Iowa high school boys basketball Top 25 (12/13/2023)
The first two weeks of the boys basketball season have produced surprises and a lot of movement in the rankings, including the top-ranked and defending Class 4A state champion West Des Moines Valley.
Seven teams dropped out of our all-class Top 25: Algona (previously 13), Ames (17), Waverly-Shell Rock (18), defending 2A champion Central Lyon (20), Clarke (22), Charles City (23) and defending 3A champion Bondurant-Farrar (25).
1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (2-0)
The Cougars move into the top spot with two blowout victories to start the season.
2. Linn-Mar (3-0)
The Lions have maybe the three best wins in the state (Bettendorf, Waukee, Cedar Rapids Xavier) behind all-stater Davis Kern. They have a top 5 matchup Friday vs. fourth-ranked Iowa City West.
3. North Scott (3-0)
The Lancers are off to a nice start and have four players averaging double figures.
4. Iowa City West (3-0)
The unbeaten Trojans, who also have four players scoring in double digits, have a big game Friday at second-ranked Linn-Mar.
5. Ankeny Centennial (3-1)
The Jaguars own a victory over the defending champions West Des Moines Valley but lost by 15 to West Des Moines Dowling.
6. West Des Moines Valley (3-1)
The defending 4A champions, who are playing without the MVP of the state tournament, Zay Robinson, who was injured during football season, fall five spots after single-digit wins over West Des Moines Dowling and Urbandale and a loss to Ankeny Centennial.
7. Williamsburg (2-0)
Hawkeye football recruit Derek Weisskopf is averaging 31 points for the unbeaten Raiders.
8. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (3-0)
The Lynx haven’t been tested yet with three blowout victories. They face an unbeaten Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson squad Friday.
9. Bishop Heelan (4-0)
The unbeaten Crusaders have three blowout wins and a 69-65 victory over city rival Sioux City East as Matt Noll is averaging 23.3 points per game.
10. Waukee (4-1)
The Warriors’ only blemish is a 61-59 loss to No. 2 Linn-Mar.
11. Bettendorf (2-1)
The Bulldogs lost their season opener to Linn-Mar but posted a big 61-42 victory over rival Pleasant Valley.
12. Norwalk (3-1)
The Warriors bounced back with three straight wins after losing their season opener to Ballard.
13. Pleasant Valley (1-1)
The Spartans lost 62-41 to Quad Cities rival Bettendorf.
14. Cedar Falls (2-0)
The Tigers, who beat both Waterloo directional schools, will find out a lot this week as they have road games in Cedar Rapids against top-ranked Kennedy and No. 19 Xavier Catholic.
15. Dallas Center-Grimes (4-0)
The Mustangs are off to a perfect start and will likely be 5-0 heading into Friday’s game at Johnston.
16. Clear Lake (4-0)
The unbeaten Lions got a big win over previously 18th ranked Waverly-Shell Rock
17. Ankeny (3-1)
The Hawks have won three straight after losing the opener to Waukee.
18. Johnston (3-2)
Des Moines Lincoln transfer Trovary Cavil averages 16 points for the Dragons, who have a difficult schedule on the horizon with games against No. 5 Centennial and No. 6 Valley this week and No. 15 Dallas Center-Grimes and No. 10 Waukee next week.
19. Xavier Catholic (3-1)
The Saints own wins over previously ranked Charles City and Waverly-Shell Rock, and their only loss was 62-59 to Linn-Mar, which is ranked No. 2
20. West Lyon (5-0)
The Wildcats are off to a strong start, which includes a 63-44 win over MOC-Floyd Valley, which beat defending state champion Central Lyon.
21. Waukee Northwest (2-3)
The Wolves have a losing record, but the losses came to Johnston, Valley and Waukee.
22. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson (5-0)
The Yellow Jackets are off to a surprising 5-0 start. They face Sioux City East and unbeaten CB Abe Lincoln this week.
23. Carroll (4-0)
The unbeaten Tigers own a couple of impressive one-point wins over state tournament teams Kuemper and North Polk.
24. Pella Christian (3-1)
The Eagles only loss was to Norwalk 54-46.
25. Carroll Kuemper Catholic (4-1)
The Knights have won four consecutive games since losing their season opener on a buzzer-beater to unbeaten Carroll.
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