Women's Basketball: High School

ż Women's Basketball: High School

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Two of the top three take a tumble

By Clay Kallam
Publisher

Here at Rankings Central, we root for the favorites -- because that means we don't have to do too much cutting and pasting the next week.

Well, this week our hopes were dashed as Fenwick of Illinois and Christ the King of New York both got upset. Fenwick was thumped by Ben Davis of Indiana, a team highly ranked in preseason that was upset by an in-state rival during preseason, and Christ the King lost a close game to The Bullis School of Maryland, another preseason critical fave.

Illinois, in fact, took a serious hit to the reputation, as not only did Ben Davis get by Fenwick and number 24 Stevenson, but Kokomo of Indiana easily handled Washington and the Loyola Academy.

Still, the Midwest is the toughest region in the nation, as all 15 teams in the regional ranking made it into the Fab 50. The weakest, on the other hand, is the South, where only six teams made the cut.

National rankings

1. Buena (Ventura, Calif.) 17-0, (1): Buena hasn't wilted under the pressure of the number-one ranking -- so far.

2. Jackson County (McKee, Kent.) 19-0, (4): DuPont Manual of Louisville expected to be the top team in Kentucky, and will have a chance to prove it Saturday against Jackson County.

3. Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 11-0, (5): Too bad Iowa teams don't travel much, because it would be wonderul to know how Cedar Falls would fare against other elite teams.

4. Beavercreek (Beavercreek, Ohio) 13-0, (6): The Beavers rolled by an aggregate score of 156-41 last week. Where are all those good Ohio teams we keep hearing about?

5. Terre Haute South (Terre Haute, Ind.) 9-0, (8): South just keeps rolling in Indiana, another state where more challenges were expected.

6. Parker (Janesville, Wis.) 11-1, (7): Finals are over, so it will be back to basketball for Parker.

7. Council Rock (Newtown, Penn.) 15-0, (10): The Indians are biding their time until the playoffs begin.

8. Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y) 12-1, (2): The Bullis School of Maryland was ranked 12th in preseason, but stumbled early. The Bulldogs restored some respect, though, by knocking off previous number two, Christ the King, 68-65.

9. Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.) 12-2, (9): The Gauchos settle back into L.A. City play, and shouldn't have to worry for a week or so.

10. Hanford (Hanford, Calif.) 11-2, (11): The Lady Pups handed long-time Berkeley coach Gene Nakamura his worst defeat ever, 82-48 at the Centex Homes Shootout -- and Berkeley had been ranked sixth in California.

11. Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) 14-1, (21): The Indiana-Ohio debate was settled: Ben Davis beat both Fenwick and Stevenson last week.

12. Mountain View (Orem, Utah) 11-1, (12): The Utah competition won't extend Mountain View much until the playoffs begin.

13. South Sioux City (South Sioux City, Neb.) 13-1, (15): The Cardinals only won by single digits (84-76 over Beatrice), a major upset in Nebraska.

14. Briarcrest Christian (Memphis, Tenn.) 18-1, (13): Another easy win (67-24 over the Harding Academy) by the banks of the Mississippi.

15. Mansfield (Mansfield, Tex.) 2-1, (14): If there were any doubt about the best in Texas, Mansfield hammered once-ranked DeSoto, 58-37.

16. Germantown (Ft. Washington, Penn.) 15-2, (16): Two more easy wins for the Patriots, as 6-7 junior Gillian Goring is simply too good for this level.

17. Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.) 8-0, (17): A big win over New Jersey power St. John Vianney highlighted the Caseys' week.

18. Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.) 16-1, (3): Sophomore Erin Lawless had 20 against Ben Davis and Shyra Ely, but it wasn't enough in a 67-51 defeat.

19. Westmoore (Westmoore, Okla.) 10-0, (18): Two relatively close games for Westmoore means Oklahoma girls' basketball is pretty darn good, or Westmoore is overrated.

20. Ribault (Jacksonville, Fla.) 18-0, (19): Sophomore Dorian Williams is one of the best point guards in the country, and smallish Ribault has more than just her.

21. Kennewick (Kennewick, Wash.) 11-0, (24): The winning streak is now at 40.

22. Roosevelt (Roosevelt, S.D.) 23-0, (22): The Rough Riders have won 86 games in a row and will rest until next fall, when their season resumes.

23. Everett (Lansing, Mich.) 28-0, (23): The best in Michigan, and another team that plays in the fall. We're hoping for a Roosevelt-Everett matchup in September.

24. Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) 18-2, (25): It's not often a team moves up after a loss, but a loss to a higher-ranked team like Ben Davis is supposed to happen.

