Latest KBCA Rankings December 15th -- click here

The basketball season has heated up with teams across the state at least having a pair of games under their belts and some having a few more before Christmas break and many area teams have found success on the court early this season and 18 of them are ranked in the latest KBCA rankings.

Seventeen of the area teams ranked remained ranked this week but did see some movement, while one fell out of the rankings but another jumped into the latest rankings.

On the boys side in Class 4A-Division II the Holton Wildcat boys have started the season strong behind a 3-0 start with wins over Wamego, Hayden and Royal Valley to start the year. Wildcats have steadily moved up the Class 4A-Division II polls moving up one spot to number three this week. Fellow Big Seven team in the Jeff West Tigers remained ranked eighth after suffering a tough 61-60 double overtime loss to Jefferson County North recently to move to 1-1 on the season.

For the girls in Class 4A-DII the Santa Fe Trail Chargers started the season ranked number one and have remained number one after a 2-0 start to the year beating Perry Lecompton, 44-27 recently. While the Holton Wildcat girls opened the season with tough losses to Wamego and Hayden, both ranked teams in Class 4A-DI; the Wildcats answered recently with their first win of the season by beating Royal Valley 49-42 in overtime. The win extended Holton's Big Seven league winning streak to 113 straight league wins and put them at 1-2 on the season. Holton remained number seven in the latest polls.

Class 3A continues to feature three area teams between the boys and girls polls. On the boys side the Nemaha Valley Raiders who have enjoyed plenty of success of the years continue to enjoy success this season with a 3-0 start to the year beating Wamego 70-68 and Riverside 65-47 both on the road in their last two games, after beating Hanover at home to open the season. The Raiders were steadfast in their ranking this week remaining at number four.

On the girls side both Sabetha and Marysville remained ranked but the Bluejays moved down the poll and Marysville up. Sabetha after opening the season with a loss to Marysville responded in their last game to move to 1-1 on the season after a 33-27 road win over ACCHS; Bluejays fell down four spots to number seven in the latest poll. Bulldogs of Marysville continued a strong start to the season for themselves moving to 3-0 on the year staving off Clay Center in their latest game to grab a 45-42 win. The 3-0 start to the year has Marysville ranked sixth in the new poll, moving up four spots.

Class 2A features the new area team to the KBCA rankings and that is the Jackson Height boys who are 4-0 on the season after going 3-0 at the St. Mary's Duals last week beating Mission Valley, Onaga and St. Mary's. The Cobras opened the season with a win at home against Wetmore and jump into the rankings this week at number nine in 2A.

On the girls side in 2A the Jefferson County North Chargers and Washington County Tigers continue to be ranked and both stood fast in their respective rankings at number three and eight, respectively. For the Chargers they moved to 3-0 on the season after beating Jeff West 56-20, it was the Chargers second win over a 4A team this season. Washington County eeked out a win on the road against B&B to remain unbeaten on the season, as they sit at 5-0 on the year.

Class 1A-Division I continues to be the classification that features the most area teams boys and girls combined with five teams ranked.

Both the Valley Heights Mustangs boys and girls are off to 3-0 starts this season easily dispatching St. Xavier and Flint Hills Christian in their last two games. The lady Mustangs remained ranked third this week, while the boys remained ranked second in the polls.

On the girls side despite falling in their last game the Linn Bulldogs remained ranked in the latest poll, but fell four spots down to number eight, with their 2-1 record, coming off a loss to Axtell in their last game.

Joining the Valley Heights boys in the rankings is both the Centralia Panthers and Hanover Wildcats who each remained ranked this week. Centralia remained ranked third after moving to 1-1 last week with a thrilling overtime win over Axtell, 54-52. Hanover after opening the season 0-2, has won its last two games to move to 2-2 on the year beating Troy 52-47 and Washington County 53-37, but fell two spots in the polls to number 10.

Class 1A-Division II continues to have three area teams ranked with both B&B boys and girls ranked and Axtell boys, too. The Falcon boys jumped up one spot to number three in the latest polls after a 2-0 start to the season beating Doniphan West and Washington County for a pair of TVL wins, while the B&B girls opened the season with a win over Doniphan West but stumbled in their latest game against Washington County moving to 1-1 on the season but remain ranked third.

The Axtell boys opened the season number one but have fallen to number eight after a 1-4 start this season, although all four of their loss have been by six points or less on the year as they Eagles could easily be undefeated if the ball bounce a few different ways.

A few more games loom before the Christmas break for teams and then a break for the holidays and back to action after the first of the year, when teams will look to implement their tweaks from the holiday break in the game plan.