KBCA Announce Preseason Rankings
The Kansas Basketball Coaches Association have released their preseason rankings as the basketball season is set to begin next week.
GIRLS
Nemaha Central enters the season ranked #4 in Class 3A behind Silver Lake, Hayden, and Colby. The Thunder went 20-3 last season and won the Big 7 league title but were upset in the Sub-State tournament by Riley County.
Riverside is ranked #2 in Class 2A behind only St. Mary's Colgan. The Cyclones posted their best finish in school history last season finishing 22-4 and runner-up at the State Tournament with a loss to Berean Academy in the Championship game.
Frankfort is ranked #2 in Class 1A-I behind only Little River. The Wildcats went 22-4 last season including a 12-1 mark in TVL play. They finished third place at the State Tournament by beating Norwich in the Consolation Final.
The TVL is strong in Class 1A-I with Clifton-Clyde #3, Doniphan West #5, and Centralia at #9. Doniphan West is the defending State Champs after going 21-5 last season and beating Quinter 55-49 in the Championship game. Centralia won 14 games last season but lost to D-West in the Sub-State title game.
Hanover, the defending 1A-II State Champions, enter the season ranked #1 after finishing a perfect 25-0 last season.
BOYS
Atchison will enter the season ranked #3 in Class 4A behind only Hugoton and McPherson. The Phoenix will have a solid team returning that went 19-4 last season including a trip to the State Tournament. They would lose to Bishop Miege 88-70 in the opening round game.
Sabetha starts out at #5 in Class 3A after being top ranked for a majority of the season last year. The Bluejays season would end with their lone loss of the season (21-1) against Nemaha Central in the Sub-State semifinals.
It was quite the run for Marysville as they finished runner-up in 3A last season and lost to Hesston in the Championship game. They finished last season 23-3 and will begin this season ranked #9.
Clifton-Clyde and Centralia begin the season ranked #4 and #6 respectively in Class 1A-I. The Eagles finished 20-3 last season and lost to South Gray in the opening round of the State Tournament. The Panthers finished 15-9 and lost to Olpe in the opening round of the State Tournament.
Axtell will begin the season ranked #2 in 1A-II behind only Lebo after finishing 20-6 last season and fourth place at the State Tournament. Hanover finished 17-6 last season but lost to Axtell in the Sub-State title game. The Wildcats will enter the season ranked #6 in the classification.
