Blackhawks, Lady ’Hawks high in the rankings

With 2016 rapidly coming to a close, both the ’Hawks and Lady ’Hawks have built a lofty ranking in the MaxPreps/CBS 4A basketball polls.

Both the boys and girls hope to improve their power ratings when they compete this week in the Southwest Holiday Classic in Washburn, Mo. The boys are the top ranked team with the girls getting the No. 2 seed in the Classic. The finals for both boys and girls will be tomorrow in Washburn should either or both teams make it.

The boys competed against Exeter, Mo., in the first round with a victory there not doing much for the ’Hawks’ overall power ranking. At present, Exeter is the lowest ranked team in all of Missouri, counting all classes. The ’Hawks are coming off an easy win over Lincoln, who is the current last ranked team in all of Arkansas 4A.

The girls schedule will heat up in January as their first two opponents are both highly ranked teams. The Lady ’Hawks will be hosting No. 4 state-ranked undefeated West Fork on Jan. 3, and then hosting No. 8 ranked Huntsville on Jan. 5. Their busy week will conclude on Jan. 6 by traveling to Fayetteville to take on Haas Hall. The game with West Fork will decide who will be the leader of the 3A-4A 1 conference as the Lady ’Hawks trail the Tigers by a half game.

The boys will be hosting West Fork on Jan. 3 and then take on Haas Hall that Friday. The biggest game looming on the horizon for the ’Hawks will be their trip to Gravette on Jan. 20. The Lions are the current leader of the league by half a game, with both teams currently maintaining their undefeated conference status.

CBS/MaxPreps 4A boys state poll

Dec. 23

School

1. Baptist Prep 9-1 2. Batesville Southside 9-1 3. Huntsville 11-1 4. Jonesboro Westside 11-2 5. Cave City 11-1 6. Bauxite 9-2 7. ESTEM (Little Rock) 9-5 8. Pea Ridge 8-1 9. Gravette 8-1 10. Riverview 8-2 25. Prairie Grove 4-5 26. Berryville 5-3 35. Gentry 4-4 28. Shiloh 3-3 36. Lincoln 2-9

4A North Region boys poll

1. Huntsville 11-1 2. Pea Ridge 8-1 3. Gravette 4. Dardanelle 5. Pottsville 6. West Fork 7. Booneville 9. Ozark 10. Prairie Grove

3A-4A-1 Boys Conference*

1. Gravette 8-1 7-2 8-2 9-3 7-3 4-6 4-5

won-loss +/-

-0.4 unchg +1.6 unchg -0.6 -0.5 +0.8 +0.7 +2.8 -3.5 +1.7 +0.3 -1.7 -1.1 -11.2

MaxPreps/CBS State 4A Girls Poll School won-loss pwr rtg

1. Central Arkansas 2. Pocahontas 3. Monticello 4. West Fork 5. Ozark 6. Pottsville 7. Star City 8. Huntsville 9. Pea Ridge 10. ESTEM 13. Berryville 18. Gravette 21. Gentry 24. Prairie Grove 34. Shiloh 9-1 9-3 8-3 8-0 7-2 9-3 6-2 9-5 8-3 10-5 7-5 6-4 7-4 2-4 3-7 19.6 17.7 16.8 14.8 13.0 12.7 11.0 9.6 9.1 8.5 6.0 3.3 2.2 -0.9 -5.2