4A Boys’ Basketball Power Rankings

By Brett Okamoto

Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 | 1:34 p.m.

There is plenty to play for in the final week of the basketball regular season. Minus the Northeast Division, every league still has playoff spots up for grabs.

With that in mind, here is a look at this week's power rankings.

1. Cheyenne (20-3, 11-1 Northwest Division)

The Desert Shields reclaim the top spot after losing it on the heels of a Jan. 30 loss to Palo Verde. Cheyenne faced a relatively weak schedule last week but took care of business, winning every game by double-digits. A 40-point performance by senior Demetric Williams last Friday was speculator.

2. Palo Verde (18-4, 10-2 Northwest Division)

Oh no, Panthers. The top seed out of the Northeast may be out of reach now, following a 55-52 Friday loss to Mojave at home. The Rattlers rallied behind UNLV signee Anthony Marshall's 25-point, eight-rebound, five-steal, Madison-Square-Garden-like performance. Junior Moses Morgan nearly rescued the Panthers, but his last-second 3-pointer fell just short.

3. Desert Pines (20-5, 10-0 Northeast Division)

The Jaguars are winners of eight straight and have not dropped a game since December. They picked up another pair of victories last week, cruising to a 70-59 win against Chaparral and a 78-74 win against Las Vegas High — a game they led by as much as 18 points. Desert Pines has been so perfect, even a loss to Eldorado in the season finale probably wouldn't be enough to strip them of the top seed.

4. Bishop Gorman (21-4, 13-1 Southwest Division)

After falling to Sierra Vista earlier this season for the first time in school history, we wondered if that would get the team hungry. Guess we have our answer. The Gaels have gone a perfect 10-0 since that overtime loss on the road, including a 74-70 win against Sierra Vista last Wednesday. The award for, "Team nobody wants to see in the playoffs," goes firmly to Bishop Gorman.

5. Sierra Vista (22-6, 10-3 Southwest Division)

Now it's the Mountain Lions turn. Either the 74-70 loss at Bishop Gorman that killed their chances of the top seed will fire them up or send them spiraling. If it's the former, Sierra Vista could be the dark horse out of the Sunset Regionals. If it's the latter, they could just be a regular, lightly colored one.

6. Silverado (23-4, 11-1 Southeast Division)

The Skyhawks are another team on a roll, outscoring their opponents last week 246-176. It took them longer than they wanted, but a 78-68 win over Foothill last Friday gave the Skyhawks the marquee win they've been waiting for. If they hope to make it to the Orleans for the State Championships, they'll need a few more just like that.

7. Eldorado (19-7, 8-2 Northeast Division)

A top seed may not happen for the Sun Devils with the way Desert Pines rolled through conference-play, but after putting up 162 points in two games last week, the Eldorado offense might be peaking at the right time. Four different players put up double figures in a 91-66 win over Valley. Even if it ends up meaning nothing in the standings, expect Eldorado and Desert Pines to go at it with a playoff intensity come Friday.

8. Durango (16-8, 12-2 Southwest Division)

The Trailblazers showed their ability to come back last week, defeating Bonanza 87-77 last Thursday despite trailing by six headed into the final quarter. Marcus Falley scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter of that one and has been on a tear ever since missing two weeks in the middle of the season. Durango still has a shot at the top seed if Bishop Gorman falls, but they'll have to go through Western and Sierra Vista to get it.

9. Mojave (16-7, 8-4 Northwest Division)

Well done to the Rattlers, who have won six of their last seven games to solidify a playoff spot in the toughest division in the valley. Now, what would really be fun? Taking down Centennial and Cheyenne in their final two games to end up posting a win over every Northwest team.

10. Foothill (17-8, 10-2 Southeast Division)

Among the upsets of last week, the Falcons were included in two. Unfortunately, on the short side of both. After a 64-61 loss to Coronado last Monday, the Falcons allowed Silverado senior Wade Collie to post 38 points in a crushing 78-68 loss that gave the Skyhawks the top seed in the division. The Falcons will hopefully rebound with upcoming games against two non-playoff teams.

Outside Looking In:

Legacy (13-10, 7-5 Northwest Division)

The Longhorns lose their spot in the Top 10 but not in our hearts. Playing in the Northwest can be brutal.

Las Vegas (15-10, 7-4 Northeast Division)

The Wildcats have dropped a few heart-breakers this year that would have had their name amongst the elite. Nothing a successful playoff run can't fix.