Arkansas high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (1/22/2024)
It was all but guaranteed Mother Nature would halt most games statewide early in the week, but she decided to hang around longer than expected.
Some were able to complete multiple contests, but most squads squeezed only one in, while others did not play at all.
Craziness in the 6A-West – as well as Class 5A No. 1 Greenwood falling for the first time in almost 50 regular-season contests – did cause some movement, but all 25 from last week held on to a spot.
1. North Little Rock (18-2)
Last week: 1
Did not play. NLR will be on the road for both games this week, that includes a trip to No. 6 Cabot on Friday.
2. Farmington (24-1)
Last week: 2
The Lady Cardinals were able to squeeze their matchup in with Prairie Grove that resulted in a 22-point victory. They have a packed week that includes three games.
3. Conway (14-6)
Last week: 4
A Saturday Top 10 matchup went very well for the Lady Wampus Cats, who handled Little Rock Central to earn their second consecutive 6A-Central win.
4. Fort Smith Northside (17-3)
Last week: 7
A clutch last-second shot while spinning by Hazley Grotjohn – along with an 'and one' – ultimately secured a three-point victory over Springdale. The victory, plus Fayetteville's loss to Har-Ber, puts the Lady Bears in the 6A-West driver's seat by half of a game.
5. Vilonia (12-5)
Last week: 8
Did not play. This week the Lady Eagles take on Parkview, Sylvan Hills and Maumelle, along with No. 12 Nashville in non-conference action on Saturday.
6. Cabot (19-3)
Last week: 6
Did not play. The Lady Panthers should be well-rested – and itching to go again after not playing since Jan. 12 – when they host top-ranked North Little Rock on Friday.
7. Springdale (16-4)
Last week: 12
Do not let dropping two of their previous three games mislead you, the Lady Red Dogs are here to stay. They nearly notched two Top 15 wins in as many days, escaping Har-Ber by a point before dropping a three-point heartbreak in overtime against Fort Smith Northside.
8. Mountain Home (15-5)
Last week: 17
The Hangar is always a tough place for opponents to play and the talent of the Lady Bombers made it even harder on previously No. 3 Greenwood. Mountain Home now leads the 5A-West race by a game over Greenwood, as Dell Leonard collected his 400th career victory in the win over the Lady Bulldogs.
9. Greenwood (14-4)
Last week: 3
Head coach Clay Reeves notched his 800th career win in the Lady Bulldogs' dominating performance over Siloam Springs. However, Mountain Home upset Greenwood the following night to snap the Lady Bullodgs' 47-game regular season win streak dating back to February of 2020.
10. Fayetteville (14-7)
Last week: 5
A day removed from a lopsided win over Rogers, the Lady Purple Dogs missed a huge opportunity to notch a precious conference victory over a Top 15 opponent. A fourth quarter rally by Har-Ber helped the Lady Wildcats slip past Fayetteville by two points.
11. Little Rock Central (11-8)
Last week: 9
A frustrating road loss to Conway, Central's fourth defeat in the past five contests (granted, against top competition), has the Lady Tigers searching for answers. They have favorable matchups against Little Rock Southwest and Jonesboro as they aim to get back on track.
12. Nashville (14-4)
Last week: 10
The Scrapperettes were pushed for the first time against 4A-7 competition, but a strong run to end the first half set the tone for a dominant second. Senior Olivia Dean led Nashville with 21 points in her return from injury.
13. Har-Ber (14-6)
Last week: 11
A one-point loss to rival Springdale in a Top 15 matchup was quickly forgotten as the Lady Wildcats bounced back the following day to take down previously No. 5 Fayetteville on the road by two points. The win was No. 100 for head coach Kimberly Jenkins in her time with the Lady Wildcats.
14. Nettleton (16-4)
Last week: 13
A 20-point win over Batesville completed the Lady Raiders' week. They carry a two-game win streak as they host Valley View and No. 17 Searcy this week.
15. Russellville (13-5)
Last week: 14
A dominant road win over Siloam Springs completed the week for the Lady Cyclones. They are back at home Tuesday against a sneaky Harrison squad before heading to Van Buren on Friday.
16. West Memphis (11-7)
Last week: 15
Did not play. Coming off of a Jan. 12 loss to Nettleton, the Lady Blue Devils host Greene County Tech in a crucial Top-20 matchup on Tuesday.
17. Searcy (15-4)
Last week: 16
A road trip to Valley View went swell as the Lady Lions left with a 21-point victory to up their 5A-East record to 3-1, just a half game behind No. 20 Green County Tech.
18. Marion (9-7)
Last week: 18
Did not play. Coming off of a 13-point loss to Searcy on Jan. 12, the Lady Patriots host Paragould on Tuesday.
19. Brookland (20-2)
Last week: 19
Did not play. The Lady Bearcats hit the road to Westside (Jonesboro) on Thursday before hosting Blytheville on Saturday.
20. Greene County Tech (15-5)
Last week: 20
Did not play. Currently riding a 10-game win streak, the Lady Eagles head to No. 16 West Memphis to start the week.
21. Bentonville (11-10)
Last week: 21
The Lady Tigers are now over .500 following wins over crosstown rival Bentonville West and Fort Smith Southside. This week features two great road challenges against No. 10 Fayetteville and No. 13 Har-Ber.
22. Gravette (16-5)
Last week: 22
A close, seven-point victory preceded a much more comfortable 25-point triumph over Huntsville, both on the road, as the Lady Lions made it out of the hectic week on a three-game win streak.
23. Morrilton (20-1)
Last week: 23
The Lady Devil Dogs held their second straight opponent to under 30 points in Saturday's win on the road at Fountain Lake. They'll face off against Mena (Friday) and Clarksville (Saturday) this week.
24. Bergman (27-2)
Last week: 24
Did not play. The Lady Panthers head to Elkins on Tuesday, host Flippin Thursday, and are back on the road Friday against Green Forrest.
25. Lake Hamilton (13-7)
Last week: 25
Did not play. The Lady Wolves host Pine Bluff on Tuesday and travel to Arkansas High Friday to close out the week.
– Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR
