Holiday Break Rankings Update
It was a short week of basketball before heading into the holiday break, but it was eventful with a major upset in Class 1A that led to a new #1 team in the class. We detail the major shakeup in each class below.
The aforementioned major upset was then-#10 Edgewood-Colesburg (7-0) handing North Linn (8-1) their first regular-season conference loss since 2014, and their first regular-season loss against anyone in 108 games. The Vikings, with an all-senior roster, have proven themselves to be legitimate contenders in the class and jumped all the way up to #4 as a result of the win, with North Linn slotting in right behind them at #5. As a result of the upset and outstanding play so far this season, Grand View Christian (9-0) jumps to the #1 spot in Class 1A. The Thunder have been blasting every team they’ve played, including a 31-point win over Fort Osage (MO) last week at the 12 Courts of Christmas event in Kansas City. While Fort Osage isn’t a great team, they are a school with over 1,500 students that plays in Missouri’s biggest classification. Easton Valley (8-0) is the lone newcomer in this week’s rankings, coming in at #10.
In Class 2A, things stay mostly the same, with Central Lyon (7-0) headlining the class, followed by Aplington-Parkersburg (6-1), Estherville Lincoln Central (7-1), Western Christian (6-1), and Boyden-Hull (6-1). The only change comes at #10, where Monticello (8-0) enters the rankings, replacing Des Moines Christian.
Class 3A continues to be the most perplexing and confounding classification, and the most difficult to rank on a weekly basis. Dallas Center-Grimes (5-1) remains in the top spot despite a loss last week. That loss came in overtime against a top-5 team in 4A, Johnston. Fort Madison (7-0) notched a big Southeast Conference win over then-#2 Washington (6-1), and the Bloodhounds move up to #6 as a result, with Washington slotting in at #7. Pella (5-2) moves up a spot to #2, which is where things get difficult. The Dutch lost to Washington, but have rebounded well from that defeat and will be getting a major piece joining the rotation soon with Knoxville transfer Luke Keitges Luke Keitges 6'5" | SF Knoxville | 2023 State IA set to join the lineup when he gains eligibility. Ballard (8-1) moves up a pair of spots to #3 following a week that included a pair of wins over teams from Missouri at the 12 Courts of Christmas. Decorah (6-1) and Spencer (5-2) enter the rankings this week at #8 and #10, respectively.
The top six teams remain the same in Class 4A, with Council Bluffs Lincoln (6-0), Ames (5-1), Waukee Northwest (6-1), Iowa City West (6-0), and Johnston (7-1) making up the top five. Prairie (6-1) and Sioux City East (7-1) enter the rankings this week at #7 and #8, respectively. East was impressive in a 69-67 loss to Kenwood (IL), a team that features a 2022 Nevada commit and three of the top five players in Illinois’ 2023 class on their roster.
Class 1A
Rank | Team | Record | Last Week |
1 | Grand View Christian | 9-0 | 2 |
2 | AHSTW | 6-0 | 3 |
3 | St. Mary’s, Remsen | 7-0 | 4 |
4 | Edgewood-Colesburg | 7-0 | 10 |
5 | North Linn | 8-1 | 1 |
6 | New London | 6-0 | 5 |
7 | Newman Catholic | 7-0 | 6 |
8 | Lake Mills | 8-0 | 7 |
9 | Gladbrook-Reinbeck | 8-0 | 8 |
10 | Easton Valley | 8-0 | NR |
Dropped out: North Mahaska (9)
Class 2A
Rank | Team | Record | Last Week |
1 | Central Lyon | 7-0 | 1 |
2 | Aplington-Parkersburg | 6-1 | 2 |
3 | Estherville Lincoln Central | 7-1 | 3 |
4 | Western Christian | 6-1 | 4 |
5 | Boyden-Hull | 6-1 | 5 |
6 | Pella Christian | 6-1 | 6 |
7 | Rock Valley | 6-1 | 7 |
8 | Camanche | 7-0 | 8 |
9 | Van Meter | 7-0 | 9 |
10 | Monticello | 8-0 | NR |
Dropped out: Des Moines Christian (10)
Class 3A
Rank | Team | Record | Last Week |
1 | Dallas Center-Grimes | 5-1 | 1 |
2 | Pella | 5-2 | 3 |
3 | Ballard | 8-1 | 5 |
4 | Harlan | 7-0 | 4 |
5 | Central DeWitt | 5-1 | 9 |
6 | Fort Madison | 7-0 | 10 |
7 | Washington | 6-1 | 2 |
8 | Decorah | 6-1 | NR |
9 | Xavier | 4-2 | 8 |
10 | Spencer | 5-2 | NR |
Dropped out: Bondurant-Farrar (4), Clear Creek Amana (6)
Class 4A
Rank | Team | Record | Last Week |
1 | Council Bluffs Lincoln | 6-0 | 1 |
2 | Ames | 5-1 | 2 |
3 | Waukee Northwest | 6-1 | 3 |
4 | Iowa City West | 6-0 | 4 |
5 | Johnston | 7-1 | 5 |
6 | Pleasant Valley | 7-0 | 6 |
7 | Prairie | 6-1 | NR |
8 | Sioux City East | 7-1 | NR |
9 | Ankeny | 4-2 | 8 |
10 | Valley | 5-2 | 9 |
Dropped out: Cedar Rapids Jefferson (7), Linn-Mar (10)