COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The NWBA Junior Division announced its 2016-17 December Rankings for Varsity and Prep levels of play. The rankings include the Top 40 teams for Varsity and Top 25 teams for Prep.
The undefeated (16-0) Dallas Jr. Mavericks - Blue enter the rankings for Varsity in the No. 1 slot for the first time for their Varsity team. A record that includes six wins versus top 10 ranked teams in Varsity. The Dallas Jr. Mavericks – Blue are led by seniors Tyler Buysse of Gunter, Texas and Zachary Steger of Richardson, Texas.
The Atlanta BlazeSports Jr. Wheelchair Hawks have a single blemish to their resume this season with a record of 10-1 and currently are ranked second. Contributors on offense for the BlazeSports Jr. Hawks include Samuel Armas of Villa Rica, Georgia and Joshua Joines of Kenneshaw, Georgia.
The defending Varsity national champions, Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves, come in as the third-ranked squad in Varsity. Rounding out the top five ranked teams in Varsity are the TIRR Memorial Hermann Jr. Hotwheels and Mary Free Bed Jr. Pacers – A.
The top 16 ranked teams for Varsity will earn an invite to play in the National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NJWBT) at the 2017 National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NWBT) presented by ABC medical in Louisville, Kentucky, March 30-April 2. Outside of the top four ranked teams, the following Varsity teams have received an automatic bid from results of Qualifying Junior Division Regional Tournaments to attend the 2017 NWBT: Denver Jr. Rolling Nuggets and Utah Rush – Varsity. Teams ranked 17-32 will receive an invite to participate in the National Junior Invitational Tournament at the 2017 NWBT. If a team does not accept their bid for post season play, invitations will be sent to the next team, in order of ranking, until both tournaments are filled.
The 5-0 Charlotte Jr. Hornets - Prep come in as the number one ranked team for the Prep level of play. The Jr. Hornets – Purple are led on both sides of the ball by Preston Howell of Charlotte, North Carolina, 2016-17 NWBA Junior Prep Player of the Week for the week of October 31.
The Chicago Skyhawks – Prep are ranked second as they look to defend their crown from the 2016 National Prep Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.
The WASA Bucks – Prep currently hold the No. 3 spot for Prep with a 9-1 record. The WASA Bucks – Prep are an offensively charged team having scored at least 24 points in all but one game and scoring more than 30 points four times.
The top 16 ranked teams from Prep are initially offered an invitation to participant in the National Prep Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NPWBT) at the 2017 NWBT. After confirming the intent to attend of the top 16 teams an invitation is sent to the remaining teams to fill all16 slots for the NPWBT.
2016-17 December Rankings – Varsity
*Automatic Regional Bid
**Automatic Conference Bid
2016-17 December Rankings – Prep
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