And now, we've made it to the area's No. 1 ranked boys basketball team. The entire Top 15 poll, along with the top players to watch, will be available online Thursday night and in Friday's print edition.
Here's a look at No. 1 Calvert Hall
Coach: John Bauersfeld
Last season: 29-8, ranked No. 3
Postseason: MIAA A Conference semifinals, BCL finals
Top players: Drew Edwards, Sr., G; Nico Clareth, Sr., F; Evan Phoenix, Sr., F; Reggie Rouse, Sr., G.
Outlook: Last season, Mount Saint Joseph had a special group that had played together for awhile and were on a determined mission. The Gaels were able to stay a step ahead of the challenging competition to claim the MIAA A and BCL championships. The Cardinals are loaded with experienced senior talent and appear to have the same willingness to make it their year. All the pieces are in place starting with All-Metro shooting guard Edwards, who brings a versatile offensive game that is tough to stop. Clareth and Phoenix can also produce at both ends and Rouse is an ideal point guard to run the show. Senior guard TJ Duckett is a 3-point weapon and junior forward Justin Gorham adds depth inside. The two leagues might be as deep as ever with No. 2 St. Frances, No. 4 Mount Saint Joseph and No. 6 John Carroll all capable of making it their season, so everything Calvert Hall accomplishes will have to be earned. At season's start, what separates the Cardinals from the others is the continuity they bring to the floor. They've sweated through more practices together, and won and lost more games together.