Louisiana high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (1/30/2024)

No major movement in the Top 10; 3 new teams enter the list

Check out our latest edition of the SBLive Louisiana Top 25 girls prep basketball rankings for the 2023-24 season. 

Let us know your thoughts on X @SBLive_LA and on Facebook at SBLive Louisiana. Who is too high? Who is getting slept on? We want to know.

Note: The power ratings and records are from Geaux Preps on Jan. 28.

1. Walker, 29-0 (previous rank: 1) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 1

The Lady Cats defeated Scotlandville, Hicks, Zachary and Dutchtown. Walker flexed its muscles against two of the state's better teams in Hicks and Zachary, cruising to wins of 34 and 44-point margins.

Kennedi Ard scored 25 points with six 3-pointers, three steals, two rebounds and two assists in the 88-44 win over Zachary. Walker led, 48-14, at the half against Hicks, which had only lost one game. Ja'Miya Vann scored 18 points and collected five steals in the 68-34 victory.

Ard and Vann each scored 12 points in the district opener, a 72-30 thumping of Dutchtown. Leah Edwards added 10 points. Ard had four rebounds, four steals and four assists. Vann had three assists. Edwards finished with three assists and two rebounds.

2. Lafayette Christian, 24-1 (previous rank: 2) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 1

The Lady Knights defeated North Vermilion, St. Thomas More, Northwood-Shreveport and Westgate. LSU signee Jada Richard scored 31 points in the 67-39 win over Northwood at Brad Boyd's annual Cajundome Classic.

LCA coach Errol Rogers commended senior Indy Hebert for her defensive work against Northwood star Hannah Mouton, who worked hard for her 19 points. Senior forward Eve Alexander also scored in double figures.

Rogers indicated 6-foot sophomore Kaliyah Samuels could return from a knee injury around playoff time. Guard Jarissa Davis showed her toughness by playing while wearing a protective face mask.

3. Huntington, 18-2 (previous rank: 3) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 1

The Lady Raiders routed Minden (72-33) and Woodlawn-Shreveport (85-6). In the 79-point slaughter, sophomore Kyndal Graham scored 22 points with nine steals and four assists. Graham scored her 1,000th career point earlier this month.

Jamar'i Bell added 18 points, seven steals and four assists. Carley Hamilton scored 15 points with eight steals and seven assists, and Zanyah Lefear had 12 points, five steals and three assists.

Huntington, which is 2-0 in District 1-4A, will face fellow league unbeaten Northwood-Shreveport (18-10, 4-0) on the road Feb. 2.

4. Southern Lab, 18-5 (previous rank: 4) - LHSAA Power Rating Division IV select No. 1

The Kittens defeated Slaughter Community Charter, Ponchatoula, Liberty Magnet and Brusly. The wins over Class 5A programs Ponchatoula and Liberty were on the road.

In the 10-point win over Class 4A Brusly, which has a 19-8 record, Asia Patin posted 17 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and three assists. The LHSAA schedule didn't reflect a result of a Southern Lab at Fairview game scheduled for Jan. 26.

5. Parkway, 17-4 (previous rank: 5) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 5

The Lady Panthers ran their District 1-5A record to 10-0 with wins over Haughton, Natchitoches Central, Captain Shreve and Southwood.

Chloe Larry scored the game-winning basket in the final second of the 64-62 win at Natchitoches Central, according to Jimmy Watson of The Shreveport Times.

6. John Curtis Christian, 17-4 (previous rank: 6) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 2

The Lady Patriots defeated Catholic League foes Dominican and Mount Carmel. The 74-24 rout of Dominican clinched the Catholic League title.

Chikae Desdunes had 11 points and Bailey Timmons had 10 points and 10 steals with seven rebounds, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports. Jayla Albert (10 points, six steals) and Imari Daniel (10 points, six rebounds) also scored in double figures.

7. Wossman, 20-4 (previous rank: 7) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 1

The Lady Cats beat Sterlington, Carroll, Richwood and North Webster to remain perfect in district. Wossman's 70-36 win over Sterlington snapped the 19-5 Lady Panthers' lengthy winning streak. Wossman mauled North Webster, 69-4, and is pursuing a third straight state title.

