Richland County Girls Basketball Power Poll: Shelby Whippets back in familiar place
MANSFIELD — It only took four games into the 2022-23 season and the Shelby Whippets have returned as the top team in the Richland County Girls Basketball Power Poll.
It is the second different No. 1 team the power poll has seen and it likely won't be the last as the season rolls along. Let's find out why the Whippets are back at the top after winning last year's power poll championship and see where everyone else landed on the list.
1. Shelby (3-1)
The Whippets went 2-0 since last week's power poll and were the only Richland County team to not lose last week. They started out the week with a 38-32 win over Pleasant to pick up their first Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference of the year. Demi Hipp and Alexis Booker led the way in that one with seven points in an offensive struggle, but the defense picked up the intensity to seal the victory. Then, the Whippets picked up a 45-32 win over Marion Harding on Saturday to complete the MOAC opening sweep. Sophia Long scored 12 points while Eve Schwemley had 11 for a better offensive night. The Whippets are hanging on as they wait for Audi Albert to make her way back from an Achilles strain that will likely sideline her until after Christmas, but to win two games against two of the top teams in the MOAC without her shows how deep the Whippets are. They host Galion on Friday night to see if they can move to 3-0 in the league early.
2. Mansfield Christian (3-1)
The Flames stay put at No. 2 this week after going 1-1 since the last power poll. They gave Loudonville a game over the final three quarters but a disastrous first quarter sealed their fate in the Mid-Buckeye Conference opener falling 49-33. Still, Kyleah Jones scored 12 points while Alexis Ripple added 11 and the Flames rebounded nicely with an MBC win over Central Christian on Monday to erase the bad taste. They travel to Crestline on Saturday with a chance to improve to 4-1 on the year.
3. Clear Fork (2-1)
The Colts dropped out of the top spot after spending two weeks at No. 1. They went 1-1 since last week's poll starting out the week with a 42-34 loss to River Valley in Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference play which really put them behind the 8-ball in the early league race. Pacey Chrastina had 11 points, six rebounds and three steals in the loss. The Colts rebounded nicely with a 58-13 win over Galion on Saturday behind Chrastina's 14-point effort while Annika Labaki and Lauryn Robinson added 11 points apiece for a better offensive effort. They host Mansfield Senior on Tuesday and Ontario on Friday for two huge Richland County games.
4. Mansfield Senior (3-2)
The Tygers move up to No. 4 this week after going 1-1 since the last power poll. They started the week with a nice 63-46 win over St. Francis DeSales as Kiyah Wentz put up huge numbers with 22 points including four 3-pointers and nine points in the fourth quarter alone. Monetta Hilory had 12 points and Kiersten Bradley added 11 to give the Tygers some balance on the offensive end. But, they turned around and suffered a tough Ohio Cardinal Conference loss to Wooster 51-38 on Thursday to drop to 3-2 on the season. Kyeona Myers led the team with 16 points while Hilory added 13. They will look to pick up some significant wins this week at Clear Fork, at home against Mount Vernon on Thursday and at West Holmes on Saturday.
5. Ontario (2-2)
The Warriors drop to No. 5 this week after going 1-2 since the last power poll. After falling to Smithville 53-33 on Tuesday, they rebounded with a nice 46-39 win over Highland behind Taylor Counts's 14 points and Lizzie Nagel's 10 to get on the winning side of things in the MOAC. They then fell to River Valley 48-26 on Saturday night to head into this week at 2-2. They host Tiffin Columbian on Tuesday before traveling to Clear Fork on Friday for two huge early-season contests.
6. Lexington (1-3)
Last week, Lady Lex got in the win column by christening the new high school gym with a 49-44 win over Willard on Tuesday night. Madi Basilone was sensational with 16 points, five steals, three rebounds and two assists while Kaitlyn Delano-Goodman found success inside with 11 points and nine rebounds. Lex followed that win up with a 46-39 loss to Ashland on the road in Ohio Cardinal Conference play to fall to 1-3 on the season. They host Loudonville on Tuesday, Madison on Thursday and travel to New Philadelphia on Saturday for three games that could send Lexington shooting up the power poll standings with victories.
7. Crestview (1-3)
The Cougars got in the win column last week with a 48-12 win over Lucas behind Georgia McFarland's 19 points while Emma Aumend added nine to lead the way. They did lose to Western Reserve 47-23 and Colonel Crawford 44-10 but getting that young team a taste of victory could do wonders for the rest of the season. They will have to play from behind in the Firelands Conference race, but with some winnable games coming up, they could get right back in the conversation. They host St. Paul on Wednesday and head to South Central on Saturday for two huge FC contests.
8. Plymouth (1-3)
The Big Red's skid hit three games after falling to South Central in a tight one 50-43 on Friday night. Jaylin Branham did all she could to keep the Big Red in the game with 12 points. Now, they turn their focus to Galion on Tuesday night, Western Reserve on Thursday and Monroeville on Saturday. Three wins there would really right the ship and give them momentum heading into the holiday.
9. Lucas (1-5)
The Cubs got in the win column last week by beating Central Christian 44-35 behind Katie Griffey's huge game of 20 points. Olivia Brown chipped in with 11 points to get the Cubs their first W of the season. They did fall to Crestview 48-12 and Crestline 37-27 but the young team without their senior star in Shelby Grover continues to grow and Griffey is emerging as a future star. Grover will likely be out until after the Christmas break with stress fractures in her ankle so the Cubs could turn things around after the new year and see a jolt up the power poll standings. The Cubs host East Knox on Wednesday and travel to St. Peter's on Friday for two winnable games.
10. Madison (0-3)
The Rams are still looking for their first win of the season, but took one of the OCC favorites to the brink last Thursday when they fall to New Philadelphia 39-30. Natalee Back was the leading scorer with eight points as the Rams are looking for that go-to scorer. They hope they can find it Thursday at Lexington and Saturday at Ashland.
11. St. Peter's (0-2)
The Spartans dropped their two opening games over the weekend falling to Crestline 40-27 and Genoa Christian 48-6. Makenzie Hardin is showing some flashes of being a go-to scorer with 12 points against the Bulldogs while Jienna Johnson added 11 for a nice 1-2 combo. The Spartans hope to see more growth this week when they host Lucas on Friday night and Genoa Christian on Saturday.
jfurr@gannett.com
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Twitter: @JakeFurr11
Last Week's Rankings
Clear Fork
Mansfield Christian
Ontario
Shelby
Mansfield Senior
Plymouth
Lexington
Madison
Crestview
Lucas
St. Peter's
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County Girls Basketball Power Poll: Shelby Whippets back in familiar place
