The postseason brackets have been released. As the regular season comes to a close, it’s time to take one last look at preps coordinator
Zach Piatt’s area power rankings before everyone’s quest for state:
1. Cissna Park
➜ Record: 24-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 1
➜ Tip-in: The Timberwolves, now winners of 12 straight games after Wednesday night’s home win against Iroquois West, are the No. 1 seed in the Class 1A Fieldcrest Regional. Cissna Park will play either eighth-seeded Hoopeston Area or ninth-seeded Grant Park at 6 p.m. Monday in a regional semifinal game in Minonk.
2. Clinton
➜ Record: 26-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 2
➜ Tip-in: Make that 22 consecutive victories for the Maroons after Wednesday night’s home victory against Cerro Gordo/Bement. Clinton is the No. 2 seed in the Class 2A El Paso-Gridley Regional and will play either seventh-seeded Maroa-Forsyth or 10th-seeded Sangamon Valley/Tri-City at 6 p.m. next Tuesday in a regional semifinal game.
3. Watseka
➜ Record: 24-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 3
➜ Tip-in: A 59-38 loss to Cissna Park on Monday night should give the Warriors motivation entering the Class 2A postseason. Watseka, which ends the regular season at Prairie Central on Thursday night, is a No. 3 seed and will play host and sixth-seeded Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in a regional semifinal game.
4. Salt Fork
➜ Record: 23-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 4
➜ Tip-in: One of only two area programs to receive a No. 1 seed in the postseason, the Storm will play either No. 8 Uni High or No. 9 Chrisman at 6 p.m. on Monday in a Class 1A regional semifinal game in Broadlands. But first, Salt Fork ends the regular season at home on Thursday night against Schlarman.
5. Sullivan
➜ Record: 20-8
➜ Previous ranking: No. 6
➜ Tip-in: Sullivan concludes the regular season on Thursday at Warrensburg-Latham, but has a quick turnaround for its Class 2A postseason opener. The Redskins are a No. 6 seed and will host No. 11 Vandalia at 1 p.m. Saturday in a regional quarterfinal game. Beat the Vandals and No. 4 Robinson is next at 6 p.m. Monday in Teutopolis.
6. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
➜ Record: 19-10
➜ Previous ranking: No. 7
➜ Tip-in: The Falcons were challenged down the stretch and will face another quality test on Thursday against Tri-Valley. GCMS carries a No. 4 seed into the Class 1A postseason and will play either No. 6 seed Armstrong-Potomac or No. 12 Cornerstone at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in a regional semifinal game in Armstrong.
7. Iroquois West
➜ Record: 18-10
➜ Previous ranking: Not ranked
➜ Tip-in: Building some momentum to end the regular season thanks to an impressive 59-56 win at St. Joseph-Ogden on Monday, the Raiders are a No. 4 seed in the Class 1A Fieldcrest Regional. Iroquois West will play either No. 5 Fieldcrest or No. 12 Donovan at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in a regional semifinal game in Minonk.
8. St. Joseph-Ogden
➜ Record: 18-10
➜ Previous ranking: No. 5
➜ Tip-in: If the Spartans can win their seventh regional title in the past nine seasons, they’ll have earned it. SJ-O takes a No. 2 seed into the Class 2A postseason and will play either No. 7 Unity or No. 10 Westville at 6 p.m. Monday in a regional semifinal game at Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.
9. Tri-County
➜ Record: 18-5
➜ Previous ranking: No. 10
➜ Tip-in: The Titans take a three-game win streak into Thursday night’s regular-season finale against Cumberland and will look to keep the winning going when they host a Class 1A regional in Hume. Tri-County is a No. 2 seed and plays either No. 7 Oakwood or No. 10 Arcola at 6 p.m. on Monday in a regional semifinal game.
10. Mahomet-Seymour
➜ Record: 17-12
➜ Previous ranking: No. 9
➜ Tip-in: The Bulldogs will get a good, in-person scouting report at their first postseason opponent. That’s because M-S hosts Rantoul on Thursday night to end the regular season and then will square off against the Eagles again at 6 p.m. on Monday in a Class 3A regional semifinal game in Mahomet.
