AV-CTL Div. 1 Reset

Wondering how the title race for Division I of the AV-CTL is shaping up? Well, Keeper of the Hoops has you covered as we break down the teams, the schedules and what needs to happen from here on out for each team to accomplish its goals. Click the jump and you will find everything you need to know about how the AV-CTL Div. 1 crown can and will be won.

AV-CTL Div. 1 record: 5 wins, 1 loss

Notable Tiebreakers: Hutchinson

Remaining schedule: @Campus on Feb. 1; vs. Maize on Feb. 5; @Salina Central on Feb. 8; vs. Hutchinson on Feb. 12; vs. Newton on Feb. 15; @Salina South on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: Yes, Derby lost to Central in the first round. But that was without its best player, Taylor Schieber. With him back and fully healthy, Derby returns to form and not only wins out - but turns all six games into routs.
Worst-case scenario: The road trip to Salina Central will more than likely decide the league championship. Losing that game would all but ensure Derby's place in second, which would be a monumental disappointment after going a perfect 12-0 last season and starting out as well as it did.

Odds of winning: 60%

AV-CTL Div. 1 record: 5 wins, 1 loss

Notable Tiebreakers: Derby, Hutchinson

Remaining schedule: vs. Newton on Feb. 1; vs. Derby on Feb. 8; vs. Salina South on Feb. 12; @Campus on Feb. 15; vs. Maize on Feb. 19; @Hutchinson on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: Beating Derby on the road was huge, but it came without Schieber. The Mustangs prove that doesn't matter, sweeps the Panthers and finishes off their league title by beating Hutch on the road to end the season.
Worst-case scenario: Central is more than capable of winning out, but can it find the consistency to do so? The offense comes to a screeching halt, Central struggles to score against quality defensive teams and loses to Derby and Hutch to drop all the way to 3rd place.
Odds of winning: 30%

AV-CTL Div. 1 record: 4 wins, 2 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: Maize

Remaining schedule: @Maize on Feb. 1; vs. Campus on Feb. 5; @Salina South on Feb. 8; @Derby on Feb. 12; @Newton on Feb. 19; vs. Salina Central on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: The Salthawks took care of the four teams below them in the standings and they'll do so again in the second-half to keep them in the conversation for the league title. They lost to Derby and Salina Central, so Hutch knocks off one of them - possibly both, or hope they drop one they shouldn't - and weasels its way to an improbably sharing of the league title.

Worst-case scenario: Hutch loses to Derby and Salina Central again and then one of its swing games, probably one of three trap games on the road at Maize, Salina South and Newton. After staying in the hunt for the title, Hutch free falls to 4th place trying to deal with only two home games left on the schedule.

Odds of winning: 10%

AV-CTL Div. 1 record: 3 wins, 3 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: Salina South, Newotn

Remaining schedule: vs. Hutchinson on Feb. 1; @Derby on Feb. 5; vs. Campus on Feb. 8; vs. Salina South on Feb. 15; @Salina Central on Feb. 19; vs. Newton on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: Maize has the most favorable schedule in the league, getting all four of its swing games (Hutch, Campus, Salina South & Newton) at home. The Eagles win all four of those, drop the two to the league leaders, and surprise everyone by finishing in 3rd place with a for-sure under-.500 record.

Worst-case scenario: A loss to Campus breaks the confidence of a young team, Maize drops five of its final six games and falls to the cellar of the standings. Maize is in Year 1 of the rebuilding phase under Chris Davis, but a 5-win season would still be frustrating.

AV-CTL Div. 1 record: 2 wins, 4 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: Newton

Remaining schedule: @Newton on Feb. 5; vs. Hutchinson on Feb. 8; vs. Salina Central on Feb. 12; @Maize on Feb. 15; vs. Campus on Feb. 19; vs. Derby on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: A sweep of Newton, completed by a road win, sparks the Cougars, who finally piece everything together and win four of the final six games to sneak into 3rd place. Conjuring up some magic to pull off an upset over Central in the rivalry game would be a perfect touch to end the season.

Worst-case scenario: South splits its four remaining swing games (Newton, Hutch, Maize & Campus) and loses to the top two teams in the league. It wraps up an overall disappointing season that finishes with 6 wins.

AV-CTL Div. 1 record: 2 wins, 4 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: Salina Central

Remaining schedule: @Salina Central on Feb. 1; vs. Salina South on Feb. 5; @Campus on Feb. 12; @Derby on Feb. 15; vs. Hutchinson on Feb. 19; @Maize on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: Newton has yet to win a game on the road this season. That changes as the Railers pick up road wins over Campus and Maize, take care of South and Hutchinson at home to make it a clean sweep of the swing games to secure a top-4 finish in the league.

Worst-case scenario: The nightmares continue on the road, as Newton has four of its final six games away from home. Newton salvages by winning one at home, but drops five of six and finishes in 6th place.

AV-CTL Div. 1 record: 0 wins, 6 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: None

Remaining schedule: vs. Derby on Feb. 1; @Hutchinson on Feb. 5; @Maize on Feb. 8; vs. Newton on Feb. 12; vs. Salina Central on Feb. 15; @Salina South on Feb. 19.

Best-case scenario: The Colts lost by an average of 25 points in the first round of the schedule. They take advantage of someone sleeping on them, steal a game or two and maybe evens escapes the cellar of the league standings.

Worst-case scenario: It's never fun to lose and the difficult schedule takes its toll on the Colts, under Year 1 of the rebuilding phase with coach Russell Herman. Campus doesn't win a single game in league play and finishes in seventh place.