#1 Topeka Highland Park (12-0): Junction City wasn't much of a challenge for the Scots last week, as their average margin of victory hovers around 26 points per game. That's impressive, but not as much as the five quality wins HiPark has on the season. No one in Class 4A is touching that. Friday will be a huge showdown between Highland Park, the No. 1 team in 4A, traveling to Emporia, the No. 2 team in 5A. If Highland Park wins that one, it might seal its spot atop the 4A rankings for the rest of the season.
#2 Ottawa (13-0): Nothing to report on last week from the Cyclones, who took a break after winning their mid-season tournament. I realize Ottawa is winning by an insane 31.1 average margin this season, but it only has two quality victories on the season. The only thing on the slate this week is a road trip to Spring Hill on Tuesday.
#3 McPherson (11-2): After knocking off the second-best team in state and winning its mid-season tournament, McPherson turned around and did the unthinkable - drop a road game at 1-11 Circle. That's probably the upset of the season so far and it's a bad loss, but it does not discredit the body of work McPherson has logged this season. The Bullpups still have four quality victories, the second-most of anyone in Class 4A. There's no time to pity themselves this week, as McPherson hosts Andale, the No. 5 team in 4A, and Dodge City, which is receiving votes in 6A, this week.
#4 Kansas City Piper (11-2): Piper struggled a bit to put away Bonner Springs, but that might have something to do with the fact it was the third time this season it has played - and beaten - them. The Pirates move closer to McPherson, but still need one more quality win to get them in the conversation. A win on the road at Mill Valley, the No. 4 team in 5A, would do the trick. And don't count out a road tilt at Basehor on Friday. That's going to be a difficult game, as well.
#5 Andale (12-1): The Indians stretched their winning streak to 12 games, tied for the longest in the state this season. But the problem with Andale is that it only has one quality win on the season. The rest has been burying teams they probably should beat. But that will change this week, as Andale will make the road trip to McPherson on Tuesday to take on the No. 3 team in 4A and then to El Dorado, which has a respectable 9-3 record, on Friday. Big week for Andale.
#6 Hesston (11-2): The win over Hoisington was solid last week at home, but I still think that win over Wamego is the best on the season. The Swathers will get a chance to pick up another quality win this week with a road game at Haven on Tuesday. If Andale loses to McPherson and Hesston wins both of its game, it's going to be right there waiting to take over that No. 5 spot.
#7 Coffeyville (10-3): I actually have Labette County as the stronger team on the season, but Coffeyville did beat them this season so I will give them the slight edge. The Golden Tornadoes were off last week and have a stern test this Friday when it hosts Chanute.
#8 Labette County (10-2): The only thing holding them back is the tiebreaker between it and Coffeyville. Labette was off last week and should have a good game Tuesday against Chanute at home.
#9 Wamego (10-3): The Red Raiders took care of business last week to reach 10 wins on the season, including a nice win on the road at Sabetha. But it's still looking for another quality win to bump it up in the rankings. A road trip to Abilene could provide that this Tuesday with a win.
#10 Clearwater (9-3): After a rocky 3-3 start to the season, Clearwater has rattled off six straight wins and is one of the hottest teams in the class right now. The Indians pieced together solid back-to-back wins over Mulvane last week to get enough points to move up. Three games are on tap this week, though none will be a quality victory, coming away 3-0 will only keep Clearwater going in the right direction.
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