Welcome back to week two of the Seliga team rankings! This is my personal ranking system to determine the best of the best in Arizona high school hoops. Updates for this week include new title game/semifinal projections as well as each contenders key game as they enter the final week of the season.
Enter the Seliga rankings, a ranking system that separates the top 28 teams in each conference into four separate tiers. Beside each team is their record in regular season play as of today (February 2nd) and their ranking in the AIA system. These are my rankings based off how I’ve seen these teams play both live and on film as well as their potential to succeed whether or not they make the postseason. As well as previous head to head matchups and how the team has looked as of today and whether or not they would win a rematch or beat the team ranked above or below them.
Top Tier:
“The Contenders” This tier contains the teams that most fans, media, and teams expect to be in the semifinals or playing for the championship. Ex: Sunnyslope (6A)
Second Tier:
“Dangerous Loomers” These are the teams that have the ability to make a run to the title game or semifinals that wouldn’t surprise people. These are programs that should make it past the play-in and can compete as a lower seed. Ex: Casteel (5A)
Third Tier:
“Solid Playoff/Play-In teams” These programs at this point in the season are fighting for seeding in the play-in games or are fighting to stay above 24 in the AIA rankings. Each year there’s at least one or two teams who can pull off a surprise in the play-in round/first round but overall a run to the title game would be unexpected. Ex: Youngker (4A)
Final Tier:
“The Bubble” These programs are fighting to make the play-in and either are right above the cutoff line or right below it. These teams usually have one or two guys that can possibly carry them in a play-in game, but most likely don’t have either the depth or the talent to compete against a higher seeded team.
Key:
⬆️ - Up from previous week
↔️ - No movement
⬇️ - Down from previous week
4A Boys
Contenders:
1. (⬆️1) St. Mary’s (11-3 AIA #2)- Key Game Remaining: vs Seton Catholic, Feb. 2
2. (⬆️1) Salpointe Catholic (16-0, AIA #1) - Key Game Remaining: vs 5A “#1” Buena, Feb. 4
3. (⬆️1) Peoria (14-2 AIA #3) - Key Game Remaining: vs #6 Notre Dame Prep, Feb 4
4. (⬇️3) Deer Valley (14-2, AIA #4) - Key Game Remaining: vs #8 Cactus, Feb. 4
5. (↔️) Paradise Honors (13-3, AIA #7) - Key game remaining: vs Youngker, Feb. 4
6. (⬆️2)Notre Dame Prep (14-2, AIA #5) - Key Game remaining: @ Peoria, Feb. 4
Dangerous Loomers
7. (⬇️1) Mesquite (14-1, AIA #6)
8. (↔️) Cactus (12-4 AIA #8)
Most Likely to make a run: Mesquite
Solid Playoff/play-in teams
9. Sahuaro(10-4, AIA #9) (⬆️2)
10. Coconino (12-3, AIA #10) (↔️)
11. Canyon Del Oro (8-5, AIA #12) (⬇️2)
12. Prescott (11-6, AIA #11) (↔️)
13. Dysart (11-5, AIA #13) (↔️)
14. Flagstaff (11-5, AIA #14) (⬆️2)
15. Saguaro (10-6, AIA #17) (⬆️2)
16. ALA-QC (8-6, AIA #16) (⬇️2)
17. Bradshaw Mountain (10-6, AIA #15) (⬇️2)
18. Buckeye (7-6, AIA #19) (↔️)
19. Pueblo (10-7, AIA #20) (⬆️1)
20. Mica Mountain (5-6, AIA #21) (⬇️1)
21. Desert Edge (5-11, AIA #22) (↔️)
22. Thunderbird (10-7, AIA #18) (⬆️1)
23. Estrella Foothills (7-9, AIA #23) (⬆️1)
24. Youngker (7-6, AIA #25) (⬆️2)
Sneakiest team “sleeper”: Dysart
Bubble
25. Marcos De Niza (⬇️3)
26. Cholla (⬇️1)
27. Moon Valley (↔️)
28. Poston Butte (↔️)
4A Semifinals predictions:
#1 St. Mary’s vs #4 Deer Valley & #2 Salpointe Catholic vs #3 Peoria
Championship: #1 St Mary’s vs #3 Peoria
Champ: #1 St. Mary’s
5A Boys
Contenders:
1. (⬆️4)Centennial (12-3, AIA #3)- Key Game Remaining: vs #4 Sunrise Mountain, Feb. 4
