High school girls basketball: No.9-ranked Eddies top Michigan power rankings
Top Teams
Edwardsburg (11-0)
Games this week: January 25, at Sturgis; January 28, at Three Rivers
There seems to be no stopping Edwardsburg. The unbeaten Eddies, ranked No. 9 in Division 2 in the latest Detroit Free Press rankings, rolled past Portage Central 55-39 and Niles 89-19, setting a school single-game scoring record in the process. Against Portage Central, Ella Castelucci had 17 points, five rebounds and seven steals and Averie Markel came up big with 14 points. In the rout of Niles, during which the Eddies collected 28 steals, Castelucci had 29 points, six rebounds and eight steals, Macey Laubach added 18 points, four rebounds and five steals, Katie Schaible had 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals and Markel pulled down nine rebounds. Edwardsburg is averaging 26.7 steals per game while allowing just 28.1 points.
Brandywine (10-1)
Games this week: January 26, vs. South Bend Riley; January 28, vs. New Buffalo
Because of a postponement caused by lack of officials, Brandywine played just once this past week, crushing South Haven 56-24. The Bobcats are giving up just 32.2 points per game with a winning margin of 26.0. Brandywine is ranked No. 6 in the latest Detroit Free Press Division 3 poll.
Buchanan (10-1)
Games this week: January 25, at Schoolcraft; January 27, vs. Berrien Springs
Buchanan rebounded from the loss to Brandywine with a hard-fought 69-59 win over Niles. Hannah Herman scored 16 points, LaBria Austin had 13 points, four assists and four rebounds, Alyssa Carson 13 points and four blocks, Hailey Jonatzke nine points and five assists, Alexa Burns eight rebounds and Jillian McKean five steals for the Bucks.
Top Players
Ellie Knapp, Brandywine
Knapp may be the hottest player in the state right now. The 5-6 sophomore poured in 28 points on 11 of 17 shooting, including 5-for-10 from 3-point range, to go with three assists and four steals in a 56-24 win Thursday over South Haven. Over the past three games, Knapp is averaging 31.7 points, 2.7 assists and 4.0 steals while shooting 55 percent from the floor, including a sizzling 59 percent from beyond the arc. She's averaging 20.2 points on the season.
Ella Castelucci, Edwardsburg
Castelucci is playing her best basketball of the season. The 5-4 senior had 17 points, five rebounds and seven steals against Portage Central and followed that up with 19 points, six rebounds and eight steals against Niles. Castelucci is averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 5.7 steals.
Alanah Smith, Dowagiac
Smith scored 24 points to help Dowagiac to its second win of the season last Tuesday, a 45-28 win over Berrien Springs. The 5-11 junior followed that up with 15 in a 42-31 loss to Three Rivers Friday. Smith is averaging 13.1.
Area standings
Wolverine South: Edwardsburg 11-0 (4-0); Sturgis 4-3 (2-1); Three Rivers 3-8 (2-2); Niles 2-7 (0-2); Dowagiac 2-9 (0-3).
BCS Red: Brandywine 10-1 (3-0); Buchanan 10-1 (2-1); South Haven 1-7 (0-2); Berrien Springs 0-9 (0-2).
Southwest 10: Hartford 9-0 (8-0); Bloomingdale 9-1 (7-1); Mendon 8-2 (6-2); Marcellus 7-3 (5-3); Cassopolis 6-4 (5-3); Centreville 4-6 (4-4); Comstock 4-6 (3-5); White Pigeon 1-8 (1-7); Decatur 1-9 (1-7); Bangor 0-9 (0-8).
Scoring leaders
Ellie Knapp, Brandywine 20.2; Macey Laubach, Edwardsburg 16.9; Amara Palmer, Niles 13.8; Katie Schaible, Edwardsburg 13.6; Alanah Smith, Dowagiac 13.1; LaBria Austin, Buchanan 12.8; Kamryn Patterson, Niles 12.8; Ella Castelucci, Edwardsburg 12.5; Miley Young, Brandywine 12.4; Atyanna Alford, Cassopolis 10.9; Caitlin Tighe, Edwardsburg 10.3
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Tribune area Michigan high school girls basketball power rankings
