Iowa high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (12/28/2023)
There wasn’t much movement in our all-class Iowa boys high school basketball rankings as Cedar Rapids Kennedy remains on top. Dubuque Senior was the week’s biggest mover after posting a huge win over previous second-ranked Linn-Mar. Two teams fell out of the rankings after disappointing losses, and a Class 4A and 2A school move in.
1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-0)
The undefeated Cougars remain on top after beatdown victories over Iowa City Liberty by 29 and Cedar Rapids Washington by 42. They will be tested with back-to-back games against No. 5 Waukee and No. 2 Linn-Mar after the holiday break.
2. North Scott (7-1)
The Lancers move up a spot after beating 15th-ranked Bettendorf by 15 and Muscatine by 14.
3. West Des Moines Valley (6-1)
The Tigers, who move up a position, picked up a 68-55 win over Southeast Polk and will have three challenging road games coming out of the holiday break at Waukee, Linn-Mar and Waukee Northwest.
4. Dubuque Senior (7-0)
The unbeaten Rams are coming off a statement win over previous No. 2 Linn-Mar and a 14-point victory over Wahlert Catholic. They catapult up our rankings 15 spots after debuting last week at No. 19.
5. Linn-Mar (6-1)
The Lions drop three spots after falling 69-66 to Dubuque Senior before beating Waterloo West by 12. They have a gauntlet of ranked teams -- Cedar Falls, West Des Moines Valley and Cedar Rapids Kennedy coming out of the holiday break.
6. Iowa City West (6-1)
The Trojans blew out Cedar Rapids Jefferson by 25 and rival Iowa City High by 11. Their next three games are against quality Catholic schools – Davenport Assumption, Cedar Rapids Xavier and West Des Moines Dowling. They hold steady at No. 6.
7. Ankeny Centennial (6-2)
The Jaguars jump three positions after a 64-52 victory over city rival Ankeny and then blew out Des Moines Hoover 75-38. They face Waukee Northwest after the break.
8. Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln (7-1)
The Lynx, who improve two positions, flexed their muscle in a 64-31 trouncing of Warrensburg, Mo., and then blasted Shawnee Mission Bishop Miege, Kan., 86-64 in the Twelve Courts of Christmas Classic at the Old Kemper Arena in Kansas City. Bishop Miege has won seven state championships, including back-to-back in 2021-22.
9. Waukee (7-2)
The Warriors lost a 70-69 heartbreaker to Des Moines Roosevelt, which debuts in this week’s rankings, before posting a 53-49 victory over Johnston. They fall four spots.
10. Ankeny (6-2)
The Hawks saw their six-game win streak end with a 64-52 loss at city rival Ankeny Centennial, dropping two spots. Their next game is vs Urbandale.
11. Cedar Falls (4-1)
The Tigers move up a slot after getting past Western Dubuque 60-56. They have matchups vs. Waterloo East and Linn-Mar after the holiday break.
12. Norwalk (7-2)
The 4A Warriors blew out Des Moines Lincoln and edged Dallas Center-Grimes 55-52 before the holiday break to move up a spot.
13. Clear Lake (7-0)
The 3A Lions move up three positions after posting an impressive 67-54 win over state tournament team Algona and a 53-42 victory over Charles City. They’ll be tested after the holiday break with a game against 8-1 Nevada.
14. West Lyon (10-0)
The 2A Wildcats remain unbeaten with blowout victories over Sioux Center by 26 and Sibley-Ocheyedan by 66. West Lyon, which has a winning margin of 29.8, moves up three spots.
15. Carroll Kuemper Catholic (8-1)
The 2A Knights blew out Council Bluffs St. Albert 101-51 and Kingsley-Pierson 74-55 and are riding an 8-game winning streak. Their only loss was a 56-55 heartbreaker at the buzzer to city foe Carroll in the season opener. They move up three positions.
16. Decorah (8-0)
The 3A Vikings ascend six spots and remained unbeaten with a pair of double-digit victories over Waukon and previously undefeated No. 24 Hudson, which falls out of our rankings. They’ll be tested after the break with games vs. Waverly-Shell Rock and Charles City.
17. Pleasant Valley (4-3)
The Spartans picked up a 62-58 win over Davenport Assumption and a 52-51 win over Davenport Central before the holidays to move up three positions.
18. Dallas Center-Grimes (5-2)
The previously unbeaten Mustangs lost their first games of the season, falling to Johnston by 4 and Norwalk by 3 and drop seven spots.
19. Bishop Heelan (6-2)
The 3A Crusaders fall five spots but stopped their two-game losing skid with a 69-41 beatdown of Sioux City West.
20. Bettendorf (5-3)
The Bulldogs, who drop five positions, were bounced 64-59 by North Scott but responded with an 83-49 victory over Clinton. They face Davenport Assumption and Ankeny after the holiday break.
21. Xavier Catholic (5-3)
The 3A Saints split a pair before the holiday break, losing by 5 to Cedar Rapids Washington and then getting past Iowa City Liberty by 2 to remain at No. 21.
22. Williamsburg (5-0)
The 3A Raiders fall 15 spots after losing 61-57 to Grinnell.
23. Marquette Catholic (9-0)
Marquette is undefeated after a couple double digit wins over Aplington-Parkersburg and Calamus-Wheatland. It moves up two spots.
24. Des Moines Roosevelt (5-2)
The Rough Riders move into our all-class rankings after an impressive 70-69 victory over previous No. 5 Waukee.
25. Roland-Story (8-0)
A class 2A state semifinalist last season, the Norsemen are off to a perfect start, which includes a 76-67 victory over previous unbeaten Nevada. They make their debut in our all-class rankings.
--Chris Short I @SBLiveIA
