View from the Corner Desk

2/11 rankings

Boys ABC

1. Negaunee -- The Miners should finish the regular season undefeated, and, honestly, it's hard to see any team in the U.P. being able to beat them. But high school sports can be unpredictable.
2. Menominee -- The Maroons secured their spot in the rankings. Victories over Marquette and Escanaba look good on their resume.
3. Marquette -- They were a basket from beating Negaunee. But after starting the season strong, they seemed to be teetering a bit here later in the season.
4. Houghton -- They got some revenge with a victory over Escanaba.
5. St. Ignace -- True, they lost to Manistique. But finding a fifth-place team was a challenge. Also considered were Manistique (hey, they beat Iggy! but they are inconsistent otherwise) and Norway (ditto, minus beating Iggy.)
Honorable mention: Escanaba -- I just can't keep carrying them in my top five, as they keep losing to the top 4. I need more evidence they belong.

Girls ABC 1. Westwood -- Going to join Negaunee in the realms of undefeated regular season.
2. Houghton -- Will quite likely give the Patriots one last shot in the regionals.
3. Sault Ste. Marie -- Something new I'm trying this week. They seem to be doing well out east and their losses are to downstate schools, other than splitting with St. Ignace (another fine team, by the looks of it.) I give them an edge over L'Anse based on strength of schedule.
4. L'Anse -- Will give the Gremlins a challenge at districts. Lauren Beeler scored a boatload against Ishpeming last week.
5. St. Ignace -- I'm going with the Saints based on the same logic as the Blue Devils.
Honorable mention: Marquette -- They were close. I almost put them at No. 5. But I couldn't put the Sault so high without rewarding the Saints.