2. (⬇️1) McClintock (14-1, AIA #5)- Key Game Remaining: vs Horizon, Feb. 2
3. (⬆️1) Gilbert (14-3, AIA #2) - Key Game Remaining: vs Casteel, Feb 7
4. (⬇️2) Sunrise Mountain (14-3, AIA #4)- Key Game Remaining: @ Centennial, Feb. 4
5. (⬆️2) Millennium (12-4, AIA #6) Key Game Remaining: @ Verrado, Feb. 8
6. (⬆️2) Buena (16-0, AIA #1) Key Game Remaining: @ 4A #2 Salpointe Catholic, Feb. 4
7. (⬇️1) Apollo (11-5, AIA #7) - Key game remaining: @ Ironwood, Feb. 4
8. (⬆️1) Ironwood (10-5, AIA #11) - Key game remaining: @ Centennial, Feb. 2
Dangerous Loomers
9. Casteel (12-4, AIA #9) ⬆️1
10. Higley (12-4 AIA #8) ⬇️ 7
11. Horizon (10-5 AIA #10) ⬆️ 3
12. Catalina Foothills (13-2, AIA #12) ⬇️1
13. North Canyon (14-3, AIA #14) ⬇️1
14. Desert Mountain (10-6 , AIA #15) ⬆️2
15. Campo Verde (11-6, AIA, #13) ⬇️2
16. Willow Canyon (12-4, AIA #17) ⬇️1
Most likely to make a run: Higley
Solid Playoff/Play-In teams
17. Arcadia (10-6, AIA #16) ↔️
18. Marana (10-6, AIA #18) ↔️
19. Canyon View (11-5, AIA #21) ↔️
20. Sunnyside (11-6, AIA #19) ⬆️1
21. Ironwood Ridge (7-8, AIA #22) ⬆️2
22. Cactus Shadows (6-10, AIA #24) ⬆️2
23. Cienega (10-8, AIA #22) ⬆️3
24. Verrado (10-6, AIA #25) ⬆️3
Sneakiest team “sleeper”: Arcadia
Bubble Teams:
25. Kellis ⬇️5
26. Nogales ⬇️4
27. Carl Hayden (New)
28. Gila Ridge ⬇️3
5A Semifinals predictions:
#1 Centennial vs #4 Sunrise Mountain & #2 McClintock vs #3 Gilbert
Championship: #1 Centennial vs #3 Gilbert
Champ: #1 Centennial
6A Boys
Contenders
1. (↔️) Sunnyslope (15-1, AIA #1) - Key game remaining: vs Shadow Ridge, Feb. 8
2. (↔️) Brophy Prep (14-1, AIA #2) - Key game remaining: vs #5 Pinnacle, Feb. 5
3. (↔️) Mountain Pointe (14-1, AIA #3) - Key game remaining: vs Desert Vista, Feb. 2
4. (↔️) Perry (11-4, AIA #4) - Key game remaining: @ #8 Hamilton, Feb. 3
5. (⬆️5) Pinnacle (12-3, AIA #5) - Key game remaining: @ #2 Brophy, Feb. 5
6. (⬆️1) Highland (12-4, AIA #6) - Key game remaining: @ Desert Ridge, Feb. 3
7. (⬇️2) Liberty (12-4, AIA #10) - Key game remaining: @ Boulder Creek, Feb. 4
8. (⬇️2) Basha (10-6, AIA #7) - Key game remaining: @ Chandler, Feb. 3
Dangerous Loomers
9. Hamilton (11-5, AIA #9) ↔️
10. Maricopa (14-3, AIA #11) ⬇️2
11. Mesa (13-3, AIA #8) ↔️
12. Tucson (13-4, AIA #12) ↔️
13. Mesa Mountain View (12-4, AIA #15) ↔️
Most likely to make a run: Hamilton
Solid Playoff/Play-In teams
14. Boulder Creek (11-5, AIA #13) ⬆️1
15. Queen Creek (8-8, AIA #14) ⬆️1
16. Shadow Ridge (9-5, AIA #18) ⬇️2
17. Corona Del Sol (8-6, AIA #16) ⬆️1
18. Valley Vista (8-8, AIA #17) ⬆️5
19. Dobson (12-5, AIA #23) ⬆️1
20. Desert Vista (4-9, AIA #21) ⬆️1
21. Sandra Day O’Connor (6-10, AIA #19) ⬇️2
22. Desert Ridge (7-9, AIA #20) ⬇️5
23. Cibola (9-5, AIA #26) ⬆️1
24. Cesar Chavez (8-5, AIA #25) ⬆️1
Sneakiest team “sleeper”: Valley Vista/Dobson
Bubble teams
25. Chandler ⬆️3
26. Chaparral ⬇️ 4
27. Rincon/University ↔️
28. Mountain Ridge ⬇️2
6A Semifinals predictions
#1 Sunnyslope vs #4 Perry & #2 Brophy Prep vs #3 Mountain Pointe
Championship: #1 Sunnyslope vs #2 Brophy Prep
Champ: Brophy Prep
Enter the Seliga rankings, a ranking system that separates the top 28 teams in each conference into four separate tiers. Beside each team is their record in regular season play as of today (February 2nd) and their ranking in the AIA system. These are my rankings based off how I’ve seen these teams play both live and on film as well as their potential to succeed whether or not they make the postseason. As well as previous head to head matchups and how the team has looked as of today and whether or not they would win a rematch or beat the team ranked above or below them.
