Girls Basketball Top 20 for Jan. 22: Rankings shuffle as tourney time approaches

With conference and county tournaments tipping off next week, the latest NJ.com Top 20 girls basketball rankings saw some shuffling as teams jockey for position. A handful of statement wins and timely upsets reshaped the rankings, underscoring just how thin the margin is between contenders as February’s most meaningful games approach. Red Bank Catholic extended its win streak to seven-straight games with Shore Conference A North Division wins over Red Bank Regional and then-No. 9 Manasquan and a victory over St. Joseph by the Sea (NY). The Caseys have a tough stretch this week as they face rival and No. 2 St. John Vianney for the second time this season before playing No. 14 Lenape, Msgr. Scanlan (NY) and St. Rose. St. John Vianney extended its win streak to five-straight games with a win over St. Rose before falling to the previously No. 1-ranked team in the country, Ontario Christian (CA), 78-70. The Lancers then rebounded with a win over Red Bank Regional and are now second in the Shore Conference A North Division behind Red Bank Catholic. St. John Vianney has four games on the schedule this week that includes a rematch with No. 1 Red Bank Catholic, Bishop Eustace, No. 5 Morris Catholic and Rumson-Fair Haven. Gloucester Catholic played twice last week and won both games against Camden Catholic and Williamstown to extend its win streak to four-straight. The Rams have a tough test against No. 6 Paul VI on Saturday before facing Tri-County Conference Royal Division opponents Williamstown and Washington Township. Rutgers Prep picked up wins over Dexter (MA), Newman (MA) and Ridge last week to extend its win streak to six-straight games. The Argonauts have three games on the schedule this week against the likes of Bridgewater-Raritan, Executive Education Charter (PA) and Watchung Hills. Morris Catholic has been rolling of late and extended its win streak to eight-straight games with wins over Villa Walsh, Elizabeth Stanton (MD) and Shipley (PA) last week. The Crusaders have a meeting with Msgr. Scanlan (NY) on Saturday before two Top 20 matchups against No.2 St. John Vianney and No. 19 Bayonne. Paul VI remains one of the few remaining undefeated teams left in the state as the Eagles defeated Bishop Eustace, Haddonfield and Camden Catholic last week. Paul VI has two games on the schedule this week against Olympic Conference opponent Moorestown and No. 3 Gloucester Catholic. New Providence remained undefeated with wins over Plainfield, Morristown and Roselle Catholic last week and extended its win streak to 38-straight games dating back to last season. The Pioneers will look to stay on track against Union County Conference Watchung Division opponents Cranford and Scotch Plains-Fanwood this week. DePaul picked up wins over Paramus Catholic, then-No. 11 West Orange and Wayne Hills last week to remain undefeated at 10-0. The Spartans have a tough test against No. 17 Immaculate Heart in a key Big North Conference United Division showdown before facing Shipley (PA) and Lakeland this week. Another undefeated team, Caldwell picked up two more wins over Arts and Mount St. Dominic last week to improve to 11-0. The Lady Chiefs have four games on the schedule this week against the likes of West Essex, Glen Rock, University and Glen Ridge. Manasquan went 1-1 last week with a win over Shore A North Division opponent Rumson-Fair Haven before a loss to No. 1 Red Bank Catholic. The Warriors will look to rebound against the likes of St. Rose, Moorestown and Red Bank Regional this week. Gill St. Bernard’s is on a nine-game winning streak since it fell by two points in late December to West Orange. The Knights this past week added victories against Phillipsburg and Montgomery in Skyland Conference action. Gill St. Bernard’s faces Ridge and Bridgewater-Raritan coming up before traveling to Rutgers Prep. The Trojans have won their last nine games since falling to Westfield by four in late December. St. Thomas Aqiunas blasted past the likes of Monroe 80-31 and East Brunswick 76-54 before beating Saddle River Day 61-51. The top team in the Greater Middlesex Conference has two out-of-state games in the next few days. West Orange slides just a touch following its 56-52 loss to DePaul at the Jarel Lowery Showcase. West Orange outscored DePaul 26-9 in the third quarter to get back into the game but couldn’t fully complete the comeback. The Mountaineers did respond with a win over West Essex 60-36 on Tuesday for their 12th victory of the season. West Orange gets Bayonne on Saturday at the Joey O ALS Showcase. Lenape has won its last five games since falling to Gloucester Catholic. Lenape held Cherry Hill East to 15 points in a 50-15 rout of the Cougars. The Indians then defeated Clearview 64-39 at the SJIBT before handling Rancocas Valley 65-37 on Tuesday. Lenape has a monster game upcoming on Saturday against ed Bank Catholic at the South vs. Shore Showcase. Demarest is currently riding a nine-game winning streak. The Norsewomen took down rival Old Tappan in overtime, 38-37, before going to and beating Pasack Valley 54-21. Demarest is unlikely to be tested again until it hosts Teaneck, a team it already beat earlier this month, on Feb. 5. Westfield lost to Franklin last Thursday, 46-41, at home. That was the Blue Devils’ third loss in a row. However, Westfield rebounded to top Cranford and Plainfield the last two games to get back on track. Westfield has a chance to boost its record more with games against Roselle Catholic and Ramapo on the horizon. Immaculate Heart added two wins this past week. IHA defeated Glen Ridge 59-23 at the Zach Latteri Foundation Benefit Games, before topping Hackensack 76-16. IHA has another stiff test coming up against DePaul on Thursday at home before it travels to Ramapo on Tuesday. The Indians are on a five-game winning streak since a two point loss to Lenape on Jan. 6. Cherokee int he past week downed Rancocas Valley by 18 points, a solid Eastern team by 11, and the top team in the Colonial Conference, Haddon Heights, by 19. Cherokee next plays Shawnee on Thursday before playing Red Bank Regional at the South vs. Shore Showcase. Bayonne has won four games in a row including three times in the past week. Bayonne beat North Bergen, Roselle Catholic and Union City al lby double digits. The Bees have a pair of big battles coming up against West Orange and Morris Catholic. Trinity Hall suffered a 42-31 loss at Howell on Friday, giving the Monarchs their second defeat in the last week and a half. Trinity Hall rebounded and held off a furious rally by Colts Neck to win 51-47 on Tuesday before beating Holmdel at home on Wednesday. Trinity Hall has a tougher game against Chatham on Friday.