THE POWER RANKINGS: Perennial Austin-area girls powers stake early claim to local basketball dominance

Ladies first. So says tradition and most of the etiquette books on the market. (And yes, there is an “Etiquette for Dummies” book, which is just about my speed.) But it’s also the case when it comes to Texas High School Girls Basketball, which always starts its season a week ahead of the guys.

As we’re still immersed in football, and volleyball has just wrapped up, we’re not quite ready to break out the Austin area Girls Basketball polls just yet – but they’re coming. In the meantime, quite a collection of teams are off to tremendous starts.

Vista Ridge (12-2) has virtually everyone back from last year’s young playoff team and figures to duel it out with Vandegrift (11-5) for the District 25-6A title. Bowie (11-4) and Westlake (8-2) seem to be the early cream of the 26-6A crop.

5A is where the serious action is. The top teams overall record-wise so far are Georgetown (10-1) from District 23-5A; Bastrop (12-1) and Crockett (10-2) in 24-5A -- and pick your team out of 25-5A.

Seriously.

Seven of the eight teams in that district are well over .500 in the early going, with traditional powers Liberty Hill (9-1), Rouse (8-2) and last year’s State semifinalist Cedar Park (8-2) leading the way.

It’s going to be fun watching these races all play out. And here’s a guarantee that just when we think we’ve got it all figured out and start cranking our Austin area Girls Basketball poll in the next week or two, the only experts who matter – the teams themselves – will cast the only votes that count from gyms across the CenTex area.