Look who's back on top of the Tribune's final girls basketball power rankings
The South Bend Washington girls basketball team finishes the 2023-24 regular season right where it began: on top of the Tribune's girls basketball power rankings.
The Panthers head into postseason play in search of a fourth straight sectional championship. Washington, 16-4 and winners of the Northern Indiana Conference title for the third straight year, hosts its own Class 4A sectional where it will be a prohibitive favorite. The Panthers and Adams are the only two teams in the six-team sectional field with winning records. The pair of city and NIC rivals could meet in the sectional finale.
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Washington, which lost in the semistate a year ago, plays Michigan City in a first round contest Wednesday night. The Panthers have not played since a 66-32 NIC win at Jimtown on Jan. 19. Washington has lost just once at home this season, that coming to Illinois power and nationally ranked Bolingbrook (76-52).
Washington, which won the Class 3A state title in 2022, boasts a star junior trio in Kira Reynolds, Ryiah Wilson and Monique Mitchell. Purdue commit Reynolds leads her team in scoring (16.4), rebounds (10.7), assists (4.5) and blocked shots (5.8). The 6-3 force leads the state in blocked shots and triple doubles and has blocked more than 100 shots for the third straight season. Wilson, the electric guard, is over 100 steals for the third straight season.
Northridge, the lone team to also hold the No. 1 spot in the rankings this season, takes a 21-3 mark into its own power packed Class 4A sectional in Middlebury. The Raiders, who were sectional champions at Concord in 2023, face Northern Lakes Conference foe Warsaw in the sectional opener Tuesday night. The Tigers, who won the NLC title at 7-0, beat the Raiders 65-52 at Warsaw on Jan. 6.
Northridge, which is No. 2 in our poll, was No. 9 in the IBCA poll Jan. 21. Washington was No. 12 in that poll, that ranks teams statewide regardless of class. Last week's ICGSA Class 4A poll had Northridge at No. 10 and Washington at No. 11.
The Northridge Sectional features five teams of the six with winning records. Elkhart, which received a bye, will face the Northridge-Warsaw winner in the semifinals. The Lions, who beat Penn two weeks ago, have been bolstered by the recent return of star guard Samiyah Stout. Senior Stout had been sidelined due to a knee injury suffered in the offseason.
New Prairie is the favorite to win its own Class 3A sectional. The veteran Cougars, who have eight seniors, play NIC foe Jimtown in a semifinal contest Friday night. New Prairie defeated Jimtown 57-38 during the regular season. New Prairie, which has not won a sectional title since 2000, has tied the program record for wins with 18.
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New Prairie, which won the Bi-County Tournament title, is led by its senior trio of Jayden Flagg, Jolie Johns and Morgan White. The Cougars under the direction of coach Aimee Litka, who won a state title as a player at Saint Joseph's, posted a winning record last year for the first time since going 14-6 during the 2003-04 season under longtime coach Dan Shead.
Penn, sitting at 16-6, received a favorable draw in the Northridge Sectional field. The Kingsmen face Concord in a first round game Tuesday night, a team they defeated 52-28 during the regular season. With a win, Penn would play Goshen in the sectional semifinals. Penn beat Goshen 38-26 earlier this season.
Fairfield completed a 10-0 run in the Northeast Corner Conference under first-year coach Kyle Hartman. The 21-3 Falcons, who won the Class 3A state title in 2023, face either Lakeland or Wawasee in a semifinal Friday night of the West Noble Sectional.
Bethany Christian, which was Class 1A state runner-up in 2023, won the Hoosier Plains Conference title at 5-0. Senior star guard Zoe Willems, who will play at Trine University, led the way for the Bruins. Bethany went 2-5 in its last seven games as senior standout Mariah Stoltzfus has been sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Mishawaka standout Asiah Shaffer reached a milestone moment in a recent win. The stellar senior recorded her 1,000th career point in a 49-40 win over New Prairie. Shaffer netted 21 points in the victory to give her 1,005 in her prep career. She is the eighth player in program history to reach the century mark.
Final South Bend Tribune girls basketball power rankings
1. Washington (16-4, 11-0 NIC)
The Class 4A No. 11 Panthers have not played since a 66-32 NIC win at Jimtown on Jan. 19. Washington will face Michigan City Wednesday night in its own Class 4A sectional.
2. Northridge (21-3, 6-1 NLC)
The Class 4A No. 10 Raiders finished up league play by downing Plymouth 59-29 to end up as NLC runner-up. Gaby Gates had 15 points and Camryn Conley 14 in the win.
3. Penn (16-6, 9-2 NIC)
The Kingsmen downed Clay 78-21 to finish 9-2 in NIC action. Lauren Walsh led the way with 16 points, while Anna McCullough, Macy Little and Karleisha Echols each had 14 and Jessa Troy 12. Penn then beat NorthWood 67-39 to end the regular season as Troy had 17 points, Walsh 16 and Anna Sachire 15.
4. New Prairie (18-5, 9-2 NIC)
The Cougars dropped their regular season finale to Mishawaka 49-40. Senior Jayden Flagg led the way with 17 points.
5. Fairfield (21-3, 10-0 NECC)
The Falcons beat Bethany Christian 40-22 as Madison Jones poured in 25 points. Fairfield then topped West Noble 44-32 to win the NECC title in undefeated fashion.
6. Michigan City Marquette (18-4)
The Class 1A No. 3 Blazers lost to Culver Academy 43-34 and then lost to Class 1A No. 10 Tri-Township 53-45 Saturday. Laniah Davis had 14 points and Natalie Robinson 11 in Saturday's loss.
7. Elkhart (13-9, 9-2 NIC)
The Lions beat Marian 49-22 Friday night to finish at 9-2 in NIC play, tying with Penn and New Prairie for second place honors.
8. Bethany Christian (16-6, 5-0 HPC)
The Class 1A No. 11 Bruins lost to Fairfield despite 14 points from Zoe Willems. Bethany then beat South Bend Trinity 38-19 to win the HPC title at 5-0 in league play.
9. NorthWood (17-6, 4-3 NLC)
The Panthers lost to Penn 67-39. Megan Yoder led the way with 11 points.
10. Adams (12-10, 4-7 NIC)
The Eagles lost to Northern Indiana Conference foe Bremen 66-51. Marigrace Foster led Adams with 19 points.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Washington tops final Tribune girls basketball power rankings
