SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school girls basketball: Princeton rises from unranked to No. 6 with big opening week

Mount Notre Dame remains the clear No. 1, but Princeton leads a pack of teams making big rises early in the season.

By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Mike Cook

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

As expected, there was plenty of shuffling throughout the SBLive Top 25 after the first week-plus of the season. However, our preseason No. 1 went across state lines and handily defeated the defending Indiana 4A state champion.

As for which teams will challenge Mount Notre Dame for that top spot over the next three months? That remains to be seen.

SBLIVE'S OHIO TOP 25

1. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (2-0)

Last week: 1

In the battle of defending state champions, Mount Notre Dame used a 12-4 second quarter to pull away from Crown Point (Indiana) on Saturday. The Cougars were led by Notre Dame commit KK Bransford, who scored 27 and collected seven boards. It was only Crown Point’s fourth loss in the past four seasons. The Cougars open GGCL play on Thursday at home against Cincinnati Ursuline.

2. Reynoldsburg (2-1)

Last week: 8

The Pirates opened the season with a one-sided affair against 2021 regional champion Laurel, 64-29. Given the strength of that performance, it’s tough to punish the Pirates for falling to Franklin (Indiana), a state semifinalist from last season, by two. There will be no rest for Reynoldsburg as it heads to Pickerington Central on Tuesday for a top 10 contest.

3. Fort Loramie (2-0)

Last week: 2

The Lady Skins opened the season with convincing wins over Miami East and Russia. Fort Loramie will continue SCAL play this week with a pair of road games against Jackson Center on Tuesday and Anna on Saturday.

4. Archbishop Hoban, Akron (2-0)

Last week: 10

On Tuesday, Lanae Riley announced that she would continue her basketball career at Middle Tennessee. Later that night, the power forward put up 20 points in the Knights’ 78-27 win against South Range. The Knights beat VASJ 77-21 on Monday and will play at Kenmore-Garfield on Tuesday and vs. Gilmour on Saturday.

5. Newark (1-1)

Last week: 4

The Wildcats opened the season with a 52-33 win against Hiland before falling to Bishop Hartley 63-57 on Saturday. Newark has its home opener Tuesday against Lancaster, followed by a Friday top 10 contest against Pickerington Central.

6. Princeton, Cincinnati (2-0)

Last week: Unranked

No team was more impressive in the opening week of the season than the Lady Vikings. There was the 76-38 win over Toledo Rogers, but the 63-29 blowout of 2020 state semifinalist Laurel was a true surprise. Princeton looks to continue its dominant ways in conference play at Lakota West on Wednesday and Middletown on Saturday.

7. Hiland, Berlin (1-1)

Last week: 3

The Hawks were the victims in their top 5 contest against Newark last week before rebounding against Toledo Christian 43-30 on Saturday. Hiland has its home opener Wednesday against Ridgewood before heading to CVCA on Saturday.

8. Pickerington Central (2-0)

Last week: 16

The Tigers were the victors in the game of the week in girls basketball. Pickerington Central, down by one with 10 seconds left, passed to Taylor Kelley who knocked down a three to beat then-No. 15 Dublin Coffman 55-35 in the Journey To The Tourney. Next up, No. 2 Reynoldsburg.

9. Notre Dame Academy, Toledo (1-0)

Last week: 7

Notre Dame Academy squeaked by Norton in its season opener 50-44, but the big issue for the Eagles will be replacing the production of Grace VanSlooten, the Oregon Ducks commit who transferred to IMG Academy (Florida). The Eagles will have plenty of time to get ready for their conference opener, scheduled for Dec. 9 against Clay.

10. Miamisburg (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

The Lady Vikings just missed the preseason SBLive Top 25. They must have taken that personally as they steamrolled Valley View, Fairborn and Troy by an average of 36.7 points in the opening week. The coming week’s schedule is highlighted by a home contest against Centerville on Saturday.

11. Lakota West (2-1)

Last week: 15

Despite Sunday’s loss to Roger Bacon, the most notable game was the Firebirds' 36-13 steamrolling of Wayne on Saturday. This came after a comfortable 45-33 win against Sycamore to open the season. The Firebirds will continue to be challenged with Princeton and Lakota East coming to town this week.

12. Buckeye Central, New Washington (2-0)

Last week: Unranked

Just when doubling up Williard was considered a blowout, Buckeye Central comes back Tuesday and nearly quadruples up Ashland Crestview. Suddenly, a challenger to Fort Loramie’s drive for another state championship has appeared.

13. Tecumseh, New Carlisle (1-0)

Last week: 20

The Arrows opened the season last week with a 59-46 win against Tippecanoe. After a Thanksgiving break, Tecumseh will face Indian Lake on Wednesday and Bellefontaine on Saturday.

14. Centerville (2-1)

Last week: 9

Centerville takes a small dip in the rankings after a nail-biter against New Albany, followed by a road loss to Westfield (Indiana) on Saturday. The Lady Elks have their work cut out for them in the coming week with Springfield and Miamisburg on the schedule.

15. Dublin Coffman (1-1)

Last week: 21

A comfortable win over Westerville South followed by a last-season loss at the hands of Pickerington Central give fans an idea of where this team stands against the top competition in the Columbus area. The ‘Rocks have a pair of road games this week against Hilliard Bradley on Tuesday and Olentangy Liberty on Friday.

16. Liberty-Benton, Findlay (0-0)

Last week: 18

The Eagles open the season Saturday against Minster.

17. Fort Frye (1-1)

Last week: 13

Had there been a ranking after last weekend’s games, the Cadets may have been left out in the cold following an opening loss to New Lexington. Fort Frye bounced back Saturday with a 70-28 smoking of Heath.

18. Tri-Village, New Madison (2-1)

Last week: 19

While the 61-28 win over Mississinawa Valley may not have been anything special, the 79-40 win over Trotwood-Madison sure was. Next up is Thursday at Tri-County North.

19. Hoover, N. Canton (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

A trio of early-season wins over Howland, CVCA,and Kenmore-Garfield brings the Vikings into the conversation of who the best team in Northeast Ohio is. Hoover opens conference play this week with McKinley on Wednesday and Jackson on Saturday.

20. Mason (1-0)

Last week: 11

A blowout win against Middletown was a surprise to nobody. The Comets head back on the road on Wednesday to face Lakota East, followed by their home opener on Saturday against Fairfield.

21. Napoleon (3-0)

Last week: 17

The defending D-II state champions picked up where they left off this past spring. Wins against Patrick Henry, Defiance and Sylvania Southview show that the Wildcats are still favorites to return to Dayton.

22. Ottawa-Glandorf (0-0)

Last week: 23

The Titans open their season at Kenton this Thursday.

23. Gahanna Lincoln (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

Full disclosure: The Lady Lions were nowhere near the SBLIve preseason Top 25 when it was posted less than two weeks ago. But now, after wins against top-tier programs like Africentric, Westerville North and Laurel, only a fool would ignore this squad.

24. Worthington Christian (2-0)

Last week: Unranked

The Lady Warriors were one of the big stories at the Rumble in the Jungle Showcase. Worthington Christian blew out West Muskingum 47-17, followed by a comfortable 65-52 win over Union Local. Next up is Grandview Heights on Friday.

25. Sheridan, Thornville (0-1)

Last week: 22

The opening weekend loss to Mount Notre Dame is nothing to panic over. The Generals will get another go at it on Wednesday at home against Maysville.

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Sam Houseworth's full computer rankings in Ohio girls basketball