Gazette boys’ basketball poll: A pair of new No. 1s

CEDAR RAPIDS — North Linn and Pella Christian have stepped to the head of their classes.

They're the new Class 1A and 2A No. 1s in the latest Gazette boys' basketball poll.

North Linn (11-0) is top ranked in 1A, thanks to previous No. 1 Gladbrook-Reinbeck's 65-61 loss this past Saturday night to Class 2A Jesup. The Rebels, who dropped to second, lost despite a heroic 42-point performance from star guard Joe Smoldt.

New London (11-0) comes in third, with Ar-We-Va fourth and Remsen St. Mary's fifth.

South Hamilton's first loss of the season, 55-54 to 3A Gilbert, opened the door for Pella Christian (10-1) to become first in 2A. Western Christian, Carroll Kuemper, Cascade and Osage round out the top five.

Iowa City West and Waverly-Shell Rock remain atop Class 4A and 3A, respectively.

West (8-1) has a big week ahead, with home games Tuesday night against sixth-ranked Bettendorf on Tuesday night and Cedar Rapids Prairie on Friday night. Prairie has given the Trojans their only loss.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (8-1) remains No. 2 in 4A, with Dubuque Senior (9-1), Sioux City East (10-0) and Waukee (9-2) staying at third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Waverly-Shell Rock is 12-0, though it survived an upset bid from Dike-New Hartford this past Friday night. The Go-Hawks won that game in double-overtime, 61-59.

West Delaware (11-0) is a strong second, followed by Pella (10-1), Mount Pleasant (10-1) and Dallas Center-Grimes (9-2).

Below are the entire rankings, with last week's rating in parentheses:

CLASS 4A

1. Iowa City West 8-1 (1)

2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 8-1 (2)

3. Dubuque Senior 9-1 (3)

4. Sioux City East 10-0 (4)

5. Waukee 9-2 (5)

6. Bettendorf 9-2 (8)

7. West Des Moines Valley 8-3 (NR)

8. Cedar Falls 7-3 (6)

9. West Des Moines Dowling 8-3 (7)

10. Johnston 8-3 (NR)

CLASS 3A

1. Waverly-Shell Rock 12-0 (1)

2. West Delaware 11-0 (2)

3. Pella 10-1 (3)

4. Mount Pleasant 10-1 (5)

5. Dallas Center-Grimes 9-2 (3)

6. Charles City 9-1 (7)

7. Mount Vernon 8-2 (8)

8. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 8-4 (NR)

9. Sioux City Heelan 6-3 (9)

10. Davenport Assumption 7-4 (10)

CLASS 2A

1. Pella Christian 10-1 (2)

2. Western Christian 10-1 (4)

3. Carroll Kuemper 9-1 (3)

4. Cascade 11-0 (5)

5. Osage 12-0 (6)

6. Van Meter 11-0 (7)

7. South Hamilton 9-1 (1)

8. Garner GHV 12-1 (NR)

9. Camanche 12-1 (10)

10. Sheldon 11-1 (NR)

CLASS 1A

1. North Linn 11-0 (2)

2. Gladbrook-Reinbeck 8-1 (2)

3. New London 11-0 (3)

4. Ar-We-Va 13-0 (4)

5. Remsen St. Mary's 10-0 (6)

6. Grand View Christian 11-1 (7)

7. Lynnville-Sully 12-1 (8)

8. West Fork 10-2 (10)

9. Murray 12-0 (NR)

10. Don Bosco 11-1 (NR)

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com