Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2009

This week in the rankings

Quite a few changes after Week 3 of the prep football season.

I hope I reflected those changes wisely with my ballot. What do you think?

4A

1, Skyline. 2, Bothell. 3, Auburn. 4, Eastlake. 5, Jackson. 6, Gonzaga Prep. 7, Ferris. 8, Curtis. 9, Wenatchee. 10, Olympia.

Comment I couldn't ding Skyline despite its loss to one of the top programs in the nation, Oaks Christian (Calif.). G-Prep drops after its OT loss to University. Wenatchee stays put with a showdown against Southridge this Friday at the Apple Bowl looming.

3A

1, Lakes. 2, Union. 3, Bellevue. 4, Liberty. 5, Mount Spokane. 6, O'Dea. 7, Glacier Peak. 8, Camas. 9, Timberline. 10, Meadowdale.

Comment Some shuffling at the top -- Bellevue's second straight loss to a regional power, Grant of Sacramento, Calif., coupled with losing a top player to injury, moves it down two spots -- and at the bottom -- Timberline and Meadowdale move in after losses to my previous 8 and 10 teams, Ferndale and Olympic.

2A

1, Ellensburg. 2, Archbishop Murphy. 3, Lynden. 4, Interlake. 5, Othello. 6, Prosser. 7, Burlington-Edison. 8, W.F. West (Chehalis). 9, Selah. 10, West Valley (Spokane).

Comment I'm noticing that more people are jumping on the Ellensburg bandwagon this week. I'll take comfort in knowing my seat was secure from the start. Look at the four CWAC teams on this list -- one of them won't make the playoffs. That is too bad.

1A

1, Connell. 2, Montesano. 3, Royal. 4, Vashon Island. 5, Cascade Christian. 6, Cashmere. 7, Orting. 8, Cascade (Leavenworth). 9, River View. 10, Zillah.

Comment Connell faces its next big test this week at home against River View, which I suspect will do a lot better than last year's 33-6 showing. Otherwise, Orting's loss was the only thing to shake up my ballot.

2B

1, Colfax. 2, Asotin. 3, La Salle. 4, Adna. 5, Napavine. 6, Naselle. 7, South Bend. 8, Tacoma Baptist. 9, Waitsburg-Prescott. 10, White Swan.

Comment Down went another No. 1 -- Napavine, to Adna. DeSales also gets dropped after its loss to my new No. 1, Colfax, with White Swan taking the Irish's place.

Two other sets of polls in the house.

The state cross country coaches released their latest rankings.

Kamiakin's boys are No. 4 in 4A, with Southridge No. 6. Richland's girls remain strong at No. 4, while Kamiakin moves into ninth. Hanford girls are No. 10 in 3A.

Meanwhile, a day late but never short, the state volleyball coaches association released its rankings:

4A

1. Mead (3-0). 2. Graham-Kapowsin (4-0). 3. Monroe (4-0). 4. Olympia (3-0). 5. Kamiakin (3-1). 6. Southridge (4-1). 7. Curtis (3-1). 8. Eisenhower (4-1). 9. Edmonds-Woodway (4-0). 10. Jackson (3-1).

Comment Surprised that Richland doesn't make the cut here. But with four eastside teams ranked (and a fifth from the CBBN that could be), someone will be disappointed that they're staying home in mid-November.

3A

1. Eastside Catholic (3-0). 2. Blanchet (3-0). 3. Seattle Prep (4-0). 4. Mount Spokane (2-1). 5. Timberline (3-0) . 6. Meadowdale. 7. East Valley (Spokane) (3-1). 8. Shorecrest. 9. Shadle Park (2-2). 10. Enumclaw (3-0).

Comment West Valley (Yakima) could play spoiler at regionals. Again, with three ranked eastside teams and WV deserving mention, that's at least two teams that could place who'll be staying home.

2A

1. Burlington-Edison (2-0). 2. Archbishop Murphy (4-0). 3. Black Hills (2-0). 4. Selah (4-0). 5. Tumwater (2-0). 6. Colville (2-0). 7. Fife (1-2). 8. Woodland (3-0). 9. RA Long (2-0). 10. West Valley (Spokane) (1-1). Comment Just doesn't look right not to have Grandview in the rankings.

1A

1. King’s (3-0). 2. Castle Rock (3-0). 3. Lynden Christian (2-0). 4. Chelan (2-0). 5. Cascade (Leavenworth) (4-0). 6. Cedar Park Christian (1-0). 7. Bellevue Christian (4-0). 8. Onalaska (2-0). 9. Annie Wright (2-0). 10. Zillah (3-1).

Comment Hmmmmm ... no love for Connell after its three-set sweep of previously ranked River View?

2B

1. LaConner (3-1). 2. Colfax (3-1). 3. Ocosta (4-0). 4. Riverside Christian (1-0). 5. Mossyrock (2-0). 6. Tekoa-Oakesdale (1-1). 7. Lind-Ritzville (3-1). 8. Bear Creek (2-1). 9. Toutle Lake (2-2). 10. Pomeroy (1-1).

1B

1. LaCrosse-Washtucna (2-0). 2. St. John-Endicott (2-0). 3. Wilson Creek (3-0). 4. Colton (2-0). 5. Moses Lake Christian (2-0). 6. Crescent (2-0). 7. North Sound Christian (Mountlake Terrace) (3-1). 8. Liberty Christian (3-0). 9. Northport (3-0). 10. Wishkah Valley (1-0)

Comment Already see a big problem here. Liberty Christian, of course, is 2B. Oops!

Til next time ...