WyoPreps Preseason Basketball Rankings Spread the Votes
The first basketball rankings of the season have been released by WyoPreps.com and six of the eight defending champions start at No. 1.
The Preseason WyoPreps.com Coaches and Media Poll features all four defending champions in the top spot of the girls’ rankings, while two of the four defending boys’ champs are ranked first. Between the two polls, there are four unanimous choices for No. 1.
The ladies have Thunder Basin, Douglas, Wyoming Indian and Cokeville in first.
For the boys, it’s Sheridan, Lander, Wyoming Indian and Encampment.
In the girls’ rankings, for Class 4A the defending champion Bolts received seven first-place votes and took the top spot. Last season’s runner-up, Cheyenne East is second. Then, Cheyenne Central is at third, followed by Campbell County and Kelly Walsh at No. 4 and No.5, respectively.
In 3A girls, the Bearcats garnered all 14 votes for first. At No. 2 is the Buffalo Bison. Then in a tight vote, Mountain View is third with Rawlins fourth and Lyman fifth. Eleven teams received votes in the 3A girls’ poll. A total of 12 out of 16 teams picked up at least one vote in 3A.
The Chiefs are a unanimous pick for No. 1 in Class 2A girls. They are followed by Pine Bluffs. Wind River checks in a No. 3. Wright is fourth, and then there’s a tie for fifth between Big Horn and Moorcroft. Ten teams received a vote in 2A.
It’s the Cokeville Panthers alone at the top of Class 1A in the girls’ poll. It’s a tie for second between Arvada-Clearmont and St. Stephens. Little Snake River is a close fourth, while Farson-Eden completed the top five. Seven more teams got at least one vote but didn't make the top five.
The boys’ rankings begin with an oddity. In Class 4A, Sheridan is the preseason choice, but actually received less No. 1 votes than two other teams. It’s the 2-5 votes that put the Broncs at the top. Cheyenne Central, who got seven first-place tallies, is second, followed by cross-town rival Cheyenne East in third. Defending champion Kelly Walsh starts the year at No. 4. The Trojans received five first-place votes. The Campbell County Camels round out the top five.
There were 11 teams that picked up votes in Class 3A, but a clear selection for No. 1 was the Lander Tigers. The defending champs received all but three first-place tallies. Last season’s runner-up, the Powell Panthers, are the choice at No. 2. Buffalo is third, followed by Worland, while Wheatland completed the top five.
Wyoming Indian is on top in Class 2A boys. The defending champion Chiefs were the only team that received first-place votes. The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies start the season in second. Pine Bluffs is at No. 3, while Big Horn and Tongue River are fourth and fifth, respectively.
In Class 1A, last season’s runner-up, the Encampment Tigers, are the preseason pick. They garnered all but one first-place vote. Upton checks in at No. 2. The Little Snake River Rattlers are third. Then, its defending champion Farson-Eden rated fourth in the preseason rankings. The H.E.M. Miners round out the top five. A total of ten teams received votes in the 1A poll.
WyoPreps.com polls coaches and media from across the state each week during the basketball season. These rankings are not associated with the Wyoming High School Activities Association or its member schools. The poll is conducted for fun and has no bearing on any game or post-season seeding.
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