Odessa boys, Warden girls lead locals in RPI rankings

The prep basketball season is just about halfway through.

The postseason looms and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s RPI rankings are available on the organization’s website today. The rankings launched early on the WIAA’s application and some local programs are poised for a strong second half.

Teams ranked from first to eighth play each other in the regional round for a first-round bye at the state tournament. Those ranked ninth through sixteenth play each other in loser-out games during regionals.

Odessa is the highest-ranked boys program, sitting in first in Class 1B with a 6-0 record. Ephrata boys basketball (6-2) is ranked seventh in 2A and Almira/Coulee-Hartline (3-4) is ranked 15th in 1B. Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (6-3) is near the cutoff point with a ranking of 22nd.

There are six girls basketball programs ranked inside the top 20. Undefeated Warden leads the way with a second-place ranking in 1A. The Cougars boast a well-rounded team led by sophomores Kiana Rios and Jaryn Madsen.

Despite a record of only 1-0, Wilson Creek is ranked eighth in 1B and league mate Moses Lake Christian (2-2) is 11th. Moses Lake (7-2) climbed as high as second before losses to Sunnyside and Central Valley moved them down to 11th in 4A. The Chiefs will have a chance to improve their position with a matchup against King’s, the 11th-ranked team in 1A.

Odessa (5-2) and Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (5-4) are ranked 17th and 19th in 1B and 2B, respectively.

— Staff report