Our second official power poll of the week sees a little bit of movement, mostly caused by the strong start of the Concordia Lutheran Cadets.
Other than that, some of the top teams stay strong, BUT there are some big games featuring top teams coming up this week.
1. HOMESTEAD (4-0, 2-0 SAC)
WHY #1?
Homestead, as we know, is the standard locally and especially in the Summit Athletic Conference. Did we expect the drubbing of Concordia that we got last Friday? No. It only leads me to believe that the Spartans are even better than expected and advertised. Homestead likely isn’t facing a challenge very often this season. Get used to them being right here.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Do I have to answer this question every week?
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 1-0
2. NORWELL (5-1, 0-0 NE8)
WHY #2?
Norwell is going to get a bump up this week just because I think they are playing some of the toughest basketball we’ve seen in the last couple of seasons. They have close wins over Angola and Bishop Luers in games they were losing and it looked like they weren’t built for. Then they bounced back in serious ways. Their defense and their patient conversions late in regulation and in overtime at Bishop Luers last week were special.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
They have a loss and no proof that they could handle the Homestead juggernaut.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 2-1
3. SOUTH SIDE (3-1, 1-0 SAC)
WHY #3?
The Archers have won three straight and the guard tandem of Jaci Jones and Olivia Smith have played well off each other, accenting games of strength for the other. The Archers have a lot of momentum before a big game at the Hoosier Gym this weekend and they really can sink their teeth into SAC play.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Norwell got the bump. South Side is really more of a 2.5 than a 3.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 0-0
4. BISHOP LUERS (3-1, 0-0 SAC)
WHY #4?
The blemish on their record isn’t much of a blemish. They fought Norwell to the very end and while Bishop Luers made some mistakes down the stretch, they were in the thick of things before fouls and brief injuries changed some personnel. This is still a very good team, dangerous and capable of beating any team in the area given the night.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The loss to Norwell will keep them put.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 1-1
5. CARROLL (5-1, 1-0 SAC)
WHY #5?
The Chargers have played a fantastic 13 quarters of basketball this year before Saturday against a tough Hamilton Southeastern. They are spreading the ball out well, rebounding, attacking the basket and have a lot of energy. Defensively, this group causes some good chaos and gets into passing lanes well. Really looking forward to their games against upper competition in the SAC.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
One of Carroll’s best wins is the one over Northrop. Given the Bruins struggles, is it really still a big win?
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 0-0
6. CONCORDIA (4-1, 1-1 SAC)
WHY #6?
Going into last week, they were arguably the hottest team in the area. That got cooled but it doesn’t change some good (at the time) wins and the facts that they are still tough to score against at the rim with Chanteese Craig, Chastity Craig and Annaka Nelson clogging up the good shot opportunities.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The loss to Homestead opened some wounds when trusting the Cadets.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 0-1
7. WARSAW (4-2, 0-0 NLC)
WHY #7?
They have played very good basketball and, lets be honest, their win over Norwell is a major sticking point to keeping them on our list even after losses last weekend to a combined 9-0 Crown Point and Merrillville. Kacilyn Krebs, Kensie Ryman and Kaylee Patton are all playing strong.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Back to back losses, while not bad ones, are losses and we haven’t yet seen how the Tigers are going to bounce back from those two.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 1-0
8. ANGOLA (3-2, 2-0 NECC)
WHY #8?
It is hard to drop Angola down because of their strength of their losses. The Hornets are beating everyone they are expected to and challenging the teams that are considered better right now. That isn’t a trend we really see changing.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
They do have two losses and they are to two teams ranked in the seven spots higher here.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 0-2
9. BISHOP DWENGER (6-0, 1-0 SAC)
WHY #9?
6-0 is a great start and the Saints’ best since three seasons ago. They have won in convincing fashion five of those times including Bluffton and Snider, who are solid teams even if they aren’t near the top of our rankings. The win over Bellmont proved this team can edge out close ones too. They won’t get really tested until December.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Still looking for a ‘big’ win for the Saints and it doesn’t look like Bellmont was that game as we expected it could be.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 1-0
10. GARRETT (4-0, 0-0 NECC)
WHY #10?
The open spot in the top 10 came down to two teams and with the Railroaders sitting unbeaten and with a win over the other team I thought of (Woodlan), this spot is theirs for now. The diversity in their scoring, freshman Bailey Kelham’s emergence and coach Bob Lapadot’s adjustments have gotten them to this strong start.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Only one of their four wins is a quality win. They will show their true colors against Angola this week.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 0-0
Other teams in the conversation: Woodlan (4-1), Huntington North (5-1), Northrop (1-2), Heritage (4-2), Central Noble (4-1), Eastside (4-1), Columbia City (3-2), Bellmont (2-3)
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