Illinois Girls High School Basketball Rankings: Week of January 23

Stevenson's Simone Sawyer sets up to play defensively as Whitney Young's Destiny Jackson handles the ball.

By Kaleb Carter

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 (23-1, No change)

Single-digit wins over Lake Forest and Downers Grove North.

2. Benet (19-2, No change)

Beat Waukesha West, Carmel Catholic and Rock Island. Big game coming up against Nazareth on Monday.

3. Kenwood (15-4, No change)

Won Red South/Central Conference with unbeaten 8-0 record, finished off unbeaten conference slate with 72-30 win over Simeon. Fell to one of Indiana’s best teams, Crown Point, 82-76 in double overtime.

4. Loyola Academy (22-2, No change)

Beat Lincoln-Way West, St. Ignatius and Moline.

5. Naperville North (22-2, No change)

Wins against Butler College Prep, Downers Grove South and Neuqua Valley by an average of 34 points.

6. Sycamore (20-0, No change)

Beat Ottawa, Rochelle and Hampshire.

7. Geneseo (24-0, No change)

Defeated St. Ignatius and Galesburg.

8. Nazareth (19-1, +5)

Win over Marist; scheduled to play at No. 2 Benet on Monday.

9. Bolingbrook (12-3, +3)

Defeated Joliet West and Sandburg, lost to Incarnate Word of Missouri. They should return guards Kennedi Perkins and Yaheira Bueno to action soon.

10. Hersey (22-4, -3)

An unfortunate season-ending knee injury took Meghan Mrowicki out of action in a thumping by Fenwick, but the Huskies bounced back with wins over Rolling Meadows, Prospect and Deerfield.

11. Joliet West (15-2, -2)

Almost found a way to overcome a big deficit against Bolingbrook, then beat Plainfield South, Yorkville and Metea Valley, all by at least 20 points.

12. Barrington (14-5, +5)

After winning convincingly over Fremd this past week, the Fillies and the Vikings each have a win over one another. Barrington’s last two losses are to Stevenson. The Fillies defeated Hoffman Estates and Fremd this past week, the latter 62-47 with Sophie Swanson scoring a program-record 40 points. She also committed to Purdue this past week and sophomore forward Molly O’Riordan received an offer from Loyola.

13. Fremd (20-5 -3)

Wins over St. Viator and Palatine, loss to Barrington by 15.

14. Geneva (17-4, +1)

On a six-game winning streak and 9-0 in the parity-filled DuKane. Wins this last week over Wheaton-Warrenville South, Glenbard North and Lake Zurich.

15. Marist (17-5 -4)

Wins over Marian Central Catholic and Butler College Prep, lost to Nazareth.

16. Lyons Township (19-3, -2)

Handed losses to York, Provost West, Batavia and Fenton, unbeaten in West Suburban.

17. Edwardsville (18-4, -1)

Coasted its way to victories over Althoff Catholic and Missouri defending state champion Whitfield.

18. Peoria Notre Dame (19-1, +1)

Mya Wardle playing strong in defeating Brimfield, Manual and Elmwood.

19. Okawville (22-1, -1)

Earned a second win over O’Fallon before falling to Civic Memorial in the championship of the Highland Tournament. 

20. O’Fallon (18-4, +1)

Defeated good programs in Teutopolis and Alton, but fell to Okawville for a second time.

21. Whitney Young (14-5, +1)

Has won seven straight games and enters the CPL Playoffs as the No. 2 seed behind only Kenwood.

22. Peoria (19-3, +2)

Raced past Canton and Bloomington before earning two very good wins against Galesburg and Lincoln.

23. Morton (17-3, +2)

Bounced back from a loss to Peoria with wins over Galesburg and Lincoln.

24. Winnebago (23-1, -4)

Beat Byron, lost at Saint Viator and handed Stillman Valley defeat.

25. Deerfield (18-3, -2)

Came back against Maine South, beat Maine East and lost to Hersey.

Just Missed Out

  • Montini (UR)
  • Homewood-Flossmoor (UR)
  • Quincy Notre Dame (UR)
  • Civic Memorial (UR)
  • Prospect (UR)
  • Downers Grove North (UR)
  • Metamora (UR)
  • Washington (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, Pana, Fenwick, Saint Viator.

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