SBLive Missouri high school girls basketball Power 25 rankings (Feb. 28): Vashon Wolverines move up to No. 2

As the postseason arrives, Fair Grove headlined the week by knocking off its arch-rival Strafford in the Class 3 District 11 final over the weekend.

The Eagles will head into the Class 3 sectional round, while Meadville continues its unbeaten season in Class 1 as it looks to be on a collision course with South Iron later in the Class 1 postseason. 

SBLIVE MISSOURI POWER 25 GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: FEB. 7 | FEB. 13 | FEB. 28 

Here's a look at the SBLive Missouri Power 25 (with records through Feb. 26):

1. Incarnate Word (26-0)

Last week: 1

Incarnate Word got its biggest test of the season in the regular-season finale against John Burroughs. The Bombers scrapped and clawed to give the Red Knights a true scare to its long-standing winning streak before Incarnate Word prevailed for a 10-point win. The streak lives at 94 games as the Red Knights prepare to enter the Class 6 postseason looking for a sixth-straight state championship.

2. Vashon (21-5)

Last week: 3

The Wolverines made short work of their lone game this week, crushing Roosevelt by 61 points. Vashon awaits the winner of Rosati-Kain and Kipp St. Louis in the semifinal round of the Class 4 District 5 tournament. The tournament could set up for a rematch with Cardinal Ritter in the district title game on Saturday. The Wolverines are looking to bring home only their second postseason trophy in program history after a third-place finish in Class 4 in 2021.

3. Truman (22-2)

Last week: 2

The Patriots' 12-game winning streak was snapped by St. Joseph Central on the road. Truman's offense, which had averaged over 62 points a game was held to just 40 points in the regular season finale. It's the first time this season that Truman has lost to a Missouri team, its only other loss was to Jonesboro out of Arkansas in the Rolla Oral Surgery Holiday Tournament. The Patriots will kick off the Class 6 District 6 tournament with a matchup with William Chrisman on Thursday.

4. Republic (23-3)

Last week: 4

Cruised to two victories to finish up the regular season with its most wins in a season since the 2015-16 season. In the regular-season finale, Republic was led in scoring by Missouri State signee Kaemyn Bekemeier who scored 24 points. The Tigers had three others in double-digit scoring in the senior night victory. Republic will open up the Class 6 District 5 tournament on Thursday against Joplin.

5. John Burroughs (23-3)

Last week: 5

John Burroughs got its long-awaited rematch with Incarnate Word for its senior night. The Bombers took their best swing at the juggernaut that is Incarnate before falling by 10 points. Allie Turner's 19-point explosion wasn't enough to overcome the Red Knights. John Burroughs will begin its title defense against Confluence in the Class 5 District 2 quarterfinal game on Thursday.

6. Grain Valley (21-4)

Last week: 6

In the regular season finale, senior and Missouri commit Grace Slaughter collected her 2,500th career point as Grain Valley dispatched William Chrisman, 81-47. The Eagles are rolling on an 11-game winning streak as they head into the Class 6 District 7 tournament with a matchup with Fort Osage on Thursday in the first round.

7. Carl Junction (25-1)

Last week: 7

It's an even 20-game winning streak for Carl Junction as it heads into the Class 5 postseason. The Bulldogs completed a perfect 9-0 Central Ozark Conference season and have collected four tournament titles this year. The defending district champions are poised to make a deeper run in the playoffs this year, starting with a first-round matchup with Ruskin on Thursday in the Class 5 District 7 tournament.

8. Raytown (20-2)

Last week: 8

Raytown wrapped up its regular season with three straight wins over William Chrisman, Platte County and Belton. The Blue Jays will open up the Class 6 District 6 tournament with a game against Raymore-Peculiar on Thursday. Raytown defeated Raymore by 32 points early in the season.

9. Park Hill South (23-3)

Last week: 9

The Panthers have won 18 straight games as they prepare for the postseason march. Park Hill South dispatched Lee's Summit North 55-33 in the regular-season finale. Park Hill South, the No. 1 seed in the district tournament, will play Oak Park in the first round of the Class 6 District 8 tournament on Thursday.

10. Rolla (21-5)

Last week: 10

Showed off a stiff defense against Hillcrest, before leaning on that defense to help steal away a senior-night win over Parkview, 35-30. Faith Coates led the team in scoring with 10 points over Parkview. The No. 2 seeded Bulldogs will take on Willard in the first round of the Class 5 District 6 tournament on Thursday.

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11. Cape Notre Dame (19-5)

Last week: 11

The Bulldogs dispatched Cape Girardeau Central by 35 points in the regular-season finale at home in their lone game of the week. They will take on Sikeston on Thursday evening in the first round of the Class 5 District 1 tournament as the No. 2 seed.

