After years of domination by Father Goetz, senior girls basketball in Peel is suddenly very interesting. In fact, there are more competitive teams in Peel than in any other league in Ontario this season. (If only the league didn't insist on this 8 division, one tier monstrosity that prevents most of them from meeting until the second round of the playoffs!)
Here are ten teams that stand out amongst the crowd:
1. D'Youville is currently ranked number one in the GTA by HooptownGTA and number two by the Toronto Star, which traditionally does a far less thorough job of including all games played and not just league games and those tournament games selectively reported by self-serving coaches. Besides being undefeated, they also recently won the Sheridan Cup tournament. Not only are they considered the class of Peel but they are also considered to be one of the favourites for a medal at AAAA OFSAA in Sarnia this season.
2. Ascension is #6 in both rankings and is currently undefeated in league play. Their only loss was to d'Youville in the final at Sheridan. They recently won a close, 3-point match over Aquinas, the next best team in the league. The only question is whether they battle it out for a spot at AAAA, improve their chances of an OFSAA medal at AAA OFSAA in St. Catharine's or be the #1 seed at AA OFSAA in Thunder Bay.
3. Aquinas isn't currently listed in either top 10 but after walking through most of the competition while winning the Applewood tournament and a close lose to Ascension, that will change next week. They weren't even on the radar screen in the pre-season but that has quickly changed.
3. Aquinas isn't currently listed in either top 10 but after walking through most of the competition while winning the Applewood tournament and a close lose to Ascension, that will change next week. They weren't even on the radar screen in the pre-season but that has quickly changed.
4. Campion is #7 in the Star ranking and is ranked #10 by HooptownGTA. They are also undefeated in league play and made it to the final of the Sacred Heart tournament before losing to a team from Hamilton.
5. Mount Carmel is another big surprise. They are undefeated in league play after many thought they would be no better than third in their division by this point. They looked solid against a very deep field at the Notre Dame Ajax tournament, where they made it to the consolation final after beating a GTA-ranked team from Pine Ridge.
6. Applewood has experienced a miraculous renaissance under a new coach who has taken all four basketball teams (boys and girls) under his wing. The team is blowing away competition in their division and they have done well in tournament play; winning the consolation final of the Thompson Invitational and losing a close game against Aquinas in the championship final of their own tournament.
7. Father Goetz is an honourable mention in both rankings but much of that is based on their previous repetition. This is a rebuilding year under a new coach but, this being Father Goetz, there is still a solid core of players. They will win their division and should still make it at least as far as the quarter-finals.
8. Lorne Park has ben a solid program in Peel, making the final four two years ago and a solid junior program has moved up to play senior. They are currently just behind Goetz, after a 7-point loss earlier this season.
9. Notre Dame is #10 on the Star list but, after a blowout loss to Campion, their stock will drop. However, it is a young team and they will be dangerous against at least half of the division winners in the first round of the playoffs.
10. Cardinal Leger is undefeated but untested at this point. Their division is weak and until there are some tournament results, they will remain a mystery. However, Leger has had a strong junior program in recent years and they might be for real.
Other teams just outside of this top ten list but also of note include St. Joseph, St. Francis Xavier, Gonzaga, and Loyola.
A lot of these rankings could change next week when the Xavier Rimrocker is held. Six of the top ten, along with two of the honourable mentions will be playing at Xavier and Carmel. This might go a long way in deciding playoff seedings at the end of the regular season, since so many of these teams won't be at the same event again this season.
Good luck to all teams; this could be the year that ROPSSAA finally brings home a basketball gold.
(Thanks to a few coaching and message board sources who assisted me with the research for this post.)
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