The Emporia Gazette

February 11, 2012

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What’s a team got to do to get ranked around here?

Has the Northern Heights boys basketball team not done enough to merit a top-10 ranking in Class 3A?

The latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings came out on Monday, and as has been the norm all season, the Northern Heights boys were once again left out of the Class 3A top 10.

Yes, the undefeated, the 11-0, the demolishing-just-about-everyone-they-play Northern Heights Wildcats.

I’m not sure which coaches are putting out these rankings, but surely the Wildcats are more worthy of a spot in the polls than some of the teams already there.

I did a little research on the other teams in the top 10 in Class 3A, and right from the start, I saw some things that were a little amiss.

First off, the No. 10 team, Riley County, is just 4-7 on the year and on a three-game losing streak, a far cry from Northern Heights’ perfect record.

The No. 9 team, Beloit, has two losses. At last check, Thomas More Prep, the No. 8 team, had three losses. No. 7 Holcomb, yup, it has two losses.

In fact, the only two undefeated Class 3A teams not in the top 10 are Riverton and Northern Heights.

I realize wins and losses aren’t everything, so let’s examine the way the Wildcats are actually beating their opponents.

I thought for sure a ranking was in the offing after watching Heights in person three times last week.

I was quite impressed by the Wildcats in their three victories in the Flint Hills Shootout at White Auditorium.

On their way to the tournament championship, the Wildcats won their games by an average of 39 points. That’s three whuppings, no matter who you’re playing.

The Wildcats have what has to be the best big man in Class 3A in 6-foot-6 senior Haydon Parks, who averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in the Flint Hills Shootout. He is complemented by excellent guards like Levi Hizar, Tyler McClellan and Kenneth Bronson, who can make a game go from one or two points to a blowout in a matter of minutes.

And the Wildcats have depth. When a team has a warrior like Pete Symmonds in the starting lineup and then can bring players like big man David Hanks or spark plug Roman Murray off the bench, that makes them a dangerous team.

In Northern Heights’ case, it makes them a top-10 team, and maybe even one worthy of a top-5 ranking.

So come on, coaches. Show Northern Heights a little love.