Another edition of the in season girls basketball power poll of the season is here.
Each Tuesday, you will get a new one! Who moved up? Who dropped? What surprises are there this week? I’m sure my Twitter followers will have all the smoke as usual.
No. 1 – Garrett Railroaders
Records: 4-1, 0-0 NECC
Previous Rank: 1
Why #1: So lets set the tone of POWER POLLS: Garrett came into this season in power and returned every single player of consequence from how good they were last season. So they, naturally, had the power. They haven’t lost it. Are they the BEST team in the area? Up for debate, sure. But as far as the rules of a power poll go, this team hasn’t wavered any more or less than the team directly below them.
Of note: Nataley Armstrong’s 15 assists against North Side last week tied her own single game program record.
We find out a lot more about the Railroaders this week.
Just like last week, 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: 4-1, 2-0 SAC
Previous Rank: 2
Why #2: Homestead is having a really good season and at 2-0 in the SAC, they are building towards another conference title. Last week was a tough loss though, equal to Garrett and to the same team. The Spartans were strong, I was very impressed with them last week though against a lacking Concordia team.
Why not higher: See the above explanation of a power poll.
Best win: Carmel
No. 3 – Columbia City Eagles
Records: 5-0, 0-0 NE8
Previous Rank: 4
Why #3: Wins now over two SAC contenders have Columbia City as arguably the hottest team in the area. Better yet, they are one of just two undefeated area teams left.
As we learn about the Eagles, one thing we are seeing is that they have more depth than we probably expected too. This team has a legit roster and are going to keep showing that.
Why not higher: The two in front of them are well proven trains. We are still waiting to see how consistent the Eagles will be. But you have to admit, they are knocking on the door.
Best win: Carroll
No. 4 – Carroll Chargers
Records: 4-2, 1-0 SAC
Previous Rank: 7
Why #4: Carroll had themselves a week and one that I’ve already apologized to them for picking against them. The Chargers used last week’s #3 and #5. So when I put them at #7 last week, I was clearly wrong.
Kayla Gibbs and Taylor Fordyce are a tough twosome and as depth grows around them, Carroll will keep getting better. They now look like the top contender to Homestead in the SAC.
Why not higher: Right now, there is one team above them that has already beaten them and a loss to a Carmel team that Homestead beat. So right now, this looks like the right spot.
Best win: Northrop
No. 5 – Northrop Bruins
Records: 2-1, 1-1 SAC
Previous Rank: 3
Why #5: I am not abandoning the Bruins just yet. They took a loss that was a bit unexpected for me, but it was a close game and we may not have seen the last of those two teams this season.
It was too early to crown them but it would also be silly to think this isn’t a very good team. The more Saniya Jackson gets her legs under her, the better they will keep being. Don’t count Northrop out, they are still a high contender.
Why not higher: That loss to Carroll looms heavy today.
Best win: Concordia
No. 6 – Warsaw Tigers
Records: 5-1, 0-0 NLC
Previous Rank: 9
Why #6: Time to give this team a bump since they started out 5-0 before losing to arguably the state’s best in Crown Point. While Warsaw struggled to score against Crown Point, they did hold them to a season low 40 points.
Warsaw has a really good defensive front and we are going to continue to see that.
Why not higher: Some big looming games will tell us more about this team compared to area schools, including Carroll and Columbia City in December.
Best win: Norwell
No. 7 – Snider Panthers
Records: 2-2, 1-0 SAC
Previous Rank: 6
Why #7: A bounce back win over North Central was a big way to rise back into people’s minds. There have been tough losses along the way but Snider, at their best, is a top team and rematches with those teams they lost to would be fun.
They had four scorers in double figures in the win over North Central showcases how much they can flex offensively. If all four of those pieces keep gelling, then the Panthers are going to continue to be big winners.
Why not higher: The Panthers drop but only because the rise of others this week.
Best win: North Central
No. 8 – Norwell Knights
Records: 5-1, 0-0 NE8
Previous Rank: 10
Why #8: A 23 point win against a surging. Bishop Luers team was a really good one. It gave the Knights the chance to prove that they could battle well on the inside, where Luers has been board dominant.
I a m liking this Norwell group more and more, they are suave for. a group that is so. young and relatively inexperienced.
Why not higher: Good wins, but against mostly mid level teams. We want to see bigger wins and December will give them that chance.
Best win: Bishop Luers
No. 9 – Fairfield Falcons
Records: 6-0, 1-0 NECC
Previous Rank: NR
Why #9: Nobody has beaten Fairfield, so it is time to jump o n the bandwagon early. No matter the opponent, their defense has been incredible, giving up just 25.2 points per game. The Falcons have only given up 30 total points in their last two wins.
Why not higher: They are one of the two remaining local unbeaten teams. But the wins aren’t against the highest caliber of opponent yet.
Best win: Goshen
No. 10 – Huntington North Vikings
Records: 2-1, 0-0 NE8
Previous Rank: 5
Why #10: Their win over Snider still lingers but a loss to Carroll makes us wonder if the Vikings could consistently beat and play with SAC top teams. There are lot of those on this list.
The challenges line up significantly in the next two weeks so we can find out a lot more about the Vikings’ ability to grab power and sustain it.
Why not higher: Pumping the breaks a bit. This is a good team but #5 was probably too high.
Best win: Snider
In the conversation
Bishop Luers 4-1
Blackhawk Christian 5-1
Central Noble 5-2
Eastside 3-1
Heritage 4-2
Jay County 3-2
Woodlan 4-1
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