Iowa high school boys’ basketball rankings: North Linn goes back to the top in Class 1A

CEDAR RAPIDS — Back to the top.

That’s where North Linn’s boys’ basketball team went this week. The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s rankings have the Lynx at the top spot in Class 1A, moving up from third a week ago.

A 69-60 win this past Friday night at previous No. 1 Bellevue Marquette turned the trick. North Linn (17-1) went from first to second a couple of weeks ago after a loss to Alburnett and slipped from second to third last week despite not losing.

“I saw that, and it kind of pissed me off,” said North Linn guard Mason Bechen. “We kind of came into this game (against Marquette) as the underdogs, and I think that kind of helped. I do think we deserve a No. 1 seed (in the postseason). I think we can go down to Des Moines and make a run.”

North Linn and Marquette (20-1) flip-flopped spots from a week ago, with Madrid (17-2) remaining second. Keota (19-0) stayed at No. 6, Lynnville-Sully (19-1) at No. 7 and Lansing Kee (18-2) at No. 10.

There is a new top-ranked team in Class 2A. That’s Western Christian (16-2), which went from second to first despite a 22-point loss this past Saturday night to Class 4A No. 4 Sioux City East.

West Lyon (18-1) lost its first game, to Unity Christian, last week and fell from first to third. Hudson (18-1) stayed at second.

Monticello (16-2) lost last week to Northeast but remained in the top 10 at No. 9. The Panthers were fifth a week ago.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (17-0) again is your top-ranked team in Class 4A. The Cougars have a delectable matchup Tuesday night at No. 2 Iowa City West (15-1).

Fellow Mississippi Valley Conference members Dubuque Senior and Cedar Falls inched up the 4A rankings: Senior going from seventh to fifth and CF from ninth to sixth.

In Class 3A, the top five remained identical: Clear Lake (17-0) first, Adel ADM (15-1) second, Waverly-Shell Rock (15-2) third, Solon (17-0) fourth and Decorah (16-2) fifth. Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock play Friday night at Waverly.

W-SR won the first game between the Northeast Iowa mates, 84-57.

Here is this week’s entire poll, with team record and last week’s ranking.

Class 4A

1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 17-0 (1)

2. Iowa City West 15-1 (2)

3. West Des Moines Valley 13-4 (3)

4. Sioux City East 18-2 (4)

5. Dubuque Senior 15-1 (7)

6. Cedar Falls 14-3 (9)

7. Waukee 13-6 (5)

8. Ankeny Centennial 12-5 (8)

9. Pleasant Valley 12-4 (NR)

10. Waukee Northwest 12-7 (NR)

Dropped out: North Scott, Norwalk.

Class 3A

1. Clear Lake 17-0 (1)

2. Adel ADM 15-1 (2)

3. Waverly-Shell Rock 15-2 (3)

4. Solon 17-0 (4)

5. Decorah 16-2 (5)

6. Marion 12-4 (8)

7. MOC-Floyd Valley 16-3 (9)

8. Ballard 12-5 (7)

9. Clear Creek-Amana 12-5 (NR)

10. Winterset 11-7 (NR)

Dropped out: Davenport Assumption, Council Bluffs Lewis Central.

Class 2A

1. Western Christian 16-2 (2)

2. Hudson 18-1 (3)

3. West Lyon 18-1 (1)

4. Underwood 19-0 (4)

5. Pella Christian 15-4 (7)

6. Carroll Kuemper 16-2 (6)

7. Treynor 17-2 (8)

8. West Burlington 16-0 (10)

9. Monticello 16-2 (5)

10. Grundy Center 17-2 (9)

Class 1A

1. North Linn 17-1 (3)

2. Madrid 17-2 (2)

3. Bellevue Marquette 20-1 (1)

4. Lake Mills 18-1 (5)

5. Winfield-Mount Union 15-2 (4)

6. Keota 19-0 (6)

7. Lynnville-Sully 19-1 (7)

8. North Union 18-2 (8)

9. East Mills 18-1 (9)

10. Lansing Kee 18-2 (10)

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