Well here we are a couple of weeks into the new season and with some girls basketball games under our belts, it is time to check in and see how that preseason power poll has held up.
Spoiler, there are some swings from how Bounce saw things in the preseason. So hold onto your hats.
Each Tuesday, Bounce will check in with new power polls. Remember the term power poll. This doesn’t mean the best overall team, but the power comes in big wins and big games. So if you are the better team, but someone else is powering their way through games better, it may cost you.
No. 1 – Northrop
The Bruins have been everything that was expected so far, though the schedule has been fairly light. So what should they do against a light schedule? Blow teams out. And they have so you can’t punish a team for meeting expectations against the competition they have played. Right now, they are beating teams by an average of over 50 points in their 3-0 start. They get their first challenge Friday night against what we call a rival in Carroll.
Why Not Higher?
Impossible.
No. 2 – Homestead
Homestead is going to jump up from the preseason in part because of losses of other teams but really because they have powered through some tougher games already with wins over Carmel and Northridge. These Spartans are for real and their rebounding effort has shown where they can really outpace some other teams.
Why Not Higher?
They have better wins than Northrop but the pure volume the Bruins put out is eye opening. Its a tight race at the top but Northrop hasn’t done anything to justify a drop.
No. 3 – Carroll
Part of Bounce felt like maybe a preseason #5 could have been high for a team who lost some important pieces from last year. Then the Chargers beat Columbia City and more than justified the respect that they should be getting. It moves them up and sets up a week where they have some tough challenges. If Carroll can get through the Huntington North, Northrop and Carmel week unscathed then they are clearly the best team in the area right now. We are about to find out how good they really are.
Why Not Higher?
Lets see how Friday night goes.
No. 4 – Columbia City
The Eagles have been powerful in their wins over lesser teams and their defense has shined. Addison Baxter having nine steals in one game alone should make a lot of teams quake if they want to get out and go with the Eagles. Their loss against Carroll slowed some hype but it could get immediately returned if they can beat Snider on Tuesday night. The Eagles could soar or fall in the power poll really quick again this week. Can they beat teams on their level?
Why Not Higher?
The loss to a team above them.
No. 5 – Norwell
Norwell is like a lot of other teams in the first two weeks. They have absolutely demolished teams that they should absolutely demolish, including a 91 point game against Mississinewa and they have the eighth best offensive average in the state right now. the Knights are shooting the ball extremely well along the way too.
Why Not Higher?
The competition hasn’t been high end. That changes tonight with a trip to Homestead.
No. 6 – Huntington North
The cardiac kids of the early season mounted a near picture perfect comeback against Snider and followed it up by beating Carmel. While the Greyhounds aren’t stacked like in previous seasons, they are still pretty good and a Vikings team that is toying with their depth picked up a big win against them. There were some head turning wins in the first two weeks but Huntington North has two of the biggest.
Why Not Higher?
Some big performances of teams above them. But the Vikings have four more hard ones in a row so come December 3, we will know a lot more about them than we do today.
No. 7 – Snider
Snider starts the season 2-2 and neither of their losses are particularly bad ones, but still games you’d want to see them win given their Division 1 talent. Holding Bishop Dwenger to 15 points in their most recent game could be a good indicator that the Panthers themselves were not happy with a 1-2 start to the season. Dwenger may not be at the top of the SAC, but they were unbeaten before Snider shut them down so viciously. The Panther defense has been a hallmark lately when they are rolling so maybe the losses were blips on the radar?
Why Not Higher?
The loss to Huntington North makes us question if the Panthers are dialed in on some teams they should, on paper, beat.
No. 8 – Bellmont
The Braves sit as another team in the NE8 that is perfect on the season so far. That is something that you can’t hate if you are them. The win over Woodlan was by far the best and something that shows us that they could mean business in what is going to be a very fun race in the top 4 of the conference. Sydney Keane has been one of the best players in the area for the first two weeks of the season.
Why Not Higher?
Bellmont is giving up a lot of points and to some teams who probably shouldn’t score that much on the Braves.
No. 9 – Fairfield
The Falcons have another 1,000 point career scorer in Brea Garber and that has really been the story of their early season was her quick race to that point total. Fairfield has looked good in the process and their depth has been something nice to see as we questioned that a little bit going into the season. The Falcons have done no wrong, they just haven’t had high end competition yet and some other area teams have had more eye opening wins.
Why Not Higher?
Their wins come against teams with a combined losing record and the Falcons haven’t really been tested, winning by over 30 points per game.
No. 10 – Central Noble
The first shocker, IMO, this season was the Cougars win over Bishop Luers to start the season. I think it really refocused people that this program hasn’t had a huge drop-off since their state champion days and that it is still one that is competing at a very high level every single year. A new coach, of course, had us wondering how the program would change but Sam Malcolm’s focus on quality shooting and intensity clearly works in Albion with the Cougars at 4-0.
Why Not Higher?
A good opening win shows they can go with good teams. How good that win ends up being kind of depends on how Luers goes?
In Consideration (in no particular order)
Woodlan (2-1)
Jay County (1-1)
Leo (4-1)
DeKalb (3-1)
Eastside (2-0)
Bishop Liers (1-1)
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
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