After a busy week following the release of the first set of winter rankings, Week 2 certainly features some movement among area teams.
Spoiler alert: The No. 1 team still remains at No. 1, but after that there are new spots for last week’s teams up and down from Nos. 2-10.
Let’s dive into it.
1. Concord boys’ hockey (9-0-0): Concord faced its toughest test of the season so far when it was taken to overtime by Exeter last Friday. The Crimson Tide skated away with the win and remain undefeated with games against Pinkerton and Hanover this week.
T-2. Merrimack Valley girls’ basketball (12-3): Maybe a bit of recency bias, but the Pride were No. 4 in our initial rankings and beat the No. 2 team, so the jump is warranted. MV’s senior class was instrumental in the comeback win over Pembroke last Friday and picked up a big win heading into the state tournament. The Pride lost a tough one on the road to Bow to start the week.
T-2. Pembroke girls’ basketball (12-2): All the Spartans had to do was hang on for another five minutes and they would have staved off the surging MV squad, but with foul troubles and unable to overcome a tough defense, they earned their second loss of the season. PA will look to get back on track with a game against Souhegan on Friday.
T-2. Bow girls basketball (12-2): The Falcons had the biggest climb moving up by seven spots and now hold a three-way tie with MV and Pembroke. Bow defeated MV on Monday and its win streak moved to 10, but the Falcons lost to the Spartans early in the season. One thing’s for certain: Come playoff time, the capital area will be well-represented in the D-II girls’ bracket.
5. Concord Christian girls’ basketball (9-0): The Lady Kingsmen keep taking care of business on the court, narrowly avoiding their first loss of the season in a 36-35 win over Derryfield. CC’s one-point win was its closest margin of victory all season long.
6. Hopkinton boys’ basketball (8-1): After nearly two weeks off, the Hawks soared back into action with a tight four-point win over previously undefeated Kearsarge. Hopkinton has its hands full, however, as it will play eight games in the next two weeks.
7. Kearsarge boys’ basketball (9-1): The Cougars slide down one spot after losing their first game of the season in a tough road environment at Hopkinton. Kearsarge has a rematch against the Hawks at home within the next two weeks, however.
8. Hopkinton girls’ Nordic skiing: The Hawks are in first place through the first of two races in the N.H. Coaches Series competition, an event featuring 30 NHIAA and prep schools from across the state. The second race – a classic-style ski race – will be on Feb. 12 at Plymouth Regional High School.
9. Concord girls’ basketball (10-3): The Crimson Tide, after dealing with a slew of injuries, have roared back into the Division I conversation after rattling off five consecutive wins. Concord has a full and healthy roster for the first time this season and is heating up at the right time.
10. Concord wrestling: Senior Kody Rashed went undefeated in three dual meets over the weekend. The Tide are now 5-3 in duals and host the Capital City Classic on Saturday.
11. Concord Christian boys’ basketball (7-1): The Kingsmen continue their winning ways and boast one of the best records in Division IV.
12. Pembroke boys’ basketball (9-3): The Spartans haven’t played a game in almost 10 days, but take the court six times between now and Feb. 4.
Others receiving votes: Belmont-Gilford boys’ hockey, Kearsarge girls basketball.