We are back with another look at the girls basketball power poll as we head into the competitive ACAC and NECC Tournaments.
No. 1 – Homestead Spartans
Why #1?: This is the best team in the state no matter how you break it down. In every major poll, the Spartans reign. If they get by Snider on Friday, there may be no catching them in the area this season.
Why not higher?: It doesn’t get better.
No. 2 – Garrett Railroaders
Why #2?: Garrett is now ranked #2 in Class 3A and have their highest ranking ever in the mixed class poll. They have hit a great stride and look to close out t he NECC in coming weeks.
Why not higher?: Homestead is really good.
No. 3 – Columbia City Eagles
Why #3?: The unbeaten Eagles have succeeded against the biggest tests in the NE8 after dispatching Bellmont. This group is well rounded and undefeated.
Why not higher?: The teams above them are just really good. The margin, fairly, between CC and Garrett is small but the Railroaders have never lost the power they came into the season with.
No. 4 – Snider Panthers
Why #4?: The Panthers have some of the best wins in the area this season. A win Friday would really shake things up, but even without it this team is top tier and they have proven it time and time again,
Why not higher?: The loss to Columbia City keeps them behind them.
No. 5 – Carroll Chargers
Why #5?: The Chargers are beating everyone that isn’t top tier on their schedule. Locally, only two teams have beaten them and they are the favorites for most of their remaining schedule. It helps that Carroll has really gotten some big scoring games lately from individuals like Taylor Fordyce.
Why not higher?: A lack of consistency has kept the Chargers from winning more than three games in a row all season.
No. 6 – Northrop Bruins
Why #6?: with Saniya and Nevaeh Jackson leading the way, they have been one of the area’s best teams. Some people may think this is too high with recent losses, but none of them have been bad with the exception of the point spread in a loss to Snider.
Why not higher?: They have lost 4 of their last five.
No. 7 – Fairfield Falcons
Why #7?: The Falcons have been flawless with the exception of losses to two teams above them on this list. They are scoring well and have to be a top contender in this week’s NECC Tournament.
Why not higher?: Losses in two of their last three have dropped them in people’s minds, including in state rankings.
No. 8 – Warsaw Tigers
Why #8?: The Tigers are in the driver’s seat of the Northern Lakes Conference. A win over Northridge and even a close loss to Garrett show that Warsaw is solid. Their three area losses are to teams above them in this poll and they have been in all of those games, so they can play with anyone locally.
Best win: After a 5-0 start, there have been a lot of exchanging of wins and losses.
No. 9 – Norwell Knights
Why #9?: Norwell has won 4 of their last 5 and they have some of the best momentum in the area as we move towards the postseason. This is a heavy week but it does look like they can get through it unscathed as they are favorites in their last five games of the season.
Why not higher?: All four of their losses come to teams ranked higher than them in this poll.
No. 10 – Jay County Patriots
Why #10?: Ranked in Class 3A, Jay County hasn’t lost since November 20. That is a long winning streak and one of the very best in this entire area. Ten straight wins and the heavy favorite in the ACAC Tournament has Jay County rolling.
Why not higher?: Their schedule during this win streak hasn’t been as tough as most of the teams ahead of them on this list.
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