Top Tier:
“The Contenders” This tier contains the teams that most fans, media, and teams expect to be in the semifinals or playing for the championship. Ex: Sunnyslope (6A)
Second Tier:
“Dangerous Loomers” These are the teams that have the ability to make a run to the title game or semifinals that wouldn’t surprise people. These are programs that should make it past the play-in and can compete as a lower seed. Ex: Casteel (5A)
Third Tier:
“Solid Playoff/Play-In teams” These programs at this point in the season are fighting for seeding in the play-in games or are fighting to stay above 24 in the AIA rankings. Each year there’s at least one or two teams who can pull off a surprise in the play-in round/first round but overall a run to the title game would be unexpected. Ex: Youngker (4A)
Final Tier:
“The Bubble” These programs are fighting to make the play-in and either are right above the cutoff line or right below it. These teams usually have one or two guys that can possibly carry them in a play-in game, but most likely don’t have either the depth or the talent to compete against a higher seeded team.
Key:
⬆️ - Up from previous week
↔️ - No movement
⬇️ - Down from previous week
4A Boys
Contenders:
1. (⬆️1) St. Mary’s (11-3 AIA #2)- Key Game Remaining: vs Seton Catholic, Feb. 2
2. (⬆️1) Salpointe Catholic (16-0, AIA #1) - Key Game Remaining: vs 5A “#1” Buena, Feb. 4
3. (⬆️1) Peoria (14-2 AIA #3) - Key Game Remaining: vs #6 Notre Dame Prep, Feb 4
4. (⬇️3) Deer Valley (14-2, AIA #4) - Key Game Remaining: vs #8 Cactus, Feb. 4
5. (↔️) Paradise Honors (13-3, AIA #7) - Key game remaining: vs Youngker, Feb. 4
6. (⬆️2)Notre Dame Prep (14-2, AIA #5) - Key Game remaining: @ Peoria, Feb. 4
Dangerous Loomers
7. (⬇️1) Mesquite (14-1, AIA #6)
8. (↔️) Cactus (12-4 AIA #8)
Most Likely to make a run: Mesquite
Solid Playoff/play-in teams
9. Sahuaro(10-4, AIA #9) (⬆️2)
10. Coconino (12-3, AIA #10) (↔️)
11. Canyon Del Oro (8-5, AIA #12) (⬇️2)
12. Prescott (11-6, AIA #11) (↔️)
13. Dysart (11-5, AIA #13) (↔️)
14. Flagstaff (11-5, AIA #14) (⬆️2)
15. Saguaro (10-6, AIA #17) (⬆️2)
16. ALA-QC (8-6, AIA #16) (⬇️2)
17. Bradshaw Mountain (10-6, AIA #15) (⬇️2)
18. Buckeye (7-6, AIA #19) (↔️)
19. Pueblo (10-7, AIA #20) (⬆️1)
20. Mica Mountain (5-6, AIA #21) (⬇️1)
21. Desert Edge (5-11, AIA #22) (↔️)
22. Thunderbird (10-7, AIA #18) (⬆️1)
23. Estrella Foothills (7-9, AIA #23) (⬆️1)
24. Youngker (7-6, AIA #25) (⬆️2)
Sneakiest team “sleeper”: Dysart
Bubble
25. Marcos De Niza (⬇️3)
26. Cholla (⬇️1)
27. Moon Valley (↔️)
28. Poston Butte (↔️)
4A Semifinals predictions:
#1 St. Mary’s vs #4 Deer Valley & #2 Salpointe Catholic vs #3 Peoria
Championship: #1 St Mary’s vs #3 Peoria
Champ: #1 St. Mary’s
5A Boys
Contenders:
1. (⬆️4)Centennial (12-3, AIA #3)- Key Game Remaining: vs #4 Sunrise Mountain, Feb. 4
2. (⬇️1) McClintock (14-1, AIA #5)- Key Game Remaining: vs Horizon, Feb. 2