25. Pope Pius XI (Milwaukee, Wisc.) 10-1, (26): One game, one win -- the Lady Popes feel beatific.

26. Our Lady of Lourdes (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) 9-1, (27): Highly rated Ursuline was no challenge: Our Lady of Lourdes won 63-40.

27. St. Thomas Aquinas (Topeka, Kans.) 9-0, (28): The Saints beat Harmon of Kansas City 85-8, a game that was no fun for anyone.

28. Norwich Free Academy (Norwich, Conn.) 9-0, (31): Leading scorer Krista Rappahahn was sick, so Rutgers-bound Saona Chapman took over in a 79-32 romp over the Woodstock Academy.

29. Riverdale Baptist (Laurel, Md.) 12-2, (32): Since Bullis beat Christ the King, and Riverdale beat Bullis, a case could be made for the Crusaders to rank a lot higher.

30. Crater (Crater, Ore.) 14-1, (33): The only loss came to Amador Valley, a California top 15 team, on Amador's home court. And Crater's two top scorers fouled out.

31. Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.) 9-2, (34): After some preseason sputtering, Fort Smith is finally in gear.

32. Southwood (Shreveport, La.) 23-2, (35):Monique Reece had a total of 32 points in two wins against relatively tough opponents.

33. Freedom (Morganton, N.C.) 15-0, (36): Maybe the playoffs will provide Freedom with more of a challenge.

34. Walpole (Walpole, Mass.) 8-0, (37): Nicole Wolff had 26 as the injury-plagued Rebels just barely held off Braintree, 64-60, in overtime.

35. North Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.) 16-2 (38): Won three in a row by an average margin of 33 points.

36. Oregon City (Oregon City, Ore.) 14-1 (39): League play is no challenge for the Pioneers.

37. Central Valley (Central Valley, Wash.) 11-0, (40): A 60-point win and a 20-point win didn't add much suspense to the week.

38. South Cobb (Atlanta, Ga.) 16-0, (41): The War Eagles (love that mascot) are on a rampage.

39. Woodward (Woodward, Okla.) 10-1, (42): The Boomers are in a major in-state tournament this weekend after playing their first two games in nearly a month last week.

40. Southeast (Lincoln, Neb.) 10-1, (43): After beating previous Nebraska number three Marian last week, the Knights get the new number three, Papillon, this week.

41. St. John's (Washington, D.C.) 15-2, (44): St. John's is rolling along, just racking up wins and moving up in the rankings.

42. Corona del Sol (Tempe, Az.) 17-0, (45): Arizona's best remains in high gear.

43. Chaminade-Julienne (Dayton, Ohio) 12-1, (47): Valley View of Germantown was no problem: 51-19 was the final.

44. Pinewood (Los Altos, Calif.) 14-1, (48): Pinewood continues to beat up on league 'rivals.' The Division II playoffs will be the first test.

45. Cheltenham (Wyncote, Pa.) 13-1, (49): Three wins, including one over one-time state power Downington.

46. Plainview (Plainview, Tex.) 22-1 (nr): The Texas rankings seem to get a major shakeup every week, but Plainview may be in the top 50 to stay.

47. Elk River (Elk River, Minn.) 13-0 (nr): The game against Osseo Friday will determine if the Elks really belong here.

48. Kokomo (Kokomo, Ind.) 15-0 (nr): Like state rival Ben Davis, Kokomo rolled over a couple Ohio teams over the long weekend.

49. Lumberton (Lumberton, N.C.) 14-1 (nr): Teams from western North Carolina don't get a lot of respect, but Lumberton has impressive talent.

50. Brockhaven (Columbus, Ohio) 12-0 (nr): Another Ohio team makes the top 50, and another unbeaten one at that.

Dropped Out: #20 Tupelo (Tupelo, Miss.), #29 Parkway West (Ballwin, Mo.), #30 Elizabeth Seton (Bladensburg, Md.), #46 Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.), #50 Winter Haven (Winter Haven, Fla.)

West

1. Buena (Ventura, Cal.) 17-0 (1)
2. Narbonne (Harbor City, Cal.) 12-2 (2)
3. Hanford (Hanford, Cal.) 11-2 (3)
4. Mountain View (Orem, Utah) 11-1 (4)
5. Kennewick (Kennewick, Wa.) 11-0 (5)
6. Crater (Crater, Ore.) 14-1 (6)
7. Oregon City (Oregon City, Ore.) 14-1 (7)
8. Central Valley, Wash. 11-0 (8)
9. Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) 17-0 (9)
10. Pinewood (Los Altos, Calif.) 14-1 (10)
11. Ft. Collins (Ft. Collins, Colo.) 7-1 (11)
12. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) 12-4 (13)
13. East Anchorage (Anchorage, Alas.) 6-0 (14)
14. Chaparral (Tempe, Ariz.) 17-1 (nr) Dropped out: Campbell County (Gillette, Wyo.), Berkeley (Berkeley, Cal.)

