The Newburyport boys basketball team continues to rise.
At first, it came as a bit of a shock when in the initial MIAA rankings a couple of weeks ago, the Clippers were slotted at No. 30 in Division 3. All they had done at that point was blow out any CAL competition they had faced, with their two losses — which are still their only two losses this winter — coming to a pair of Division 1 teams in Lawrence and St. John’s Prep.
It was almost a doomsday realization.
Newburyport had moved down from Div. 2 this year in large point to avoid winding up in play-in games, despite winning the Kinney title — as it had the previous two years. So seeing as it was now in Div. 3, winning the same amount of games, and yet still in the low-30s was a touch alarming.
But it seems water has potentially found its level.
In each subsequent release of the rankings, the Clippers (9-2) — who haven’t lost since their Christmas Tournament and are beating CAL opponents by over 30.0 points a game — have vaulted up the Division 3 board. and with Tuesday’s latest update, they now find themselves up at No. 13. If the playoffs were to start today, coach Mark Elmendorf and his crew would get the opportunity to host a first-round game.
Unfortunately, the CAL may be a touch down this year, altering the rankings.
But, the Clippers still have a couple of chances left to add big-time wins, and maybe jump inside of the top-8 to get two home playoff games. One is tonight (Tuesday, 1/23) at Georgetown, and the other will happen in early February when the team travels to undefeated Manchester-Essex.
Elsewhere, we could have three home playoff girls basketball games.
In Division 3, Pentucket is currently slotted at No. 5, while Newburyport (No. 17) and Triton (No. 19) are right on the cusp of getting a home game. Moving down, Georgetown is well within the Division 4 field at No. 11, while Amesbury is knocking on the door at No. 34.
Here are the latest rankings for all of our local teams. Records attached are current through Monday, Jan. 22.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Division 3
No. 13: Newburyport (9-2)
No. 64: Pentucket (2-9)
No. 68: Triton (3-7)
Division 4
No. 13: Georgetown (8-3)
No. 45: Amesbury (3-7)
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Division 3
No. 5: Pentucket (9-1)
No. 17: Newburyport (5-5)
No. 19: Triton (7-3)
Division 4
No. 11: Georgetown (5-5)
No. 34: Amesbury (3-8)
BOYS HOCKEY
Division 2
No. 5: Newburyport (7-3-1)
No. 31: Amesbury (4-5-0)
Division 3
No. 4: Triton (7-5-0)
Division 4
No. 37: Pentucket (3-8-1)
GIRLS HOCKEY
Division 1
No. 11: HPNA (6-4-2)
Division 2
No. 29: Newburyport (2-7-0)
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