Arkansas high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (01/02/2024)
Turning the page to a new calendar year also means the season's first Top 25 list.
The holidays, and the tournaments that come with it, are now complete and everything now begins to count toward the postseason.
Reigning 6A state runner-up North Little Rock checks in at the top spot, while defending 4A champion Farmington is right behind the Lady Charging Wildcats.
Likely the team no one expected before the season is Nettleton at No. 11, which has a very strong case to be higher but did lose a major piece in senior Shakira Brown, a Paragould transfer, to a season-ending knee injury.
Russellville checks in at No. 15, and many behind the Lady Cyclones are improved programs that we did not see much, or at all, last season, while Greene County Tech rounds out the Top 25 in the final slot.
Check out all 25 of the 2023-24 girls rankings below, and remember – it's the first week of January. A lot will change between now and mid-March.
1. North Little Rock (16-2)
The defending 6A state runner-up reeled off 16-consecutive wins to start the year, before finishing off the Summer Creek Mansfield Tournament on a two-game skid. Those losses were to Mansfield Timberview, a Top 15 squad in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated national rankings, as well as Cedar Hill - both Texas programs. They currently have seven Top 25 in-state wins on their resume. One of the many notable victories is a Nov. 20 win over Hoover, the three-time defending Class 7A Alabama state champions.
2. Farmington (20-1)
It was clear pretty early that the Lady Cardinals were the best team in Class 4A and through 21 games they even have a strong case as the state's overall top squad. They have conquered multiple Top 25 trams and a 10-point loss to Duncanville (Texas), the No. 14 team in the SBLive/ Sports Illustrated national Power 25 poll, is the lone blemish.
3. Greenwood (11-3)
While very talented once again, the two-time defending 5A champions have stumbled a few times in the nonconference slate. They seemed to have found a groove, though, winning five of their past six and have a lot to smile about heading into '24 after winning the White Division of the Pink & White Classic in Missouri.
4. Conway (12-5)
A humbling loss to nationally-ranked Duncanville (Texas) in the finals of the Sandra Meadows Classic made for a tough trip back to Arkansas, however the youthful Lady Wampus Cats really grew up during that tournament. They notched a win over Frisco Liberty, the defending Texas 5A state champions, plus have victories over quality Texas programs, Hebron, Southlake Carroll, plus Colorado-based Valor Christian and Arapahoe.
5. Fayetteville (10-5)
Up against some of the state's best through the past two months, the Lady Purple Dogs got off to a rough 3-4 start. However, they finished out 2023 winning six of their past seven contests that included four consecutive to win the Silver consolation bracket during last week's Sandra Meadows Classic in Duncanville (Texas).
6. Cabot (17-2)
They were on the verge of the 6A state finals last season and the Lady Panthers have already proven they are hungry for much more. Following a 13-0 start, Cabot had a setback to No. 5 Fayetteville and No. 2 Farmington, but took third place in the Ultimate Auto Group Tournament last week.
7. Fort Smith Northside (12-3)
2023 ended with a loss to Kickapoo (Mo.) in the Pink & White Classic, but have only fallen once against in-state competition thus far to 6A-West foe No. 5 Fayetteville. They took home the Tournament of Champions trophy in early December, a tournament they hosted, and even bigger things could be coming with to key players returning from injury soon.
8. Vilonia (9-5)
Following a state runner-up finish last season, it was essentially a given that the Lady Eagles would be set for at least the next few years with the young roster, plus multiple talented freshmen moving up. So far, so good with wins that include No. 10 Nashville, No. 5 Fayetteville, plus defending two-time state champ No. 3 Greenwood and No. 14 Marion.
9. Little Rock Central (10-6)
The Lady Tigers have this week off before tipping off 6A-Central play following a gritty showing in the Sandra Meadows Classic. They reeled of consecutive victories in the tournament before falling to host and eventual tournament champion Duncanville and then Bishop Lynch (Texas) by two points.
10. Nashville (9-4)
Never one to back down from an upper class challenge, the Scrapperettes have already competed with some in the state's best that resulted in a few losses, but provided plenty of learning. Recent times have been kind as they throttled No. 22 Little Rock Christian on the Lady Warriors' home floor to claim the Little Rock Christian Holiday Classic championship. They now have their sights set on 4A-7 play, where they have not lost a conference game since 2021.
