Wyoming High School Boys Basketball Rankings: Jan. 14, 2015

Every #1 ranked team got beat last week to start off 2015, and it just made this week's games even bigger...especially with 2 state championship rematches scheduled for Saturday, January 17th.

Of the 4, 2 retained their spots in the first coaches/media rankings of 2015.

Cheyenne East is now on top of 4A, but their lead is a small one. The Thunderbirds moved up to the top spot, by beating then #1, now #2 Kelly Walsh, but lost some of their hold on that ranking, when they turned around and got beat, by then unranked and now #5 Natrona. Gillette had the week off, and moved up to #3 ahead of now #4 Evanston, who beat the Camels a month ago. Sheridan dropped out of the rankings for the time being, but could get back in, when they host the Mustangs, this Saturday.

3A was a big mess last week as both #1 and #2 got beat. That has enabled Rawlins to move up and claim the #1 ranking for the time being. Wheatland has dropped 3 of their 4, and has dropped down to #2. #3 Douglas was the team that a lot of voters scratching their heads last week. First they lost at now #4 Glenrock, then turned around and won then #1 Wheatland. The Bearcats have another tough challenge ahead, because the Outlaws are coming to town on Friday. Meanwhile, #5 Cody took the big hit last week, dropping down 3 spots. The defending champs have a pair of teams looking to knock them out of the rankings this week. First home vs. unranked Buffalo on Friday, then on Saturday, they host the Herders in a 3A state championship rematch.

Perhaps the hottest team right now is in 2A. That would be Lyman, who took full advantage of their home court to beat last week's top 2 ranked teams. As a result the Eagles enter the rankings at #2, entering the hard part of their schedule with 6 straight games on the road. The game for them to keep an eye on is Friday at unranked Big Piney, who would love to crack the polls at the Eagles' expense. As for the rest of the rankings...Wyoming Indian retains the #1 spot, and will have a very difficult test this week. First on Friday, a rematch home vs. now #3 Wind River. That's a game where neither team wants to be 0-2 in the 2A Southwest. Then on Saturday, it a 2A state championship rematch with the Chiefs at #4 Rocky Mountain. Pine Bluffs occupies the #5 position and are the only team from the east that's ranked.

Although they got beat 3 times last week, all of #1 Burlington's losses have come against teams in bigger classes, thus the Huskies still get to keep their ranking. The top 4 is unchanged with the Huskies at #1, followed by Upton, Lingle-Ft. Laramie and Little Snake River. Cokeville moves in at #5, and hopes to move up, after they host the Rattlers on Saturday in a 1A Southwest Conference game.

Disclaimer: The polls have no official say or use on post-season positioning, and are only to be used as a measuring stick on the regular season. Please don’t read too much into the rankings.