The girls basketball season is nearing the survive-and-advance phase as teams are getting in a few final tune-ups before district play.
As we wrap up the regular season, let’s take a look at one last set of Jackson-area Power Rankings, to see who is thriving heading into the postseason.
1. GRASS LAKE (20-1)
How do you follow up an eighth straight Cascades Conference title? By bringing Western in and beating them 73-68 for your 18th win in a row. While Reese Lape has had one big game after another this season, other Warriors stepped up in a big way in the conference title win over Columbia Central, with Mya Viegelahn coming up with key baskets and Leah Starkey coming up with key defensive plays.
2. LUMEN CHRISTI (16-3)
The Titans lost to a strong Rockford team, one of the best teams in the state in Division 1, in a game that came down to the wire. This is an ambitious final week of the regular season for Lumen Christi, with the Rams followed by Mumford and Beaverton as they head into one of the toughest districts, and potentially toughest regionals, in the state in any division.
3. WESTERN (15-6)
While the Panthers couldn’t get the best of Grass Lake, they did cap off the Interstate 8 season by beating Northwest to finish 12-0, their second unbeaten conference run in a row. Having Rayah Hitt and Aubree Allen both able to have a big night in any given game means the Panthers are a dangerous team for the postseason.
4. CONCORD (20-1)
They’ve won 20 in a row. They went unbeaten in the Big 8. AP voters have then ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 4, narrowly behind the Morenci team who beat them on December 8. They have a winnable district, and though teams like Mendon and Hillsdale Academy are potentially awaiting in the regional, what ought to be a winnable regional. They would not see Morenci again until the state final.
5. MICHIGAN CENTER (19-3)
The Cardinals won the third-place game at the Cascades Crossover against Hanover-Horton, then went into Chelsea for a nonconference game and pulled out a 51-50 win on a Mayrese Vieau buzzer beater.
6. COLUMBIA CENTRAL (17-4)
The Golden Eagles have lost two in a row, falling to Grass Lake and Haslett, but those are two teams with a combined record of 39-3 this year. It was also the seventh game in a row Columbia Central has played against a team with 10 or more wins this year, and up until the Cascades title game, they picked up wins against Hanover-Horton (twice), Jonesville, Homer and Stockbridge.
7. NORTHWEST (10-10)
Ryan Carroll’s Mounties picked up a win over Grand Ledge and have a balanced Homer team coming in for Senior Night before they tip off district play with Okemos next week. Hadley Speer came up with clutch baskets in overtime in the win over Grand Ledge.
8. HANOVER-HORTON (15-5)
The Comets have a pair of losses to Columbia Central and Michigan Center in their last two games, and have the tough task of facing Hudson and Concord to finish off the regular season before opening district play against East Jackson.
9. STOCKBRIDGE (15-6)
The Panthers have put a difficult stretch of schedule with Concord, Union City and Columbia Central behind them and picked up back-to-back wins over Bronson and Reading. They close the Big 8 campaign with a trip to Quincy, and districts are on home court.
10. HOMER (11-10)
A nonconference trip to Hopkins snapped their three-game winning streak which saw wins over Addison, Jonesville and Napoleon. This is still a very balanced team, where Brooklen Minix, Ellerie Kissinger, Alivia Warner and Ava Fetterman able to step up and have a big night.