3. (⬆️1) Gilbert (14-3, AIA #2) - Key Game Remaining: vs Casteel, Feb 7
4. (⬇️2) Sunrise Mountain (14-3, AIA #4)- Key Game Remaining: @ Centennial, Feb. 4
5. (⬆️2) Millennium (12-4, AIA #6) Key Game Remaining: @ Verrado, Feb. 8
6. (⬆️2) Buena (16-0, AIA #1) Key Game Remaining: @ 4A #2 Salpointe Catholic, Feb. 4
7. (⬇️1) Apollo (11-5, AIA #7) - Key game remaining: @ Ironwood, Feb. 4
8. (⬆️1) Ironwood (10-5, AIA #11) - Key game remaining: @ Centennial, Feb. 2
Dangerous Loomers
9. Casteel (12-4, AIA #9) ⬆️1
10. Higley (12-4 AIA #8) ⬇️ 7
11. Horizon (10-5 AIA #10) ⬆️ 3
12. Catalina Foothills (13-2, AIA #12) ⬇️1
13. North Canyon (14-3, AIA #14) ⬇️1
14. Desert Mountain (10-6 , AIA #15) ⬆️2
15. Campo Verde (11-6, AIA, #13) ⬇️2
16. Willow Canyon (12-4, AIA #17) ⬇️1
Most likely to make a run: Higley
Solid Playoff/Play-In teams
17. Arcadia (10-6, AIA #16) ↔️
18. Marana (10-6, AIA #18) ↔️
19. Canyon View (11-5, AIA #21) ↔️
20. Sunnyside (11-6, AIA #19) ⬆️1
21. Ironwood Ridge (7-8, AIA #22) ⬆️2
22. Cactus Shadows (6-10, AIA #24) ⬆️2
23. Cienega (10-8, AIA #22) ⬆️3
24. Verrado (10-6, AIA #25) ⬆️3
Sneakiest team “sleeper”: Arcadia
Bubble Teams:
25. Kellis ⬇️5
26. Nogales ⬇️4
27. Carl Hayden (New)
28. Gila Ridge ⬇️3
5A Semifinals predictions:
#1 Centennial vs #4 Sunrise Mountain & #2 McClintock vs #3 Gilbert
Championship: #1 Centennial vs #3 Gilbert
Champ: #1 Centennial
6A Boys
Contenders
1. (↔️) Sunnyslope (15-1, AIA #1) - Key game remaining: vs Shadow Ridge, Feb. 8
2. (↔️) Brophy Prep (14-1, AIA #2) - Key game remaining: vs #5 Pinnacle, Feb. 5
3. (↔️) Mountain Pointe (14-1, AIA #3) - Key game remaining: vs Desert Vista, Feb. 2
4. (↔️) Perry (11-4, AIA #4) - Key game remaining: @ #8 Hamilton, Feb. 3
5. (⬆️5) Pinnacle (12-3, AIA #5) - Key game remaining: @ #2 Brophy, Feb. 5
6. (⬆️1) Highland (12-4, AIA #6) - Key game remaining: @ Desert Ridge, Feb. 3
7. (⬇️2) Liberty (12-4, AIA #10) - Key game remaining: @ Boulder Creek, Feb. 4
8. (⬇️2) Basha (10-6, AIA #7) - Key game remaining: @ Chandler, Feb. 3
Dangerous Loomers
9. Hamilton (11-5, AIA #9) ↔️
10. Maricopa (14-3, AIA #11) ⬇️2
11. Mesa (13-3, AIA #8) ↔️
12. Tucson (13-4, AIA #12) ↔️
13. Mesa Mountain View (12-4, AIA #15) ↔️
Most likely to make a run: Hamilton
Solid Playoff/Play-In teams
14. Boulder Creek (11-5, AIA #13) ⬆️1
15. Queen Creek (8-8, AIA #14) ⬆️1
16. Shadow Ridge (9-5, AIA #18) ⬇️2
17. Corona Del Sol (8-6, AIA #16) ⬆️1
18. Valley Vista (8-8, AIA #17) ⬆️5
19. Dobson (12-5, AIA #23) ⬆️1
20. Desert Vista (4-9, AIA #21) ⬆️1
21. Sandra Day O’Connor (6-10, AIA #19) ⬇️2
22. Desert Ridge (7-9, AIA #20) ⬇️5
23. Cibola (9-5, AIA #26) ⬆️1
24. Cesar Chavez (8-5, AIA #25) ⬆️1
Sneakiest team “sleeper”: Valley Vista/Dobson
Bubble teams
25. Chandler ⬆️3
26. Chaparral ⬇️ 4
27. Rincon/University ↔️
28. Mountain Ridge ⬇️2
6A Semifinals predictions
#1 Sunnyslope vs #4 Perry & #2 Brophy Prep vs #3 Mountain Pointe
Championship: #1 Sunnyslope vs #2 Brophy Prep
Champ: Brophy Prep
