Teton Still No. 1 Among Idaho Preps
Idaho’s top boys high school basketball teams held onto their positions in the Associated Press poll heading into the last full week of regular-season play.
But as it was last week, only A-3 leader Teton was a unanimous No. 1 choice of the state’s sportswriters and broadcasters in the weekly rankings.
Defending A-1 champion Centennial remained the best of the largest schools with victories over previously fourth-ranked Capital and Eagle. Blackfoot once again was No. 2 after a 17-point victory over Bonneville, but the teams in the next three positions each lost last week.
Lake City held on at third despite losing to A-2 contender Kellogg. Capital, losers to Centennial and Boise, dropped out of the rankings, as did previously fifth-ranked Rigby, which lost to new No. 5 Hillcrest of Idaho Falls. And Highland of Pocatello re-entered the poll at fourth after beating Skyline and Burley.
In A-2, Boise’s Bishop Kelly remained unbeaten at No. 1. The Knights knocked off Kuna and Weiser to remain ahead of Bear Lake, a 68-50 winner over Snake River. Kellogg jumped from fourth to third after impressive victories over Bonners Ferry and A-1 Lake City, dropping Moscow to fourth even though the Bears beat Priest River by 24 points. Caldwell’s Vallivue remained fifth after beating Emmett.
Teton fought off North Fremont and South Fremont to stay undefeated and the unanimous No. 1 pick among A-3 teams. Malad was nearly unanimous at No. 2 after knocking off Aberdeen to drop the Tigers one spot to fourth. Lapwai moved into that spot from fourth after crushing Clearwater Valley, 79-56. And Declo replaced Gooding at No. 5 after the Senators lost to Valley.
The top team in A-4 remained Nampa Christian. The Trojans slipped past Wilder, 56-50, and destroyed Idaho City last week. No. 2 Shoshone added victories over Camas County and Dietrich, while Oakley won three times to remain third. Notus and Rockland each won their lone contests of the week to remain fourth and fifth, respectively. This sidebar appeared with the story: IDAHO PREP POLL
Here is how the state’s sportswriters and broadcasters voted in this week’s Associated Press Idaho boys high school basketball poll. First-place votes are in parentheses and records are for games through Monday, Jan. 29.
A-1
Team W L Pts.
1, Centennial (12) 15 2 64
2, Blackfoot (1) 12 3 52
3, Lake City 12 4 23
4, Highland 10 5 13
5, Hillcrest 10 6 11
Others receiving votes: Boise, Rigby, Capital, Pocatello, Meridian, Madison.
A-2
Team W L Pts.
1, Bishop Kelly (12) 16 0 74
2, Bear Lake (1) 13 2 46
3, Kellogg 10 2 35
4, Moscow 11 2 32
5, Vallivue 13 3 14
Others receiving votes: Jerome, Preston.
A-3
Team W L Pts.
1, Teton (13) 16 0 65
2, Malad 16 1 51
3, Lapwai 13 2 32
4, Aberdeen 12 3 27
5, Declo 9 6 6
Others receiving votes: Firth, Fruitland, Gooding, Grange ville, Potlatch, Soda Springs.
A-4
Team W L Pts.
1, Nampa Christian (12) 15 1 63
2, Shoshone (1) 13 2 46
3, Oakley 14 2 40
4, Notus 11 3 23
5, Rockland 11 2 13
Others receiving votes: Lake City, Cambridge, Carey.