8. Southside, 22-3 (previous rank: 8) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 3

The Lady Sharks beat Opelousas, Sulphur and Carencro. The win over Carencro was on the road against an opponent that was unbeaten in District 3-5A.

According to Eric Narcisse of the Acadiana Advocate, Eymani Key and Tamia Cahee took turns guardling Carencro star Shelcie LeBlanc, who was held to a point in Southside's low-scoring (37-29) win.

Freshman Kay'Len Alexander scored 11 points with 18 rebounds, and senior Alleyah Kennedy added nine points with 21 rebounds. Key scored 10 points.

9. Bastrop, 27-0 (previous rank: 9) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 2

The Lady Rams disposed of North Webster, Carroll and Franklin Parish by margins of 47, 34 and 21 points to keep their perfect record intact. Mariah Heard and Alana Myles each scored 10 points in the win over Franklin Parish. Jameiah Peoples added nine points.

10. Denham Springs, 22-3 (previous rank: 10) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 2

The Lady Yellow Jackets beat Pine and Live Oak. Prai Nelson ignited a comeback from an early 11-2 deficit to Live Oak with a lay-up. Jadyn Vaughn followed with a 3-pointer, and Kennedi Lindsey scored in transition to get the Jackets within two, 11-9. Denham Springs went on to win, 66-57.

11. Mandeville, 22-5 (previous rank: 11) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 4

The Lady Skippers won district games vs. Ponchatoula, Slidell and Fontainebleau. The 72-65 win at Ponchatoula was the first since 2010 at that venue. Alanna Benoit, with 21 points, was one of five double-digit scorers. Hannah Benoit had 15 points. Ava Young scored 12, and Saleigh Berry and Jordyn Carter contributed 11 points apiece.

12. Rosepine, 23-5 (previous rank: 13) - LHSAA Power Rating Division III non-select No. 1

The Lady Eagles beat Glenmora, Oakdale, Avoyelles and Holy Savior Menard to improve to 6-0 in district. Rosepine won, 75-71, at Oakdale in a matchup of league unbeatens and is on a 14-game winning streak.

13. Anacoco, 28-3 (previous rank: 15) - LHSAA Power Rating Division V non-select No. 2

The Lady Indians beat Elizabeth, Plainview and Oak Hill. Anacoco won, 71-63, at Oak Hill in a district slugfest. 8-B is a loaded league with Anacoco, Oak Hill, Hicks and Pitkin. 5-foot-10 junior center Jo Mawae had an early blocked shot and a steal as Anacoco raced to an early 10-point lead at Oak Hill, the defending Division V select state champion.

14. Fairview, 23-7 (previous rank: 14) - LHSAA Power Rating Division V non-select No. 1

The Lady Panthers were idle. Fairview has won 14 state titles and has captured the crown in three of the past four years.

15. Doyle, 25-3 (previous rank: 23) - LHSAA Power Rating Division III non-select No. 2

The Lady Tigers beat Parkview Baptist and Collegiate Baton Rouge. Suri Stewart, Alyson Fletcher and Shelby Taylor forced turnovers in the early minutes of the 73-69 district win at Parkview Baptist, the reigning Division III select state champion.

16. South Beauregard, 20-7 (previous rank: NR) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 4

The Lady Knights won their ninth straight game on the road at district rival Iowa, 59-38. Iowa came into the game with a 22-3 record. Key players for South Beauregard, which fell to state champion Wossman in the 2023 semifinals, include Jaden LaBouef and Kenzie Hudler.

17. Amite, 20-5 (previous rank: 24) - LHSAA Power Rating Division III non-select No. 3

The Lady Warriors have won three straight games since a loss to district rival Albany. Amite beat Slidell, Bogalusa and Pine. Briana Tillman's 16 points paced the Lady Warriors to the 55-44 win over Class 5A Slidell, which came into the game with a 17-1 record. Tillman had a double-double with 11 rebounds, while Kayla Toefield scored 11 points with six steals and six assists.

18. Vandebilt Catholic, 13-6 (previous rank: 25) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 2

The Lady Terriers defeated South Lafourche and Assumption by 31 and 23-point margins. 6-foot guard Journee Johnson stole the ball and canned a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the win at South Lafourche.

