Week 4 Rankings Update
Nearly half (18) of the 40 ranked teams across the four classes lost at least one game last week, leading to significant shakeup in the rankings once again this week. This is the final Prep Hoops Iowa poll that will be released before the initial Iowa High School Athletic Association rankings are released on Friday. We detail some of the key movement below.
North Linn (7-0) continues to roll along at the top of Class 1A, winning their first seven contests by an average of 53 points a game. Lake Mills (7-0) is a strong #2 behind the Lynx, and Bellevue Marquette Catholic (8-0) jumps a pair of spots into the #3 hole following an impressive win over Aplington-Parkersburg and losses by Madrid (6-1) and Lynnville-Sully (6-1), who fall to #4 and #8, respectively. Lynnville-Sully’s loss came to Keota (8-0), who debuts in the rankings this week at #7. The other newcomer this week is Winfield-Mt. Union (7-1), coming in at #9. The Wolves lone loss so far has come to Illini Bluffs (IL) in a game that was played without standout forward Cam Buffington Cam Buffington 6'2" | PF Winfield-Mt. Union | 2024 State IA .
In Class 2A, Western Christian (6-1) maintains the top spot despite suffering a loss this week. The Wolfpack’s setback came against South Dakota powerhouse Dakota Valley, who holds the nation’s current longest winning streak, so they aren’t going to be penalized for that loss, especially after notching a win over Sioux City Heelan earlier in the week. Hudson (7-0) moves up a spot to #2, while West Lyon (8-0) makes a big leap up to #3 following a big week. Kuemper Catholic (6-1) and Monticello (7-0) round out the top five in the class. The big faller of the week is Pella Christian (4-2), who goes from #2 to #8 following a 20-point loss to Des Moines Christian (5-2), who checks in at #7. The Lions had an interesting week of their own, notching that impressive win over the Eagles, then suffering an upset loss to Pleasantville. Unity Christian (7-0) enters the rankings at #9.
The Decorah Vikings (6-0) are your new #1 team in Class 3A after Heelan lost a pair of games last week. The Crusaders losses came to Western Christian and Caledonia (MN), a pair of very strong programs, and they dropped just two spots as a result, with Assumption (5-1) sandwiched between them. Ballard (4-2) and Waverly-Shell Rock (4-2) enter the rankings at #7 and 9, respectively.
The most change comes in Class 4A, where Kennedy (4-0) is the only team in the same spot as last week. Defending champion Valley (5-1) jumps back up four spots from #6 to #2, followed by Linn-Mar (5-0), Waukee (6-1), and Dallas Center-Grimes (5-0) to round out the top five. Ankeny (6-1) is the lone newcomer this week, checking at #10.
Class 1A
Rank | Previous | School | Record |
1 | 1 | North Linn | 7-0 |
2 | 2 | Lake Mills | 7-0 |
3 | 5 | Bellevue, Marquette Catholic | 8-0 |
4 | 3 | Madrid | 6-1 |
5 | 6 | West Fork | 5-0 |
6 | 8 | South O’Brien | 7-0 |
7 | NR | Keota | 8-0 |
8 | 4 | Lynnville-Sully | 6-1 |
9 | NR | Winfield-Mt. Union | 7-1 |
10 | 10 | Bellevue | 6-2 |
Class 2A
Rank | Previous | School | Record |
1 | 1 | Western Christian | 6-1 |
2 | 3 | Hudson | 7-0 |
3 | 6 | West Lyon | 8-0 |
4 | 5 | Kuemper Catholic | 6-1 |
5 | 7 | Monticello | 7-0 |
6 | 9 | Roland-Story | 6-0 |
7 | 8 | Des Moines Christian | 5-2 |
8 | 2 | Pella Christian | 4-2 |
9 | NR | Unity Christian | 7-0 |
10 | 10 | West Burlington | 8-0 |
Class 3A
Rank | Previous | School | Record |
1 | 2 | Decorah | 6-0 |
2 | 3 | Assumption | 5-1 |
3 | 1 | Heelan | 5-2 |
4 | 4 | Clear Lake | 5-0 |
5 | 6 | ADM | 5-1 |
6 | 7 | Solon | 5-0 |
7 | NR | Ballard | 4-2 |
8 | 8 | Xavier | 4-2 |
9 | NR | Waverly-Shell Rock | 4-2 |
10 | 9 | Maquoketa | 5-1 |
Class 4A
Rank | Previous | School | Record |
1 | 1 | Kennedy | 4-0 |
2 | 6 | Valley | 5-1 |
3 | 8 | Linn-Mar | 5-0 |
4 | 9 | Waukee | 6-1 |
5 | 7 | Dallas Center-Grimes | 5-0 |
6 | 10 | Senior | 5-0 |
7 | 2 | Iowa City West | 4-1 |
8 | 4 | Cedar Falls | 3-1 |
9 | 3 | North Scott | 5-1 |
10 | NR | Ankeny | 6-1 |