Iowa high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (12/18/2023)
The top three teams remain the same in this week’s all-class Iowa boys high school Top 25 rankings, but there was plenty of movement.
Dubuque Senior, Des Moines North, Decorah, Hudson and Marquette Catholic debut in the rankings, while Johnston, Waukee Northwest, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, Carroll and Pella Christian fall out after suffering losses last week.
1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (4-0)
The Cougars got past 14th ranked Cedar Falls and pounded Prairie by 42 to remain on top of the rankings.
2. Linn-Mar (5-0)
The Lions beat Cedar Rapids Prairie and earned a double digit win over No. 4 Iowa City West last week and remain in the 2 hole.
3. North Scott (5-1)
The Lancers remain third after getting wins over Davenport Central and No. 13 Pleasant Valley before falling to Moline.
4. West Des Moines Valley (5-1)
The defending 4A champions move up two spots after routing No. 18 Johnston 81-49 and No. 12 Norwalk by 10.
5. Waukee (6-1)
The Warriors have won four straight games after falling to unbeaten Linn-Mar, including wins over Urbandale and fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial last week. They shoot up five spots.
6. Iowa City West (4-1)
The Trojans rolled past Dubuque Wahlert but fell by double digits to Linn-Mar. They drop two positions.
7. Williamsburg (5-0)
The 3A Raiders posted single-digit victories over Center Point-Urbana, Benton and Washington last week to remain No. 7.
8. Ankeny (6-1)
The Hawks are flying high on a six-game win streak after posting wins over Indianola, Waukee Northwest and Dowling last week. They are the biggest mover of the week, soaring nine spots.
9. Ankeny Centennial (4-2)
The Jaguars pounded 18th-ranked Johnston before falling to No. 10 Waukee by 19. They fall four positions.
10. Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln (5-1)
The Lynx fall two spots after they blew out LeMars and No. 22 Council Bluffs Jefferson before but lost to a good Omaha Central team.
11. Dallas Center-Grimes (5-0)
The 4A Mustangs move up four spots after cruising past Newton and Oskaloosa to remain unbeaten. They face previously ranked Johnston and No. 13 Norwalk before the holiday break.
12. Cedar Falls (3-1)
The Tigers move up two positions after battling top-ranked Kennedy to a 51-47 loss and then beat 19th-ranked Xavier Catholic 69-53.
13. Norwalk (5-2)
The 4A Warriors fall a spot after a 2-1 week where they posted a 71-47 victory over Lewis Central, blew out Indianola but fell to No. 6 Valley.
14. Bishop Heelan (5-2)
The 3A Crusaders fall five spots after a 1-2 week where they beat Sergeant Bluff-Luton but lost to defending 2A state runner-up Western Christian and an unbeaten Caledonia, Minn., squad.
15. Bettendorf (4-2)
The Bulldogs, who fall four spots, rolled past Central DeWitt and Davenport Central but lost to a good Sterling, Ill., team.
16. Clear Lake (5-0)
The 3A Lions stay in the same position after posting a 69-33 win over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows.
17. West Lyon (8-0)
The 2A Wildcats shoot up three positions after posting impressive victories over defending 2A state champion Central Lyon, Remsen-St. Mary’s – a Class 1A state semifinalist last season – and Boyden Hull.
18. Carroll Kuemper Catholic (6-1)
The 2A Knights blew out 3A Atlantic and Greene County to move up seven spots. Three Kuemper players average double figures and four more average 8+ points per game.
19. Dubuque Senior (5-0)
The Rams debut after posting a pair of impressive wins over Iowa City High and Western Dubuque last week. They’ll find out a lot about themselves Tuesday when they play host to No. 2 Linn-Mar.
20. Pleasant Valley (2-2)
The Spartans plummet seven spots after they snuck past Davenport West 51-49 and lost by 14 to third-ranked North Scott.
21. Xavier Catholic (4-2)
The 3A Saints fall two spots after a 1-2 week. They battled No. 2 and unbeaten Linn-Mar before succumbing 62-59, beat Dubuque Hempstead and then lost to No. 14 Cedar Falls.
22. Decorah (6-0)
The 3A Vikings, known more as a football school, debut in the rankings. They scored 95 and 109 last week as they combined to beat Crestwood and New Hampton by a combined 125 points.
23. Des Moines North (5-2)
The Polar Bears debut after beating Ottumwa and Des Moines Lincoln. They did lose to Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day (Mo.), which went 23-7 last season.
24. Hudson (7-0)
The unbeaten 2A Pirates, who own six wins vs. teams with winning records, including a win over Aplington-Parkersburg, move into the rankings. They will be tested against undefeated No. 23 Decorah on Friday.
25. Marquette Catholic (8-0)
Marquette owns wins over Class 4A Waterloo East and a good Aplington-Parkersburg to be the only Class 1A team to make the rankings.
