Illinois Preps Insider’s girls basketball top-20: Final Rankings

What a season.

As I’m writing this on the train headed back to Chicago, I can’t help but think of all the funny moments that have happened from the beginning of the year until now.

Everything has happened, from unknowingly talking to a parent about their own daughter (good things thankfully) in a stuffy field house during summer league, to the final funny quote in a championship interview, it’s been quite the ride.

But, this isn’t my moment. This is for all of the incredible athletes who competed night in and night out, spending hours upon hours in the gym, film room, and classroom for the past five plus months.

Here are the final rankings, with every teams preseason rankings listed on the right.

1. Maine West (35-0) 7

Undefeated state champs

2. Mother McAuley (34-3) 10

Heck of a season for the Mighty Macs

3. Benet (28-7) 2

The Redwings will be back

4. Nazareth (32-4) 13

Third place in class 3A

5. Montini (30-5) 8

Future is bright

6. Evanston (24-8) 3

Found a star in Turchin

7. Fremd (29-5) 4

Should compete for 4A title next year

8. Whitney Young (25-6) 1

Jones and Green were dynamic

9. Loyola (24-8) 5

Incredible three year run for Martinez and co.

10. St. Ignatius (24-9) 15

First regional title since 2013

11. Lake Forest (28-8) 18

Unfortunate timing for an injury, but great season nonetheless

12. Simeon (21-11) 14

Morrow and Gardner have another two years

13. Wheaton-Warrenville South (23-9) NR

Just found ways to win

14. Homewood-Flossmoor (21-9) NR

Real strong finish to the year

15. New Trier (24-6) NR

Turned it up a notch in the middle of the season

16. Lincoln-Way West (26-5) 11

Much of the starting lineup will return

17. Marist (22-9) 6

Little disappointing end, should still be fine next year

18. Thornwood (26-3) NR

Near perfect regular season

19. Glenbard South (26-8) NR

Gave Morton a good run in the second half of the championship game

20. Kenwood (20-12) 9

McDaniels will be a stud