For the first time since 2011, the Sun-Times will have weekly Super 25 rankings. The rankings will last through the end of the season. It’s an exciting time as girls basketball continues to grow in popularity throughout the Chicagoland area.
Lyons comes at top in the first Super 25 rankings for girls basketball. The Lions have been one of the most impressive teams in the area to start the season. Lyons (11-0) has two stars in Emma O’Brien and Nora Ezike.
Lyons has impressive wins over Benet, St. Ignatius, Main South and Evanston.
Benet and Kenwood have also had impressive starts to the season. But Lyons’ undefeated record and resume speak for itself. While O’Brien and Ezike garner most of the attention, junior Gwen Smith has also stepped up for the Lions, providing some much-needed shooting to space the floor.
With the Benet win serving as a statement, what’s been most impressive about the Lions’ start is the consistency to which they’ve played with. Coming out of a three-game stretch against Downers Grove North, St. Ignatius and Maine South undefeated showed the consistency needed from the Lions.
Talent has always been there for Lyons, but it needed to put together long stretches of high-level play, which they’ve done so early on.
Kenwood has also been stellar to start 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 rest of the rankings shape up as we head into holiday tournament time.
Super 25 girls high school basketball rankings for Dec. 16, 2024
1. Lyons (11-0)
Undefeated heading into a showdown against Lyons
2. Kenwood (9-1)
Impressive wins against Fremd and Missouri state champions.
3. Benet (9-1)
Aria Mazza is a light-out shooter. Benet has impressive depth.
4. Fremd (10-2)
Wins over Lake Zurich and Waubonsie Valley.
5. Young (5-2)
A good win 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)
Losses against St. Ignatius and Young
9. Nazareth (8-2)
Lost against Benet.
10. Main South (8-3)
Hosts Glenbrook North on Thursday.
11. St. Charles East (5-2)
Play at St. Charles North on Friday.
12. Downers Grove North (7-2)
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 St. Charles East.
15. Glenbrook South (6-4)
Plays Deerfield Wenesday.
16. Lake Zurich (5-5)
Needs a signature win.
17. Huntley (10-0)
Wins against McAuley and Hersey.
18. Montini (7-3)
Nikki Kerstein can score with the best of them.
19. Mother McAuley (7-3)
Big game against 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 St. Charles North on Monday.
23. Hersey (6-3)
Impressive win against Geneva.
24. Hinsdale Central (6-3)
Faces Downers Grove North on Friday.
25. Glenbrook North (7-2)
Could use a signature win.