Victor puts undefeated record to the test: See the latest NYS girls basketball rankings
This year's Scott Zahn Memorial Classic induced a statement win for Victor girls basketball against rival Canandaigua.
Following the Blue Devils' 61-37 victory over the Gray Wolves, Victor has jumped to Class AA's No. 7 spot in the latest New York state rankings. It's the team's best position in the New York State Sportswriters' rankings on record (information dates back to 2005-06).
Victor (7-0) is also one of eight teams in the Class AA state rankings that remain undefeated. No perfect team has more wins.
The Blue Devils' bread and butter has been a suffocating defense that's frustrated typically high-scoring teams. Victor has allowed an average of 37 points per game this season.
Defending Class AA state champion Webster Schroeder scored only 45 points against the Blue Devils on Dec. 14, and Canandaigua was limited to 37 on Dec. 22. Both were season-lows.
"Every game our defense is key to our wins. That's what we focus on mainly in practice," Victor senior Hope Stone said after the team's win against Canandaigua. "We have an athletic group of girls and take advantage of it every game."
Victor hopes to take the leap this year amongst a deep group of Class AA competition. The Blue Devils have reached the Section V semifinals twice in the last four years, but the championship game has proved elusive.
Bookmark this: Section V girls basketball scores for the 2023-24 season
With Stone, fellow senior Devin Livingston and sophomore scoring talent Rhylin Fehrenbach (averaging nearly 20 points per game), Victor should challenge for the title come the postseason.
"I think what we've done so far this year is amazing," Stone said. "We're all returners and a lot of the same team from last year, minus the seniors. It's nice to come back and pick up from where we started."
Victor's next big test comes Jan. 9 when the Blue Devils travel to Hilton, currently the No. 2 team in the Class AA state rankings.
Hornell pulls away in Section V girls basketball grudge match
Friday was also a significant night in for Class B basketball. Then-undefeated teams Hornell and Dansville met for the first time this season, in a rematch of last year's Section V Class B-2 championship game.
Hornell, again, proved to be a thorn in the Mustangs' side. The Red Raiders emerged with a decisive 75-51 win.
Following that game, Hornell received a boost to the No. 1 spot in this week's rankings, while Dansville — last week's top team — fell to No. 8.
Hornell is one of two Section V teams (Gananda in Class C is the other) to receive the top ranking.
The Red Raiders will put their undefeated mark on the line this Saturday when the team hosts Class A Aquinas.
Section V teams in New York state rankings for Dec. 26
Class AAA
N/A
Class AA
No. 2: Hilton (4-1)
No. 6: Bishop Kearney (2-1)
No. 7: Victor (7-0)
No. 9: Webster Schroeder (5-1)
No. 14: Canandaigua (5-2)
No. 25: Pittsford Mendon (6-1)
Class A
No. 6: Aquinas (3-0)
No. 14: Pittsford Sutherland (5-1)
No. 16: Palmyra-Macedon (4-1)
Class B
No. 1: Hornell (4-0)
No. 8: Dansville (7-1)
No. 11: Livonia (4-2)
No. 19: Mynderse (5-1)
No. 25: Waterloo (4-3)
Class C
No. 1: Gananda (5-0)
No. 7: Keshequa (6-1)
No. 15: Lyons (4-2)
No. 20: York (6-0)
No. 23: Alexander (6-2)
No. 25: Dundee/Bradford (5-0)
Class D
No. 5: Elba (5-1)
No. 14: Hammondsport (6-2)
This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Section V girls basketball teams in NYS rankings: See the latest list
