Southwest Florida girls basketball rankings: Who made the Top 10 in our first 2023-24 poll?

Southwest Florida girls’ basketball teams have started their long treks for titles and trophies.

Last season Barron Collier, Bishop Verot, South Fort Myers, ECS, and St. John Neumann all claimed district championships. The Sentinels came the closest to a state crown, reaching the Class 2a Final Four where they fell to Horeb Christian.

Let’s take a look at this year’s top teams as the season moves into its second week with our first The News-Press/Naples Daily News Top 10 power rankings for the 2023-24 season.

1. ECS

The Sentinels bring back its core of Maddie O’Berski, Zaira Mitchell, and Kellisia Grant and then added Fort Myers transfers Jadah Toombs to run the point and exciting scorer Arielle Marc. Sentinels coach Dwayne Donnell showed he knows how to build a powerhouse program from his time at Dunbar and looks like he’s done the same at ECS. Now can they win a Class 2A state title?

2. St. John Neumann

It’s not every day an area team has two legit college-bound 6-footers but the Celtics fave that in Sophia McCartney. and Sydney Martin. If McCartney, who averaged a double-double last season, had not gone down with an injury late in the season, there’s no telling how far Neumann could have gone, although, like last year, it has ECS in the way. And add in Village School sophomore Mylee Van de Wouw and the Celtics have a third legit scoring threat and opened the season by winning Barron Collier’s Steak and Shake Tournament last week. The Celtics (4-0) eked out a win over Seacrest Tuesday night.

3. Gulf Coast

Gulf Coast's Lilly Fultz (23) drives to the basket during the high school varsity girls basketball game between Seacrest and Gulf Coast, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla.

Gulf Coast defeated Seacrest Country Day 71-31.

The Sharks under coach Mark Woodruff continue to reload (albeit a little tough this year thanks to Aubrey Rogers opening but more on that later) as talented seniors move on to play at the next level. This year, Gulf Coast will be led by dangerous shooter Lilly Fultz with Alex McDonough running the point. The Sharks should be considered a heavy favorite to take the District 6A-12 title.

4. Gateway

The Eagles went 15-6 last season and have a nice 1-2 punch in Thatiyana Holiday and Kenyah Moss, who averaged a double-double, back along with Miracle Salters. Add in speedy V’davrielle Johnson, a transfer from Fort Myers, and a District 4A-12 title is a real possibility this season.

5. Seacrest Country Day

Seacrest Country Day's Madison D'Elia (20) shoots over Gulf Coast's Katie Ambrose (10) during the high school varsity girls basketball game between Seacrest and Gulf Coast, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Fla.

Gulf Coast defeated Seacrest Country Day 71-31.

The Stingrays had a number of quality wins last season as they played many of the area’s top teams and that experience should help this season as Seacrest returns do-everything guard Ty’ Nazia Smith and knockdown shooter Madison D’Elia. One roadblock for the Stingrays is they share District 2A-12 with Neumann and last season they didn’t have much scoring depth so they’ll need more from their role players. Seacrest led the Celtics late Tuesday night before falling to Neumann 55-52.

6. Lehigh

The Lightning, who won 18 games last season, are in District 7A-12 this year with all schools from Sarasota County including Venice and Riverview, which will pose a challenge. Faith Plummer returns after an excellent all-around junior season and is rejoined by Rianna Smith and athletic Sanaa Geter.

7. Gateway Charter

The Griffins return a lot of experience with two three-year starters, point guard Alisea Doan and center Maria Juantorena along with juniors Ellie Morin (13 ppg) and Jazmyne Trubina (10 ppg), who averaged double digits in scoring last year. Emily Salas and Yaneila Roman Lopez also have starting experience and Gateway Charter will need it to compete in a tough District 3A-12.

8. Bishop Verot

The Vikings had a resurgent season to win the District 3A-12 title last year led by Cameron O’Halloran and Josee Fry, who averaged a double-double while adding Oasis transfer Brynn Stambaugh, who averaged 13.5 points per game for the Sharks. Verot may not sit at No. 8 long with a clash against district foe and No. 7 Gateway Charter on tap Tuesday.

9. Naples

District 5A-12 will sort itself out with the Golden Eagles looking at Lely and reigning champ Barron Collier as their main competition for the crown. Games against Lely on Thursday and Barron on Dec. 7 will start to clear up the picture. Naples returns Annika Anderson, who averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds per game last year, for her senior season, and a lot of expected from senior Abby Byrd.

10. Aubrey Rogers

The first-year program enters the season already on the radar with sophomores Maddie Hamisch and Angelina Insana leading the way. Both players were at Gulf Coast last season (told you we’d get back to the Sharks) as Hamisch is a 6-foot-3 center who should dominate the boards while Insana is a true shooting guard.

The Next Five: Barron Collier, Canterbury, First Baptist, LaBelle, Lely