Two Teams Make Big Moves in the WyoPreps Boys Basketball Rankings
There is slightly more movement in the fifth edition of the WyoPreps.com Coaches and Media Boys Basketball Poll.
For the first time in a few weeks, there is a new No. 1 ranked team. There is change is three of the four classes, but only one new team breaks into a top five.
In Class 4A, Cheyenne Central continues its hold on the top position with 18 of the 20 first-place votes. This is the fourth consecutive poll that the Indians are atop the big school division. Cheyenne East is the biggest mover in this week’s rankings. The Thunderbirds were 4-0 at last weekend’s Taco John’s Invitational, which included wins over previous No. 2 Sheridan and Alliance, NE, who is 10-3 on the season and rated fifth in Nebraska’s Class B by points. Thunder Basin was off last weekend and the Bolts remain third. The Broncs drop to fourth. They face a tough road game at Kelly Walsh on Thursday night. Laramie falls one spot to fifth and barely stayed in the top five thanks to three more points in the balloting. The rest of the top five is closing out non-conference or non-region play this weekend.
The new No. 1 is in Class 3A where undefeated Worland takes over the top spot. The Warriors went 3-0 at last weekend’s Winter Classic in Pinedale. That included a victory over No. 4 Mountain View by 10 points. After suffering their first two losses of the season, to 4A Cheyenne East and 2A Pine Bluffs, the Lander Tigers fall to second in the 3A poll. Wheatland has a firm hold on No. 3. The Buffaloes of Mountain View hold in the fourth position, while the new team in the top five is Rawlins at No. 5. The Outlaws host 4A No. 5 Laramie on Friday night. Worland is part of the Big Horn Basin Classic this weekend, while Lander is off, and the other teams close out non-league action.
In Class 2A, it’s the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies who stay at No. 1 for the fourth straight poll. Pine Bluffs jumps up three spots to second. The Hornets knocked off 3A No. 1 Lander and barely lost to 4A Rock Springs at last week’s Taco John’s Invitational. Wyoming Indian falls to third. The Chiefs are followed by Southeast and Sundance at fourth and fifth, respectively. The Grizzlies and Chiefs are part of the Big Horn Basin Classic this weekend that features teams from Class 3A, 2A, and 1A.
The only division that kept its rankings from the previous week is Class 1A, and this is for the third consecutive week. Encampment remains No. 1 with all but one first-place vote. Upton holds in second, while for the third straight poll Saratoga and St. Stephens are tied for third. Both those teams received votes from second through fifth in the balloting. Little Snake River maintains the No. 5 spot. The Rattlers will get their chance at the top-ranked Tigers on Saturday. Meanwhile, Upton and St. Stephens are part of tournament play this weekend. The Bobcats play in South Dakota, while the Eagles are in the Big Horn Basin Classic.
Here is this week’s voting breakdown:
WyoPreps.com polls coaches and media from across the state each week during the basketball season. These rankings are not associated with the Wyoming High School Activities Association or its member schools. The poll is conducted for fun and has no bearing on any game or post-season seeding.
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