YAIAA girls' basketball power rankings
Saturday night, following a 48-41 home victory for Dallastown against York Catholic, Irish coach Kevin Bankos said he's been saying it all along.
"York (County) basketball is good basketball this year. It stings now," he said of the loss, "but I just told the kids these are the games that make us better."
On the other side, Dallastown coach Mary Manlove echoed those sentiments. In just the past week, Dover had a convincing win against YAIAA Division I leader West York to stay unbeaten. By Friday, Dover's streak was snapped by a young Red Lion team that seems to be just getting better. Despite that first loss, those Eagles still make a strong case to be No. 1 in this week's YAIAA power rankings. But what about Red Lion? How about Dallastown after its win against York Catholic? Read below to find out:
1. Dover (13-1) -- An impressive stretch before the Eagles' overtime loss at Red Lion is enough to vault them up from where they were ranked to close 2013. They had road wins against Susquehannock, West York and Dallastown in the games leading up to the weekend.
2. Susquehannock (12-3) -- Their two league losses have been by a combined four points, coming against West York and Dover.
3. Delone Catholic (13-2) -- The Squirettes had one of the best scorers in the league in junior guard Maddie Comly. With Mary Gingrow, they at least have the best two volleyball-to-basketball players in the YAIAA if not one of the best one-two scoring punches.
4. West York (11-4) -- The Bulldogs still control Division I, but their loss to Northeastern, giving up a 16-point halftime lead, has opened the door for their rivals. It should only add to the intensity for the second half of the league schedule.
5. Red Lion (12-4) -- The Lions host a showcase tripleheader on Saturday, and it should be telling. Delone and West York open play at 4:30 p.m., followed by Central Dauphin East vs. New Oxford and Red Lion vs. Boyertown.
In contention: 6. Dallastown (12-5), 6. York Catholic (11-2), 7. Eastern York (8-5), 8. Spring Grove (10-5), 9. New Oxford (8-7), 10. Northeastern (8-8).