Power rankings: Boys basketball Jan. 4

Daily Staff Report - sports@nvdaily.com

The Northern Virginia Daily sports staff collaborated to create a top 10 boys basketball list. Each staffer voted, with 10 points being awarded to the top-ranked team, nine to the No. 2 team and so on.

1. Handley (2) 7-1, 0-0 Northwestern -- After winning the Fluvanna Christmas tournament last week, the Judges racked up another impressive win on Tuesday. They defeated a very strong Woodgrove team, 92-87. Handley had 10 different players score, and the team scored at least 20 points in each quarter.

2. Millbrook (1) 7-2, 0-0 Northwestern -- The Pioneers suffered a tough loss to West Virginia powerhouse Martinsburg, 86-64, on Tuesday. It was their second loss of the season to the Bulldogs. The Pioneers will have to regroup quickly as they have a big showdown with Handley on Friday.

3. Skyline (3) 7-2, 0-0 Northwestern -- The Hawks only played one game this week, which was a 57-52 win over Central. Skyline has another big nondistrict game Friday when it hosts county rival Warren County.

4. James Wood (8) 5-5, 0-0 Northwestern -- The Colonels have been on a roll. James Wood followed up winning the Ram Hardwood Classic last week by defeating Kettle Run, 88-63, on Tuesday. The Colonels will try to keep the winning streak going when they play at Sherando on Friday.

5. Clarke County (4) 5-5, 2-2 Bull Run -- The Eagles lost a close one to William Monroe on Tuesday, 65-59 in overtime. Ethan Emmart had 17 points in the losing effort to the first-place Dragons.

6. Sherando (6 tie) 3-7, 0-0 Northwestern -- The Warriors have had a tough week, with losses to Washington (71-61) and Spotswood (62-53) in the last week. The Warriors start off their Northwestern District season on Friday when they host James Wood.

7. Strasburg (5) 6-5, 2-2 Bull Run -- After splitting a pair of games in the Ram Hardwood Classic last week, the Rams suffered a disappointing loss to George Mason, 68-25, on Tuesday night. Strasburg will need to rebound quickly as it returns to district action tonight at Madison County.

8. Central (9) 3-9, 1-3 Bull Run-- The Falcons got two big wins in the last week, and almost pulled off a third. They defeated Stonewall Jackson on Friday, and then had a late rally come up short against Skyline on Monday. Central got its first district win of the season on Tuesday by beating Manassas Park, 60-50.

9. Warren County (6 tie) 3-5, 0-0 Evergreen -- The Wildcats lost twice in the Ram Hardwood Classic, falling to both James Wood (77-71) and Strasburg (51-43). Warren County will have a chance to get back on the winning side of things when it plays at Skyline on Friday.

10. Stonewall Jackson (10) 0-9, 0-4 Shenandoah -- The Generals put up a fight against Central before falling 48-36 last week. They then lost to first-place Luray, 69-33, on Tuesday. They have two more chances to pick up their first win of the season this week, as they host East Rockingham tonight and play at Page County on Friday.