11. Nettleton (14-2)
Give the Lady Raiders every bit of credit. In the first year under Kevin Frisbee, they have already impressed with four Top 25 wins on their resume that includes No. 8 Vilonia. The next three games features a gauntlet beginning at home with No. 25 Greene County Tech, a road trip to No. 14 Marion and then back home against No. 13 West Memphis that will help their case even more.
12. Har-Ber (10-5)
The Lady Wildcats flipped the script after a tough first half of December in which they lost three of four contests to top-ranked North Little Rock, No. 3 Greenwood and No. 7 Fort Smith Northside. They finished the month on a three-game win streak following a win over host No. 15 Russellville in the Hoops for Hunger Tournament.
13. West Memphis (9-6)
Losing Clemisha Prackett in the paint was immediately evident despite holding their own in the Lady Blue Devils' 1-3 start that included losses to No. 6 Cabot, Bartlett (Tenn.) and No. 1 North Little Rock.
14. Marion (8-5)
While they are far from satisfied, the Lady Patriots are in a much better position heading into the new year as opposed to last season when they had to dig themselves out of a hole. They dropped their first two contests against No. 9 Central and No. 6 Cabot, but have won eight of their past 11.
15. Russelleville (10-4)
A stable culture needed to be implemented for a team playing under their third coach in as many seasons and head coach LaShanta Johnson, previously a Conway assistant, appears to have gotten a full buy-in. While there is still a lot to find out in conference play, the Lady Cyclones head into the new year having won three of their past four games.
16. Searcy (12-3)
Following a two-game skid around the beginning of December, the Lady Lions closed out 2023 winning six of seven contests. They handed No. 11 Nettleton its first loss of the season, avenging a Dec. 9 47-31 loss, and should be well battle-tested heading into 5A-East play after holding their own as a very young team in 2022-23.
17. Mountain Home (11-4)
A somewhat up and down November preceded an impressive final month of the year as the Lady Bombers win six straight before finishing second to No. 2 Farmington in a close finish. The Lady Bombers also have a Top 25 win over No. 11 Nettleton on their resume.
18. Springdale (13-2)
Despite dropping their final four games last season, Springdale restored a lot of pride from the tough 3-win campaign in 2021-22 and they continue to trend upward following a strong first half of this year. The Lady Red Dogs have a chance to make an immediate statement in 6A-West play at No. 5 Fayetteville on Wednesday.
19. Gravette (13-4)
Many lessons were taken out of a brutal slate to start the season in which the Lady Lions dropped four of their first seven. Since that time, they have won 10 of 11 and have a huge opportunity against No. 2 Farmington on Friday in 4A-1 play.
20. Lake Hamilton (12-6)
Last year was tough for the Lady Wolves after replacing a heralded senior class, but head coach Blake Condley clearly has this squad revamped and going in the right direction. They have been challenged in non-conference play, having gone against No. 5 Fayetteville, No. 10 Nashville, No. 6 Cabot. and No. 18 Springdale.
21. Brookland (15-2)
An early season defeat to 2A contender Riverside turned out to be a springboard for success as the Lady Bearcats reeled off 14 wins in their final 15 contests of 2023, falling only to No. 16 Searcy. Look out for this group, it is safe to say that they are likely the immediate favorite in the 4A-3.
22. Little Rock Christian (8-7)
While each loss has been to a Top 25 and/or higher classification squad, there is no question the young Lady Warriors are shooting much further. They did notch a crucial win over a short-handed Greenwood squad that instilled some confidence, but suffered a tough blow to close out 2023 in the Little Rock Christian Holiday Classic against No. 10 Nashville.
23. Bryant (12-7)
Dropping two of their final three games before 6A-Central play was not what the Lady Hornets envisioned, but they seem to have possibly found some of their groove. Prior to those losses, Bryant won six of seven contests.
24. Morrilton (15-1)
Lady Devil Dogs head coach Carin McNabb pointed out early in the season that this year's team is "different from the past, but that doesn't mean down," and so far her squad has backed up that claim. Following a season-opening four-point loss to Class 5A Harrison, Morrilton has won 15 consecutive.
25. Greene County Tech (12-5)
A seven game win streak to close out 2023 puts the Lady Eagles in the final Top 25 spot. That comes after dropping five of eight contests and they will have plenty of opportunities to continue proving themselves in 5A-East play, starting on Friday when GCT travels to No. 11 Nettleton.
– Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR
