Full KBCA Rankings (released Dec. 7th) -- click here

The basketball season is underway in the State of Kansas and most every area team has at least one game under their belt, with some starting action this week. With the first few games of the season in the books the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association has released its latest set of rankings and 16 area teams find themselves ranked this week.

In Class 4A, all three area teams that were preseason ranked remain ranked this week but move around in the polls. The Royal Valley lady Panthers despite falling 42-38 to Jeff West to start the year 0-1, moved up in the poll to seventh, up three spots. While the Holton lady Wildcats who lost 44-30 to Sabetha to open the year, falling to 0-1 are now ranked eighth, down one spot. The Holton boys also remain in the rankings checking in at sixth, down two spots after losing to Sabetha 52-39 to open the year, 0-1.

Both Nemaha Central Thunder teams remained ranked in Class 3A this week as the Thunder girls routed Riverside 53-19 to open the year 1-0 and the boys topped Riverside 74-62 in a high scoring affair, starting the year 1-0. Both teams remained in their respective spots from the preseason polls, as the Nemaha girls check in at fourth and the boys remained at fifth this week. Joining the Nemaha Central boys this week in the 3A polls is their rival in the Sabetha Bluejays who jumps into the rankings at eighth this week after beating Holton 52-39 to start the year 1-0.

Class 2A continues to house both Washington County Tiger teams in the rankings this week as the girls remain ranked second with a 1-0 record after a 65-27 win over Clifton-Clyde and the boys are 1-0 after beating Clifton-Clyde 59-17 remain ranked eighth this week. The Jefferson County North girls also remain in the 2A rankings, as they move up one spot to ninth after beating McLouth 57-31 to start the season 1-0.

Six area teams remained ranked this week in Class 1A-Division I this week. The Hanover Wildcat boys opened the season with an 80-61 win over Axtell, starting 1-0 to the year and remain ranked number one, while the Centralia boys start the season 2-0 after a 46-45 overtime win over Valley Heights and a 56-41 win over Valley Falls, moving them up one spot to fourth this week. Valley Heights boys also remained ranked falling one spot to sixth this week, after starting 1-1 with a loss to Centralia and a 69-49 win over Riley County. The Valley Heights girls opened the year 2-0 beating Centralia 66-38 and winning 45-40 over Riley County and remain ranked second, while the Centralia girls fell to ninth in the new poll after starting the year 1-1, falling to Valley Heights and beating Valley Falls 55-36. Immaculata moved up to seventh despite opening the season with a 48-32 loss to Jackson Heights.

In Class 1A-Division II, the Axtell Eagle boys remain the only ranked team from the area as they remained at tenth this week after opening the season 1-2, falling 62-47 to Marysville and 80-61 to Hanover, but picking up a win against Lewiston 60-31.

The high school basketball season picks up in full force this week as the remaining teams that haven’t started the season open up play this week.