SBLive Arkansas girls basketball Top 25 rankings: Significant shuffling except in Top 10

Here are the rankings for Jan. 18-24.

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Sadie Rucker

Cancellations and postponements affected many games across the state for the second week in a row, as some were fortunate to play at least one game. There were 15 movements in the Top 25, with only one of those changes coming within the Top 10. 

There are many great matchups this week, starting with a handful of Top 5 showdowns. 

Here are the girls Top 25 rankings for Jan. 18-24:

1. Conway (15-1)

Playing in their first game this year, the Wampus Cats handled Cabot 71-41 and face off in two Top 5 matchups this week — on the road Tuesday against No. 3 North Little Rock and back at home Friday against No. 5 Little Rock Central.

2. Fort Smith Northside (15-0)

The Bears were off last week and now will hit the road twice, heading to Mount St. Mary on Wednesday and then a huge one Friday at North Little Rock.

3. North Little Rock (13-2)

North Little Rock cruised through its only game of the week, on the road at Mount St. Mary, but is up against a challenging draw this week against the state’s top two teams in Conway and Fort Smith Northside.

4. Melbourne (19-0)

The Bearkatz continued to roll with a 53-36 victory over Cedar Ridge last Friday night.

5. Little Rock Central (13-3)

After taking care of Bryant and Cabot, Central has all week to focus on a big game with top-ranked Conway on Friday.

6. Farmington (20-1)

The Cardinals notched their 20th win Friday. They square off this week against a gritty Gravette squad.

7. Greenwood (10-4) 

Greenwood defeated Van Buren to notch its 10th win, but the anticipated game with No. 9 Vilonia was postponed to February 1. In their lone game this week, they will welcome No. 11 Siloam Springs.

8. Lake Hamilton (13-2) 

Lake Hamilton’s Friday game with Pine Bluff was canceled after a Tuesday win over Lakeside. The Wolves are back in action Tuesday at home against Hot Springs and hit the road Friday, heading to El Dorado.

9. Vilonia (11-2) 

The Eagles had no problems with Mountain Home in their lone game last week and will get back to work this week against No. 19 Greenbrier and Van Buren.

10. Little Rock Christian (12-2) 

The Warriors move into the Top 10 after winning their seventh straight game and will play at home again against No. 16 Jacksonville on Friday.

11. Siloam Springs (11-3) 

Siloam Springs returns to the court for the first time in a week with a trip to No. 7 Greenwood before capping the week at home against Russellville.

12. Nashville (16-2) 

Nashville has not played since January 11 but comes into this week on a 12-game win streak. 

13. Marion (13-5) 

The Patriots bested Searcy 68-38 on Friday and are feeling good after winning their past seven.

14. Bryant (9-4) 

The Hornets have lost three in a row but only drop four spots with all of those defeats coming against teams in the Top 8. They look to get back on track against Mount St. Mary and Cabot this week. 

15. Bentonville (9-6) 

The Tigers have lost two of their past three and will have not been on the court for 10 days by the time they play Rogers this Friday.

16. Jacksonville (8-4) 

The Titans are looking to play their first game of 2022 against No. 17 Benton on Tuesday.

17. Benton (11-3) 

After playing only one game since the beginning of the new year, Benton hits the road against No. 16 Jacksonville on Tuesday before coming back home Friday to play Parkview.

18. Nettleton (12-5) 

The Raiders have taken a few steps back, losing three of their past four, but have a favorable matchup in their lone game this week, on the road against Batesville. 

19. Har-Ber (11-4) 

The Wildcats played in one game last week and head to Bentonville West on Tuesday, then face another trip Friday to Fort Smith Southside.

20. Greenbrier (10-3) 

The Panthers opened conference play with a win over Van Buren back on January 7 but have not played since. A road game against No. 9 Vilonia awaits Tuesday.

21. Southside Batesville (18-1) 

After a lopsided victory over Blytheville on Thursday, the Southerners will not play again until January 26 due to postponements.

22. Bergman (23-0) 

The undefeated Panthers are expected to be back on the court for the first time since January 7, tipping off this week at home against Lincoln before a Friday trip to Elkins.

23. Morrilton (13-4) 

The Devil Dogs endured a humbling 57-48 loss on the road against a scrappy Pottsville team and look to get back to their winning ways against Clarksville and Maumelle. 

24. Paragould (10-1) 

The Rams have only fallen to No. 6 Farmington this season and look to keep the momentum going this week against West Memphis.

25. Cabot (10-6) 

Cabot took some lumps in tough contests against No. 1 Conway and No. 5 Central, but their overall body of work has them in the Top 25.