Southwest

1. South Sioux City (South Sioux City, Neb.) 13-1 (1)
2. Mansfield (Mansfield, Tex.) 23-1 (2)
3. Westmoore (Westmoore, Okla.) 10-0 (3)
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (Topeka, Kan.) 9-0 (4)
5. Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.) 11-2 (6)
6. Woodward (Woodward, Okl.) 10-1 (7)
7. Southeast (Lincoln, Neb.) 10-1 (8)
8. Plainview (Plainview, Tex.) 22-1 (nr)
9. La Cueva (Albuquerque N.M.) 13-1 (10)
10. Manhattan (Manhattan, Kan.) 9-0 (11)
11. Norman (Norman, N.M.) 7-1 (13)
12. Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.) 5-3 (14)
13. North (Lee's Summit, Mo.) 8-1 (15) 14. Poplar Bluff (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) 12-1 (nr)
15. Mt. St. Mary (Little Rock, Ark.) 14-1 (nr)

Dropped out: Parkway West (Ballwin, Mo.), Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.), Hobbs (Hobbs, N.M.)

Midwest

1. Jackson County (McKee, Kent.) 19-0 (2)
2. Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls, Ia.) 11-0 (3)
3. Beavercreek (Beavercreek, Ohio) 13-0 (4)
4. Parker (Janesville, Wis.) 11-1 (5)
5. Terre Haute South (Terre Haute, Ind.) 12-0 (6)
6. Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) 14-1 (7)
7. Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.) 16-1 (1)
8. Roosevelt (Roosevelt, S.D.) 23-0 (8)
9. Everett (Lansing, Mich.) 28-0 (9)
10. Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) 18-2 (10)
11. Pope Pius XI (Milwaukee, Wis.) 9-1 (11)
12. Chaminade-Julienne (Dayton, Ohio) 11-1 (12)
13. Kokomo (Kokomo, Ind.) 15-0 (13)
14. Elk River (Elk River, Minn.) 13-0 (15)
15. Brookhaven (Columbus, Ohio) 12-0 (nr)

Dropped out: Lexington Catholic (Lexington, Kent.)

South

1. Briarcrest Christian (Memphis, Tenn.) 18-1 (1)
2. Ribault (Jacksonville, Fla.) 19-0 (2)
3. Southwood (Shreveport, La.) 23-2 (4)
4. Freedom (Morganton, N.C.) 15-0 (5)
5. North (Atlanta, Ga.) 16-2 (6)
6. South Cobb (Atlanta, Ga.) 16-0 (7)
7. Lumberton (Lumberton, N.C.) 13-1 (9)
8. Huffman (Columbus, Ala.) 15-1 (nr)
9. Terry Sanford (Fayetteville, N.C.) 14-1 (10)
10. Sullivan East (Bluff City, Tenn.) 17-0 (14)
11. Austin (Decatur, Ga.) 17-1 (11)
12. Tupelo (Tupelo, Miss.) 17-1 (3)
13. John Ehret (Marrero, La.) 17-3 (13)
14. Laurens (Laurens, S.C.) 12-1 (nr)
15. Beddingfield (Wilson, N.C.) 16-0 (nr)

Dropped out:Ft. Lauderdale (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Winter Haven (Winter Haven, Fla.)

East

1. Council Rock (Newton, Pa.) 15-0 (2)
2. Germantown Academy (Ft. Washington, Pa.) 15-2 (3)
3. Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 11-0 (1)
4. Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.) 8-0 (4)
5. Our Lady of Lourdes (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) 9-1 (5)
6. Norwich Free Academy (Norwich, Conn.) 11-0 (7)
7. Riverdale Baptist (Laurel, Md.) 12-2 (8)
8. Walpole (Walpole, Mass.) 8-0 (9)
9. St. John's (Washington, D.C.) 15-2 (10)
10. Cheltenham (Cheltenham, Penn.) 10-1 (12)
11. Elizabeth Seton (Bladensburg, Md.) 13-2(6)
12. The Bullis School (Potomac, Md.) 11-4 (nr)
13. Nashua (Nashua, N.H.) 5-2 (11)
14. Morgantown (W. Va.) 10-0 (13)
15. Guilford (Guilford, Mass.) 10-0 (14)

Dropped out: H.D. Woodson (Washington, D.C.)

1/16/01