The weather is getting colder outside and the falls sports are all particular in the books that means it’s time to hear the sneakers squeak and the bounce of the balls on the hardwood. It's basketball season and many Kanzaland area teams start off the year ranked in the preseason Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) rankings.

After a successful basketball season last year that saw nine Kanzaland area teams make the playoffs in their classifications and this season looks to have the possibility of something similar happening.

All the teams ranked to start this season all enjoyed success in some facet last season and are expected to have the chance to do the same this year, but some new teams in the Kanzaland area could surprise, too.

In the boy’s rankings, we start in Class 4A were the Holton Wildcats who finished off last season 19-4 check into the start the season at number eight in the top 10. Wildcats lost five seniors but return a pair of All-Leaguer's and have plenty other athletic guys that will play key parts.

Class 3A rankings for the boys feature, Nemaha Valley who returns almost everyone from a team that made the state championship game last and came up a little short against Scott City who starts the season preseason ranked number. For the Raiders, they will have a stacked roster full of playmakers and depth; seniors, Trent Olberding and Creighton Brinker will lead the way on the floor for the Raiders. Last season Nemaha Valley rattled of a 23-3 record and look to duplicate that if not better it this season.

The Jefferson County North Chargers finished last season 21-3 and made the Class 2A playoffs. The Chargers start the season off ranked sixth in Class 2A preseason poll, as the Chargers do only return three of their top eight players, but will a couple All-League players.

Class 1A-Division I, its two Twin Valley League teams in the preseason rankings in the Centralia Panthers and the Hanover Wildcats. Centralia last season finished off with an 18-7 record and losses some key players this season but brings back a few playmakers and a multitude of athleticism from a playoff team last year, as the Panthers start the season ranked fourth. For the Wildcats they start the season ranked sixth after a 18-4 record last season, losing to Centralia in the sub-state finals last season.

In Class 1A-Division II the defending state champs start the season ranked second, that being the Frankfort Wildcats who finished last season 22-5 and captured the state title. Wildcats return their entire backcourt but will have to replace a good portion of their offense as they two main post players have graduated. The B&B Falcons also start the season off preseason ranked checking in at number four. Like the Falcons football team a lot of offense has graduated from a 16-7 team but plenty of athleticism and playmakers return to give the Falcons plenty of firing power.

Just like on the boys side of the preseason high school basketball rankings seven Kanzaland area girls teams start the season ranked by the KBCA.

In Class 4A just like their counters the Holton Wildcats girls start the season ranked checking in at number three after a 25-1 season last year, falling in the state title game last season. Five seniors are gone but eight letterwinners return for the Wildcats has Coach, Jon Holliday will have the Lady Wildcats atop the Big Seven yet again.

ACCHS Lady Tigers enjoyed a fourth place finish last season at state in Class 3A with a 23-3 record and start this season off ranked eighth in Class 3A. The Lady Tigers were excepted to excel last season and they did, but seven seniors are gone and only one starter returns but have a JV squad that went 19-1 last season that should provide the Tigers will an injection of youth.

Class 2A the top two spots belong to Kanzaland area teams as the defending state champs, Jefferson County North starts the season number one and Washington County Tigers follow at number two. JCN finished last year 25-1 and captured the state title, but loss five seniors this season but come in as league favorites and a team to threaten for state playoffs yet again with some different players stepping up as few key players do return. For, Washington County they return a stacked roster that dominated the TVL last season as the Tigers were unbeaten until a loss in sub-state which was their only loss this season, finishing 21-1 last year.

In Class 1A-Division I the Centralia Lady Panthers made the playoffs last season with a 15-10 record and start off this season ranked sixth in the preseason polls. Lady Panthers loss of couple key seniors but return a great core of players this season that will make them greatly competitive for another playoff spot.

Lastly, in Class 1A-Division II the Wetmore Lady Cardinals and Lady Falcons of B&B start the season ranked third and fourth by KBCA. Wetmore last season finished with a 22-4 record and fourth place finish at state, but see the graduation of four key seniors, though they do bring back a pair of key players in Alyana Noe and Dana Kramer. For the Lady Falcons of B&B they were one win away from last season and this year they are stacked with plenty of returners including great junior class, from a 19-4 team last year when they were sophomores.

In total 14 Kanzaland area teams start the season ranked in the KBCA preseason polls and this basketball season looks to be potentially one great one for many Kanzaland area teams.

Full list of the rankings (see below):

Boys

Class 4A

1. Ottawa
2. Highland Park
3. Abilene
4. Coffeyville
5. KC Sumner
6. Wichita Collegiate
7. Basehor Linwood
8. Holton
9. Topeka Hayden
10. McPherson

Class 3A

1. Scott City
2. Beloit
3. Nemaha Valley
4. Hillsboro
5. Central Heights
6. Conway Springs
7. Hosington
8. Sacred Heart-Salina
9. Pitt-St. Mary’s Colgan
10. Rock Creek

Class 2A

1. Sterling
2. Meade
3. Lyndon
4. Ness City
5. Berean Academy
6. Jeff County North
7. Republic County
8. Moundridge
9. Oxford
10. Bennington

Class 1A Div. I

1. South Haven
2. Udall
3. St. John
4. Centralia
5. Pretty Prairie
6. Hanover
7. Olpe
8. Waverly
9. LaCrosse
10. Hoxie

Class 1A Div. II

1. Fowler
2. Frankfort
3. Wallace County
4. Baileyville-B&B
5. Otis-Bison
6. South Barber
7. Greely County
8. Hope
9. Dighton
10. Colony-Crest

Girls

Class 4A

1. McPherson
2. Wamego
3. Holton
4. Hesston
5. Colby
6. Girard
7. Buhler
8. Pratt
9. Chanute
10. Frontenac

Class 3A

1. Hillsboro
2. Burlington
3. Garden Plain
4. Holcomb
5. Haven
6. Silver Lake
7. Riley Co.
8. ACCHS – Effingham
9. Caney Valley
10. Cimarron

Class 2A

1. Jeff County North
2. Washington Co.
3. Moundridge
4. Sterling
5. Ell-Saline
6. Republic County
7. Berean Academy
8. Madison
9. Lincoln
10. Chase County

Class 1A Div. I

1. Olpe
2. Hoxie
3. Waverly
4. Dexter/Ceder Vale
5. Pike Valley
6. Centralia
7. Bucklin
8. St. John
9. Victoria
10. Centre

Class 1A Div. II

1.  Wilson  
2.  Argonia
3.  Wetmore
4.  B&B-Baileyville
5.  Wallace County
6.  Central Christian
7.  Norwich
8.  Golden Plains
9.  Weskan
10.  Hope