SBLive Missouri high school girls basketball Power 25 rankings (Feb. 21): Incarnate Word-John Burroughs rematch highlights final week of regular season

As the postseason creeps ever closer, not much has changed at the top of the rankings. As some teams prepare for the postseason, there are some big matchups awaiting to be played. 

Jefferson City and Helias Catholic headline a massive cross-town rivalry while Meadville kept its perfect season alive with a home win over Schuyler County. 

SBLIVE MISSOURI POWER 25 GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: FEB. 7 | FEB. 13 

Here's a look at the SBLive Missouri Power 25 (with records through Feb. 20):

1. Incarnate Word (25-0)

Last week: 1

Incarnate Word continued its winning ways with a 33-point win over Ursuline in its home finale. The Red Knights, led by Nebraska commit Natalie Potts, have a deep roster featuring Brooke Coffey, Peyton Hill and Kaylynn Janes. Even their bench has flashed just how deep they are. The Red Knights will put its 92-game winning streak on the line when it travels to John Burroughs on Tuesday. Incarnate Word defeated them by 27 points in the Visitation tournament title game earlier this season.

2. Truman (22-1)

Last week: 2

Dominating Oak Park in its senior night, Truman ran its winning streak to 12 games. The seven seniors that have overseen the best stretch in Patriots basketball history will travel to St. Joseph Central to conclude the season on Monday before kicking off the Class 6 District 6 tournament. While Truman may be on the collision course with Incarnate Word in the Class 6 semifinal round, a potential matchup with Republic or Nixa in the quarterfinal round looms.

3. Vashon (20-5)

Last week: 3

Even in its run to a third-place trophy in Class 4 in the 2020-21 season, the Wolverines still didn't achieve what it has this season – 20 wins. It's the first time Vashon has registered 20 wins in a season since 1992. It still hasn't lost to a Missouri school this season. It will host Roosevelt on Monday to conclude the season before it kicks off the Class 4 District 5 tournament next week.

4. Republic (21-3)

Last week: 4

Survived a potential hangover game on the road to Ozark early last week before crushing Neosho at home. Before the Class 6 postseason begins, Republic has back-to-back home games against Willard and Branson. Coach Kris Flood picked up his 500th career win this season helped by Missouri State commit Kaemyn Bekemeier who continues to stuff the stat sheet.

5. John Burroughs (23-2)

Last week: 5

The Bombers ran their winning streak to 13 games with its last loss coming to the juggernaut that is Incarnate Word in the Visitation tournament title game on December 28. John Burroughs gets a chance for revenge when it hosts the powerhouse on Tuesday after a two-point win over Lutheran St. Charles. The defending Class 4 state champions will begin their maiden voyage in Class 5 after next week when the postseason begins.

6. Grain Valley (20-4)

Last week: 6

Grain Valley crushed its lone opponent this week on the road, a 32-point victory over Belton to push its winning streak to nine games. Senior and University of Missouri commit Grace Slaughter leads the way, scoring nearly 28 points a game as she's helped the Eagles to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2015-17. It'll have senior night on Tuesday as it wraps up the regular season with a home game against William Chrisman.

7. Carl Junction (22-1)

Last week: 7

The Bulldogs forged full speed ahead towards the playoff with its 19th consecutive win on the season. Carl Junction handled Neosho on a senior night before an easy win over Ozarks on Friday with Destiny Buerge leading the Bulldogs with 23 points. Will conclude the regular season with a trip to Webb City before kicking off the Class 5 District 7 tournament against Ruskin.

8. Raytown (19-2)

Last week: 8

After suffering their second loss of the season, the Bluejays rebounded with back-to-back victories over William Chrisman and Platte County. Raytown will get to host Belton on its senior night on Tuesday before kicking off the Class 6 District 6 tournament against Raymore-Peculiar.

9. Park Hill South (22-3)

Last week: 9

Back-to-back wins over Staley and Liberty have pushed Park Hill South's winning streak to 17. The last time the Panthers lost was back-to-back losses to Vashon and Incarnate Word Academy at the beginning of January. The teams that have handed the Panthers a loss this season have a combined record of 68-6. Will kick off the Class 6 District 8 tournament with a matchup with Oak Park.

10. Rolla (19-5)

Last week: 10

Suffered a road loss to West Plains to kick off the week before rebounding with a crushing victory over Springfield Central. The Bulldogs will wrap up the regular season with a road contest with Hillcrest before senior night at Parkview.

Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Missouri High School Athlete of the Week (Feb. 13-18)?

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Watch: Incarnate Word girls top Ursuline for 93rd consecutive victory

11. Cape Notre Dame (18-5)

Last week: 11

Lost on the road at Farmington in overtime before picking up a six-point victory over Cor Jesu to get back into the win column. Will host Cape Central in a senior night rivalry showdown before the Class 5 District 1 tournament kicks off.

