IHSAA releases weekly boys’ basketball poll and postseason brackets for Class 3A and 4A

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa High School Athletic Association dropped both their weekly boys’ basketball rankings and postseason brackets for Class 3A and 4A Monday.

The top eight ranked teams in 3A and 4A received No. 1 seeds in their respective substates. They were the same 16 teams that were ranked in the top eight last week.

Cedar Falls (17-2) is top ranked in Class 4A and was placed in a substate in which Davenport Central is the No. 2 seed and Iowa City West the third seed.

Linn-Mar (17-2) moved up a spot from third to second this week in the rankings. The Lions, on an 11-game win streak, were placed in a substate in which West Des Moines Dowling is the second seed and Cedar Rapids Washington the sixth.

Two-time defending champion West Des Moines Valley (15-3) dropped from second to third after getting blown out last week by Johnston. Waukee Northwest (16-3) remained at No. 4, with Cedar Rapids Kennedy (16-4) moving up a spot to fifth, switching places with Dubuque Senior (15-3).

Cedar Rapids Prairie (16-4) remained at No. 10.

Kennedy is in a substate that also includes Muscatine (second seed), Davenport North (third seed) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson (fifth seed). Prairie is the No. 2 seed in its substate, behind Senior.

The top two seeds in each substate get first-round byes, not playing until Friday, Feb. 28. First-round games are played Monday, Feb. 24.

Decorah (18-1) stayed second ranked in this week’s Class 3A poll. The Vikings are the top seed in a tough substate that includes second-seeded Cedar Rapids Xavier and third-seeded Dubuque Wahlert.

Xavier (12-7) fell out of the rankings this week after losing decidedly last week to Iowa City West.

Clear Lake (19-0) again is the No. 1 team in this week’s 3A poll. Knoxville, Huxley Ballard and Storm Lake are third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Solon is the second seed in a substate that includes Clear Lake. Mount Vernon is second seeded in a substate that includes Knoxville.

CCA is the second seed in a substate with Waverly-Shell Rock. Marion is the No. 5 seed.

First-round substate games are Monday, Feb. 24, with every team playing. Second-rounders are Thursday, Feb. 27.

In a twist this season, the team with the higher seed in substate finals in 3A and 4A will host those games. Previously they were played at neutral sites.

Brackets for 3A substates can be found HERE, with 4A substate brackets found HERE.

Here are this week’s IHSAA rankings for all classes. Last week’s ranking is in parentheses.

Class 4A

Class 3A

Class 2A

Class 1A

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