The high school girls basketball season is in full swing once again, and the South Bend Washington Panthers are making waves. Ranked second in the Class 4A ICGSA preseason poll, the Panthers have started their season with a 2-1 record. Last year, they had an impressive 27-1 record but fell short in the semistate. Their season began with a victory on the road against Goshen, followed by a loss to Fort Wayne Snider and a win against Lake Central in the Lake Central Classic. Unfortunately, their journey ended last season with a loss to Lake Central in the semistate.
Fairfield, the reigning Class 3A state champions, have also had a strong start to their season under the guidance of new coach Kyle Hartman. They have won their first two games against Jimtown and Northfield.
Bethany Christian, the Class 1A state runner-up from last season, began their season with a victory over West Noble. They were ranked second in the Class 1A preseason poll.
Mishawaka, led by coach Chadd Blasko, has shown improvement each season. They kicked off their season with wins against Riley and Marian.
Here are the top 10 girls basketball teams in the South Bend area for the 2023-24 season:
1. South Bend Washington (2-1): The Panthers started their season with a dominant 67-30 win over Goshen. They then split their games against Fort Wayne Snider (a close 52-49 loss) and Lake Central (a thrilling 50-47 win). Junior star Kira Reynolds, who has committed to Purdue, had an outstanding performance with 28 points in the win against Lake Central. Junior Monique Mitchell also had a strong showing with 20 points in the loss to Snider.
2. Penn (1-0): The Kingsmen began their season with a commanding 62-24 victory over LaPorte. Lauren Walsh and Anna Sachire led the team with 12 points each. The Kingsmen dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Slicers 20-0.
3. Northridge (1-0): The Raiders faced a tough Chesterton team and came out on top with a 65-52 victory. Sophomore Camryn Conley led the team with 16 points, while senior Morgan Cross contributed 15 points.
4. Fairfield (2-0): The defending Class 3A state champions started their season strong with wins against Jimtown (46-43) and Northfield (56-25).
5. Bethany Christian (1-0): The Bruins secured a 45-28 victory on the road against West Noble. Zoe Willems led the team with an impressive performance.
6. Mishawaka (2-0): The Cavemen dominated their opponents, defeating Riley (42-11) and Marian (57-36).
7. Elkhart (1-0): Under the guidance of new coach Ken Hunt, the Lions secured a convincing 77-27 win over Oregon-Davis.
8. Adams (1-1): The Eagles suffered a close 61-56 loss to Michigan City Marquette Catholic but bounced back with a 63-35 victory against Concord, giving new coach Maurice Scott his first win.
9. New Prairie (1-0): Coach Aimee Litka’s team started their campaign with a 52-45 win over Plymouth.
10. Goshen (1-1): After a season-opening loss to South Bend Washington, the RedHawks redeemed themselves with a 51-32 victory over LaPorte. Kyra Hill stood out with an impressive 25-point performance.
The high school girls basketball season is off to an exciting start, and these teams are ready to showcase their skills and compete for the top spot. Stay tuned for more thrilling games and impressive performances!