Girls Basketball Rankings: December 18. 2014

Two unranked teams made a lot of noise in the opening weekend of the season, and they made a huge climb in the latest coaches/media rankings.

There is some small change in the 4A rankings. Defending champ Natrona is not ranked, and the top 4 spots, all come from the east. Sheridan and Gillette hold at #1 and #2. Cheyenne East and Cheyenne Central both move up 1 spot to #3 and #4, while Kelly Walsh, the only west team with a winning record is #5. The Lady Camels, Lady Thunderbirds and Lady Indians will be in Sweetwater County this weekend, for the Flaming Gorge Invitational.

Douglas is the unanimous #1 in 3A after facing some tough competition last weekend in Lander. Rawlins makes the biggest splash, going from unranked to #2, after going undefeated last weekend at Cody. Both the Lady Bearcats and Lady Outlaws will be facing 3A west opponents this weekend at Douglas. Elsewhere, Mountain View holds steady at #3 and will also play at the Flaming Gorge this weekend. Powell drops a couple of spots to #4, and have a tough challenge Saturday at #1 4A Sheridan. Star Valley retains the #5 ranking, and will play at the Flaming Gorge event as well.

Thermopolis got the most attention from the 2A voters. The undefeated Lady Bobcats took down former #1 and 2-time defending state champ Tongue River, to become the new #1, after being unranked in the pre-season. Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles drop to #3, while Southeast moves up 1 spot to #2. Lyman drops 1 spot to #4, while Burns is in at #5, after having a pretty good opening weekend themselves.

Two new teams enter the 1A ranks, and there are a few games with ranked team vs. ranked team. Cokeville is still tops, while Burlington is up to #2, by 1 vote ahead of #3 Hulett. Encampment is in at #4 by 1 vote ahead of #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie, by 1 vote ahead of unraked Little Snake River, who beat the Lady Doggers last weekend. Hulett, Encampment and Lingle-Ft. Laramie, will all get together to play games this weekend at the Lingle Invite.

Disclaimer: The polls have no official say or use on post-season positioning, and are only to be used as a measuring stick on the regular season. Please don’t read too much into the rankings.