Centennial, Lake City Rated 1-2 In Boys A-1 Poll

Three of the four defending Idaho boys high school basketball champions were favored by the state’s sportswriters and broadcasters to repeat in the Associated Press preseason poll.

Friday is the opening night for competition.

Centennial of Meridian defeated Rigby for the state A-1 title in March, and the Patriots are picked No. 1 among Idaho’s largest high schools, garnering five of 11 first-place votes.

Rigby did not make the top five. Lake City of Coeur d’Alene is second with three first-place votes, tied with Blackfoot. Meridian’s Eagle High School is ranked fourth in its first season, trailed by Madison of Rexburg.

In A-2, Bear Lake is the preseason choice, just ahead of defending champion Weiser. The Wolverines nipped Bear Lake 60-57 in the state tourney.

Last season’s consolation winner, Kellogg, is ranked third, followed by Salmon and state runner-up Marsh Valley.

Teton and Lapwai each received five first-place votes in A-3, but the defending champion Redskins enter the season at No. 1 by virtue of a one-point margin over the third-place Wildcats.

Malad earned the other first-place vote and is ranked third, followed by a three-way tie between Potlatch, Wendell and Aberdeen for fourth.

The North Gem Cowboys lost standout Clint Sant to graduation after winning the state title, but they will enter the season ahead of Nampa Christian at second and Oakley at third. Consolation winner Troy is fourth, followed by runner-up Notus.