It’s taken two months in to the high school boys basketball season but finally there is a unanimous #1 in the John A. Logan College SI Basketball Poll. The Centralia retained the #1 spot, garnering all first place votes from this week’s voters after winning over Mt. Vernon in the Salem Invitational Championship 44-32. That victory also marked the Orphans’ nation-leading 2,400th program victory.
Murphysboro slides in to the #5 spot after an impressive showing against Pinckneyville at the Sparta Mid-Winter Classic championship game, albeit in a 58-49 loss. That rise for the Red Devils came partly in thanks to Benton sliding from #4 to #6 following a 75-65 loss to Meridian at the Benton Invitational Championship on Saturday.
Meridian’s victory pushed the Bobcats back in to the Top 10. Nashville has taken their place as the team on the outside looking in.
Here’s a look at the Full Rankings:
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Points | Rank Last Week |
| 1 | Centralia (10) | 100 | 1 (-) |
| 2 | Mt. Vernon | 83 | 2 (-) |
| 3 | Pinckneyville | 73 | 3 (-) |
| 4 | Marion | 69 | 5 (+1) |
| 5 | Murphysboro | 49 | 6 (+1) |
| 6 | Benton | 47 | 4 (-2) |
| 7 | Waltonville | 31 | 8 (+1) |
| 8 | Meridian | 30 | NR |
| 9 | Herrin | 26 | 7 (-2) |
| 10 | Goreville | 25 | 10 (-) |
Also receiving votes: Nashville 14, Carterville 3
*The John A. Logan SI Basketball Poll is voted on by a trusted group of area coaches and media members each week
