The Burlington boys basketball team made a run all the way to the Division I state championship game last year as a No. 6 seed, before falling to top-seeded Rice. Those Seahorses won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year.
They come into the season as an early-season favorite to get back to Patrick Gymnasium and do some damage if they get there. The returns through the opening two games have been incredibly positive for Burlington, which blew out Division II powerhouse Montpelier in its opener and just secured another blowout win against a very solid South Burlington team on Monday. Last year’s run to the state final was a return to form for one of the most proud programs in state history.
Burlington has won 21 state championships and been to the finals an incredible 36 times. Even with all that success, Burlington hadn’t been to the finals since 2016 when it went 23-1 and beat Rice in the finals. The Seahorses had only been back to Patrick Gymnasium once for the state semifinals since that win.
Burlington’s excellent start to the season has the Seahorses in the top spot in the first Rutland Herald/Times Argus boys basketball power rankings of the season. These rankings were constructed after Monday’s games were played. 1.
Burlington 2-0. A 21-point win against Montpelier really catches the eye as the Solons are winners of four straight D-II titles and the favorite to capture a fifth in a row this winter. 2.
St. Johnsbury 4-0. Monday’s contest against Rutland was th.