News Every Day | 06 January 2025, 15:00

Kyle Williams' Super 25 high school girls basketball rankings for Jan. 5, 2025

Nora Ezike and Emma O’Brien are the headliners for Lyons. Those two superstars affect the game in many ways and attract the attention of an opponent’s defense.

However, because of her versatility, junior forward Gwen Smith has emerged as a player to watch. In Lyons’ 71-63 victory Saturday against The Prairie School, Smith scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. She also had an assist that pushed Lyons’ lead to 11. Her impact is undeniable for the Lions.

“We knew that we were going to have this weapon coming into the season,” Lyons coach Meghan Hutchens said.

Last year was her first year playing varsity, and she has stepped into a starting role this season. Having that experience last season helped her acclimate quickly.

Smith said that her shot is something that she has improved this season. She’s still learning how to be assertive and aggressive in knowing the precise time to pick her spots.

“I didn’t shoot as much [Saturday], but just taking my layups, I wouldn’t have done that a few years ago,” Smith said.

Fremd’s dynamic duo

Fremd lost in a highly contested, three-overtime game Saturday against Alton. But there were positives to glean from the Vikings’ performance.

Senior guard Ella Todd continues to impress after posting a 28-point performance against one of the preeminent powers in the state. Todd scored at the rim with crafty drives, on pull-ups from the midrange area and on an occasional three-pointer.

Todd knows how to use her 6-0 frame to create space and then rise above most guards. She’s also active defensively, often guarding post players because she’s the Vikings’ tallest player.

But Fremd is far from a one-person show. Guard Coco Urlacher is a unique player in her own right. She’s showing a willingness to shoot threes, attack the basket with either hand and be relentless defensively. In the fourth quarter, Urlacher had back-to-back steals that helped Fremd fight its way back into the game.

Fremd has faced a tough schedule so far. The Vikings have played Kenwood, Waubonsie Valley, Benet, Mother McAuley, Marist and Lake Zurich. Its only losses have come against Alton, Benet, Kenwood and Hamilton Southeastern, and those were by single digits.

Standout performances

Young guard Gaby Domercant scored 25 points in Young’s 62-56 victory against O’Fallon, one of the best teams in the state.

† Providence’s Molly Knight crossed the 1,000-point threshold. The senior guard is committed to the University of Illinois at Springfield.

† Mother McAuley sophomore guard Taji Alexa scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Joliet Central. Alexa is a remarkable scorer. She’s a knockdown shooter who can take defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim.

† This week’s best matchup will feature Kenwood hosting St. Ignatius on Tuesday. The game can be a litmus test for St. Ignatius.

Here are the Super 25 girls basketball rankings for Jan. 5 (with record and last week's ranking):

1 Benet (15-1) 1

Hosts Marist on Wednesday

2 Kenwood (15-1) 2

On an 11-game winning streak

3 Lyons (16-1) 3

Hosts Oak Park on Tuesday

4 St. Ignatius (13-2) 5

Showdown on Tuesday at Kenwood

5 Fremd (14-4) 4

Heartbreaking loss to Alton