McCutcheon leads top 10 high school girls basketball power rankings. Who else made the cut?

LAFAYETTE — With the IHSAA high school girls basketball playoffs approaching, there have been many stand out performances in Lafayette area.

McCutcheon and Carroll both rode double digit winning streaks this season while West Lafayette and Twin Lakes are loaded with talented junior and senior classes.

But which team has earned the No. 1 ranking with two weeks left in the regular season? It's time to analyze and break down the top 10 high school girls basketball teams from the Greater Lafayette Area:

1. McCutcheon

Class: 4A

Record: 17-3

Scouting report: McCutcheon is led by a generational talent in 6-foot freshman point guard Lillie Graves who can create her own shot using a fall away, an array of inside moves with her pivot foot and is an automatic threat from the outside. Her skills on offense are matched by her length as a defender and has made mental adjustments through the season to cause turnovers while avoiding foul trouble. Graves is averaging 22 points per game, six rebounds per game, 4.3 assists per game and 3.9 steals per game and is complimented by a team that rebounds and plays strong defense as a unit. Sophomore Chloe Finney has grown more confident as a shooter averaging 9.6 points per game. Sophomores Aubrey Miller and Braelyn Williams each play key roles spreading the floor and attacking the glass. Senior Aubri Mullendore has provided the Mavericks with big moments off the bench.

2. Rensselaer Central

Record: 19-0

Class: 3A

Scouting report: Rensselaer Central wears the opposition down with its full court pressure on defense. The Bombers weaponize pace and average 16.2 steals per game as a unit. Rensselaer Central has plenty of scoring options on their roster led by junior Taylor Van Meter (13.5 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 3.1 steals per game) and sophomore Kamri Rowland (13.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 3.7 steals per game). Rensselaer Central has six players averaging six points or more with junior Carly Drone, freshman Courtney Mathew and seniors Sarah Kaufman and Cadence Manns all capable of scoring baskets in buckets. The Bombers win games with pressure and are unapologetically physical.

More: Rensselaer Central girls basketball unapologetically assertive ... and perfect so far

3. Benton Central

Record: 20-3

Class: 3A

Scouting report: Benton Central forces teams into tight spaces with its quick, flashing double teams and pressure. Turning the court into a phone booth and forcing turnovers has allowed the Bison to have continued success and this season is no different. Missed free throws cost Benton Central a win on the road against McCutcheon on Jan. 6. The Bison have responded by winning four straight games. Senior 6-foot-1 center Sarah Gick leads the Bison in scoring while paired with seniors Rachel Tolen and Sienna Foster.

4. Carroll

Record: 16-3

Class: 2A

Scouting report: Reigning J&C Small School Player of the Year and Western Michigan signee Alli Harness (20.7 points per game, 6.1 assists per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 3.1 steals per game) has the Cougars playing quality basketball late in the season. Carroll battled hard against McCutcheon and held a lead until the fourth quarter against the Mavericks on Jan. 9. Senior Madison Wagner has stepped up as a solid second option and averages 14 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Carroll is experienced and plays a consistent 2-3 zone and man to man defense.

5. Clinton Central

Record: 19-1

Class: 1A

Scouting report: Another small school cracks the top five and with good reason. Senior Sara Parkison (18.3 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, 49% shooting) and sophomore Carly Davison (13.5 points per game, 8.5 assists per game, 53% shooting) are a lethal combination. Clinton Central battled with Carroll earlier in the season before earning dominant victories over 3A program Culver Academy and dominating Faith Christian 67-32 on the road. Parkison and Davison play well off each other well in the pick and roll and would give both Harrison and West Lafayette problems on defense.

More: "No quit' in Parkison who sets scoring record at Clinton Central

6. Central Catholic

Record: 9-11

Class: 2A

Scouting report: Junior guard Carley Barrett has returned to true form and guiding the Knights to four wins in its last six games with key wins over West Lafayette and Twin Lakes. Barrett scores many of her points by slashing to the basket and using her left hand to finish layups through contact. Sophomore point guard Grace Bordenet plays a key role as both a 3-pointer and draws charges for the Knights. A slow start and injuries stunted Central Catholic early but the program has found both its defensive and scoring identity.

7. West Lafayette

Record: 12-8

Class: 3A

Scouting report: Senior Adrienne Tolen became the all-time leading scorer in Red Devils history. Tolen's size and strength to score inside plus her shot from the outside makes her versatile on offense. Senior Sarah Werth stretches the floor with her 3-point shooting. The Red Devils have struggled trying to find a consistent third scorer to take pressure off Tolen and Werth.

More: West Lafayette and Lafayette Jeff girls basketball unite for Coaches vs. Cancer game

8. Harrison

Record: 10-10

Class: 4A

Scouting report: Harrison has relied heavily on senior forward Riley Whitlock, one of the most dynamic athletes in the Greater Lafayette Area. Whitlock, who is committed to Ball State for volleyball, leads the Raiders in scoring and rebounding. Harrison may have lost six of eight games but those losses were all to top level 4A programs like Plainsville, Zionsville, Valparaiso, Noblesville and McCutcheon. Harrison plays good enough defense to win tight ball games but needs to find a consistent second and third scorer outside of Whitlock.

9. Twin Lakes

Record: 11-9

Class: 3A

Scouting report: Twin Lakes has two dynamic scorers on its team like senior Olivia Nickerson who has made more 3-pointers than any girls player in Indiana history and junior Addie Bowsman who plays aggressively in the paint at 5-foot-6 and is a lethal 3-point shooter herself. But Twin Lakes' depth drops outside of Nickerson and Bowsman. Defenses have found success double teams in Bowsman and Nickerson's direction and forcing turnovers. That said, a good night of shooting from both Bowsman and Nickerson makes Twin Lakes a dangerous team to play.

10. Delphi

Record: 13-7

Class: 2A

Scouting report: Delphi coach Dave Gilbert has added another layer of discipline for the Oracles who are learning how to win big games both at home and on the road. Junior left-handed guard Jenna Roth (15.6 points per game) is a smooth finisher and scores off her floater and pull up jumper. Seniors Lacey Pickering and Lexi Miller have both played critical roles as secondary scorers and play hard-nosed on ball defense.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: McCutcheon leads girls high school basketball power rankings