No. 1 – Carroll
Records: 16-2 overall; 5-0 SAC; 4-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 1
Carroll has been about as dominant as you can imagine for a team with two losses. The roll they are on has continued to snowball in the best of ways. The Chargers’ win over Carmel has solidified them as not only the best team in the area, but a real threat in the north half of the state in Class 4A with the tournament looming.
Best win: Carmel
No. 2 – Norwell
Records: 16-3 overall; 5-0 NE8; 3-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 2
Since losing their top ranking to Carroll, the Knights have reeled off five straight wins including one in a rare Monday game this week. The Knights got career best performances offensively from Maiah Shelton and Kaylee Fuelling in that game Monday. Peaking at the right time never hurts.
Best win: Garrett
No. 3 – Garrett
Records: 15-2 overall; 7-0 NECC; 2-2 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 3
Does a loss in the NECC Tournament drop them? Not this week. Garrett was very competitive and likely four or so possessions away from winning the tournament themselves. There haven’t been many hiccups for the Railroaders and they aren’t any lesser for the loss. In fact, Angola’s movement only makes Garrett’s win over them earlier this season even better.
Best win: Angola
No. 4 – South Side
Records: 8-3 overall; 4-0 SAC; 2-0 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 4
It continues to be hard to get a read on an Archer team who hasn’t been able to play. As it stands now, they will get in 16 games this regular season so gauging them against other competition who is playing more and against varied opponents is hard. At their best, South Side is very aggressive and a tough out. We will learn more about them these last two weeks of the season.
Best win: Snider
No. 5 – Angola
Records: 14-3 overall; 6-2 NECC; 1-2 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 9
How about this fascinating rise of the Hornets? After an injury, Hanna Knoll seems to somehow be better and playing the best basketball of her career. The team has had one of the best two week stretches of any program in the area and they’ve now won nine straight overall including the NECC Tournament title, which took 4 wins in 5 days.
Best win: Garrett
No. 6 – Homestead
Records: 11-5 overall; 4-2 SAC; 2-2 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 4
Who are the Spartans? It didn’t seem like we would be asking this question again, but after a really nice win over Mishawaka Marian last week, they then lost to Snider in a second conference loss this season. Does this say more about Snider’s rise or Homestead? To be determined.
Best win: Noblesville
No. 7 – Snider
Records: 9-4 overall; 5-1 SAC; 1-2 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: NR
It is time to take notice. Is a move to #7 bold for a team who hasn’t been in the top 10 all year? Maybe. Though there are some who wouldn’t be happy with them still behind Homestead. The Panthers are playing really good basketball and driving towards a tough Sectional. But for the first time this season, there has to be consideration that they can actually contend for that Sectional title. They could have faltered plenty of times in the win over Homestead, but they did not. That is impressive.
Best win: Homestead
No. 8 – Concordia Lutheran
Records: 10-5 overall; 3-2 SAC; 1-4 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 6
Another week with a loss to one of the area’s elites. The Cadets are strong and have the ability to knock off almost any team, if not any team. But they haven’t yet. While other teams make big moves, Concordia is holding solid and are a Sectional contender against one of the toughest brackets in the area.
Best win: Jay County
No. 9 – Warsaw
Records: 14-4 overall; 5-1 NLC; 1-1 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 7
No disrespect to the Tigers in the drop in the poll, they are one of the most consistent teams in the area. How do they stack up against the area’s best? That is more difficult with their schedule. The Tigers pending game with Homestead could tell us a lot more.
Best win: Northridge
No. 10 – Jay County
Records: 14-3 overall; 4-0 ACAC; 0-2 vs. current Top 10
Previous Rank: 8
The Patriots, almost unsurprisingly, pushed through the ACAC Tournament yet again and have another trophy to show for it. Other teams in the area just won games against bigger or better teams last week. Jay County is the class of the ACAC and we’d still love to see them against more Northeast Indiana area teams.
Best win: Yorktown
IN THE ARGUMENT (in no particular order)
Blackhawk Christian, 15-4
Columbia City , 11-6
Lakeland, 15-5
West Noble, 14-4
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