12. Helias Catholic (19-6)

Last week: 12

Helias suffered a 12-point loss at home to crosstown rival Jefferson City to kick off the week before rebounding with a 14-point win over Rock Bridge in the regular season finale. The Crusaders have only lost one time on home court this year but will hit the road for the Class 5 District 5 tournament when it takes on Pacific in the first round on Thursday.

13. Lutheran St. Charles (21-5)

Last week: 14

The Cougars picked up a 12-point win over Cardinal Ritter on the road to round out the regular season. Lutheran St. Charles has won 20 games or more in a season for the fifth successive season. Lutheran St. Charles will kick off the Class 5 District 4 tournament with a game against North Point on Thursday.

14. Fair Grove (22-4)

Last week: 18

After struggling against its arch-rival Strafford for nearly 10 seasons, Fair Grove broke through with a win in the regular season over the Indians. The Eagles got an even better victory on Saturday, ending Strafford's streak of seven district titles with a 66-56 victory in the Class 3 District 11 final. Senior leader Kameron Green led the way with 19 points in the victory. The Eagles will take on Diamond in the Class 3 sectional round on Tuesday.

15. Nixa (20-6)

Last week: 15

Nixa crushed Neosho in the regular-season finale to finish the season with 20 wins for the third consecutive season. The Eagles were led by Norah Clark who scored 29 points in their 30-point win over Neosho. Nixa will face off against Neosho in the first round of the Class 6 postseason on Thursday.

16. Farmington (20-6)

Last week: 14

The Knights are stumbling into the postseason, losing three of their last four with its lone victory coming over Cape Notre Dame. Farmington lost on the road to Poplar Bluff to conclude the regular season. It will look to regroup as the No. 1 seed in the Class 5 District 1 tournament, taking on De Soto on Thursday in the first-round game.

17. Jefferson City (18-7)

Last week: 20

Against the three toughest opponents of the season, Jefferson City breezed through them. The Jays knocked off Fatima, Helias Catholic and Hickman in three consecutive games to close out the regular season. Jefferson City won the first two games by an average of 25 points before eeking out a one-point win over Hickman. Jefferson City opens up the postseason with a game against Capital City on Thursday.

18. Park Hills Central (23-3)

Last week: 19

The Rebels have pushed their winning streak to eight games as they concluded the season with back-to-back wins over Cape Girardeau Central and St. Clair. Park Hills Central will await the winner of Herculaneum or Notre Dame out of St. Louis in the semifinal round of the Class 4 District 2 tournament.

19. Rock Bridge (19-7)

Last week: 17

The Bruins lost their regular-season finale to Helias Catholic on the road to snap their five-game winning streak. Rock Bridge will head into the Class 6 postseason with a matchup on Thursday against Smith-Cotton in the first round of the Class 6 District 7 tournament.

20. Meadville (27-0)

Last week: 21

The Eagles are soaring in the playoffs. Meadville crushed Brunswick in the Class 1 District 12 semifinal round before disposing of Linn County to claim the district championship. The Eagles will square off with North Shelby in the Class 1 sectional round on Tuesday.

21. Strafford (20-9)

Last week: 16

Picked up two easy wins in the first two rounds of the Class 3 District 11 tournament before Strafford got its rematch with Fair Grove in the district title game. In the rematch, the Indians saw their season come to a close as Fair Grove eliminated the Indians from the postseason, losing 66-56. Junior Lauren Jones poured in 30 points in the loss that saw a streak of seven straight district titles snapped.

22. St. James (18-7)

Last week: 22

The Tigers will get a week's worth of a tune-up as it prepares for either Cuba or Borgia in the Class 4 District 3 semifinal round. St. James' trio of Emily Recker, Kendall Costoplos and Livi Herron will look to guide them back to the semifinal round after a fourth-place finish last year in Class 4.

23. Benton (22-3)

Last week: 24

The Cardinals are one of the hottest teams entering the postseason, winning 10 consecutive games. Benton will begin its trip in the Class 4 postseason after a second-place finish in 2022 and a fourth-place finish in 2021. Benton will open up the Class 4 District 16 tournament with a matchup with either Lafayette St. Joseph or Savannah on Thursday.

24. South Iron (25-2)

Last week: 25

The Panthers continued its rampage in the Class 1 District 2 tournament, crushing St. Paul Lutheran by 47 points in the semifinal round. South Iron claimed the district title with a 70-33 victory over Bunker to set up a matchup with Delta in the Class 1 sectional round on Tuesday.

25. Hickman (19-6)

Last week: 23

Lost the last two regular season matchups, including a one-point loss at Jefferson City in the regular-season finale. The Kewpies will open up their postseason play with a matchup with Blue Springs in the first round of the Class 6 District 7 tournament on Thursday.

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