SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings (Feb. 20)

This week's Top 25 Arkansas prep basketball rankings

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Braeden Botts 

Postseason play has begun for the smaller classifications, while the end of regular season looms for Class 5A and 6A as teams are fighting to earn their rightful spots in the postseason. Some conference top seeds have already been decided, but there is still plenty more to figure out before state tournament play begins.

1. Bentonville West (24-3)

Lost on Valentine’s Day by five points to Fayetteville, but that is just a small bump in the road considering the Wolverines have notched seven Power 25 wins in 6A-West play. That along with impressing in the non-conference slate, they still have earned the right to be the state’s top team.

2. Blytheville (29-1)

Won the 4A-3 district championship, but the Chickasaws have much bigger goals than that on their minds as they get regional play underway against Lonoke on Wednesday.

3. Jonesboro (25-3)

The win streak is now in double digits at 10-consecutive and the Hurricane, as expected, have not skipped a beat despite bumping up in classification as they aim to finish as 6A-Central champs this week.

4. Marion (23-6)

The past three wins have been a little closer than some would expect, but the Patriots are rolling and will likely close out regular season play as undefeated 5A-East champions.

5. Central (23-5)

Overcame a two-game skid and have won three-straight as a tough ending to regular season play looms with away games to No. 7 North Little Rock and No. 3 Jonesboro.

6. Har-Ber (19-6)

Have not let off the gas, winning nine of past ten games with an opportunity to notch a huge win over top-ranked Bentonville West in the regular season finale, but have to worry about Fort Smith Southside first.

7. North Little Rock (17-7)

Rebounded from a home loss against Jonesboro to defeat Bryant on the road as the defending 6A champs now face a tough stretch to end the regular season against No. 5 Central and No. 13 Cabot.

8. Farmington (31-0)

Scored at will in a 112-46 win over Berryville to win the 4A-1 district tournament and will play Pottsville in the first round of the regional bracket.

9. Springdale (21-7)

Won three of past four games falling only to top-ranked Bentonville West and if the Red Dogs take care of business in the final two regular season games they will be one of the top three seeds out of the 6A-West.

10. Fayetteville (18-9)

Came up short against Springdale after earning their biggest victory over the season over top-ranked Bentonville West, but the Purple Dogs are still one of those teams you do not want to see this time of year.

11. Bentonville (20-7)

Snapped a three-game losing streak last Friday in a win over Rogers and look to keep the pace going on the road against No. 17 Fort Smith Northside to close out 6A-West play.

12. Pine Bluff (20-7)

A shocking upset at the hands of Hot Springs Lakeside put a damper on the Zebras’ chance to go through the 5A-South unscathed, but they hope to bounce back strong Tuesday against a tough squad in No. 15 Hot Springs.

13. Cabot (18-7)

Four out of the past five contests have been victories with the only blemish to No. 5 Central, but a brutal final week of the regular season looms against No. 3 Jonesboro and No. 7 North Little Rock.

14. Lake Hamilton (22-4)

Won four of the past five contests and so long as the Wolves take care of business against White Hall and Sheridan they will clinch one of the top three seeds in the 5A-South.

15. Hot Springs (19-7)

For the second-consecutive year, the Trojans are no longer a secret in the back half of the season and they take a seven-game win streak to No. 12 Pine Bluff on Tuesday for the final game before postseason play begins.

16. Bryant (19-10)

Coming off a fantastic week that included a one-point victory over Central, the Hornets dropped their past two contests and now look for answers with the postseason looming.

17. Fort Smith Northside (16-12)

Ended a three-game losing streak with a home victory over Rogers Heritage and now face a brutal final week of the regular season against No. 11 Bentonville and No. 9 Springdale.

18. Nettleton (21-6)

Excluding two losses to No. 6 Marion, 5A-East play has gone the Raiders’ way and they look to close it out strong against Valley View and Searcy.

19. Conway (15-12)

Hard times have fallen on the Wampus Cats who have lost seven of their past nine games, including four-consecutive.

20. Magnolia (21-1)

The defending 4A champions were hardly challenged in 4A-7 play finishing 14-0 and begin their title defense against Warren in the regional tournament.

21. Little Rock Christian (22-7)

Clinched the 4A-5 conference nearly unscathed and the ultra-talented Warriors now look to make noise in postseason play starting with Highland.

22. Watson Chapel (24-7)

Won three-consecutive road contests to complete an undefeated run through the 4A-8 and open up postseason play against Ashdown.

23. Joe T. Robinson (19-8)

Possibly the scariest team in Class 4A right now, the Senators have been on a tear that includes a 12-game win streak as they hope to keep it going against Forrest City in the regional tournament.

24. Vilonia (21-7)

Emerged victorious in both games last week and will finish the regular season with Jacksonville following a road trip to Ripley Arena against Parkview.

25. Maumelle (17-11)

The presence of Markalon Rochell has been missed as the Hornets have now dropped two of their past three with Beebe up next before the state tournament begins.