No movement in the latest area power rankings, largely because nearly every local program is continuing to stack wins through the first week of 2026. Preps coordinator Zach Piatt breaks down his latest weekly poll:
1. Cissna Park
➜ Record: 11-1
➜ Previous ranking: No. 1
➜ Tip-in: Taking two weeks off for the holidays didn’t derail the Timberwolves, as they earned their eighth consecutive victory with a 53-23 win against Vermilion Valley Conference foe Westville on Monday. This is the start of a heavy stretch of VVC games for coach Anthony Videka‘s squad.
2. Salt Fork
➜ Record: 14-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 2
➜ Tip-in: Solid defensive play, balanced scoring throughout the roster and consistent scoring over four quarters led the Storm to a 43-26 win against Heritage/Academy High on Monday. Sailor Pacot paced the team with 12 points, followed by Bracie Hird with 11 points and Morgan Russell with 10 points.
3. Clinton
➜ Record: 14-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 3
➜ Tip-in: All four of the Maroons’ losses are against talented programs in Decatur MacArthur, Eureka, Deer Creek-Mackinaw and Tri-Valley. But the last one was a month ago. Josh Williams‘ team is on quite the hot streak with 10 straight wins to its name that includes a Monticello Holiday Hoopla title.
4. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
➜ Record: 12-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 4
➜ Tip-in: The Falcons’ recent five-game winning streak has been highlighted by three straight victories against Illini Prairie Conference teams Monticello, St. Joseph-Ogden and Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Lily Sizemore and Co. will have their hands full as Heart of Illinois Conference play heats up this month.
5. St. Joseph-Ogden
➜ Record: 9-5
➜ Previous ranking: No. 5
➜ Tip-in: The Spartans are the only top-level area team to have played in the new year but failed to come away with a win. They’ve lost three games in a row by a combined nine points. Addie Brooks has caught fire from beyond the arc, making 25 three-pointers in her last four games.
6. Watseka/Milford
➜ Record: 12-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 6
➜ Tip-in: The Warriors went into the holidays with a bad taste in their mouths after St. Joseph-Ogden snapped their eight-game winning streak. After taking a couple weeks off, however, Barry Bauer‘s team bounced back with a 65-28 win against Chrisman on Monday and topped Herscher on Wednesday.
7. LeRoy
➜ Record: 11-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 7
➜ Tip-in: Talk about a rollercoaster of a season to this point. The Panthers won their first eight games of the campaign before running into a four-game gauntlet of a skid during a six-day span. Now, Chris Houser’s team is consistently back into the win column with three consecutive victories.
8. Heritage/Academy High
➜ Record: 14-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 8
➜ Tip-in: Belated congratulations are in order for coach Brad Wilson, who collected the 100th victory of his career in the Hawks’ 47-37 win against Fisher this past Saturday. Addi Hopper scored 22 points, and Maegan Frye added 15 points to get their coach to the milestone and start 2026 on a high note.
9. Tri-County
➜ Record: 8-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 9
➜ Tip-in: Dec. 15 was the last game for the Titans before the holidays, and they took 11 days off before splitting a pair of games in Robinson on Dec. 27. They’re now ending another short vacation as they prepare to take on Arthur Christian on Thursday after another 11 days without a game.
10. BHRA
➜ Record: 10-5
➜ Previous ranking: No. 10
➜ Tip-in: Monday’s 46-19 win against Attica (Ind.) was Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin’s last game outside of Vermilion Valley Conference action until Jan. 31. Hannah Cronk‘s team will play a few VVC games before the Vermilion County Tournament starts on Jan. 16, and the Blue Devils could make some noise.
