Preps 24/7: Final boys basketball rankings

With no area boys basketball teams hooping it up at sectionals this week, we'll commence with the Chronicle's final boys basketball rankings of the season. As was a season-long theme, picking a No. 1  was more process of elimination than anything else.

Coming next week: The Chronicle's boys basketball All-Area package.

10. Aurora Christian. It was a hasty departure from the 2A postseason for Aurora Christian, which paid for its youth with a nine-win season.

9. Burlington Central. The Rockets had several impressive individual outings during the course of the season (see Zach Romando at regionals), but seldom could get three or four guys playing well on the same night.

8. St. Charles East. The middle of the season showcased some inspired basketball by the resilient Saints, but the start and end of the year offered mostly frustration.

7. Marmion. It looked like the Cadets had something special cooking after an excellent start to 2010, but Marmion faded during the season's stretch run.

6. Aurora Central Catholic. An up-and-down season was given a memorable postseason highlight when Joey Guth and Co. wacked rival Marmion in the regional semis.

5. St. Francis. A regionals upset of host Wheaton Academy showed just how far the Spartans came after an abysmal, injury-riddled start to the season.

4. Kaneland. Kaneland is one of the few area teams that seemed to play its best ball at the end of the year. If big man Dave Dudzinski had just a little more help on offense ...

3. Batavia. There were plenty of ups and downs for the Bulldogs, but the play of Ricky Clopton and a pack of imposing shot-blockers made the Bulldogs an interesting team to watch.

2. Geneva. Credit the Vikings for plugging along despite a season with enough illness and injury to drag down morale. The result: 19 wins and second place in the WSC.

1. St. Charles North. A cold-shooting regional semi loss to Bartlett was hardly North's finest hour, but the North Stars held their own in a rugged UEC and flashed great promise for next season.