Illinois girls basketball power rankings: Who will emerge as the Peoria area's top team?
Here are the power rankings for the 2023-24 girls basketball season separated by large and small schools. Last season's records are in parentheses.
LARGE SCHOOLS
1. Peoria High (29-4)
The Lions are poised to make another run at the state finals following last March's Class 3A third-place finish. Coach Meechie Edwards graduates a big piece in his daughter and all-stater Denali Craig-Edwards, who is now at Western Michigan. Peoria High, however, returns four starters led by Iowa signee Aaliyah Guyton along with her classmates Danielle Ruffin, Niasha Rutherford and Allannah Jackson. Look for Limestone transfer Jakiya Jordan to also contribute. Lions start the season with Morton, then host 3A state runner-up Lincoln.
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2. Morton (19-11)
Morton last season ended its seven-year run with a regional plaque, but the Potters should be right back in the mix for a sectional appearance. Coach Bob Becker loses his all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team guard Tatym Lamprecht to graduation. But that doesn't mean the cupboard is bare. All-Mid-Illini second-teamer Addy Engel returns along with key pieces in Ellie VanMeenen, Isabella Hutchinson and Graci Junis. Morton starts its season with a murder's row of games with Peoria High, Rock Island and Peoria Notre Dame.
3. Washington (26-5)
Reigning Mid-Illini champion Washington was hit hard by graduation, losing Claire McDougall (Bradley), Carly Vaughn and Addie Kimler. But coach Kim Barth has plenty of talented young players ready to compete for back-to-back-to-back regional plaques. All-Mid-Illini first-teamer Avery Tibbs is back to go with Rebecca McDougall and Mazzy O'Brien. The Panthers will once again be battle-tested with a schedule that includes reigning 3A state champion LaGrange Park Nazareth and 2022 state champ Mundelein Carmel.
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SMALL SCHOOLS
1. Peoria Notre Dame (25-4)
After moving down from 3A, the Irish are a legitimate contender to win the Class 2A state championship. Coach Layne Langholf has all the right pieces for a deep tournament run, while trying to help PND win its first regional since 2014. Eastern Kentucky commit Mya Wardle along with Kaitlin Cassidy, Julia Mingus and Brigid Dooley, while adding Richwoods transfer Lexi Baer and freshman Emy Wardle give the Irish a tough lineup. PND has beefed up its schedule, heading to the always-difficult Morton College Christmas Tournament.
2. Canton (19-13)
The Little Giants lost in a 2A regional championship, but return a great core of players for coach Maribeth Dura. Three 2023 all-Mid-Illini players Allison Wheeler (first team) along with second-team members Ella Dimler and Jena Goforth are back in the mix for Canton. Look for the Little Giants to compete in the top half of the league after going 8-6 last season. Canton once again has a tough slate of games, facing Havana, PND, Bloomington and Galesburg along with going to the Rock Island and Ottawa tournaments.
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3. Deer Creek-Mackinaw (30-6)
Dee-Mack made a run to the 2A Elite Eight, making program history for most wins in a season as well as winning the first-ever sectional title. Two important pieces — Addison Swadinsky (unanimous all-Heart of Illinois Conference first team) and McKenna Carithers (all-HOI defensive first team) — have graduated. But super sophomore Dalia Dejesus, senior Izzy Weir, juniors Lexi Cottingham and Kenzie Knowles along with Normal U-High transfer Elise Hahn give coach Joni Nightingale a strong core.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria-area girls basketball power rankings: Peoria High, Morton lead
