Iowa high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (2/26/2024)
The top 10 teams remain the same in our all-class Top 25, but there were some surprises that sent strong teams home early in postseason play.
1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (22-0)
The unbeaten Cougars crushed Waterloo East 91-42 to advance to Tuesday’s substate tilt vs. North Scott at Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
2. Sioux City East (21-2)
The Black Raiders survived a scare from Des Moines North 73-68 and will face a difficult test Tuesday from Johnston in a substate game at Fort Dodge.
3. Cedar Falls (19-3)
The Tigers routed Ottumwa by 51 and will play for a trip to the state tournament Tuesday in Marshalltown vs. Waukee Northwest, which climbs back into our rankings.
4. Dubuque Senior (20-2)
The Rams cruised past Davenport Central 76-54 and will now square off against Pleasant Valley on Tuesday at Dubuque Hempstead.
5. West Des Moines Valley (17-5)
The defending Class 4A champions pulled away from Urbandale 77-46 and will square off against Norwalk for a trip to the state tournament Tuesday at Des Moines Lincoln.
6. Iowa City West (19-3)
The Trojans pounded Davenport North by 40 and will face upstart Bettendorf in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday at Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids.
7. Dallas Center-Grimes (19-3)
The Mustangs hammered previously ranked Council Bluffs Lincoln 72-45 and will square off against Waukee in a battle of top 10 teams Tuesday at Indianola.
8. Waukee (16-7)
The Warriors advanced with a 81-49 blowout win over Southeast Polk and will face Dallas Center-Grimes Tuesday at Indianola.
9. Pleasant Valley (17-5)
The Spartans thumped Cedar Rapids Prairie 61-34 and will now try to upset Dubuque Senior on Tuesday at Dubuque Hempstead for a trip to state.
10. Ankeny Centennial (17-6)
The Jaguars held off previously ranked Des Moines Roosevelt 60-53 and now face crosstown rival Ankeny at Southeast Polk on Tuesday for a trip to the state tournament.
11. Ankeny (16-6)
The Hawks blasted Iowa City Liberty 73-55 and will take on city rival Centennial on Tuesday at Southwest Polk.
12. Norwalk (18-5)
The Warriors play the defending 4A state champions West Des Moines Valley at Des Moines Lincoln on Tuesday for a trip to the Well.
13. Clear Lake (22-1)
The 3A Lions advanced to substate with a 72-51 win over North Polk and will take on Ballard on Monday at Clarion for a trip to the state tournament.
14. ADM Adel (20-3)
The 3A Tigers’ got past Carroll 52-45 to advance to Monday’s substate final vs. defending 3A champion Bondurant-Farrar at Waukee.
Linn (23-1)
The 1A Lynx advanced to state with a 74-59 win over West Fork. They’ll vie for their seventh straight championship game with a pair of victories in Des Moines.
16. North Scott (16-6)
The Lancers beat Linn-Mar by 14 at the Pit but will now try to pull off the upset of the year in Class 4A when they take on top-ranked Kennedy at the Alliant Energy Power House in the second half of a doubleheader Tuesday.
17. Bettendorf (16-6)
The Bulldogs upended previously ranked Davenport West 76-56 and will now try to upset Iowa City West for a trip to state.
18. Waverly-Shell Rock (19-3)
The 3A Go-Hawks advanced to tonight’s substate vs. Grinnell at Marshalltown with an 80-73 win over Gilbert.
19. Hull Western Christian (20-3)
The defending Class 2A state runner-up qualified for another state tournament with a 62-55 win over Estherville Lincoln Central. They’ll be shooting for their state-best 11th state tournament next week.
20. Waukee Northwest (15-8)
The Wolves aim to upset one of the hottest teams in the state when they face Cedar Falls on Tuesday at Marshalltown. They pulled out a 48-44 victory over West Des Moines Dowling Catholic in the second round.
21. Decorah (21-2)
The Vikings, who are ranked No. 1 by the IHSAA, play Charles City for a trip to the 3A state tournament Monday at Cresco. They rolled past Dubuque Wahlert Catholic 69-56 in the second round.
22. Hudson (21-2)
The Pirates’ only losses this season have come to the IHSAA’s top ranked team in 3A (Decorah) and 4A (Kennedy). They cruised to the 2A state tournament for the first time in 30 years with wins by 49 over Sumner-Fredericksburg, 26 over 17-6 Jesup and a 70-33 beatdown of 21-4 North Fayette Valley at substate.
23. Marion (18-5)
The Wolves won the most exciting game of the postseason with a 97-95 victory over Maquoketa in four overtimes. They face Davenport Assumption Catholic for a trip to the state tournament Monday at Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids.
24. West Lyon (22-2)
The 2A Wildcats saw their outstanding season end with a 55-50 loss to Unity Christian – the second time they fell to the Knights this season. West Lyon tumbles all the way from 11th.
25. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson (18-4)
The 4A Yellowjackets’ fabulous season came to an end with a 69-52 loss to Norwalk. They tumble from 17th to the final spot in our all-class rankings.
--Chris Short | @SBLiveIA
