By GREG MENGELT

Conference and sectional rivals Silver Creek and Salem will start the 2021-22 season ranked in the top 20 in the single-class Indiana Basketball Coaches Association preseason polls.

Silver Creek starts the season No. 14, while Salem is 19th. The Dragons are the defending Class 3A state champions. They defeated Salem 46-27 for the sectional championship on their way to the state championship. South Bend Washington, which Silver Creek beat to win the state title, is ranked second behind defending 4A champion Crown Point.

North Central, Noblesville, Carmel, Bedford North Lawrence, Penn, Homestead, Westfield and Zionsville round out the top 10.

Silver Creek, which went 25-3 last season, opens its 2021-22 campaign Saturday at Brown County. The Lions, who were regional champion in 2019 and state runners-up in 2020, also starts their season Saturday when they host Seymour.

The girls’ season officially begins Monday night.