Girls basketball season is officially two weeks in — who’s living up to expectations so far, and who has work to do?
This week’s rankings are a continuation of our preseason rankings, which were published on Dec. 3. Next to each team’s rankings, you’ll see where each teams’ current rankings are relative to what they were in our last iteration. This week’s rankings take into account all hoops action through Dec. 15.
No new teams broke into the top 10 this week, but Warren Mott and Lakeview could both find their way in with a strong next couple of weeks.1. Ford II Falcons (4-0, no change)
The preseason favorite has done nothing to lose that status through two weeks. Grand Valley State commit Anayya Davis has stuffed the stat sheet every night, and Tyra Wright, Emily Leusby and Claire O’Brien have done everything to help supplement their star.
The only team to finish within 13 points (or fewer) of the Falcons so far has been Chippewa Valley.
2. Fraser Ramblers (3-0, up two spots)
The Ramblers were our No. 4 team in the preseason, and two of the teams who had been placed above them — Dakota and Cousino — have already been dispatched by our new No. 2, beating them by 10 and 11 points, respectively.
Alaynah Quinn and Brynn Norbeck, of course, have been phenomenal. Add in what Francesa Sines has been able to contribute, and Fraser’s three-woman punch has them looking extremely dangerous early on.
3. Dakota Cougars (3-1, down one spot)
Olivia Savage’s squad has just one loss to aforementioned Fraser. Otherwise, they’ve been picking teams apart, beating Oxford by 19, L’Anse Creuse North by 27 and Utica by 18. Brooklyn Garavaglia scored 22 and 21 points in their first two wins, but Meadow Cameron, Makayla Reed and Allie Ruggirello (among others) deserve credit for the strong start, too.
4. South Lake Cavaliers (4-1, up one spot)
The Cavs took care of L’Anse Creuse North and Lakeview comfortably before earning their third and fourth wins of the season on back-to-back days, beating Roseville and West Bloomfield. The only team to best them thus far has been Cass Tech.
Christina Gibson and Dania McClain entered the season as perhaps the best duo in Macomb County, but with the way Rylee Mott has been playing, the Cavaliers’ ceiling has started to rise. She scored 18 points with five steals in the Roseville game and had 19 against Lakeview.
5. Chippewa Valley Big Reds (3-1, up one spot)
Sophomore Gracyn Carrier already has two games of scoring at least 20 points and another in which she had 15. Her only game so far without being the team’s leading scorer was their one loss — a defeat to top-ranked Ford II.
They’ve otherwise taken care of business against L’Anse Creuse and MAC Red squads Port Huron and Grosse Pointe North.
6. Cousino Patriots (1-2, down four spots)
The Patriots have gotten off to a slower start than expected, dropping their first two games to Port Huron Northern and Fraser, both by double-digits.
But they rebounded nicely by imposing their will on Richmond with a 34-point victory on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Dave Jackson Tip Off Classic. Is it enough to convince us that the Patriots are fine? Not necessarily — but wins in their upcoming games against Dakota and Eisenhower could.
7. Armada Tigers (2-0, no change)
Neither of Armada’s first two opponents provided much of a challenge, with the Tigers dispatching Flint Carman-Ainsworth by 36 and Almont by 33. The usual suspects — Ashlynn Upton and Claire Sniesak — have been the battery with Valeria Ricossa adding firepower early on, too.
8. Eisenhower Eagles (3-0, up one spot)
Three-straight wins with an average margin of victory of 17 points has been about as good of a start as Ike could’ve asked for under first-year head coach Madison Ristovski. Two of those wins were over MAC White squads Anchor Bay and Romeo.
Devyn Raymond and Gabriella Gojcaj have been a big part of the 3-0 start.
9. Fitzgerald Spartans (2-1, down two spots)
The Spartans’ first game got away from them in overtime as they were unable to contain Warren Mott’s top threats. But Kaylynn Millander, as expected, continues to be excellent, and they’ve since had zero trouble against New Haven and Madison.
Fitzgerald’s first major test is coming up against South Lake on Dec. 19.
10. Regina Saddlelites (3-1, no change)
A near-30 point loss to an upstart Farmington Hills Mercy squad is the lone blemish so far for Joe Charrette and the Saddlelites. They’ve otherwise taken care of Crestwood, Oxford and Everest Collegiate — a game in which Ella Sikorski buried five triples en route to 21 points.