, but an Aberdeen victory in Edgewood last Friday sure would have made the Chesapeake Division race a lot spicier. The Eagles followed the 55-50 loss to the Rams by clubbing North Harford, 72-33, on Tuesday night. With a seventh upper division and conference title out of reach, the Aberdeen boys have the 3A regional tournament to look forward to.
3. Patterson Mill: The Huskies clinched their first Susquehanna (lower) Division crown on Tuesday night and extended their UCBAC unbeaten streak with a tight victory over Joppatowne. Now the question is, can they do what North Harford did last year and pull off an upset victory over the Chesapeake Division champ in the UCBAC final. During the regular season, the Huskies carved up the two Chesapeake teams they faced, beating Fallston, 67-33, and C. Milton Wright, 73-57, so take those results for what they are: harbingers of what might be an epic conference championship game.
4. Joppatowne: The Mariners fought hard, but came up five points short in their Tuesday rematch with Patterson Mill, losing, 59-54. Tonight's (Friday's) road game with Harford Tech should be interesting.
5. C. Milton Wright: The Mustangs worked over Fallston last Friday, 58-40, which was their third Chesapeake Division victory in their last four matchups. They square off with Elkton tonight, hoping to avenge a 70-68 loss to the Elks from Jan 13.
6. North Harford: If the Hawks hadn't played a tough game with Edgewood on Jan. 31, when they lost, 62-54 to the Rams, they'd be a few spots down on this list. The most recent defeat, a 72-33 drubbing at the hands of Aberdeen on Tuesday, was North Harford's worst of the season so far.
7. Harford Tech: Tuesday's double overtime loss to Bo Manor might have bumped Harford Tech down a spot, but I'm not going to rank the Cobras lower than Bel Air when they defeated the Bobcats, 65-58, on Jan. 24. The rubber match for that game goes down Monday night, at Harford Tech, and tonight the Cobras face off with division winner Patterson Mill.
8. Bel Air: On something of an upswing after a very tough start, the Bobcats can avenge their home-court loss to Harford Tech in the aforementioned Monday matchup.
9. Fallston: After a three-point loss to Aberdeen on Jan. 24, the Cougars suffered back-to-back 18-point defeats last Friday and Saturday, losing to C. Milton Wright and Elkton. They could be a wrench in the gears for Edgewood, who the Cougars face tonight at home. Last time the two teams met, the Rams escaped with a 78-77 victory.
10. Havre de Grace: The Warriors might become the first reigning Chesapeake Division boys basketball champ to be relegated to the Susquehanna.