Girl's Basketball Primer (2010-11)

In between immersing myself in football and volleyball previews, I needed a rest. Something to take my mind off of the fall sports. What better way to clear the mind, than think basketball! I immersed myself into girl's basketball this past season, and with a few shootouts this summer, I put together my pre-preseason rankings for Class 1A. This class is where I saw the most hoops this past year, and over the summer so far. I followed Class 2A closely last year, as well, but don't quite have the time to put together a top ten at this juncture. Here is how I rank the teams over the summer, with some notes on each team. Make a comment on my picks, and call me crazy if you will....

IHSSN's EARLY 2010-11 Class 1A Girl's Basketball Rankings

1) Havana (return EVERYONE from last year's squad that went overtime in the supersectionals, and most played significant time two years ago with a team that took Brimfield to 2OT in the supersectional)

2) Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City (return 4 starters and 8 of top 9 scorers, including sophomore Micah Jones who notched a triple-double in the state semifinals, finished 4th last season).

3) Hinckley-Big Rock (back-to-back state champions, so have I disrespected the Royals? Going to be tough to replace Jenna Thorp, now at NIU, but Tess Godhardt is a D-1 player for H-BR. Also return Katie Hollis and Kaitlin Phillips, but depth is a concern once again...but they did it before!).

4) Colfax Ridgeview (advanced to supers last year after a 3rd place finish in 08-09. Many girls on that state finals team were Fr. and Soph. Paige Nord returns for senior season).

5) Knoxville (Blue Bullets and Ridgewood had the unfortunate geography card against them. Lost Evansville-bound Hannah Weedman, but bring back a glut of talent, including 6'0" Haley Jones, guards Abby Ball, Tessa Jones, and Katie Houston, and a talented freshman Haley Kelso).

6) Woodlawn (return all five starters from a team that reached the sectional championship game. Will have Mallory Hapeman (Sr.), Whitney Lowery (Sr.), Leah Sutton (Jr.), Kinzie Verhines (So.), and (So.) Alexa Capps).

7) Annawan (took 3rd place finisher Ridgewood to double overtime in sectional title game. Lose all-time leading scorer in Kelly Buresh, but return 4 starters. Freshman class coming in went 56-0 in 7th & 8th grade, and have Celina VanHyfte in that group that I've been told that could give Buresh's accolades a run).

8) Jacksonville Routt (bring back Kelly Lonergan and some talented youngsters such as Katie Tonry and Alyssa Garde - both sophs, but only one starter returns. Also a talented junior class).

9) Winchester West Central (missed the state finals this past season, and Tiffany King returns for senior season. Still 8 players on the roster from team that played in the 08-09 championship game).

10) Hardin Calhoun (bring back 3 of top 5 scorers, including (Jr.) Jocie Klocke, who averaged almost 15 ppg, Brittany Breden (Sr.), and (Jr.) Morgan Stein.)