As the regular season of basketball close is upon us this week the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) rankings have been released and 14 area teams remained ranked this week. Only five of the 14 made moves in the polls this week with four of the five moving up. (Full latest rankings -- February 18th -- click here)

Start off looking at the polls in Class 1A-Division II were B&B continues to have both their girls and boys teams ranked as both have locked up the number seed in their sub-state coming up next week. The B&B boys stayed put at number five this week after improving to 14-5 on the season, while the lady Falcons moved to 16-3 on the year and remained ranked at number four.

Frankfort lady Wildcats and Axtell Eagles boys are the other two area teams that remained ranked this week in the latest KBCA rnakings. The Lady Wildcats earned a win over Wetmore to improve to 12-7 on the season last week, to keep them ranked ninth this week. Axtell took care of business beating Washington County and Wetmore at home to earn a pair of TVL wins in impressive fashion winning both games by 17 or more points, to improve to 12-8 on the year and bump them up to number nine this week in the polls. 

In Class 1A-Division I four area boys and girls teams remained ranked with three boys and one girls team comprising the four area teams. Centralia Panthers went 1-1 in their last two games to move to 14-5 on the season and remain number five in the rankings, while Valley Heights split their last two games to move to 13-6 on the season and remain sixth in the polls. Hanover stayed in the ninth spot with a 13-5 record on the season. 

For the Valley Heights girls they earned perhaps one of the biggest wins all year in taking down previously unbeaten Washington County, improving the Mustangs to 15-4 on the season and keeping them at number five in the polls this week. 

In Class 2A, only two girls teams remain ranked but of the area teams this is were the biggest shakeup in the polls happened as the previous number one Washington County suffered their first loss of the season moving to 17-1 on the year and falling down to number two in the rankings. While the Jefferson County North lady Chargers continue to win not having loss since December 11th and having won their last 15 games, to improve to 17-2 on the season. 

Class 3A, both ACCHS Tigers girls and boys moved up one spot in the rankings this week. For the Lady Tigers the are know 17-2 on the season and moved up to number seven in the latest poll, while the boys squad remained unbeaten on the season at 19-0 after crushing Pleasant Ridge in their last game, allowing them to move up to number three in the rankings. 

The Tigers moved right behind a team they could quite possibly have to duke it out with for a right to go to the state tournament, as the Nemaha Valley Raiders who are 18-1 on the season remained ranked second this week after dispatching the Jeff West Tigers and Royal Valley Panthers in their last two games. 

In Class 4A, the lady Wildcats of Holton remain the only area team in the rankings as the they continue to win since their opening loss of the year, improving to 18-1 now, having won their last 18 games. With that winning streak its allowed the Wildcats as of the last few weeks to remain number in the Class 4A rankings.