DIRTY DOZEN: Changes abound before Christmas break

The games played this weekend will mark the end of the first half of the season for most teams. A few teams play on Monday.

Some of the top-ranked teams will need this break, and both the boys’ and girls’ rankings saw some shakeup this week after multiple teams took losses.

There are still four undefeated girls’ teams in our area, and Dyer County makes a fifth in West Tennessee.

But here are the new rankings:

Boys

1Haywood (15-AA) (12-1) – The Tomcats picked up two more wins on the week to hold the best winning percentage in the area. Results: Beat Westview, Milan. Last week: No. 1.

2USJ (D2-A) (8-3) – The Bruins opened the district schedule with a win over Fayette Academy. Results: Beat Fayette Academy. Last week: No. 3.

3Westview (13-AA) (7-3) – The Chargers played once last week, and it was a loss to the No. 1 team in the rankings. Results: Lost to Haywood. Last week: No. 2.

4Lexington (14-AA) (8-2) – The Tigers picked up two wins, including a road District 14-AA victory. Results: Beat Bolivar, Madison. Last week: No. 5.

5South Gibson (13-AA) (10-2) – The Hornets responded from a lull with three wins in the past week. Results: Beat Sacred Heart, Trenton Peabody, Madison. Last week: No. 9.

6South Side (14-AA) (7-5) – The Hawks won twice to increase their current winning streak to three games. Results: Beat Chester County, JCM. Last week: No. 7.

7Camden (11-AA) (7-3) – The Lions picked up a District 11-AA win to improve to 3-2 in district play during a three-game winning streak. Results: Beat Stewart County. Last week: No. 10.

8Middleton (15-A) (10-3) – The Tigers increase their winning streak to six games with two more wins on the week. Results: Beat Jackson Christian, MHEA. Last week: No. 12.

9Sacred Heart (D2) (5-3) – The Knights lost in their lone game, and it was their first loss to a West Tennessee team this season. Results: Lost to South Gibson. Last week: No. 8.

10Humboldt (14-A) (8-4) – The Vikings gave Halls its first loss to improve to 5-0 in District 14-A play and continue a five-game winning streak. Results: Beat Bradford, Halls. Last week: Not ranked.

11Huntingdon (13-A) (6-3) – The Mustangs split a pair of District 13-A games to sit at 3-2 in 13-A play. Results: Beat Clarksburg; Lost to Big Sandy. Last week: No. 11.

12McKenzie (13-A) (7-3) – The Rebels picked up three wins on the week, including two in District 13-A play. Results: Beat Gleason, Lake County, Bruceton. Last week: Not ranked.

Dropped out: North Side (5-5); Hardin County (6-5)

Girls

1Middleton (15-A) (10-0) – The Lady Tigers picked up their ninth and 10th wins on the season and are still unbeaten. Results: Beat Jackson Christian, MHEA. Last week: No. 1.

2Gibson County (14-A) (13-0) – The Lady Pioneers beat the two top competitors with them atop the 14-A standings. Results: Beat Greenfield, Union City. Last week: No. 2.

3West Carroll (13-A) (11-0) – The Lady War Eagles picked up four wins and are still undefeated thus far in the season. Results: Beat Milan, Dresden, Greenfield, Big Sandy. Last week: No. 3.

4Crockett County (13-AA) (13-0) – The Lady Cavaliers picked up two non-district wins and are still unbeaten on the season. Results: Beat Collierville, Ripley. Last week: No. 5.

5South Side (14-AA) (9-2) – The Lady Hawks picked up two wins, including one in 14-AA play, to stay unbeaten against West Tennessee teams. Results: Beat Chester County, JCM. Last week: No. 6.

6Lexington (14-AA) (7-1) – The Lady Tigers took their first loss on the season and it was in a District 14-A matchup. Results: Beat Madison; Lost to Bolivar. Last week: No. 4.

7USJ (D2-A) (9-2) – The Lady Bruins opened the district schedule with a win over Fayette Academy. Results: Beat Fayette Academy. Last week: No. 7.

8Riverside (15-A) (8-3) – The Lady Panthers won two more games and are still unbeaten in District 15-A play. Results: Beat Madison, Frank Hughes. Last week: No. 10.

9Huntingdon (13-A) (7-2) – The Fillies picked up two District 13-A wins to improve to 4-1 in district play. Results: Beat Big Sandy, Clarksburg. Last week: No. 11.

10South Gibson (13-AA) (8-3) – The Lady Hornets won three times to extend their winning streak to five games. Results: Beat Sacred Heart, Peabody, Madison. Last week: Not ranked.

11Bolivar (14-AA) (8-4) – The Lady Tigers opened the 14-AA schedule with a win over Lexington and have won four straight. Results: Beat Lexington, Liberty. Last week: Not ranked.

12Greenfield (14-A) (8-4) – The Lady Yellowjackets took two straight losses, but ended the week with a 14-A win. Results: Beat Peabody; Lost to Gibson County, West Carroll. Last week: No. 8.

Dropped out: Dresden (5-4); Peabody (6-4)

The Jackson Sun has a 13-county circulation area, and those counties are Madison, Gibson, Henderson, Chester, Hardeman, Haywood, Crockett, Weakley, Carroll, Benton, Decatur, McNairy and Hardin.

Michael Odom, 425-9754