Preseason KBCA – Rankings

The high school basketball season is just two weeks away and with that the preseason rankings have been released by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association with 11 area team ranked to start the season.

Two area teams start the season ranked in the top 10 in Class 3A on the girls’ side as Royal Valley holds the top spot to begin the year while Nemaha Central is close behind holding the No. 2 ranking. The Panthers had a storybook season a year ago which saw them go 17-8 and make it all the way to the 3A State Championship game before falling to Garden Plain 49-39. The Thunder also made it to the state tournament last season going 21-3 before falling to Royal Valley in the first round.

On the boys’ side of the 3A rankings two more area teams find themselves ranked, as Sabetha will start the year ranked third while Maur Hill-Mount Academy will start the season 10th. The Bluejays lost just two seniors off a team that went 13-8 last season, while the Ravens last season won a school record 23 games and took fourth at the 3A State Tournament.

In Class 2A only two area teams are ranked and both on the girls side, as Valley Heights will start the season ranked third and Jefferson County North fourth. The Mustangs played some of their best basketball down the stretch last season to make the 2A State Tournament where they made it all the way to the title game before running into the juggernaut that is Central Plains. The Chargers fell one win shy of reaching the 2A State Tournament and bring back three starters from last year’s team that went 18-4.

The 1A rankings house the most area teams with three on the girls side and one on the boys. After reaching the state tournament and going 19-5  the Frankfort girls will start the season off ranked fifth, while fellow TVL opponent Centralia is right behind in sixth after an 18-4 year that saw them tie for the league crown. The Axtell Eagles are the final ranked area team on the girls’ side checking in at No. 9 to start the season after going 14-11 last year.

On the boys side of the 1A rankings just one area team will start the season in the top 10, as the Centralia Panthers start the year ranked sixth after going 16-11 last year and taking fourth at the 1A-DI State Tournament.