Eagles fly into Top 10

An undefeated record will always draw the attention of a poll voter. Evidence of that was showed up in the Associated Press high school basketball poll released Monday.

There are nine unbeaten teams, 11 if two who have yet to play a game are counted, remaining in Class 1A. Seven are ranked while Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division member Wapello (5-0) got seven votes and Mormon Trail (6-0) none.

After receiving votes in every poll, Keota entered the Top 10 in the ninth position in Monday's fourth vote of the season. The Eagles had enough votes last week (15) to be in the No. 11 spot as they were the previous week, but with 17 votes. Keota was tied for 12th with 12 votes in the initial poll.

Washington garnered three points in Class 3A where 16 teams were mentioned, including unbeaten River Valley Conference member Monticello at seventh.

The RVC had West Branch at No. 10 in 2A with Camanche falling to 12 from No. 5 after starting at No. 3.

The SEISC South Division had New London (5-1) enter the Top !0 last Monday, then promptly lose on Tuesday at Central Lee (2-6). Other South teams getting votes were West Burlington (5-2) in 2A, Danville (5-1) and Notre Dame (5-2) in 1A. West Burlington lost to Danville and New London but defeated Central Lee by 21 points and Notre Dame by 15.

New London's Kade Benjamin is third in Class 1A in field goal percentage, sinking 45-of-61, which includes 1-for-8 on 3-pointers, for 74 percent.

Keota's Carson Sprouse is third in Class 1A in made 3-pointers with 27. Montezuma's Trey Shearer is first with 38 and first in attempts at 81 while Sprouse is ninth at 63. Sprouse is seventh in steals. Teammate Wyatt Sieren is ninth in blocks with Brady Duwa at 16th.

In Class 1A, Keota is fifth as team in offensive rebounds, 10th in defensive rebounds and sixth in total rebounds. The Eagles are second in blocks, fifth in steals, tied for 12th in assists and 13th in points scored. Of the 14 team assists leaders, only five have less turnovers than Keota.

The second half of the season starts Monday with area games.

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Associated Press Iowa High School Boys Bassketball Poll

Class 4A

Record Points Previous

1. Waukee (5) 1-0 86 3

2. Cedar Falls (3) 5-0 83 1

3. Ankeny Centennial 4-0 61 6

4. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (1) 6-1 53 4

5. Davenport North 1-0 37 8

6. Ames 4-1 36 2

7. Johnston 0-0 34 7

8. Southeast Polk 3-0 29 NR

9. Sioux City East 6-1 22 9

10. Eldridge North Scott 4-1 20 5

Others receiving votes: Dubuque Hempstead 13, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson 8, Iowa City Liberty 6, Lewis Central 3, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2, Cedar Rapids Washington 2.

Class 3A

Record Points Previous

1. Dallas Center-Grimes (6) 6-0 83 1

2. Pella (1) 6-0 73 3

3. Carroll (1) 7-0 72 2

4. Davenport Assumption (1) 4-1 58 6

5. Ballard 6-1 53 4

6. Waverly-Shell Rock 6-0 51 5

7. Monticello 6-0 49 7

8. Glenwood 5-1 19 9

9. Epworth Western Dubuque 5-1 11 8

10. Solon 6-1 9 10

Others receiving votes: Dubuque Wahlert 6, Knoxville 4, Washington 3, Mount Vernon 2, Harlan 1, Humboldt 1.

Class 2A

Record Points Previous

1. Boyden-Hull (7) 7-0 88 1

2. A-H-S-TW Avoca (2) 9-0 72 2

3. Denver 7-0 66 3

4. Dyersville Beckman Catholic 7-0 58 6

5. Treynor 6-1 36 8

(tie) Western Christian Hull 5-2 36 4

7. Aplington-Parkersburg 7-1 27 10

8. Dike-New Hartford 5-1 23 9

9. Spirit Lake 7-0 21 NR

10. West Branch 7-0 16 NR

Others receiving votes: Des Moines Christian 13, Camanche 8, North Fayette Valley 8, Van Meter 7, West Burlington 6, Pella Christian 5, OA-BCIG 3, Panorama Panora 1, South Central Calhoun 1.

Class 1A

Record Points Previous

1. North Linn Troy Mills (7) 8-0 85 1

2. Martensdale-St. Marys 5-0 71 2

3. Lake Mills 8-0 68 3

4. Springville (1) 9-0 64 4

5. Easton Valley 8-0 40 9

6. Wapsie Valley Fairbank (1) 5-1 34 5

7. West Fork Sheffield 3-0 31 8

8. Le Mars Gehlen Catholic 8-1 22 7

9. Keota 8-0 21 NR

10. Remsen St. Mary's 5-1 16 6

Others receiving votes: New London 9, Wapello 7, Grand View Christian 6, Montezuma 6, Danville 4, Notre Dame 3, Janesville 3, North Mahaska 2, English Valleys 2, East Mills 1.