Keota is out, Pekin is in

A team losing its first game by more than 30 points after 12 wins is not good for its ranking.

A team on a 10-game winning streak after its first loss is good for a ranking.

Keota and Pekin are going different ways but both have a 12-1 record.

Pekin, Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division member, enters the Class 2A rankings for the first time this year at No. 10.

Keota falls from its No. 7 ranking in Class 1A because of a loss to South Iowa Cedar League rival Montezuma, which put the previously unranked Braves at No. 8. Keota is out of the Top 10, although the Eagles still received enough votes to be ranked 12th. Actually, it would be a tie for 12th with another formerly ranked team in Notre Dame. The SEISC South Division Nikes lost by 23 points to Washington and dropped out.

The win helped Washington get a few votes in 3A, enough to be 14th if the rankings went that far.

Pekin has the leading shot blocker in Class 2A with Brayden Sobaski's 32 swats. Teammate Brock Long is tied for sixth in steals. Brady Millikin is 10th in the class in assists. Chandler Stull is 11th in 3-point field goal percentage. Long is 20th in free throw percentage at 84.2.

Listed below are 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:

Class 4A

Record Points Previous

1. Cedar Falls (8) 7-0 98 1

2. Waukee (2) 4-1 87 T2

3. Johnston 3-1 79 4

4. Ankeny Centennial 6-1 70 5

5. West Des Moines Valley 5-1 56 T2

6. Iowa City Liberty 3-0 45 6

7. Dubuque Hempstead 6-2 30 10

8. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 7-3 27 9

9. Des Moines Hoover 3-0 14 NR

10. Eldridge North Scott 7-2 12 NR

Others receiving votes: Southeast Polk 11, Davenport North 7, Pleasant Valley 5, Indianola 4, Sioux City East 4, Ottumwa 1.

Class 3A

Record Points Previous

1. Pella (6) 10-0 93 1

2. Carroll (3) 10-0 88 2

3. Davenport Assumption 10-1 74 3

4. Ballard (1) 8-1 67 4

5. Monticello 10-0 66 5

6. Dallas Center-Grimes 8-1 59 6

7. Solon 10-1 31 9

8. Epworth Western Dubuque 9-2 28 7

9. Clear Lake 10-1 11 NR

10. Glenwood 9-2 8 8

Others receiving votes: Le Mars 7, Dubuque Wahlert 6, Clear Creek-Amana 6, Washington 3, Mount Vernon 2, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 1.

Class 2A

Record Points Previous

1. Boyden-Hull (10) 10-0 100 1

2. Dike-New Hartford 9-1 78 3

3. A-H-S-TW Avoca 11-1 67 4

4. West Branch 9-0 56 5

5. Spirit Lake 12-1 50 2

6. Western Christian Hull 9-3 46 T10

7. Des Moines Christian 10-1 40 7

8. Denver 10-2 35 6

9. OA-BCIG 10-1 21 T10

10. Pekin 12-1 13 NR

Others receiving votes: Roland-Story 10, Story City 9, North Fayette Valley 8, Treynor 7, Aplington-Parkersburg 7, West Burlington 3, Dyersville Beckman Catholic 3, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 3, Camanche 2, ACOGC 1, Albia 1.

Class 1A

Record Points Previous

1. North Linn Troy Mills (10) 12-0 100 1

2. Lake Mills 11-0 84 2

3. Martensdale-St. Marys 9-0 80 3

4. Easton Valley 13-0 63 4

5. Springville 14-1 62 5

6. Le Mars Gehlen Catholic 11-1 49 6

7. Remsen St. Mary's 10-1 32 8

8. Montezuma 11-2 23 NR

9. Grand View Christian 9-1 18 T10

10. Wapsie Valley Fairbank 8-2 14 9

Others receiving votes: Wapello 9, Keota 5, Notre Dame 5, East Mills 4, New London 1, Lamoni 1.