No. 1 – Carroll
Records: 13-2 overall; 3-0 SAC; 2-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 2
After beating Norwell last week and flat out dominating large portions of the game, this a clear cut change to the third top team we’ve seen this season. Carroll can flat out move the needle and they are skewing further down their bench with younger players like Kayla Gibbs stepping into majors roles.
Best win: Norwell
No. 2 – Norwell
Records: 13-3 overall; 4-0 NE8; 3-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 1
Look, losing to the other top team in the area doesn’t send you down the list much. This Norwell team is virtually unbeatable in the area and still are a huge draw. Kaylee Fuelling and Maiah Shelton are arguably the best duo in the area at this point and it is still impossible to stop both. Norwell has prove time and time again that they are never out of a game.
Best win: Garrett
No. 3 – Garrett
Records: 14-1 overall; 7-0 NECC; 2-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 4
The Railroaders have established themselves time and time again. A narrow overtime loss to Norwell is their only blemish still and the Railroaders have the argument that they could play with and maybe beat any team in the area. Will there be a coronation of sorts this weekend in the NECC Tournament?
Best win: Concordia Lutheran
No. 4 – South Side
Records: 8-4 overall; 4-0 SAC; 1-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 3
Normally, dropping a team down because of quarantine inactivity is something I wouldn’t do. But, with how clutch Garrett has been while we aren’t seeing the Archers is enough for a change. When South Side does return, they will absolutely be contenders in games with Homestead and Carroll with a chance to win the conference.
Best win: Jay County
No. 5 – Homestead
Records: 10-4 overall; 4-1 SAC; 2-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 5
What could test a team more than Homestead got tested against Lawrence North? Not only is that a very tough team the Spartans beat, but Homestead could have very easily gotten down after the miracle shot that forced overtime. Instead of staying down, the Spartans rallied and woke up the rest of the state to the fact they aren’t done yet.
Best win: Lawrence North
No. 6 – Concordia Lutheran
Records: 9-4 overall; 3-1 SAC; 1-3 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 7
Concordia moves right back into the position they lost out on last week by beating the team that leapfrogged them. It is the first major, top 10 win for the Cadets so its worth putting them right back into that gatekeeper spot at #6. Grace Hedtke is playing fantastic and Chanteese Craig continue to play dominant basketball.
Best win: Jay County
No. 7 – Warsaw
Records: 13-3 overall; 4-0 NLC; 0-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 9
By pushing past the defending NLC champion and taking the lead in the conference, Warsaw is right there in the conversation now. This isn’t a team that does a lot of flashy things, they just work hard and grind.
Best win: Northridge
No. 8 – Jay County
Records: 12-3 overall; 4-0 ACAC; 0-3 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 6
The loss to Concordia, which was mostly one sided showed that the Patriots are good but quite ready for the best of the best in the area. This is a team who could breeze through this week’s ACAC Tournament and on the level they play most of their games, they are certainly the team to beat.
Best win: Bellmont
No. 9 – Angola
Records: 10-3 overall; 6-2 NECC; 1-2 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: NR
After last week, how do you not put Angola back into the top 10. A team that started in the power poll in the preseason, they dropped out rather quickly but the waves they are making right now slingshots them back up. Hanna Knoll is a monster right now heading into the NECC Tournament.
Best win: West Noble
No. 10 – West Noble
Records: 13-3 overall; 7-1 NECC; 0-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 10
A loss could. have knocked the Chargers out of the top ten but they rallied back strong with a win over Lakeland. Where West Noble goes from here depends on how this week’s NECC Tournament goes.
Best win: Lakeland
IN THE ARGUMENT (in no particular order)
Blackhawk Christian, 14-3
Lakewood Park, 9-3
Huntington North, 10-5
Columbia City, 9-6
Bellmont, 9-3
Fairfield, 10-5
Central Noble, 11-3
Snider, 7-4
Lakeland, 12-4
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