Southeastern sits No. 1 in initial Class 1A state poll, Quincy High School is No. 8 in Class 4A

Southeastern defeats Peoria Christian 45-34 in the Class 1A Sectional title game on Friday, March 4, 2022 at Abingdon-Avon High School's Dunlap Gymnasium.

Southeastern coach Brett Ufkes has the Suns off to a 5-0 start and ranked No. 1 in the initial Class 1A state poll. | Photo courtesy Steve Davis

QUINCY β€” Having the best small-school player in the state leading the charge has put the Southeastern boys basketball team in the crosshairs. Having an abundance of talented underclassmen has done the same for Quincy High School.

The initial Associated Press state basketball rankings prove that.

The Suns checked in at No. 1 in Class 1A after starting the season 5-0 with the championship of the Beardstown Thanksgiving Classic in which 6-foot-7 forward Danny Stephens scored a career-high 52 points in the title game. The Suns received all of the first-place votes from a statewide panel.

Brown County received one vote in Class 1A.

In Class 4A, Quincy is ranked eighth after winning the championships of the QHS Thanksgiving Tournament for the 36th time in 51 events. The Blue Devils reached the super-sectional last season and have already shown the loss of all-state forward Jeremiah Talton isn’t a concern.

Also in Class 4A, Moline opens the season ranked No. 2. The Maroons, who are coached by former Quincy coach Sean Taylor, have two players β€” Brock Harding and Owen Freeman β€” who have signed with the University of Iowa. The Blue Devils travel to Wharton Field House in Moline for the first of two meetings with the Maroons on December 16.

In Class 3A, defending champion Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin is the No. 1-ranked team. Friday night, Quincy Notre Dame, which is receiving votes in Class 2A, will face SHG at Jim Belz Gym in Springfield.

Here is a look at the entire state poll:

Class 4A

SchoolW-LPts
1. Joliet West (1)2-137
2. Moline (3)1-136
3. Kenwood2-031
(tie) St. Rita2-231
5. Whitney Young2-124
6. Rolling Meadows5-118
7. Brother Rice5-015
8. Quincy3-08
9. Evanston Township4-07
10. Curie4-13
(tie) Lisle (Benet Academy)2-03

Others receiving votes: Glenbrook South 2. Belleville East 2. Oswego East 1. Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) 1. Rockford Auburn 1.

Class 3A

SchoolW-LPts
1. Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield)(3)1-038
2. Simeon (1)1-037
3. East St. Louis4-030
4. Metamora1-128
5. Hillcrest4-025
6. St. Ignatius4-021
7. Decatur MacArthur4-014
8. Rock Island4-010
9. Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights)4-16
10. Centralia3-04

Others receiving votes: Hyde Park 2. Lemont 2. Chicago Mt. Carmel 2. Richwoods 1.

Class 2A

SchoolW-LPts
1. DePaul College Prep(4)4-040
2. Fairbury Prairie Central5-031
3. Princeton5-030
4. St. Joseph-Ogden2-029
5. Columbia4-126
6. Chicago (Perspectives Charter Leadership)4-124
7. Rockridge3-113
8. Pinckneyville1-09
9. Breese Central4-05
10. Rockford Lutheran3-24
(tie) Breese Mater Dei1-04

Others receiving votes: Breese Mater Dei 4. Quincy Notre Dame 3. Bloomington Central Catholic 2.

Class 1A

SchoolW-LPts
1. Augusta Southeastern (4)2-040
2. Jacksonville Routt3-033
3. Casey-Westfield3-030
4. New Berlin2-126
5. Winchester-West Central0-018
6. North Clay3-113
7. Fulton3-211
8. South Beloit4-110
9. Yorkville Christian1-48
10. Scales Mound5-07

Others receiving votes: Effingham St. Anthony 5. Steeleville 4. Tuscola 4. Decatur Lutheran (LSA) 3. East Dubuque 3. Madison 2. Altamont 2. Brown County 1.

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