Greater Lafayette Area Girls Basketball Power Rankings (Nov. 3 - Nov. 18)

High school girls basketball was provided the perfect backdrop for competition with the IU Health Hoops Classic giving an audience and spotlight for eight local programs.

Through these performances at Harrison and McCutcheon High School, there's now a fair precedent to use and gauge which local teams stand above the rest.

Here's an updated list of the top high school girls basketball teams from the Greater Lafayette Area.

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There is plenty of discussions to be made with key programs dealing with injuries and how certain additions and absences affect both a team's ranking. That schism has created a two-way tie.

Let the debate begin! It's time to unveil the latest Greater Lafayette Area top 10 girls basketball power rankings.

1. Rensselaer Central (8-0)

Class: 3A

Previous ranking: 3

Summary: The sizzling Bombers are off to their best start to the season since records were kept starting in the 2000-2001 season. Rensselaer Central rallied from 12 points in the second quarter to take down West Lafayette during the championship game last Saturday. The Bombers play a consistent pressurized man to man defense that forces turnovers and lends itself to fast-break layup opportunities. Junior guard Taylor Van Meter seems to play her best during the fourth quarter. Van Meter is averaging 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 45% from the floor. Sophomore Kamri Rowland scores 13 points and grabs 9.1 rebounds per game. Rensselaer Central has solid scoring depth with six players averaging 5.5 points or more during the season. Games are won by stars but championships require quality support from across the lineup. The Bombers have those pieces right now.

Bombs away! Rensselaer Central rallies to win IU Health Hoops Classic Championship

2. Carroll (5-0)

Class: 2A

Previous ranking: 2

Summary: Opposing defenses haven't found an answer for stopping senior Alli Harness. Harness is averaging 24.8 points, 6.5 assists and 4.0 steals per game on 52% shooting. Harness is aided by senior 5 foot 8 guard Madison Wagner (13.3 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game) and 5 foot 10 forward Jillian Salts (4.8 ppg., 7.8 rpg.). Carroll has three wins over 20 points against Frankfort, North White and Faith Christian. Harness is the returning J&C Small School Player of the Year. Her leadership and ability to score inside and out makes Carroll a tough night for any team, regardless of size.

3. West Lafayette (5-3)

Class: 3A

Previous ranking: 5

Summary: West Lafayette senior Adrianne Tolen brings versatility with her length as an inside defender while possessing the quickness and tact to defend the opposition's best guard. Tolen is averaging 17.4 points per game with 7.8 rebounds and 4.9 steals. Senior Sarah Werth averages 13.5 points per game but the Red Devils as a team were collectively outrebounded in their loss to Rensselaer Central. Let's see how West Lafayette does in the coming weeks.

4. Twin Lakes (5-1)

Class: 3A

Previous ranking: 1

Summary: Here's where the chaos ensues choosing Twin Lakes, a team that finished fifth compared to Central Catholic and Benton Central, which competed in the third place game of the IU Health Hoops Classic. Bottom line is this: its unfair to punish Twin Lakes for having one bad night. Case in point with senior sharpshooter Olivia Nickerson who shot just 2 of 12 from the floor. Her bad shooting night combined with high pressure from Central Catholic allowed the Knights to stun one of the higher caliber teams. What did Twin Lakes do after that? Nickerson set a school and IU Health Hoops Classic tournament record by knocking down 10 3-pointers to beat McCutcheon and dominated tournament host Harrison 61-42 in the fifth place game.

5. Central Catholic (2-4)

Class: 2A

Previous ranking: 7

Summary: Yes, Central Catholic has lost three straight games but it was missing leading scorer and junior guard Carley Barrett. Barrett sustained a bruised thigh against Twin Lakes and has been unavailable for her team's last three games — all losses — to West Lafayette, Benton Central and Kankakee Valley. Barrett's ability to attack inside with her left and right hand and physicality on defense changes the confidence of the Knights. With Barrett in the lineup, Central Catholic plays at a quicker pace and with more confidence on defense. She'll be back in the lineup next week.

5. Benton Central (4-1)

Class: 3A

Previous ranking: unranked

Summary: Benton Central is loaded with talented athletes led by seniors Sienna Foster and Rachel Tolen. The Bison played an aggressive style of defense and can utilize a full court press to stagnate their opponent's offensive rhythm. Benton Central had a quality game against top ranked Rensselaer Central and stifled any offensive rhythm Central Catholic tried to achieve. Benton Central and Central Catholic will be a good rematch to watch when the two teams collide late in the regular season on Jan. 13.

7. Harrison (3-3)

Class: 4A

Previous ranking: 6

Summary: Harrison lost much of its talent from last season graduating a dynamic guard in Riley Flinn and center Campbell Moore. The Raiders are left with senior forward Riley Whitlock and junior guard Elsie Ahnert. While the program might be lacking depth, Harrison is still anything but an easy night. Whitlock, at 6-foot-1, will give her team baskets in the paint and rebounds while Ahnert has a consistent pullup jump shot she can fire from the left and right elbow. The Raiders defensively have done enough to keep itself in games but need a third scorer outside of Whitlock and Ahnert.

8. McCutcheon (4-2)

Class: 4A

Previous ranking: 4

Summary: The good news for McCutcheon is that freshman Lillie Graves is a generational talent. Her ability to attack the basket along with the vision and skill to find teammates within the parameters of her coach Jeff Knoy's offense can't be understated. But the sobering reality for the Mavericks right now is this, they are very young. And their inexperience showed in tight losses against Twin Lakes and West Lafayette. Turnovers plus fouling during inopportune moments are part of a growing process for a team featuring seven underclassmen. McCutcheon is a talented team on the verge of possibly winning a sectional or state title. But it'll take growing pains to get to that point.

9. Clinton Central (4-1)

Class: 1A

Previous ranking: 8

Summary: Clinton Central is a scrappy team that prides itself on pressuring ball handlers full court. The Bulldogs are being led by senior forward Sara Parkison and sophomore Carly Davison. Parkison is averaging 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the floor. Davison is a deft point guard who is averaging 15 points, 6.2 assists and 3.3 steals per game. The Bulldogs are a prime example of how small schools can come in and with the proper game plan, give bigger schools in the area a game to remember.

10. Rossville (3-3)

Class: 1A

Previous ranking: 9

Summary: Rossville sophomore Ava Burkle (17.8 ppg., 7.8 rpg.) leads the Hornets who earned an 11-point victory over Fountain Central to start the year. Rossville contains plenty of depth at guard with Addi Gorbett averaging 10.5 points per game and emerging freshman Allie Elliott contributing 8.3 points per game.

Ethan Hanson started working for the Journal & Courier in West Lafayette, Indiana after four years at the Record Searchlight in Redding, CA. He previously freelanced with the Los Angeles Daily News for four years. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson and ethan_a_hanson on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Greater Lafayette area girls basketball power rankings Nov. 3 -Nov. 18