First girls basketball state rankings released: Section V's Class AA is unmatched

Section V is well-represented in the first New York State Sportswriters girls basketball rankings of the 2023-24 season.

Two teams, Dansville in Class B and Gananda in Class C, boast the No. 1 spot in their respective classification. Two others — Hilton in Class AA and Elba in Class D — are ranked in the top three.

If these first rankings are any indication, Section V will be a force come postseason time.

Full rankings are available at newyorksportswriters.org.

Dansville off to hot start in 2023-24 girls basketball

The Mustangs 2022-23 season ended in unexpected fashion.

Dansville, despite owning the No. 1 seed in the bracket, was defeated in the Section V, Class B-2 championship game last year by Hornell.

A team that returns all five starters and four others in the regular rotation has clearly turned the page. The team's 6-0 start warranted the top spot in the first NYSSWA Class B rankings of 2023-24.

Through six games, Dansville's average margin of victory is 26 points. The Mustangs' strong stretch also includes a championship win in the Waterloo Tip-Off Tournament, which included a 15-point win over reigning Class B state champion Waterloo.

The Mustangs' depth has also impressed so far. The individual leaders' season averages:

• Aynsley Belcher: 15 points, 14 rebounds

• Chelsie Tyler: 10 points, 5.5 rebounds

• Megan Tyler: 9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds

• Kali Meyer: 8.5 points, 2.5 steals

• Emma Allen: 5.8 points, 8.3 rebounds

"We returned a veteran group of girls that have a lot of experience playing together and good team chemistry. So far this season they have been playing with more maturity and mental toughness than last," Dansville coach Arin Belden said in an email. "I think they are driven by the disappointing result and the way our season ended last year losing to Hornell in the section final. This being (my second year coaching Dansville) has also helped, as the learning curve has been easier."

Dansville will have several opportunities to strengthen its grip in Class B over the next two months. The Mustangs still have two matchups remaining with both Hornell (reigning Class B-2 section champion; No. 4 in the current rankings) and Livonia (No. 11 in the state rankings).

Bookmark this: Section V girls basketball scores for the 2023-24 season

Section V's Class AA girls basketball division unmatched

Arguably the most competitive classification in Section V, Class AA is delivering on its reputation so far in 2023-24.

The first Class AA rankings of the season featured four Section V teams in the top 10 (Hilton, Bishop Kearney, Canandaigua, Victor). That doesn't include reigning Class AA state champion Webster Schroeder, which sits at No. 11.

Early season results exemplify minimal difference between the Class AA heavyweights. When Hilton beat Canandaigua on Dec. 1, the teams were separated by two points. Victor's 5-0 start is highlighted by a one-point margin against Schroeder on Dec. 14.

Kearney could be a wild card come playoff time. The Kings' 2023-24 schedule includes only two other Class AA opponents: Section II's Bethlehem on Jan. 13 and Schroeder on Feb. 9.

Section V's Class AAA girls basketball teams still finding their footing

Across New York's six classifications, Class AAA was the only area Section V went unrepresented.

That's partly due to the lack of AAA teams in the Rochester area (there's only six this season), but teams in that classification have struggled thus far. Of Section V's six Class AAA teams, only Edison/WOIS/SWW (2-1) owns a winning record.

Another quirk, due to the limited number of Class AAA competition, is the lack of measuring stick games. Edison, for example, only plays four of its remaining 15 games against teams within its own classification. Fairport, which has already played six games, only has one game remaining against a Class AAA team.

That creates a strange dynamic for sectional seedings. Because teams only earn four points for wins against lower classification, victories against fellow Class AAA teams take on much greater importance — especially with so few opportunities.

Section V teams in New York state rankings for Dec. 20

Class AAA

• N/A

Class AA

• No. 2: Hilton (3-1)

• No. 6: Bishop Kearney (2-1)

• No. 8: Canandaigua (5-1)

• No. 10: Victor (5-0)

• No. 11: Webster Schroeder (4-1)

Class A

• No. 7: Aquinas (2-0)

• No. 10: Pittsford Sutherland (4-0)

• No. 17: Palmyra-Macedon (3-1)

• No. 25: Newark (3-1)

Class B

• No. 1: Dansville (6-0)

• No. 4: Hornell (3-0)

• No. 11: Livonia (4-2)

Class C

• No. 1: Gananda (5-0)

• No. 7 Keshequa (6-1)

• No. 10: East Rochester (6-1)

• No. 13: Lyons (4-1)

• No. 16: Caledonia-Mumford (3-1)

• No. 19: York (4-0)

• No. 23: Dundee/Bradford (4-0)

• No. 25: Fillmore (5-0)

Class D

• No. 3: Elba (4-1)

• No. 12: Hammondsport (5-2)

• No. 14: Jasper-Troupsburg (4-2)

• No. 17: Genesee Valley/Belfast (6-1)

• No. 19: Avoca/Prattsburgh (3-2)

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Section V girls basketball teams in state rankings: See the list