Elite 11: Stuff Happened

A lot has happened since our last rankings - resulting in a new No. 1 ... No. 2, No. 3 and no. 4, for that matter. Hint: Brittany Kennedy plays for the new top team.

STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON
Since we last visited the HoopGurlz Elite Eleven on this website, we've had the wind storms and power outages, holidays, Hussein's execution, a whole new year. A lot of stuff. So much, in fact, that our last missive considered the relative merits of Auburn Riverside and Chief Sealth for the No. 1 ranking.

Guess what? In the rankings presented below, neither team is in the top five. That's right - stuff happened.

Since the last ranking, Auburn Riverside won a regional tournament in Beaverton, Ore., then lost to Jackson on a buzzer-beater during its own event a week later. Sealth got bruised up at the Nike Tournament of Champions. Another of our faves, Issaquah, was knocked off by Black Hills and, though tussled in the T-Mobile Invitational, for the most part represented our region nicely.

of Lewis & Clark

All of which leads us to a place we suspect we should have started in the first place - with the defending State 4A champs, Lewis and Clark of Spokane. Admittedly, we overreacted to the loss of post Heather Bowman, who is starting and playing well at Gonzaga. And we forgot about the rise to prominence of Katelan Redmon, now a Washington signee, as well as the speed of Brittany Kennedy, an '08 guard, and the superb coaching of Katelan's uncle, Jim Redmon.

It all adds up to an impressive, 11-0 start.

Which could be spoiled as soon as, say, Tuesday. That's when the Tigers play University and Tennesee-bound Angie Bjorklund. Lewis and Clark won the first matchup - by a scant four points on its own floor.

Laying in wait will be Kentwood, which is led by the splendid Courtney Vandersloot, who could have signed with virtually anyone last summer and is headed to Gonzaga. The Conquerors have one huge, quality, national-level win over Sacred Heart of San Francisco, 56-54, at the Cactus Jam in Phoenix over the holidays. Sacred Heart is led by Tierra Rogers, who is certain to be a highly ranked 2008 prospect by HoopGurlz.com.

Several other unbeatens have moved up the ladder. Roosevelt, which beat Woodinville, Prairie and Seattle Prep in succession during the holidays, then returned to beat Garfield, moves up to No. 3. Following at No. 4 is Meadowdale, a 3A team whose biggest win is over 4A, Riverside-beating Jackson, ranked No. 6. River Ridge, the only 2A representative, is 7-0 and moves to No. 9. Mt. Tahoma, which has steamrolled through 10 straight opponents, and Moses Lake, which meets also unbeaten Pasco this week, is No. 11.

The HoopGurlz.com Elite Eleven high-school girls basketball team rankings are featured on KING-TV's Sports Blitz and The Seattle Times.

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HoopGurlz.com Elite Eleven

Washington State's Top Teams Without Regard to Classification
Records Through Jan. 6

1. Lewis and Clark (4A) Record: 11-0 Last: 3
Comment: A day into their reign, the Tigers will be challenged by University.

2. Kentwood (4A) Record: 10-0Last: 7
Comment: Conks winning games at an average margin of 31.3 points.

3. Roosevelt (4A) Record: 9-0 Last: 9
Comment: Riders end scheduling gauntlet Wednesday against Inglemoor.

4. Meadowdale (3A) Record: 9-0 Last: NR
Comment: Colts will be unbeaten going into rematch against Jackson.

5. University (4A) Record: 9-1 Last: 4
Comment: Titans have L&C on their home floor this time.

6. Jackson (4A) Record: 9-1 Last: 5
Comment: Kristi Kingma averaging 23.3 points past four games.

7. Auburn Riverside (3A) Record: 8-1 Last: 1
Comment: Ravens have three-game stretch to regain their mojo.

8. Chief Sealth (3A) Record: 7-3 Last: 1
Comment: Regina outscored by cousin Raevenna Rogers 13-10 last week.

9. River Ridge (2A) Record: 7-0 Last: 11
Comment: Biggest challenge left is league rival Black Hills.

10. Mt. Tahoma (4A) Record: 10-0 Last: NR
Comment: First real test against Garfield on Saturday.

11. Moses Lake (4A) Record: 10-0 Last: NR
Comment: Carly Noyes had 24 in win over previously unbeaten Richland.

The Wait List

Black Hills (2A) 6-1; Bothell (4A) 8-2; Colfax (1A) 9-1; Ellensburgh (2A) 6-1; Holy Names (3A) 7-1; Inglemoor (4A) 8-1; Issaquah (3A) 5-3; Kentlake (4A) 8-2; Lincoln (4A) 9-3; Lindbergh (3A) 8-0; Mead (4A) 9-2; Meadowdale (4A) 7-3; Pasco (4A) 10-0; Prairie (4A) 7-3; Pullman (2A) 9-0; Richland (4A) 9-1; Sehome (3A) 9-

This Week's Key Games
Tue., Jan. 9, Lewis and Clark at University, 7 pm
Wed., Jan. 10, Inglemoor at Roosevelt, 7:30 pm
Fri., Jan. 12, Garfield at Woodinville, 6:30 pm
Fri., Jan. 12, Bainbridge at Holy Names, 7:30 pm
Fri., Jan. 12, Pasco at Moses Lake, 7:30 pm
Sat., Jan. 13, Garfield vs. Mt. Tahoma at KeyArena, 11:30 am

More Elite Eleven Rankings:
Dec. 4: No Satisfaction for Issy
Dec. 11: Sealth or Riverside?