19. Haughton, 25-4 (previous rank: 16) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 6

The Lady Bucs lost to Parkway, 56-33, and defeated C.E. Byrd, Benton and Airline to set up a showdown at Natchitoches Central on Jan. 30. Haughton won at home vs. the Lady Chiefs, 48-40, earlier this month.

20. Carencro, 17-6 (previous rank: 17) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 5

The Lady Bears beat Comeaux, Sam Houston and Barbe and lost by eight points to Southside. Patience Johnson scored 15 points in the 37-29 loss to Southside.

21. Natchitoches Central, 18-9 (previous rank: 20) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 8

The Lady Chiefs rebounded from a two-point loss to Parkway with victories against Benton, Southwood and Captain Shreve.

22. Oakdale, 21-6 (previous rank: 22) - LHSAA Power Rating Division IV non-select No. 1

The Lady Warriors had a six-game winning streak snapped by Rosepine in a 75-71 overtime loss. Oakdale won its next game, 57-22, over Avoyelles. Emani Young had 16 points. Kaylee Bradley and Akeelah Hobson scored 13 points each. Oakdale travels to Rosepine on Feb. 9.

23. Oak Hill, 22-12 (previous rank: NR) - LHSAA Power Rating Division V select No. 1

The Lady Rams bounced back from an eight-point loss to Anacoco with a 61-59 defeat of Hicks. Krystina Greene had 27 points in the win over Hicks, which avenged an earlier loss.

Jodie Jowers added 10 points. Alexis Dyer scored nine points, and Lainee Johnson had eight points. Greene grabbed 13 rebounds with three assists and three steals.

Oak Hill led Lafayette Christian much of the game before falling in overtime, 72-68, on Jan.15.

24. Albany, 18-6 (previous rank: 21) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 3

The Lady Hornets beat Pine, Bogalusa and Jewel Sumner before losing, 50-41, to Ponchatoula. Emma Rogers scored 15 points and Ava Shields had 13 points vs. Ponchatoula.

25 (tie). J.S. Clark, 18-4 (previous rank: 19) - LHSAA Power Rating Division V select No. 2

The Lady Bulldogs had an eight-game winning streak snapped in a 50-42 district loss at defending Division V non-select state champion Hathaway. J.S. Clark hosts 18-4 St. Martinville on Jan. 30 in a non-district game ahead of a Feb. 2 district clash at Midland.

25 (tie). Midland, 20-8 (previous rank: NR) - LHSAA Power Rating Division V non-select No. 4

The Lady Rebs enter the rankings again, having won six of their last seven with only a loss to Class 5A Liberty. Senior guard Gracie Miller announced her commitment to Southwest Mississippi Community College.

5-foot-10 sophomore forward Tora Savoy scored 22 points in a 60-40 win over Scotlandville in mid-January. Miller added 17 points. Myra Carlson (5-1, Sr.), Dai'Ja-Lee LeBlanc (6-0, Jr.), Camri Primeaux (5-4, Fr.) and Caitlyn Boudreaux (5-0, Sr.) are additional standout players.

THE RETURN OF GRACE PAUL

Lafayette High, the reigning Division I select state champions, got center Grace Paul back from injury for its District 3-5A game vs. New Iberia last week. The Lions (10-7) have won five straight and are 4-0 in District 3-5A with games against fellow league frontrunners Carencro and Southside on tap in early February. A district game at rival Acadiana High (17-10, 2-2) awaits on Feb. 2.

BOYD BOLSTERS STM

Also in Lafayette, St. Thomas More could go as far as junior guard Brynnan Boyd can take the Lady Cougars. Boyd scored a career-high 34 points in a 54-40 league win over rival Teurlings Catholic. STM is 11-9 overall, 2-1 in District 4-4A with its loss coming to Lafayette Christian. The Lady Cougars lost to Lafayette High in the 2023 semifinals.

WATCH LIST

Church Point, Lake Arthur, Liberty Magnet, Madison Prep, University Lab, Ponchatoula, Chalmette, Hathaway, Fontainebleau, Hahnville, Slidell, Ruston, Zachary, Brusly, Iowa, Tioga, Lafayette, Dunham, Hamilton Christian, Claiborne Christian, Arcadia, Lakeview, Woodlawn-BR, St. Scholastica, St. Thomas More 

Photo of John Curtis Christian's Chikae Desdunes (3) by Sophia Germer, New Orleans Times-Picayune

Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA