Iowa high school boys’ basketball rankings: Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Decorah finish atop Class 4A, 3A

CEDAR RAPIDS — Funny how things work sometimes.

The same two boys’ basketball teams that began this season top ranked in Class 3A and Class 4A by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, ended top ranked.

Of course, how Decorah and Cedar Rapids Kennedy got to those No. 1 spots here at the conclusion of the regular season was quite different. The IHSAA’s final 3A-4A poll was released Monday afternoon.

Decorah (19-2) was the top-ranked 3A team in the first poll way back in late December, lost to Waverly-Shell Rock by 27 points and dropped to fifth. The Vikings stayed in that position until working their way back toward the top.

They were No. 2 last week, but No. 1 Clear Lake (20-1) lost its regular-season finale to Nevada to open things up for Decorah. Clear Lake fell to fourth, behind Waverly-Shell Rock (second) and Adel ADM (third).

Marion (16-5) stayed sixth, directly behind Solon (20-1). MOC-Floyd Valley, Winterset, Davenport Assumption and Nevada round out the top 10.

All Class 3A teams around the state kicked off their respective postseasons Monday night with substate first-round games.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (21-0), meanwhile started and stayed No. 1 in Class 4A. For good reason.

The Cougars sailed through the regular season, beating opponents by an average of 36.7 points per game. Kennedy finished unbeaten at 20-0 last regular season but was upset in the first round of the state tournament.

This Kennedy team beat half of the final top 10 in 4A this season. That includes second-ranked West Des Moines Valley (16-5), which inched up a spot from last week.

So did third-ranked Sioux City East, fourth-ranked Cedar Falls, fifth-ranked Waukee and sixth-ranked Dubuque Senior. That’s because Senior soundly beat Iowa City West, last week’s No. 2, 59-41 this past Friday night.

West (18-3) fell from second to seventh. Ankeny, Pleasant Valley and Ankeny Centennial round out the top 10.

First-round substate games in 4A are Monday night, with all of the top 10 and six other teams receiving first-round games. Substate semifinals in 3A are Thursday night, in 4A are Friday night.

Class 1A and 2A are in the district final phase of the postseason. Those games are Tuesday night, with substate finals Saturday night.

Those final rankings were released a week ago. The only member of the 1A or 2A top 10 not to make it to a district final was 2A No. 7 Monticello, which was upset in a district semifinal last week by Dyersville Beckman.

Here is the entire final 3A-4A poll, with team record and last week’s ranking in parentheses.

Class 4A boys’ basketball rankings

1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 21-0 (1)

2. West Des Moines Valley 16-5 (3)

3. Sioux City East 20-2 (4)

4. Cedar Falls 18-3 (5)

5. Waukee 15-7 (6)

6. Dubuque Senior 19-2 (7)

7. Iowa City West 18-3 (2)

8. Ankeny 15-6 (8)

9. Pleasant Valley 16-5 (9)

10. Ankeny Centennial 16-6 (10)

Class 3A boys’ basketball rankings

1. Decorah 19-2 (2)

2. Waverly-Shell Rock 17-3 (3)

3. Adel ADM 18-3 (4)

4. Clear Lake 20-1 (1)

5. Solon 20-1 (5)

6. Marion 16-5 (6)

7. MOC-Floyd Valley 18-3 (8)

8. Winterset 13-9 (7)

9. Davenport Assumption 13-8 (9)

10. Nevada 18-4 (NR)

Dropped out: Pella

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com