Illinois Girls High School Basketball Rankings: Week of January 16

By Kaleb Carter

The first Illinois-Basketball.com girls basketball rankings received a lot of positive attention and interaction, so thank you to all who weighed in after its publication.

These rankings are an attempt to contextualize how the top teams in the state stack up with one another, regardless of the size of the school. There will be a lot of movement on these in the coming weeks, don’t you fret. Sound off in our replies as to who you think belongs and which teams deserve a better ranking.

Notes:

+ is how many positions improved

– is how many positions fallen backward
UR is previously unranked

1. Stevenson (21-1, No change)

Defeated Libertyville 43-39, Palatine 61-44 and Lake Zurich in two overtimes 63-57. Big week for Ava Bardic, including 20 in the win over Lake Zurich.

2. Benet (17-2, No change)

Wins over Fenwick, 59-28, and Joliet Catholic Academy, 64-30.

3. Kenwood (14-3, No change)

Defeated Lindblom, 67-24; Brooks, 93-35; Phillips, 76-39; and Hyde Park, 74-27.

Whitney Dunn, Ayanna Jackson and Jazelle Young each led the Broncos in scoring in a game over the course of the week.

Final Scores from Bronzeville, IL…

JV Game@BleedGbb 51@BlueSmoke2010 22

Varsity Game@BleedGbb 76@BlueSmoke2010 39@whittt24 20p/4r @bri_doll23 17p/4a/4r/4s@HeniganAriella 17p/6a/4s@AyannaJackson25 13p/6r/2s pic.twitter.com/yC4W5Tu4HY
— KenwoodBleedGBB (@BleedGbb) January 15, 2022

4. Loyola Academy (19-2, No change)

Lone result was a win against Westinghouse, 57-34

5. Naperville North (19-2, No change)

Unbeaten in DuPage Valley Conference play. Defeated Waubonsie Valley 67-36.

6. Sycamore (No change)

Has not lost in Interstate 8 play. Handed out losses to Plano, 64-26, and Sandwich, 53-31.

Squad got the Dub on the road in Sandwich, 53-31. Clamped down on D in the 4th and stretched the lead to get the conference win. 17-0, 7-0 now on the year. Another battle on Mon at Batavia vs Hampshire@i8SportsScores @ill_hoop_scores @dc_preps @SycoSpartans #oneteamonelegacy
— Sycamore Girls Basketball (@SycamoreHoops) January 15, 2022

7. Hersey (19-3, No change)

Coach Mary Fendley won her 500th game and the Huskies thrashed their foes. Wins over Buffalo Grove, 55-33, and Batavia, 65-36. Katy Eidle is in her bag as of late.

Michigan recruit @katyeidle scored 29 points and hit six 3-pointers, and hot-shooting @HerseyGirlHoops beat @BHS_GirlsBsktbl 65-36.

Read the full story:https://t.co/1C9a160tUF. @BHSCoachJensen
— KaneCountyPreps (@KaneCountyPreps) January 16, 2022

8. Geneseo (21-0, No change)

Beat Class 1A AP-No. 1-ranked Brimfield 69-55 and Kammie Ludwig broke the program scoring record. Won the Kewanee MLK Tourney. Defeated Orion, 69-30, and Quincy, 55-39.

Congrats to future Friar, Kammie Ludwig, on becoming the all-leading scorer at Geneseo High School last night‼️#gofriars pic.twitter.com/PoEJryYQDh
— ProvidenceWBB (@ProvidenceWBB) January 15, 2022

HUGE congrats to @kammieludwig on becoming @LadyLeafBball all-time leading scorer! Geneseo races past Brimfield 69-55 in a battle of #1 ranked teams! @GeneseoHighScho @athleticsGHS @DanPearson5 @AliRapps @TheScoreWQAD pic.twitter.com/xwA1VvGGC5
— Matt Randazzo (@MattRandazzo) January 15, 2022

9. Joliet West (12-1, No change)

Wins against Romeoville, 62-59; Oswego, 61-33; Oswego East, 61-49; and Lockport, 54-43. Scheduled to face Bolingbrook at Benet’s KIPP Hoopfest on Monday.

10. Fremd (17-4, +1)

Beat Schaumburg, 35-25, and Buffalo Grove, 62-38.

11. Marist (+1)

Wins over Carmel Catholic and Marian Catholic, both by single-digits.

12. Bolingbrook (10-3, +1)

Defeated Lincoln-Way West and Bradley-Bourbonnais this week.

13. Nazareth (18-1, +2)

Defeated Joliet Catholic, Willowbrook and St. Charles East, had arguably the best week of anyone in the top 25.

14. Lyons Township (17-3, No change)

Wins against Proviso West and York.

15. Geneva (14-4, +1)

Beat St. Charles East and Lake Park.

16. Edwardsville (16-4, +1)

Unbeaten in Southwestern Conference, beat Belleville West.

17. Barrington (14-5, +1)

Wins over Grant, Prospect and Conant.

18. Okawville (21-0, +1)

Defeated Red Bud, Salem and Greenville.

19. Peoria Notre Dame (16-1, UR)

Knocked off previously unbeaten Winnebago, 57-45. Also beat Centennial, 65-30, and Illinois Valley Central, 54-18.

20. Winnebago (21-1, -10)

Lost to Peoria Notre Dame; beat Oregon, 70-22, and Dixon, 55-41.

21. O’Fallon (16-3, UR)

Has Jailah Petty back in action as a complement to Shannon Dowell. Beat Hillsboro, Belleville West and Mater Dei.

22. Whitney Young (12-5, -1)

Olivia Vick and Tanila Marshall picking it up for Dolphins. Wins over Burlington Central and Lane Tech.

23. Deerfield (16-2, UR)

Lexi Kerstein scored 25 in 73-34 win over Vernon Hills. Unbeaten in CSL.

24. Peoria (15-3, UR)

Great win over Morton, 41-32, led by Aaliyah Guyton’s 23-point performance. Defeated Richwoods, 53-42.

25. Morton (16-3, -5)

Fell to Peoria, beat Dunlap.

Just Outside the Rankings

Normal (UR)

Prospect (PR: 24)

Downers Grove North (PR: 21)

Sandburg (UR)

Quincy Notre Dame (UR)

Montini (UR)

Teams to Watch

Montini, Quincy Notre Dame, Lincoln, Alton, Carmel Catholic,Washington, Metamora, Peoria Notre Dame, Peoria, Fieldcrest, Libertyville, Paris, Providence Catholic, Sandburg, Normal, Lincoln-Way Central, Marian Catholic, Civic Memorial, Butler College Prep, Homewood-Flossmoor, Springfield, South Elgin, Mt. Vernon, Illini West, Mattoon, Brimfield, Downers Grove North, Galesburg

Girls