They are a model of consistency.
Year after year, New Haven High School boys basketball coach Tedaro France II has taken his program higher. And now the results are showing in a big way. New Haven has become one of the state's best programs and claimed its 40th straight victory last week.
The Rockets (14-0) enter the week ranked No. 1 in the Times Herald Boys Basketball Poll. The Rockets are headed to another long postseason run and will be a threat to win the Class B state championship again.
"It is truly a blessing and all glory goes to God," France said of the 40th consecutive win. "It shows the hard work, sacrifice, dedication and commitment to the team to be able to accomplish something like this. A lot of people do not see all of the hard work we put in from top to bottom each and every day in the weight room, film room, on the court and in prayer.
"They just see the game day result. But those results are from constant repetition doing the small things right every day until it becomes a habit. I am just so proud of our boys and how hard they continue to work both on and off the court."
New Haven will host L'Anse Creuse on Tuesday night.
Coming in at No. 2 in the poll is Blue Water Area Conference leader Richmond (7-0, 10-3). Last week Richmond defeated Capac and is now the only remaining undefeated team in the league. Richmond will return home Friday against Croswell-Lexington.
St. Clair (8-1, 11-4) is No. 3 in the poll after winning the outright Macomb Area Conference Gold Division championship last week. It was the Saints first title since 2011 and they did it by defeating a very good Warren Woods Tower team.
Now the Saints will look to build on that effort before the postseason begins. They will travel to Fraser Tuesday night.
Coming in at No. 4 in the poll is Marine City Cardinal Mooney. The Cardinals have already clinched a league championship but took a tough loss last week. They will look to rebound Tuesday at Frankel Jewish Academy.
Rounding out the top five is Capac. The Chiefs (6-1, 11-1) lost to Richmond last week but are still playing well entering the stretch run. The Chiefs were scheduled to play Armada Monday night.
Times Herald Boys Basketball Poll
1. New Haven
2. Richmond
3. St. Clair
4. Cardinal Mooney Catholic
5. Capac
6. Marine City
7. Port Huron Northern
8. Port Huron High
9. Brown City
10. Marysville