The end is here. The girls basketball season has zoomed by and here is the absolute final Power Poll of the girls basketball season. There isn’t a ton of movement from last week, and Homestead remains at the top.
In fact, two straight seasons have seen Homestead at the top of my power poll every single week.
1. HOMESTEAD (22-1, 9-0 SAC; SAC CHAMPIONS)
WHY #1?
This has become a ridiculous question by now, right? Seniors Sydney Graber and Rylie Parker (pictured) have led this team to nearly unprecedented heights. 2014 was the last time that the Spartans entered the postseason with just one regular season loss.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
It doesn’t get higher. In fact, hasn’t gotten lower all year for the Spartans.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 5-0
2. ANGOLA (21-2, 10-0 NECC; NECC CHAMPIONS)
WHY #2?
Angola has been unbeatable for a long time this season. There is no reason to believe that anybody behind them could beat them at this point even if a couple did beat them in November. Brandon Appleton has this team running incredibly smooth.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
We don’t know how Angola would play up that extra level yet.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 2-2
3. NORWELL (18-4, 6-1 NE8; CO-NE8 CHAMPION)
WHY #3?
Is there a tougher playing combo in Northeast Indiana than Maiah Shelton? She can match up at guard with almost anyone and she can rebound with just as many players. Shelton has Norwell playing very well and as Sectional favorite.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The two teams ahead of them are simply playing better basketball going into Sectionals, that is all.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 4-3
4. CARROLL (15-6, 8-1 SAC)
WHY #4?
The Chargers didn’t miss a beat shorthanded and looked like they could have been better last Friday during senior night when Olivia Hoeppner broke back into the lineup strong. Fellow senior Malia Williams has been great in her absence and the top end of the Charger lineup can play with anyone in their Sectional.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
They lost to Homestead and there is a clear drop-off from first to fourth in this poll.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 4-2
5. SOUTH SIDE (14-9, 7-2 SAC)
WHY #5?
Two of the toughest perimeter players and shooters in this area are Olivia Smith and Jaci Jones. Their one-two punch makes you have to defend South Side in a lot of different ways on the perimeter. South Side has played very good basketball, even in losses, and are probably the team most likely to pull an upset in the postseason.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Same as last week: nine losses is nine losses, even if they aren’t bad ones.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 2-3
6. BISHOP LUERS (15-7, 6-3 SAC)
WHY #6?
The Knights are very good at beating the teams that they should beat. They have quality depth, in part because of injuries and illnesses from the year. Dori Javins has been playing really good basketball lately as one of those aggressive combos that can shoot and rebound at a high pace.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
See below. Against other teams in the top 10, the Luers record is significantly flawed.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 1-7
7. WOODLAN (17-6, 6-0 ACAC; ACAC CHAMPIONS)
WHY #7?
This is the year that Woodlan has been building back towards. They were unbeatable in conference, competitive out of it and they can go into the postseason considered a contender.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Their loss to Concordia last week keeps them from moving up.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 1-2
8. WARSAW (15-7, 6-1 NLC)
WHY #8?
The dominated against their Top 10 opponents and looked really good in the process, especially dispatching Carroll and Norwell, two teams that didn’t lose very much at all. Warsaw has all the tools in all of the positions to make some waves this postseason.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Small sample size makes us wonder what they’d do with a full area schedule.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 3-1
9. COLUMBIA CITY (15-7, 6-1 NE8; CO-NE8 CHAMPIONS)
WHY #9?
They grabbed their first every NE8 title and their first conference title overall in a long time. They are capable of running away with games, but are they capable of finishing? If they can, they still have an outside chance to pulling in another title.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
They lose to the upper end of competition, including the team listed directly below them in this poll.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 2-4
10. BELLMONT (15-7, 4-3 NE8)
WHY #10?
This team has played balanced and been deeper than we would have expected going into this season, They proved that they can play with Norwell, which is huge going into a Sectional that is loaded. Bellmont can beat almost anyone at this point.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Finishing fourth in the NE8 keeps them out of a higher ranking overall.
RECORD VERSUS OTH TOP 10: 2-3
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