Girls basketball: Courier News Top 10

1. Rutgers Prep (8-1) – Last week’s rank: No. 1 – The Argonauts had successful runs at a pair of showcases over last weekend, before adding divisional victories over Hunterdon Central and Phillipsburg.

2. Franklin (3-4) – Last week No. 2  –  The Warriors fell at Long Island Lutheran last Saturday, their third straight setback and fourth in five games, but picked up a much-needed victory over Phillipsburg on Tuesday and a key topping of Bridgewater-Raritan on Thursday.

READ: Thursday’s CN-area girls basketball roundup

3. Watchung Hills (8-0) – Last week No. 4 – The Warriors continued their undefeated roll, adding victories over Cranford, Immaculata and Hillsborough.

4. Bridgewater-Raritan (5-2) – Last week No. 5 – The Panthers scored a big-time victory Tuesday, toppling Gill St. Bernard’s 51-36, before falling to Franklin on Thursday to snap a five-game winning streak.

5. Gill St. Bernard’s (4-2) – Last week No. 3 – The Knights, still playing without standout Sydnei Caldwell, who is working her way back from a knee injury, topped Cathedral at last Saturday’s Sparks Showcase, but fell to Bridgewater-Raritan last Tuesday. Gill got back on track Thursday with a win over Hunterdon Central.

6. Bound Brook (7-1) – Last week No. 6 – The Crusaders breezed through another week, scoring a win over St. John Villa (N.Y.) on Saturday, before notching a pair of conference wins over South Hunterdon and North Plainfield. Big test for Bound Brook comes Saturday at Warren Hills.

7. Hunterdon Central (4-5) – Last week No. 8 – The Red Devils continued to play well against non-conference teams, adding a victory over Moorestown last Saturday, but haven’t found consistent success in the Skyland Conference, especially in the Delaware Division, where losses to Rutgers Prep and Gill St. Bernard’s sent Central under .500.

8. Montgomery (5-2) – Last week No. 9 – The Cougars turnaround continues with two more wins last week, as Montgomery scored division victories over North Hunterdon and Immaculata.

9. Pingry (5-2) – Last week not ranked – The Big Blue have been one of the great stories of the early season after two straight .500 campaigns, with Pingry’s latest impressive victory coming Thursday at Somerville. Sophomore Kelsey Ransom has led the resurgence, posting at least a double-double in six of the Big Blue’s eight games.

10. Somerville (5-2) -- Last week No. 7 –  The Pioneers saw a six-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday at Warren Hills in a 63-61 loss, before dropping another disappointing tilt, 68-63, to Pingry on Thursday at home.

DROPPED OUT: Ridge (6-4)

Staff writer Simeon Pincus can be reached CNGirlsHoops@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SimeonPincusCN