It’s time for Week 2 of our Winter Winners list; a ranking of the top all-around athletic programs on the South Shore.
Norwell sat as the area’s top school based on last week’s Power Rankings. Could the Clippers maintain their position in Week 2?
Did new schools rise up the ranks this week?
Find out who is in our Top 10 (based on Power Ranked sports, basketball and hockey) below.
The parameters
If you frequent other local sports news sources, this formula may look familiar to you.
I originally devised this oh-so-advanced equation for a King of the Spring series in another outlet.
Based on the MIAA Power Rankings, schools are given points. Each spot inside the top 32 of a poll is given a different point total: 32 points for a #1 rank, 31 points for a #2 rank, 30 points for a #3 rank, and so on.
If a team is ranked between 33 and 40 in the Power Rankings, they are not awarded any points, but they are not penalized either.
Teams ranked between 41-50 are assigned -1 point, 51-60 get -2 points, and 61-70 get -3 points.
Each of a given school’s teams’ points are then combined and divided by the number of teams they have competing this winter. What you wind up with is an average value of each team at a school.
For the winter, the only sports that weigh into the rankings are boys and girls basketball and hockey.
The Top 10
10. Hanover (↑3)
Total Points: 59
Average Points: 14.75
Teams: 4
Best Rank: 9 (D3, Boys Hockey)
Hanover enters the top 10 this week thanks to big leaps up the Power Rankings for both their boys (13) and girls (21) basketball teams.
All four of the Hawks teams are inside the top 32 in their division and should be playoff bound.
9. Abington (↓1)
Total Points: 62
Average Points: 15.5
Teams: 4
Best Rank: 12 (D2, Girls Hockey)
Despite a marked improvement in overall points, the Green Wave slid one spot this week. The good news though—Abington’s boys basketball team is up seven spots to 21 in this week’s Power Rankings.
8. Hull (↑6)
Total Points: 47
Average Points: 15.66
Teams: 3
Best Rank: 11 (D4, Boys Hockey)
The biggest mover and shaker of the week goes to Hull, who leapt from 14 last week into the top 10.
Much of that can be attributed to the big jump up the Power Rankings for their boys basketball team this week, who rose 11 spots to 18th in Division 5.
7. Duxbury (NC)
Total Points: 63
Average Points: 15.75
Teams: 4
Best Rank: 1 (D2, Boys Hockey)
Both Dragons’ basketball squads made improvements this week. It may have more significance in our rankings than the MIAA’s, however. Both teams seem unlikely to crest the top 32, and will have to finish strong to earn playoff spots.
No movement this week for the dominant-as-usual Duxbury hockey programs.
6. Carver (NC)
Total Points: 36
Average Points: 18
Teams: 2
Best Rank: 14 (D4, Girls Basketball)
The Crusaders offset their one position drop in boys basketball with a three spot rise up the girls basketball polls. Both teams currently sit in position to host a playoff game this winter.
5. Rockland (↓1)
Total Points: 55
Average Points: 18.33
Teams: 3
Best Rank: 4 (D4, Girls Basketball)
The Dogs slide one spot this week after taking hits in the boys and girls basketball polls. They did, however, rise slightly in boys hockey, and trail Whitman-Hanson by less than two-tenths of a point for a spot in the top 4.
4. Whitman-Hanson (↑1)
Total Points: 74
Average Points: 18.5
Teams: 4
Best Rank: 5 (D2, Boys Hockey)
It’s a one-spot jump for the Panthers this week after their girls basketball team moved up the D2 Power Rankings, and both of their hockey programs held steady.
3. Cohasset (NC)
Total Points: 61
Average Points: 20.33
Teams: 3
Best Rank: 6 (D4, Girls Basketball)
The Skippers held their spot this week with minimal change in any of their three teams Power Rankings. Their co-op boys hockey team with Hull slid just outside the top 10, but should still play host in Round 1 of the tournament.
2. Archbishop Williams (NC)
Total Points: 107
Average Points: 26.75
Teams: 4
Best Rank: 1 (D3, Boys Basketball; D2, Girls Hockey)
Archie’s improved their standing this week, something exceptionally hard to do when two of your teams are already the top ranked team in their division.
The Bishops boys hockey team jumped four spots this week to help narrow the gap on the top position in our rankings.
1. Norwell (NC)
Total Points: 109
Average Points: 27.25
Teams: 4
Best Rank: 1 (D4, Boys Hockey)
Already sitting at number 1, Norwell was one of only two area schools to see only positive change in the Power Rankings this week.
While boys basketball and boys hockey held steady in the rankings, both girls programs jumped a spot in the MIAA polls.
The Clippers’ lead on Archie’s has narrowed slightly, down to just a half-point edge, but they’re still a nose ahead in what looks like a two horse race.
First five out: Hingham (14), Cardinal Spellman (14), Plymouth South (12.75), Randolph (12.5), Mashpee (12.5)
