For the final time in the 2025-2026 season, a girls basketball power poll is upon us. There are just four days left of games in the regular season before next week’s Sectional round so what better time to put a bow on the top teams in the area this season.
Seven teams who started the season in Bounce’s Top 10 have finished there this season. Oddly enough, despite all three teams being ranked #1 by Outside the Huddle throughout the season, the top 3 in this final poll fall exactly how OTH had them ranked in the preseason.
#1 HOMESTEAD SPARTANS (21-2, 8-0 SAC)
The Spartans have been solid all year but their recent exploits have propelled them back to the top spot, just where they were in the preseason. Homestead ended Warsaw’s 29 game home winning streak on January 20 and then followed it up with a 103 point performance against North Side in a key SAC win. The Spartans are a perfect 5-0 since the last girls power poll for OTH, winning in that time by an average of 78.2 to 39.2 points per game. They have the second highest scoring average in the state for the full season.
Why not higher?
There is no spot higher and nobody can really claim it anyway; Homestead has not lost an area game since November 18, their fourth game of the season.
#2 WARSAW TIGERS (23-2, 7-0 NLC)
Warsaw’s run to a fifth straight outside NLC has been near flawless in every way. Their recent loss to Homestead is their only out of area loss this season and ended a 29 game home win streak. Warsaw has been fantastic and are poised to keep that up going into the postseason. Joslyn Bricker is already the program’s all-time leading scorer and Brooke Zartman is pushing on second place. To have two teammates with the top 2 spots in all-time scoring would be monumental. They have the state’s best scoring average right now at 72.38 points per game.
Why not higher?
A recent loss to Homestead keeps the Tigers at 2 in the final poll.
#3 NORWELL KNIGHTS (18-4, 6-0 NE8)
Norwell has not lost this calendar year, going on a great run that included a win over rival Bellmont. Norwell is exactly where they want to be with a potential Homestead rematch looming in the postseason. The most impressive thing continues to be their defense. Despite having the state’s sixth best scoring offense at just over 60 poitns per game, the Knights are thiefs. Their steal totals are wildly high almost nightly and it is a credit to their stellar continued guard play.
Why not higher?
With more losses than the two teams ahead of them, including to Warsaw in one of their most recent losses, though it was in December.
#4 EASTSIDE BLAZERS (19-3, 8-1 NECC)
Eastside had lost two of their previous three going into the last power poll. They proceeded to lose the next game too. That 3 out of 4 stretch of losses could have been brutal to Eastside. Instead, they have now won five in a row including the NECC Tournament title and are in the right spot to share the conference regular season title. Makes us think that Eastside is so back and at the perfect time heading into the Sectional round.
Why not higher?
They did struggle in a stretch, so we keep them below these three powerhouses above them.
#5 WHITKO WILDCATS (20-1, 9-0 TRC)
Whitko lost by 3 to Columbia City on November 14. They have not lost since. Since then, they have played just one game in single digits and are winning this season by an average of 30.8 points per game. Their four highest scoring players are all in double digits (or just below) and are all shooting 45 percent from the field or better. This could be the best Whitko offense that we have seen in the last quarter century, so it is time to reward them with a boost.
Why not higher?
We get a small sample size of area opponents.
#6 FREMONT EAGLES (20-2, 7-1 NECC)
2002 was the last time that Fremont his the 20 win mark, something that is a very rare occurrence. Fremont may have fallen short of their conference tournament title hopes, but are right in the thick of sharing the NECC regular season; something they haven’t done. Count in that they have one of the most reliable high end scorers in Northeast Indiana and this Fremont team continues to be a lot of fun to watch.
Why not higher?
Slightly behind the team that beat them for the recent NECC Tournament title seems like the right spot.
#7 SNIDER PANTHERS (15-6, 7-1 SAC)
Snider had won seven of their last eight when the last OTH Power Poll came around. Since then they are 3-1 overall with some highlight games coming from Janaya Cooper. She is averaging 18.7 points per game this season. The emergence of freshman McKenzie White has been a driving force in the Panthers push in the SAC as of late too, including big double double performances against Northrop and Concordia.
Why not higher?
Snider has the most losses of any team in the top 10.
#8 BELLMONT BRAVES (17-3, 5-1 NE8)
The Braves dropped a game on Wednesday to Warsaw but were able to compete well throughout and that is a big step as they head into the postseason. 3-2 since the last Power Poll but those losses coming to the 2nd and 3rd teams in the poll and Bellmont’s only three losses this season have come to the top three teams in this final poll.
Why not higher?
Its just a crapshoot for the team that was ranked 3rd in the last power poll 3 weeks ago. The fall isn’t dramatic, there are just other teams making bigger strides.
#9 BLUFFTON TIGERS (17-5, 4-2 ACAC)
Bluffton has their regular season wrapped up and head into Sectionals as winners of their last seven games, including an ACAC Tournament title after failing to capture the regular season crown. During that time, Konley Ault has averaged over 22 points per game, cementing herself as one the area’s top scorers.
Why not higher?
Five losses is five losses.
#10 EAST NOBLE KNIGHTS (16-4, 4-2 NE8)
There are very few teams in the area that have the balance that the Knights have with their lineup. They bring five girls that can score big and beat you on any given night. Four players average 9.7 points or more per game, led by Averi Amstutz and her 13.7
Why not higher?
Again, literally just credit to the teams about East Noble.
OTHERS IN CONSIDERATION (ALPHABETICALLY)
Angola, 15-6
Blackhawk Christian, 15-7
Columbia City, 14-7
Fairfield, 14-6
Jay County, 14-7
Leo, 15-5
Northrop, 11-9
Woodlan, 12-7
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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