When an opponent is a ranked team according to the coaches and media, the action, atmosphere and intensity of the game tends to be bigger in February compared to January.

4A has a new #1. Gillette is back on top for the first time in awhile, after their hard fought double OT win last week vs. Cheyenne Central. As expected, the Indians drop to #2, and have to share that ranking with Rock Springs. Cheyenne South maintains their #4 position, and Kelly Walsh is ranked at #5. The Trojans get the nod by 1 vote over former #5 Cheyenne East, who did not have a good road trip last weekend. South faces big tests this week. The Bison visit the Thunderbirds, who are looking to rebound. Then South is home vs. Central the following day. KW gets a big chance to try to prove themselves on Friday at home vs. RS.

The big rematch is upon 3A this weekend. Worland is still #1, and they've been waiting for this Friday to get #4 Buffalo in their own gym. The Bison have dropped 2 straight, but beat the Warriors last month in the Big Horn Basin Tournament semi-finals. Douglas holds steady at #2 and will play their make-up game vs. unranked Wheatland on Thursday. It's big for both teams, because the Bulldogs won the last matchup. Rawlins is back in the rankings at #3, and the Lovell's big win at Star Valley last week, impressed the voters enough to grab the #5 ranking, by 1 vote over SV, who is now on the outside looking in.

This is a big week in 2A for ranked teams. Wind River is still the unanimous #1, but their maybe injury concerns after last week's games. The Cougars host #4 Wyoming Indian on Thursday, and then visit unranked Shoshoni on Saturday. The Wranglers are looking for another chance to prove themselves. They did vs. the Chiefs, but stumbled vs. #2 Greybull at home last weekend. WIHS may have just as tough of a schedule, because they play #1 and #2 back-to-back on the road (WR and Greybull), and this could be the type of challenge they need. As for the rest of the rankings, Pine Bluffs moves up 1 spot to #3, while Big Piney is back in at #5.

The top 4 teams in 1A, continue to maintain their course, while another has recently righted the ship and is back on track. The top 4 are unchanged from the past couple of weeks (Upton, Burlington, Encampment, Kaycee). The top ranked Bobcats visit the Buckaroos on Saturday. Kaycee probably remembers how bad the last game was, and they finally get Upton in their own gym. Upton will most likely secure the northeast top seed for regionals, should they win. The team that has corrected course is St. Stephens, who are ranked #5. After an 0-5 start, the Eagles have won 6 of their last 7 to get back into the rankings.

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.

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