By STEVE KNOX
Sports Connection Team
Several area basketball teams can be found among the latest Arkansas Sports Media ranking released Monday.
In the boys rankings in Class 1A 2023 state runnersup Marked Tree (15-3) received 70 total votes and 11 first place nods and sit atop the rankings. Marked Tree is eight votes ahead of second place Brinkley (13-2). The Tigers received 62 votes and 3 first place votes.
In Class 2A the Riverside Rebels (19-5) are ranked fifth and received 22 votes in the current poll. England (17-2) is the current number one team in the classification. The Cedar Ridge Timberwolves 17-4) are ranked second.
In Class 3A, the Rivercrest Colts (11-1) are ranked third behind Elkins (16-1) and Dumas (16-3) who are tied for the top spot in the classification. The Bergman Panthers, who were ranked third last week, slipped to number seven after losses at Osceola and Rivercrest.
In the girls rankings, in Class 1A, Marked Tree (15-2) sits in third place behind top ranked Mammoth Spring (22-4) and second place Norfork (20-1). The Lady Indians received 45 votes this week.
In Class 2A, the Lady Rebels of Riverside High School (16-4) are also ranked third. Riverside received 36 votes this week. Mount Vernon-Enola (24-0) is the consensus number one team receiving all 15 first place votes. Unbeaten Mansfield (15-0) is ranked second. The Lady Tigers received 59 votes this week.
In Class 3A, the only area team ranked is number 10 Manila. The Lady Lions (12-6) received one vote this week. The Bergman Lady Panthers (25-2) are the consensus choice for number one and garnered all 15 first place votes. The Lamar Lady Cardinals (15-2) are ranked second. Undefeated Fouke (20-0) is ranked third moving up one spot from the previous poll. The Lady Panthers received 45 votes in the poll.