AV-CTL Div. 2 Reset

Wondering how the title race for Division 2 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. 2 crown can and will be won.

AV-CTL Div. 2 record: 6 wins, 0 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: Andover Central, Andover

Remaining schedule: vs. Ark City on Feb. 1; @Andover Central on Feb. 5; vs. Andover on Feb. 12; @Valley Center on Feb. 15; vs. Maize South on Feb. 19; @Goddard on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: The Tigers make it a clean sweep, winning out for their first league title in school history after falling agonizing close last season. There remain some serious land mines Eisenhower must dodge, the biggest a trip to Andover Central next week, but it certainly has the talent to do so. Even dropping the game to Central and winning out would ensure at least a share of the title.
Worst-case scenario: Not only does Eisenhower lose to Central, but it also drops one to Andover or stumbles with a trap game against one of the mid-level teams to finish completely out of a share of the title and in second place.

Odds of winning: 50%

AV-CTL Div. 2 record: 5 wins, 1 loss

Notable Tiebreakers: Andover

Remaining schedule: @Andover on Feb. 1; vs. Eisenhower on Feb. 5; vs. Valley Center on Feb. 8; @Maize South on Feb. 12; @Goddard on Feb. 15; vs. Ark City on Feb. 21.

Best-case scenario: The Jaguars face their two largest challenges of the season right off the bat and in back-to-back games: at Andover and then against Eisenhower at home. Winning both of those all but ensures Central at least a share of the title and if Eisenhower stubs its toe then an outright one.

Worst-case scenario: As detailed above, the two biggest games fall back-to-back. Losing to Eisenhower virtually ends all hopes of a league title, and a loss to Andover would just be demoralizing. It's hard to call it a disappointment, considering Central's predicament entering the season, but anything less than second place would be a downer.

Odds of winning: 30%

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

Notable Tiebreakers: Valley Center

Remaining schedule: vs. Andover Central on Feb. 1; @Ark City on Feb. 5; vs. Goddard on Feb. 8; @Eisenhower on Feb. 12; @Maize South on Feb. 15; vs. Valley Center on Feb. 19.

Best-case scenario: First of all, a win over Central would go beyond helping the Trojans in the league standings. It would relieve such a huge mental burden for Andover, the value of such a win is incalculable. If the Trojans take care of business against the teams below it, that should lock up a 2nd place finish in the league. Anything else, such as winning at Eisenhower, would be gravy.

Worst-case scenario: Andover loses both games to the elite teams, then stubs its toe - maybe on the road at Maize South or at home against Goddard or Valley Center - to finish in a distant 3rd or possibly even 4th.

Odds of winning: 10%

AV-CTL Div. 2 record: 3 wins, 3 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: Maize South

Remaining schedule: vs. Goddard on Feb. 5; @Andover Central on Feb. 8; vs. Ark City on Feb. 12; vs. Eisenhower on Feb. 15; @Andover on Feb. 19; @Maize South on Feb. 21.

Best-case scenario: Valley Center gets two of its three swing games (Goddard, Ark City, @Maize South) at home, which is good news. If they can take all three of those, then steal one off of the top three teams in the league, maybe Andover, the Hornets would have overachieved everyone's expectations with a potential 3rd place finish.

Worst-case scenario: The top three swat the Hornets away, then they drop one of the swing games, most likely on the road at Maize South, to plummet in the standings. They're already likely to double their win total from coach John Wetig's first season, so that's a positive, but a 5th place finish would put a damper on things considering the strong start.

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

Notable Tiebreakers: Maize South

Remaining schedule: vs. Maize South on Feb. 1; @Valley Center on Feb. 5; @Andover on Feb. 8; vs. Andover Central on Feb. 15; @Ark City on Feb. 19; vs. Eisenhower on Feb. 22.

Best-case scenario: The first two games of the league slate will tell a lot about how this season will end for Goddard. It's two winnable games and if the Lions can win both and gain some steam heading into the stretch run, they should go 3-3 the second half and wiggle its way into the conversation for 4th place despite a likely 5 or 6-win season.

Worst-case scenario: It's nice that Goddard gets Central and Eisenhower at home, but chances are slim of winning those games. The big swing games are the first two and losing both would severely damper the season for the Lions and could send them spiraling to a 6th place finish.

AV-CTL Div. 2 record: 1 win, 5 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: None

Remaining schedule: @Goddard on Feb. 1; @Ark City on Feb. 8; vs. Andover Central on Feb. 12; vs. Andover on Feb. 15; @Eisenhower on Feb. 19; vs. Valley Center on Feb. 21.

Best-case scenario: If you polled coaches who the best 1-win team is in league play, Maize South might be the No. 1 team in that poll. It is a true statistical oddity how the Mavericks are a .500 team overall yet have such a poor league record. That will change the second half, as the Mavs take all 3 of the swing games and pull off an upset over one of the top 3 teams to make a charge for 4th place.

Worst-case scenario: The bizarre occurrences continue, as Maize South drops one of its first two road trips to Goddard and Ark City. The Mavs lose all three against the top teams and finish with only three wins in league play and a 6th place finish.

AV-CTL Div. 2 record: 0 wins, 6 losses

Notable Tiebreakers: None

Remaining schedule: @Eisenhower on Feb. 1; vs. Andover on Feb. 5; vs. Maize South on Feb. 8; @Valley Center on Feb. 12; vs. Goddard on Feb. 19; @Andover Central on Feb. 21.

Best-case scenario: Pulling off a colossal upset over one of the top three in the league would be spectacular, but a bit more realistic scenario is Ark City winning 2 of 3 swing games with two of them coming at home (Maize South and Goddard) and possibly even escaping the cellar.

Worst-case scenario: Getting pounded by Eisenhower and Andover takes its toll and the Bulldogs struggle to keep their heads up in the second-half of the season. Ark City doesn't win any league games, finishes in last and goes 0-12.