Basketball in Indiana isn't just a winter pastime; it’s more like a shared inheritance. If you’ve ever sat in a humid, packed gymnasium in late January, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The popcorn smell is permanent. The squeak of sneakers on hardwood is the only soundtrack that matters. Right now, everyone is staring at the ihsaa girls basketball rankings, trying to figure out if their local team is actually as good as the record suggests or if they’re just beneficiaries of a soft schedule.
Rankings are weird. They are part math, part reputation, and a whole lot of "eye test" from coaches who have seen it all.
As of mid-January 2026, the landscape is shifting. One week you’re the hunted, and the next, a gritty conference rival knocks you off on a Tuesday night in a gym three towns over. That's the beauty of it.
The Power Struggle at the Top
If you look at the current overall standings, Pike is holding onto that #1 spot with a death grip. They are sitting at 16-1, and honestly, they look terrifying on the fast break. But they aren't alone up there. Center Grove is breathing down their neck, still undefeated at 16-0. There is something about an undefeated record this late in the season that makes every opposing team play like it’s their own personal state championship game.
Warsaw isn't far behind at 18-1. They play a brand of basketball that is basically a 32-minute cardiovascular exam for the opponent.
It’s not just about the big schools, though. The IHSAA is split into four classes, and the drama in 2A and 1A is arguably even higher because the communities are smaller. When South Knox or Whitko makes a run, the entire town shuts down. Whitko is currently 14-1, and they’ve been hovering near the top of the 2A rankings for weeks.
How the Rankings Actually Work
Most fans argue about the rankings because they don't realize there isn't just one list. You've got the IBCA (Indiana Basketball Coaches Association) poll, which is a "non-class" Top 20. This is where 22 panelists—coaches and experts—vote on who they think is the best, regardless of school size. It's subjective. It's messy. It's great for debates.
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Then you have the computer models.
Jeff Sagarin has been the king of Indiana high school math for decades. His ratings use a "Bayesian" system that accounts for strength of schedule and where the game was played. If you beat a bad team by 40 points, Sagarin’s computer isn't impressed. But if you lose by two points to a powerhouse on their home floor? You might actually go up in his rankings.
The IHSAA themselves started leaning more on MaxPreps RPI data recently for tournament seeding. This is basically a formula:
- 40% is your winning percentage.
- 40% is your opponents' winning percentage.
- 20% is your opponents' opponents' winning percentage.
It’s all about who you play. If your conference is weak, your RPI is going to suffer, no matter how many blowouts you stack up.
The Players Moving the Needle
You can’t talk about the ihsaa girls basketball rankings without talking about the talent. This year is top-heavy with legitimate Division I prospects.
Lola Lampley over at Lawrence Central is a nightmare to guard. She’s a 6-2 power forward who moves like a guard. When Lawrence Central is clicking, they look like the best team in the state, even if their three losses have kept them just outside the top three in some polls.
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Then there’s Myah Epps at Homestead. Homestead has been a staple in the top five for what feels like forever. Epps is a combo guard who basically controls the tempo of the entire game. If you let her get to her spots, it’s over.
Kennedy Holman (Hamilton Southeastern) and Brooklynn Renn (Silver Creek) are also names you see every time you open a scouting report. Renn is 6-3 and anchors a Silver Creek team that is currently 12-4 but playing a schedule that would make most college teams sweat.
Why Rankings Don't Always Predict the Champion
Every year, a team ranked 15th in 4A catches fire in February. We call it "Sectional Fever."
Indiana’s tournament is a "blind draw" system, which is one of the most controversial and beloved things about IHSAA sports. You could have the #1 and #2 teams in the state draw each other in the first round of the sectional. It’s brutal. It’s unfair. It’s uniquely Indiana.
This is why a team like Lawrence Central or Homestead might be ranked lower than an undefeated team but still be the "favorite" in the eyes of the bookies. They are battle-tested. They’ve played the top-ten gauntlet.
Current 4A Snapshot (January 2026)
- Pike (16-1) - Dynamic, fast, and deep.
- Center Grove (16-0) - Disciplined and haven't blinked yet.
- Warsaw (18-1) - High-octane offense that wears you down.
- Homestead (17-2) - The gold standard of consistency.
- Lawrence Central (12-3) - Highest ceiling if they stay healthy.
In the smaller classes, South Knox (14-3) is leading the way in 2A, while Borden and Marquette Catholic are duking it out for supremacy in 1A. Marquette Catholic is 14-3 and plays a schedule full of 3A and 4A schools, which keeps their RPI incredibly high despite the three losses.
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What to Watch in the Coming Weeks
The regular season is winding down. We are approaching the "money" part of the calendar.
Keep an eye on the conference tournaments. These often serve as a "mini-state" tournament. If a team like Hamilton Southeastern (15-3) can sweep through their conference, expect them to jump into the top three of the ihsaa girls basketball rankings just in time for the sectional draw.
Also, watch the health of the rosters. At this point in the year, everyone is nursing a rolled ankle or a bruised knee. Depth is what wins in the IHSAA tournament. You can't rely on one star player to carry you through five games in two weeks.
The "Sectional 10" in 4A is always a bloodbath. If you emerge from that, you're usually ready for anything.
To get the most out of the final weeks, stop looking at just the win-loss column. Look at the Strength of Schedule (SOS). A 13-5 team that played ten Top-20 opponents is almost always more dangerous than a 17-1 team that played nobody. Check the Sagarin ratings and compare them to the IBCA poll. When those two lists disagree, that's where the "upset" potential usually hides.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Coaches:
- Check the RPI daily: MaxPreps updates these frequently, and they are the best indicator of where a team will land in the tournament bracket logic.
- Watch the "Strength of Schedule": If a top-ranked team hasn't played anyone in the Top 50, be skeptical of their ranking.
- Focus on the "blind draw": The IHSAA sectional pairings are usually announced in late January. That is the moment the rankings become secondary to the "path" to Indianapolis.
- Follow the 2026 Recruiting Class: Players like Lola Lampley and Myah Epps aren't just playing for high school glory; they are auditioning for the next level, and that intensity shows up in big games.
The road to Gainbridge Fieldhouse is narrow, and the rankings are just the map. But in Indiana, the map changes every Friday night.