Preston, Declo, Watersprings earn top-rankings in final boys basketball media polls

EASTERN IDAHO — Preston and Declo each claimed their conferences’ regular-season crown but have yet to punch their ticket to the State Tournament.

Watersprings, who also finished the regular season with their conference’s top record, secured its spot in next week’s tournament by winning the district tournament Wednesday night.

RELATED | Watersprings gets buzzer-beater from Korbin Nelson to knock off Rockland in 1A D5-6 title game

Declo, who suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of Soda Springs in the district tournament, will face West Jefferson Saturday in a State play-in game. Preston will battle Pocatello for the 5A District 5 title, and the district’s lone State bid Thursday night in Preston.

Madison, Sugar-Salem, Firth, Marsh Valley and Rockland join the local teams who have already earned their state berths and find themselves among the top three team in their divisions in the final media polls of the season — release Thursday.

Here are the final poll results.

6A

TEAM (first-place votes) — Record as of Thursday — Points — Ranking last week
Team W-L Pts Pvs
1. Owyhee (10) 19-4 54 1
2. Madison (1) 21-2 44 2
3. Lake City 19-4 34 3
4. Post Falls 15-9 15 4
5. Meridian 15-9 13 t-5
Others receiving votes: Capital 3, Boise 2.

5A

TEAM (first-place votes) — Record as of Thursday — Points — Ranking last week
1. Preston (11) 21-1 55 1
2. Hillcrest 17-5 41 2
3. Lewiston 19-4 31 3
4. Middleton 16-7 21 4
5. Skyview 19-4 11 5
Others receiving votes: Pocatello 5, Bonneville 1.

4A

TEAM (first-place votes) — Record as of Thursday — Points — Ranking last week
1. Bonners Ferry (11) 21-1 55 1
2. Sugar-Salem 18-5 40 3
3. Snake River 22-3 31 2
4. Teton 17-9 12 4
t-5. Marsh Valley 13-11 9 —
t-5. Cole Valley Christian 15-6 9 —
Others receiving votes: American Falls 4, McCall-Donnelly 4, Weiser 1.

3A

TEAM (first-place votes) — Record as of Thursday — Points — Ranking last week
1. Declo (8) 22-1 44 1
2. Firth (3) 18-5 38 3
3. Wendell 17-6 31 4
4. West Side 16-7 20 2
5. Ambrose 15-8 13 5
Others receiving votes: New Plymouth 8, Soda Springs 7, Nampa Christian 2, Priest River 2.

2A

TEAM (first-place votes) — Record as of Thursday — Points — Ranking last week
1. Valley (11) 22-0 55 1
2. Kamiah 19-2 36 2
3. Kendrick 17-7 21 —
4. Riverstone 20-2 18 4
5. Logos 16-9 12 5
Others receiving votes: Lakeside 8, Grace 5, Butte County 4, Oakley 3, Victory Charter 3.

1A

TEAM (first-place votes) — Record as of Thursday — Points — Ranking last week
1. Watersprings (7) 20-3 49 2
2. Rockland (2) 20-3 45 1
3. Dietrich (2) 19-3 38 3
t-4. Carey 17-6 14 4
t-4. Cascade 17-6 14 —
Others receiving votes: Council 2, Garden Valley 2, Clearwater Valley 1.

Voters: Mark Nelke, Coeur d’Alene Press; Brandon Baney, IdahoSports.com; Brady Frederick, KTVB; Michael Lycklama, Idaho Statesman; Race Archibald, Idaho Press; Max Oswald, Bonner County Daily Bee; Adam Engel, Times-News; Kole Emplit, KMVT; Brandon Walton, Idaho State Journal; Kade Calvin, KPVI; Kalama Hines, EastIdahoSports.com.