Out first in season power poll of the season is here.
Each Tuesday, you will get a new one! Who moved up, who fell down from our preseason top 10?
No. 1 – Garrett Railroaders
Records: 2-1, 0-0 NECC
Previous Rank: 1
Why #1: While the Railroaders have a loss to their name, we aren’t going to count that battle with Noblesville against them quite yet. As far as dominating teams in the area go, we haven’t seen that the Railroaders are going to waiver to this point.
As long as Garrett stays the course we plotted for them in the preseason, they are likely safe here.
Why not higher: Those numbers still haven’t been created.
Best win: Woodlan
No. 2 – Homestead Spartans
Records: 3-0, 1-0 SAC
Previous Rank: 2
Why #2: How about this start for the Spartans? The win over Carmel was immense. Full health or not, it really for the Spartans rolling and they don’t look like they are going to let up.
Ayanna Patterson is playing some of the best basketball of her career and that is saying something. Plus, Homestead has quality second level scorers to go along with her and as long as they can keep that up, keeping pace will be tough.
Why not higher: They sit where they started. Can they surpass Garrett? As soon as this week if they can beat a Noblesville team that has handed the Railroaders a loss this season already.
Best win: Carmel
No. 3 – Northrop Bruins
Records: 2-0, 1-0 SAC
Previous Rank: 4
Why #3: The wins are flowing and rather easily for a Northrop team that is playing high level defense right now. The Bruins had 30 steals and 28 defensive rebounds against Concordia last week. Their pressure is suffocating and it’s been fun to see how quickly the new Bruins and old Bruins are gelling.
Speaking of new: note the inclusion of Riley Pepple in the lineup for 17 minutes against Concordia. With her 5 points and 2 steals, it was a quiet entrance for the sophomore to the program but watch it grow.
Why not higher: A big win or two could see them move up rapidly. Right now, the Bruins may actually be the biggest challenge to Homestead in the SAC.
Best win: Concordia Lutheran
No. 4 – Columbia City Eagles
Records: 3-0, 0-0 NE8
Previous Rank: NR
Why #4: Very few teams, regardless of conference, have had the hot start that the Eagles have had. They were just outside of our top 10 in the preseason and that is looking like a bit of a miss right now.
Molly Baker has been an early revelation for this group who looks very balanced on both ends of the floor.
Why not higher: More quality wins will help but right now they sit here more because of what the teams ahead of them have done than what we are waiting for from the Eagles.
Best win: Carroll
No. 5 – Huntington North Vikings
Records: 1-0, 0-0 NE8
Previous Rank: NR
Why #5: We have talked about the Vikings a lot in the last week and rightfully so. They have the upset of the young season, the shot/buzzer beater of the young season and maybe even the freshman and junior of the young season.
Huntington North is on a rightful cloud nine right now and deserve some attention and respect.
Why not higher: One game isn’t a big enough sample size, even if it was a big first game.
Best win: Snider
No. 6 – Snider Panthers
Records: 0-1, 0-0 SAC
Previous Rank: 3
Why #6: This is a dangerous team that can and may beat anyone in front of them they play. Sure it’s one game, but this is the best winless team in the state now more than likely.
Jordyn Poole shook off a tough start against Huntington North to look like one of the best guards in the area, as projected.
Why not higher: Fair for them to drop considering their loss. Also, Snider didn’t look sharp in large portions of that loss to Huntington North. Some untimely turnovers really cost them.
Best win: None
No. 7 – Carroll Chargers
Records: 1-2, 0-0 SAC
Previous Rank: 4
Why #7: The defending SAC champs are still in the hunt. They’ve looked good even in defeat, but the defeats are there. Taylor Fordyce is doing a bit of everything but others will need to chip in consistently. Carroll is a still a team that can beat almost everybody they come across. So 7th for long? Maybe not.
Why not higher: While they’ve played some good competition, two losses already is not a great start. We also have to question their scoring hierarchy. Can they have more than a couple consistent scorers?
Best win: Angola
No. 8 – Jay County Patriots
Records: 1-1, 0-0 ACAC
Previous Rank: 6
Why #8: The Patriots secured a major win for their program beating South Side.
Having five different girls in double digits against the Archers has my attention. Rena Schwieterman continues to be a rock star but this is clearly not a one trick pony.
Why not higher: Jay County’s drop is mostly because teams jumped over them with bigger first two weeks.
Best win: South Side
No. 9 – Warsaw Tigers
Records: 3-0, 0-0 NLC
Previous Rank: 9
Why #9: Warsaw remains unbeaten including a win over another Top 10 team. Abby Sanner is, unsurprisingly, a walking double double and Kacilyn Krebs has been solid too including 17 points on the win over Norwell.
The Tigers are good and we want them up against the best teams in the area.
Why not higher: Again, nothing wrong with the Tigers here, just more eye opening wins for teams ahead of them.
Best win: Norwell
No. 10 – Norwell Knights
Records: 3-1, 0-0 NE8
Previous Rank: 10
Why #10: Admittedly, it was a gamble for Norwell to be in the preseason top 10 after losing so much to graduation. But it was gamble worth making based on their coaching and culture.
This isn’t a team that has let down. Their one loss came to a Warsaw team that is far more experienced. Younger players like Kennedy Fuelling and Makenzie Fuess are playing like vets already.
Why not higher: A loss to just above them Warsaw keeps them right here. For now.
Best win: Angola
In the conversation
Angola 1-2
Bellmont 2-1
Bishop Luers 3-0
Blackhawk Christian 4-1
Central Noble 3-1
Eastside 2-0
Fairfield 4-0
Woodlan 2-1
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
Be the first to comment