JACKSON — The calendar has flipped to 2025 and girls basketball season is back in full swing after the holiday lull.

As teams jump back into the thick of conference play, let’s take a look at who is rising to the top so far with the Jackson-area power rankings.

Western (7-1)

The Panthers just keep rolling, and keep winning big. The lone setback so far was against unbeaten Belleville, and since then Western has run off three straight wins, most recently beating Hastings 62-16 on Tuesday. With Rayah Hitt, Aubree Allen and Baylie Stewart leading the way, the Western scoring is coming in bunches.

Lumen Christi (6-2)

Even when Kenna Hunt is under the weather, she can still score in double digits, as she did in the Shot Clock Classic win over Grass Lake. Adding in players like Lucy Wrozek, Codi Ruge and Paige Lefere to the scoring mix makes the Titans hard to stop.

Michigan Center (6-0)

The Cardinals are still unbeaten after a strong defensive performance against Homer on Tuesday, scoring 31 points off turnovers. The offense, which features scoring coming from multiple people, and in multiple ways. One minute the Cardinals are scoring in transition, the next they find an open look in the paint, the next the find an open shooter on the perimeter.

Leslie (4-2)

After back-to-back losses to Haslett and Blissfield, the Blackhawks rebounded with a win over Stockbridge in convincing fashion. Even in the Blissfield loss Saturday at Jackson College in the Shot Clock Classic, the ‘Hawks showed a lot of fight in turning a double-digit halftime deficit into a lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Grass Lake (3-3)

Don’t let the record fool you, the Warriors are a strong team, and the three losses, to Chelsea, Country Day and Lumen Christi, have been against teams with a combined 21-2 record.

Columbia Central (5-3)

The Golden Eagles withstood a brutal December slate of games which saw the talented freshman class tossed into the deep end with games against Lumen Christi, Leslie and Blissfield, and have won four straight. With strong defense paced by Emma Shafer and Kolie Brown, Columbia Central has held its last two opponents under 30 points.

Concord (6-2)

When healthy and with everyone on the floor, the Yellowjackets are tough to stop. Bradie Lehman returned from missing Saturday’s loss to Columbia Central by scoring 22 on Tuesday in a win over Reading. With her on the perimeter and Grace Thorrez in the paint, Concord is looking strong in the Big 8 race.

Stockbridge (5-3)

A young Panthers team is starting to round into form. Last week in a win over Springport, Stockbridge was able to find multiple options on offense with Melina Sayre getting to the rim early, opening up things for Bella Pybus to knock down 3-pointers late. A key Big 8 game against Concord looms on the horizon.

Hanover-Horton (4-2)

The Comets had a couple of tough games early in the year with Concord and Grass Lake, but have won three in a row since, including a 40-19 win over Manchester on Tuesday. Thursday’s Comet-vs-Comet showdown with Jonesville looms large as both try to keep pace with Columbia Central in the Cascades West.

East Jackson (5-3)

When the Trojans win, they win big. The one-two punch of Mariah Kerley and Kennedy Goodwin has East Jackson putting up 62.4 points per game in their five wins, including an 87-point game against Pansophia.