If you followed along with out preseason countdown then you already knew who our preseason top 10 girls basketball teams were. BUT, if you know anything about high school basketball, you know that things can change quickly.
So we’ve given the girls a few weeks to settle in from that initial top 10 and here is where they sit as we kick off their fourth week of games.
Each Tuesday morning, we will release our weekly Power Poll ahead of the week of games ahead.
No. 1 – Norwell
Records: 4-0 overall; 0-0 NE8; 1-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 2
Homestead’s loss means that Norwell is the first team other than the Spartans to ever to ascend to the top spot in our girls power poll. Their hiatus ends with some big challenges this week, but for now I have zero issue calling them the best team in the area.
Best win: Concordia Lutheran
No. 2 – Carroll
Records: 7-2 overall; 2-0 SAC; 1-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 5
The Chargers deserve this huge leap forward but I am not ready to anoint them the best just yet. Its not like they blew out Homestead, but a win is still a very big program win. This team is really deep, but also have a leader in Emily Parrett that traditional balanced deep teams can’t always boast. Carroll is likely the best team in the SAC right now and an argument can be made they could be #1. While I won’t fight back against that argument being there, I just don’t think they are at Norwell’s level yet.
Best win: Homestead
No. 3 – South Side
Records: 4-0 overall; 2-0 SAC; 0-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 3
The Archers stayed unbeaten by turning back upstart Snider and then South Bend Washington on Saturday. We find out more about the Archers on Saturday, but right now they are just going to sit tight right here at where they started the season and we will see how things play out.
Best win: Northridge
No. 4 – Homestead
Records: 4-2 overall; 0-1 SAC; 0-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 1
I’m not even sure how to make sense of Homestead not at number one. The Spartans really need to work on their offensive hierarchy and that is their biggest issue and it was against Carroll. This is still a very good program that is playing a very tough schedule so by no means is all hope lost.
Best win: Noblesville
No. 5 – Garrett
Records: 9-0 overall; 3-0 NECC; 1-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 4
Through no fault of their own, Garrett will backslide a spot this week because of Carroll’s ascent. The keep making an impact but we await another big time win. Could that come this week? Needless to say, if they beat Norwell, they will move up. But right now, all of the teams listed above them have an overall tougher schedule. So while Garrett is beyond perfect against who they’ve played, there is just a tougher average opponent for the top 4.
Best win: Concordia Lutheran
No. 6 – Concordia Lutheran
Records: 6-2 overall; 2-0 SAC; 0-2 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 6
When two teams ranked ahead of you should call a win over you the best of their season, then it says a lot about you. The Cadets are still very much in the SAC race and that is huge. A loss to Garrett doesn’t hurt them because of how good Garrett is. Against anybody but the top 5, the Cadets are unbeatable. As much as we talk about Chanteese Craig inside, Annaka Nelson has really been one of the first month’s biggest breakout players.
Best win: Northrop
No. 7 – Jay County
Records: 6-1 overall; 1-0 ACAC; 1-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 7
Even though we don’t pay much attention to them here, From Recovery (OH) marks another good win for Jay County where they had to really play tough, balanced basketball. The Patriots probably have a harder schedule ahead than they have played so far so their ranking could rise or fall in the coming weeks.
Best win: Bellmont or Winchester
No. 8 – Bellmont
Records: 5-1 overall; 0-0 NE8; 0-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 9
The Squaws have been on a hiatus so there isn’t much left to evaluate here. But, with Angola’s tough week, they Squaws will still get to move up a spot. Their next three games are going to be challenges for them and we will see how tough they come out of their break.
Best win: Adams Central
No. 9 – Warsaw
Records: 7-2 overall; 1-0 NLC; 0-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: NR
The thing that pushes Warsaw over the top into the top 10 was their most recent win. Snider is still coming into their own, but they have looked fantastic and nobody has played them better than Warsaw. The Tigers’ defense was phenomenal on Saturday and they have earned their move into the top 10.
Best win: Snider
No. 10 – Fairfield
Records: 7-1 overall; 3-0 NECC; 0-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: NR
Is it really a surprise that the NECC is a battle yet again? The Falcons have been able to adapt to a lot of different teams successfully. High scoring, low scoring, fast paced, slow it down; you name it and Fairfield can do it. Their biggest issue right now is not controllable: they can’t consistently play. They’ve had five games postponed already with them not getting in more than three games in a row without a postponement.
Best win: Angola
IN THE ARGUMENT (in no particular order)
Blackhawk Christian, 10-1
Bluffton, 6-1
Adams Central, 5-3
West Noble, 4-1
Lakeland, 5-2
Angola, 3-2
Snider, 3-2
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