For the first time since 2011, the Sun-Times will publish weekly Super 25 rankings for girls basketball. It’s an exciting time as interest in the sport continues to grow throughout the area.
Lyons comes in at No. 1 in the first edition of the Super 25. The Lions (11-0) have been one of the most impressive teams in the area to start the season and have two stars in Emma O’Brien and Nora Ezike.
Lyons has impressive victories against Benet, St. Ignatius, Maine South and Evanston.
Benet and Kenwood also have had impressive starts to the season. But Lyons’ undefeated record and résumé speak for themselves. While O’Brien and Ezike garner most of the attention, junior Gwen Smith also has stepped up for the Lions, providing some much-needed shooting to space the floor.
The win against Benet was a major statement, but what has been most impressive about the Lions’ start is their consistency. Coming out of a three-game stretch against Downers Grove North, St. Ignatius and Maine South with three wins is a testament to that consistency.
Talent always has been there for Lyons, but it needs to put together long stretches of high-level play, and so far it has done so.
Kenwood also has been stellar to begin the season. Despite Fremd’s valiant comeback attempt, Kenwood’s dominant start was too much for the Vikings to overcome. With seniors Ariella Henigan and Diann Jackson, the Broncos have battle-tested leaders to lean on. Junior guard Danielle Brooks is a dynamic shot-maker, senior Icesis Thomas is the team’s best defender and London Walker-George can impact the game in a multitude of ways.
It’ll be interesting to see how the teams perform heading into holiday tournament season.
Here’s a look at the season’s first rankings:
1. Lyons (11-0): Undefeated heading into a showdown against Stevenson.
2. Kenwood (9-1): Own impressive wins against Fremd and the defending state champions from Missouri.
3. Benet (9-1): Aria Mazza is a lights-out shooter for a team with impressive depth.
4. Fremd (10-2): Résumé includes victories against Lake Zurich and Waubonsie Valley.
5. Young (5-2): Earned a good victory against Loyola at the Chicago Elite Classic.
6. St. Ignatius (7-1): Senior
Reganne Reardon has taken a leap.
7. Waubonsie Valley (10-1): Hosts Wheaton North on Dec. 23.
8. Loyola (7-2): Its losses came against St. Ignatius and Young
9. Nazareth (8-2): One of its losses came against Benet.
10. Maine South (8-3): Hosts No. 25 Glenbrook North on Thursday.
11. St. Charles East (5-2): Plays at No. 14 St. Charles North on Friday.
12. Downers Grove North (7-2): Earned a good win against Maine South.
13. Prospect (8-2): Alli Linke impacts the game on both ends.
14. St. Charles North (11-0): Big game on Friday against No. 11 St. Charles East.
15. Glenbrook South (6-4): Plays Deerfield on Wednesday.
16. Lake Zurich (5-5): Needs a signature win.
17. Huntley (10-0): Owns wins against Mother McAuley and Hersey.
18. Montini (7-3): Nikki Kerstein can score with the best of them.
19. Mother McAuley (7-3): Big game against No. 18 Montini this week.
20. Libertyville (7-4): Rebounded from double-overtime loss to Prospect.
21. Lane (7-2): Plays Kenwood on Wednesday.
22. Batavia (6-2): Hosts No. 14 St. Charles North on Monday.
23. Hersey (6-3): Has an impressive win against Geneva.
24. Hinsdale Central (6-3):
Faces No. 12 Downers Grove North on Friday.
25. Glenbrook North (7-2): Could use a signature win.
