Goodpasture, Page lead 615 Preps girls basketball way-too-early rankings
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The girls basketball season may have just come to an end two weeks ago but it’s not too early to go ahead and take a look ahead to next season.
Taking into account what teams are losing and what they’re bringing back personnel-wise, we decided to rank the top 12 teams large and small class teams in the 615 Preps coverage area well ahead of the 2024-2025 season tipping off.
Here are our way-too-early girls hoops rankings for next season:
Large Class
1. Page: The move up to Class 4A proved to provide little challenge for the Lady Patriots as they went undefeated in district play in the regular season. They would lost to Nolensville in the district title game and then to Shelbyville but the core of that team will be back next season. Led by Mary Fox, it could be another big year on the court for Randy Coffman’s crew.
2. Lebanon: With as young as they were this season, the Devilettes could easily be the top team in our area come next season. While Cookeville proved to be a thorn in their side all season, Lebanon played young and will only lose one senior heading into the new year.
3. Nolensville: The Lady Knights are in a similar spot to Lebanon where they lose only one senior and bring back an immensely talented group. Leilani Washington is already one of the top players in District 10-4A and after averaging 10 points as a freshman, Nyla Johnson has star-potential written all over her.
4. Brentwood: Arguably the best player in District 10-4A resides at Brentwood in Ella Ryan. As long as younger players like Paige Morris, Olivia Castagna and Ava Jarrett continue to improve, the Lady Bruins will remain in contention to compete for the district title and beyond.
5. CPA: Admittedly, CPA is not the team we had making it to Cookeville this season and we didn’t give them much of a chance against Knox Catholic. Becky Legate’s squad proved us wrong by not only making it, but pushing the eventual state champions to the brink. Sophomores Lily Morrow and Merli Routh will lead a talented group into next year looking to take that next step.
The rest of the top 12
6. Lipscomb Academy
7. Stewarts Creek
8. Harpeth Hall
9. Cane Ridge
10. Blackman
11. Hillsboro
12. Wilson Central
Small Class
1. Goodpasture: The Lady Cougars flew under-the-radar all year before putting the state on notice with their postseason performances. It took a legendary performance from USJ’s Haylen Ayers to beat Goodpasture in a triple overtime classic for the DII-A title. Returning nearly every key piece from their state runner-up team, they should be one of the most fun teams to watch next season.
2. Providence Christian: Replacing Daisy Gale will be a tall task but the Lady Lions are build for another deep postseason run. Kayte Madison Bjornstad averaged a double-double as a sophomore and should firmly be in the Miss Basketball conversation next season.
3. East Robertson: Two words: Allye Pennington. As a freshman Pennington put the rest of Class 1A on notice and going forward, should be in the conversation for Miss Basketball each season. The Lady Indians had a disappointing end to their season but will only improve come next season.
4. FRA: When you’re already a good team and you’re best two players are only eighth graders, that just spells success for the near future. Ava Zenner and Ella Johnson each averaged over 13 points per game last season. The future is bright with those two leading the way.
5. MTCS: One glance at MTCS’ record this season and one may not understand why the Lady Cougars are so high on this list. Then you look at all of the close losses and realize they could easily have had 20+ wins. It also doesn’t hurt that their two best players in Anna Clay Shirley and Madison Graham were also only sophomores.
The rest of the top 12
6. Cannon County
7. Pearl-Cohn
8. Cheatham County
9. Nashville Christian
10. Smith County
11. East Nashville
12. BGA
