Every two weeks throughout the season, Bounce will look back in on the power poll that started this preseason as we previewed girls basketball season.
Who moves up or down in the newest rankings?
#1 NORWELL KNIGHTS (7-1)
Why #1?
The Knights continue to march forward and take over the top spot with Warsaw’s loss but with Norwell’s consistency too. They have won 5 in a row since their loss to Warsaw and that makes both of these teams very hard to rank. Right now, Norwell’s defensive play is as good as any in the area. You’ll see below but lets call them and the Tigers 1A and 1B, but right now the Knights get the edge in Bounce’s mind by the slimmest of margins.
Why not higher?
They don’t come higher.
#2 WARSAW TIGERS (6-1)
Why #2?
Warsaw has run over everyone not named Jennings County. And bare with me here, Jennings County lost to a Cathedral program that Norwell ran through. Warsaw has remained a credible threat however and a rematch with Norwell is really needed in Bounce’s eyes right now. On the court, Joslyn Bricker has been every bit of the best and most complete player in the area so far this season.
Why not higher?
Warsaw could essentially be 1B. They drop because of a loss where Norwell has a massive win over Homestead on their schedule more recently.
#3 HOMESTEAD SPARTANS (6-1, 2-0 SAC)
Why #3?
With a logjam in front of them, Homestead just does their job but a strong stretch through Christmas could realistically launch them over the two teams ahead of them. The Spartans are as good as anyone in the area and that is well known, but for the arguments of this column, the recent loss to Norwell has not been overcome yet. Yet being the operative word here.
Why not higher?
The loss to Norwell.
#4 EASTSIDE BLAZERS (6-0, 2-0 NECC)
Why #4?
They remain undefeated and are one of just two area teams to hold that record right now. Eastside has handled business with a nice array of scoring, but Taylor Mack’s more recent emergence not only could help tier that Eastside offense, but her aggressive play could make this team really hard to beat in the NECC….again.
Why not higher?
Want to see them against some better competition, sadly that doesn’t happen for a while. For now, they just stay dominant.
#5 BELLMONT BRAVES (6-1)
Why #5?
Bellmont hasn’t had the chance to show much since the last power poll, but they did lose to Homestead. That said, Homestead does have the argument that they could really be the best team in the area despite their ranking in this poll, so does that loss hurt as much as we think? The Braves certainly have to be better before they meet up with Norwell, but right now most things are looking really good in Decatur.
Why not higher?
The loss to Homestead was glaring in ways. Not enough to have them drop but too much to have them rise.
#6 ANGOLA HORNETS (5-1, 2-1 NECC)
Why #6?
Call me the Angola hype-frog because I am all on board for the Hornets right now. It looked like things could get derailed last week, trailing Garrett at halftime, but Angola found their way. How? Well Kendall VanderWal may be the area’s best out-of-state move in we’ve seen in a very long time. She finished with 34 points in that win over Garrett and the Hornets are just buzzing around her.
Why not higher?
Because maybe it is just a hype train?
#7 FREMONT EAGLES (8-1, 2-1 NECC)
Why #7?
Fremont has more wins than any other team in the area. Grace Scharlach is consistently one of Northeast Indiana’s biggest scoring threats. It makes having to play Fremont as uncomfortable as it has been in some time.
Why not higher?
They did lose to the best team in the conference, who is 3 spots ahead of them.
#8 EAST NOBLE KNIGHTS (5-0)
Why #8?
The Knights are one of two area teams left unbeaten and we will learn more about them when they get into NE8 play, with 5 of the 8 teams in the conference in this poll or highly considered for a spot in this poll. Three different Knights are averaging double digit scoring with a fourth at 9.6 points per game. That kind of spread should mean only good things as we move forward.
Why not higher?
Still trying to figure this group out some. We will know a lot more by the end of the calendar year.
#9 SNIDER PANTHERS (5-4, 1-0 SAC)
Why #9?
Snider’s losses are to teams a combined 21-6 and four of those losses are from a Fishers team who is still pretty solid. The Panthers are working on their identity and contending against everyone that isn’t the top team in the state. Right now, wins against Carmel and Noblesville before the end of the season could do Snider a world of good.
Why not higher?
4 losses is 4 losses.
#10 WHITKO WILDCATS (4-1, 1-0 TRC)
Why #10?
The win over Northrop was a big one for coach Justin Jordan and his team. The loss to Columbia City isn’t as glaring anymore either for Whitko who will have a bit of a lull with high level opponents until East Noble visits on December 18. This is a team that is averaging 14.8 steals per game right now and I wouldn’t want my offense tested against them.
Why not higher?
Cautiously optimistic. They do have a loss to a team who we do not rank this week.
OTHERS WITH CONSIDERATION (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Bluffton (5-2, 1-0)
Central Noble (5-2, 2-1)
Columbia City (6-2)
Fairfield (5-3, 1-0)
Leo (7-1)
Northrop (3-2, 2-0)
Southern Wells (5-1)
Westview (6-1, 1-0)
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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