D6SN Boys Basketball Rankings: Final Regular Season Edition

With the last week of the regular season on the horizon, this will be the final weekly power rankings of the season. Next weekend, we will get you set for championship Saturday, and start the playoff previews by examining the brackets, and picking out contenders from the pretenders for a district championship.  It's almost the best time of the year, best of luck to everyone this week.

AAA

1. Hollidaysburg 12-6

The Golden Tigers handled Bald Eagle and Huntingdon this week, but did suffer a setback to AAAA State College by 7 points.  No matter, this team still appears to be the front-runner heading into the AAA playoffs. They play three LHAC teams this week as a tuneup for the playoffs, starting with Bishop McCort and Central Cambria at home before a road game at the area's top class A team, Bishop Carroll. 

2. Somerset 16-3

Somerset scored a three win week in rather convincing fashion by knocking off a trio of AA playoff teams in Penn Cambria, Westmont, and Bishop McCort all by 17 points or more. They have road games with Westmont and Bedford that they have to have to set up a winner take all section II championship against Johnstown on Thursday. Should Somerset take all three games, they will get a crack at avenging a close loss to Bishop Carroll Saturday night for the LHAC title. 

3. Johnstown 16-3

Johnstown keeps cruising right along, as they are riding an eight game winning streak. The Trojans rolled over Richland and Bedford this week, and will close out the season with three tough road games. Assuming Johnstown can beat Bedford and Westmont, it will set up a section II title on Thursday in Somerset for the right to play Bishop Carroll on Saturday. 

D6 AA

1. Tyrone 17-2

Tyrone scored a close win over Bald Eagle to secure a Mountain league championship for this season, and they head into the last week of the year with a slate full of Rams.   The Golden Eagles will take on Richland twice this week, and they host Penns Valley as well. All three games should provide a good tuneup for the postseason. 

2. Blairsville 16-3

Blairsville won three games last week without much trouble, and it sets up for a challenging final week of the year.  They will host Homer-Center and travel to an improved Ligonier team in what will be two very difficult games for the Bobcats. 

3. Bellwood-Antis 15-5

The Blue Devils are as hot as anyone right now in district six. Bellwood has won nine straight games, and they have really asserted themselves as a threat heading into the district playoffs. They have a road game at Moshannon Valley and host Tussey Mountain, neither game will be easy. 

4. Penns Valley 13-4

The Rams scored a rather impressive win over Clearfield last week to hand the Bison their third loss of the season.  Penns Valley will not be an easy out in the playoffs, as they are one of the best defensive-minded teams in the entire area. 

5. West Branch 17-2

West Branch responded to the Bellwood loss with two easy wins.  Obviously the big question heading into the playoffs with this team, will the strength of the schedule come back to haunt them?  The Warriors will have a chance to gain a quality win over Mt. Union this week to help their cause. 

D5 AA

1. Berlin-Brothersvalley 15-4

The Mountaineers dropped one to a very good Shanksville team on Saturday in a WestPac South showdown, but they did manage to pick up wins earlier in the week.  Heading into the last week, they head to Turkeyfoot Valley and welcome a surging Ferndale team to prepare for the playoffs. 

2. Tussey Mountain 13-6

Tussey Mountain continues to build momentum heading into the postseason.  The Titans have won nine straight games, and Dave Bailey has this team rolling right now. The winning streak will certainly be put on the line this week with a game against Chesnut Ridge and the regular season finale at Bellwood-Antis.

3. Chestnut Ridge 12-6

The Lions split a pair games last week by beating Northern Bedford, and losing to a very good Southern Fulton team. They have Southern Huntingdon and Central coming to New Paris this week, but they also have to travle to Tussey for a big one on Wednesday.

D6 A

1. Bishop Carroll 19-1

The Huskies survived a close game to long-time nemesis, Bishop Guilfoyle, by a score of 43-41.  It was a close game that should hep better themselves for a playoff run. They host Forest Hills and Hollidaysburg this week, and it will be interesting to see how they approach those games.  Carroll will be going for a second consecutive LHAC title on Saturday night, but will have a grueling game against Hollidaysburg on Friday.

2. Homer Center 18-2

A three win week essentially secured a two seed in the playoffs, and sets the bracket for a Bishop Carroll-Bishop Carroll final. They will look to sweep preseason favorites, Blairsville, on the seasons series and will close out the year in Clymer against a 6 win Penns Manor team.

3. Portage 15-4

The Mustangs won four games in four nights to improve to 15-4.  Mixed in there was a big win over Conemaugh Township, who has been a thorn in the side of this Portage program for the past few years.  Portage should be set for a WestPac North championship as they take on three teams with sub .500 records this week before a big rematch with Shanksville on Saturday night.

4. Ferndale 11-7

The Yellow Jackets have won eight of their 10 games since the New Year, and they have finally found a grove after some early season struggles. They take on North Star at home and will head to Berlin to close out the year.

5. Bishop Guilfoyle 7-12

I know about the record, I know about the amount of games they have lost recently, but I also know they only lost by two points on Bishop Carroll's home floor. I'm not so sure any other team could go into Ebensburg and play the Huskies that close.  If the projected standings are correct, Bishop Carroll and Bishop Guilfoyle will have a rematch in the first round of the district playoffs.

D5 A

1. Southern Fulton 20-1

Southern Fulton has held their past three opponents under 30 points. I don't think much more needs to be said about this team -  they are really, really good.  A quick tuneup over Everett should send them 21-1 heading into the postseason, with their lone blemish coming to a good AA Blairsville team by 6 points on a neutral floor. 

2. Shanksville-Stonycreek 18-1

I rank Shanksville #2, but they are essentially also the number one team in District Five - it's that close. They have Rockwood, a pesky Conemaugh Township team, and the WestPac championship likely against Portage this week, a team the Vikings already beat by 35.  Barring an upset, the District Five championship at UPJ with Southern Fulton and Shanksville in a few short weeks is must-see basketball. Start standing in line for tickets...NOW.

3. Conemaugh Township 14-6

If any team will ruin that dream matchup in the district five final, it would be Township. At 14-6, they continue to churn good team after good team. They should beat Blacklick, and give it a go at Shanksville and see where they stand against one of the favorites heading into the playoffs.