With county and conference tournaments in full bore, Sports Editor MATT DANIELS unveils The News-Gazette’s latest Top 10 area high school girls’ basketball poll as the Vermilion Valley Conference is proving its worth this season:
1. Watseka
➜ Record: 18-1
➜ Previous ranking: No. 1
Megan Martin and the Warriors ran their win streak to 16 games after a convincing road victory against Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Monday night. Barry Bauer’s program stays busy with a home game on Wednesday night against Manteno and then another home game on Thursday night against Chrisman.
2. Cissna Park
➜ Record: 17-3
➜ Previous ranking: No. 2
Lauryn Hamrick and the Timberwolves won their fourth straight game with a 21-point home victory against Manteno on Monday night. Anthony Videka’s program stays home to play nonconference foe Pontiac on Thursday night before returning to Vermilion Valley Conference play next Monday against Oakwood.
3. Salt Fork
➜ Record: 19-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 3
Brycie Hird and the Storm could become the first area team to hit the 20-win mark if it gets past Georgetown-Ridge Farm on Wednesday night at the Vermilion County Tournament in Danville. Beat the Buffaloes and Salt Fork will vie for its fourth consecutive county tournament title on Friday night at Mary Miller Gym.
4. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
➜ Record: 17-3
➜ Previous ranking: No. 4
Sophia Ray and the Falcons are trying to get revenge against Tri-Valley on Thursday night. The two teams met on Dec. 28 in the championship game at the Monticello Holiday Hoopla, with Tri-Valley winning 54-52. The winner Thursday night will play for the McLean County/HOIC Tournament title on Saturday.
5. Sullivan
➜ Record: 18-3
➜ Previous ranking: No. 6
Addison Stollard and the Redskins have won four straight games to start 2025 by a combined 142 points after Monday’s 46-21 victory against Unity Christian in the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament. Up next: an LPC Tournament semifinal game with upstart Heritage on Thursday night in Bethany.
6. Clinton
➜ Record: 16-5
➜ Previous ranking: No. 7
Regan Filkin and the Maroons haven’t lost since falling to Monticello in the third-place game of the Monticello Holiday Hoopla on Dec. 28. Clinton brings a five-game win streak into Wednesday night’s home game with Maroa-Forsyth before hosting Central Illinois Conference foe Warrensburg-Latham on Thursday night.
7. Mahomet-Seymour
➜ Record: 13-8
➜ Previous ranking: No. 5
Kylie Waldinger and the Bulldogs split a pair of games last week, beating Apollo Conference Mattoon at home but losing at nonconference oppoent Sacred Heart-Griffin. Two nonconference road games are on tap this week, with a trip to Normal U-High on Thursday night and then another one on Saturday at Urbana.
8. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin
➜ Record: 13-8
➜ Previous ranking: Not ranked
Draycee Nelson and Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin have won five of its last six games, with its only loss in that time span by five points to Watseka. Beat Hoopeston Area on Wednesday night and the Blue Devils will play for the Vermilion County Tournament title on Friday night at DACC.
9. Monticello
➜ Record: 12-8
➜ Previous ranking: No. 10
Emma Arnold and the Sages earned two road Illini Prairie Conference wins against Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Prairie Central, sandwiched in between a close nonconference road loss against Maroa Forsyth, in the last week. Three straight home games are up next, starting Thursday night against St. Joseph-Ogden.
10. Heritage
➜ Record: 15-8
➜ Previous ranking: Not ranked
Loran Tate and the Hawks are feeling confident after a third straight win on Monday, this time against Tri-County, has them into the semifinals of the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament. Heritage will try to keep the good vibes rolling on Thursday night when it faces Sullivan in the semifinals in Bethany.
