It’s everybody’s favorite day of the week again! Keep in mind, the rankings are still based on DOMINANCE within class, as well as strength of schedule and hotness (what you’ve done recently). With no further ado, here are the Jan. 13 power rankings.
(1) Crane (C2: 13-1) – The Lady Pirates enjoyed a much needed week off after playing a brutal December schedule. Crane is unbeaten against in-state competition and will look to move towards another SWCL championship on Thursday when they visit Galena. Friday will hold a special challenge with a trip to Valley Springs (Ark.), taking on a 21-4 Lady Tigers team that features Arkansas State signee Payton Tennison. The Lady Pirates are ranked No. 1 in Missouri and No. 73 in the nation according to MaxPreps.
(2) Republic (C5: 12-1) – The Lady Tigers have now won four straight since losing to Crane, making quick work of Carthage, Lee’s Summit West and Blue Springs last week. Republic will have a fun week ahead with a trip to Marshfield, as well as the Bolivar Tournament where a rematch with Camdenton could happen, a potential quarterfinal preview.
(3) Strafford (C3: 12-2) – The Lady Indians have now won four straight since the PWLC, including a 60-47 win over Skyline last week. Strafford is now the favorite to win the Mid-Lakes, but has more lofty goals in sight. Marionville and the Rogersville Tournament will provide yet more tests for Strafford.
(4) Gainesville (C2: 13-0) – The Lady Bulldogs are still unbeaten, winning the Sparta Tournament and adding a win over Dora on Tuesday. Gainesville still hasn’t given up more than 44 points to any opponent and Madison Strong’s 287 is just 79 points less than what her team’s opponents have scored all season. Thayer and Mountain Grove are up this week.
(6) Carl Junction (C4: 9-1) – Carl Junction added wins over Joplin and Webb City last week, keeping the Lady Bulldogs perfect against all teams not named Republic. Outside of Republic and Branson no team has scored more than 39 points against CJ. Seneca and Frontenac are up this week.
(7) Kickapoo (C5: 10-3) – The Lady Chiefs moved to 2-0 in Ozark Conference play by hanging a season-high 97 points on SPS rival Hillcrest. It is the fifth time this season that Kickapoo has scored 70 or more, this after breaking the 70-point mark eight times all of last season. A trip to West Plains on Monday will help decide the OC title.
(9) Branson (C5: 12-2) – The Lady Pirates picked up a pair of wins, blasting West Plains and making quick work of Willard in its COC Large opener. Amanda Kearney broke a school-record with 40 points in the win over the Lady Tigers. Bolivar and Camdenton are on the schedule this week in the Bolivar Tournament, with a potential game with Republic looming in the championship.
(5) Skyline (C2: 13-3) – The loss to Strafford on the road was negated by back-to-back blowouts over Osceola and Iberia. Skyline still doesn’t have a bad loss on the schedule, but will get another shot at a quality win this week in the Skyline Tournament championship against Fair Grove.
(10) Crocker (C2: 10-1) – Crocker continues to fly under the radar in Class 2, picking up wins over Steelville and Macks Creek last week. The schedule stiffens up this week with a Frisco League showdown with Plato, as well as the Osage Tournament.
(11) Fair Grove (C3: 10-3) – Fair Grove is into the championship of the Skyline Tournament after easy wins over Warsaw and El Dorado Springs, setting up a rematch with Skyline. Freshman sensation Alana Findley has scored 20 points and grabbed 28 rebounds in her last two games.
(13) Jasper (C2: 11-1) – Jasper topped Purdy in a shootout last week, giving the Lady Eagles a quality road win. The Golden City Tournament this week shouldn’t offer much resistance to Jasper, which is currently riding an eight-game streak.
(14) Camdenton (C5: 10-3) – Home wins over Central and West Plains give the Lady Lakers four wins in their last five games. Camdenton will be road warriors this week, going to Joplin before taking on Branson and Bolivar in the Bolivar Tournament. A rematch with Republic could also happen in the championship.
(12) Aurora (C4: 6-2) – Aurora has enjoyed a two-week hiatus since the end of the PWLC, but will have no shortage of entertainment this week Monett, Republic and Buffalo. The Lady Dawgs will play 10 games in the next three weeks.
(8) West Plains (C4: 9-5) – West Plains took it on the chin last week, losing to Branson and Camdenton by 23 and 21 respectively, averaging just 38 PPG in the two games. Things get no easier for the Lady Zizzers with Kickapoo coming to town this week.
(NR) Spokane (C2: 12-3) – Spokane fell out of the rankings after back-to-back losses to Ozark and Crane, which is hardly anything to be embarrassed about, but the Lady Owls picked up wins over Pleasant Hope and Reeds Spring to get back into the win column. Sparta and the Marionville Tournament will give Doug Hepler’s team the chance to string together some more wins.
Knockin’ on the door: Norwood (11-2), Houston (10-4), Fordland (12-2), Carthage (9-3), Ash Grove (9-5), Stockton (9-4), Salem (11-3), Waynesville (7-3)