12. Helias Catholic (17-5)

Last week: 12

Picked up a win on the road but has two stellar matchups with Jefferson City and Rock Bridge awaiting on the schedule. Senior Ada Koelling has tallied over 1,000 points in her stellar career with the Crusaders. Helias will kick off the Class 5 District 5 tournament with a matchup against Pacific.

13. Lutheran St. Charles (19-4)

Last week: 14

After suffering a two-point loss at home to Class 5 power John Burroughs, the Cougars rebound with an emphatic win over St. Joseph's on senior night. Before the Class 5 postseason begins, Lutheran St. Charles will travel to Cardinal Ritter to conclude the regular season. Jordan Speiser and Megan Aulbert lead a two-pronged attack. Speiser leads the way with 16.5 points a game while Aulbert has been the steady hand with 338 points scored this season.

14. Farmington (20-5)

Last week: 15

Farmington picked up a huge win before the postseason with a 49-44 win in overtime against Cape Notre Dame at home, before getting crushed on the road to the rampaging South Iron team. It will conclude the season with a road trip to Poplar Bluff on Monday before a matchup with De Soto in the opening round of the Class 5 District 1 tournament.

15. Nixa (18-6)

Last week: 16

After a road loss to Hickman, Nixa has rebounded in a big way. The Eagles picked up back-to-back wins over Willard and Webb City last week. After going into the break over Webb City holding a slim seven-point lead, Nixa outscored Webb City 42-17 in the final half with Laila Grant leading the way with 19 points.

16. Strafford (18-8)

Last week: 13

The Indians stumbled to close out the regular season with back-to-back losses against Skyline and Fair Grove. The eight losses are the most Strafford has suffered in a regular season since the 2013-14 season. It will get a chance to rebound in the Class 3 District 11 tournament this week, with an opening game against Pleasant Hope in the first round.

17. Rock Bridge (19-6)

Last week: 17

Pushed its winning streak to five games with back-to-back victories over Smith-Cotton and Miller Career Academy. Mari Miller led the way with 18 points in their win over Smith-Cotton. Will have a huge matchup against Helias Catholic on Tuesday before starting the Class 6 District 7 tournament against Smith-Cotton.

18. Fair Grove (22-4)

Last week: 18

Picked up a big win on the road against Strafford to push its winning streak to five games. It awaits the winner of Forsyth and Springfield Catholic in the Class 3 District 11 semifinal round. Fair Grove is led by a two-headed attack by Brooke Daniels and Emma Padgett.

19. Park Hills Central (21-3)

Last week: 19

The Rebels have pushed their winning streak to six games with a 33-point drumming over Arcadia Valley. Will have a matchup with Cape Central before a road trip to St. Clair before it begins the Class 4 postseason. Park Hills Central will await the winner of Herculaneum or Notre Dame St. Louis in the Class 4 District 2 semifinal round.

20. Jefferson City (16-7)

Last week: 20

After seeing its offense disappear against Rock Bridge, it got started again with back-to-back road wins over Boonville and Fatima. The Jays will have back-to-back tough matchups against Helias Catholic and Hickman to close out the regular season. It will face Capital City in the Class 5 District 5 tournament.

21. Meadville (25-0)

Last week: 21

Meadville finished a perfect regular season with a 10-point victory over Schuyler County at home. The Eagles have won 20 or more games in a season for four consecutive seasons. The 25 wins are the most the Eagles have won in a season since the 2009-10 campaign.

22. St. James (18-7)

Last week: 22

Lost senior night to Battle before rebounding with a road win over Owensville. The No. 1 seed for the Class 4 District 3 will await either Borgia or Cuba in the semifinal round. The Tigers are led by a trio of double-digit scorers in Livi Herron, Kendall Costoplos and Emily Recker.

23. Hickman (19-5)

Last week: 23

Picked up two wins over Nixa and Cardinal Ritter at home before suffering a seven-point loss on the road to Battle. The Kewpies will face off against Jefferson City in the regular-season finale. Junior Ashtyn Klusmeyer scored 13 points in the loss to Battle. Hickman will kick off the Class 6 postseason with a matchup with Blue Springs in the Class 6 District 7 tournament.

24. Benton (20-3)

Last week: NR

The Cardinals returned to the rankings while running their winning streak to eight games. It helped push Bishop LeBlond losing streak to three games. It hosts Pembroke Hill on Wednesday in the season finale before it heads into the Class 4 District 16 tournament.

25. South Iron (22-2)

Last week: NR

The Panthers are on the rampage this year. Their only two losses have come to Vashon and Olate North out of Kansas, both teams nearly twice their size. South Iron has won at least 20 games in a season for five consecutive seasons.

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