Hard work is paying off for the Escambia County Blue Devils as they come into the final stretch of five games before the postseason begins.

The Blue Devils (15-6, 4-0) have won nine consecutive games and 14 of their last 16 after opening the season 1-4.

That run has helped earn them a spot in the ASWA rankings where they now sit at No. 7 in Class 4A.

Blue Devils head coach Anthony Hayes said it’s nice to see the work his kids have put being recognized.

“We didn’t know about the ranking until now,” he said. “We watch it, but we don’t let it consume us. Our kids are working hard and it’s an honor for that work to pay off like this.”

The new ranking will be put to the test tonight when the Blue Devils host the Class 4A No. 6-ranked Hillcrest Jaguars.

This will be the third time the two teams have faced off this season with the Jaguars winning the first meeting 63-57 and the second 59-57. Both of those games featured the Blue Devils with a smaller roster due to football season.

In AISA, the undefeated Escambia Academy Cougars (15-0) are still sitting steady at No. 7.

BOYS

CLASS 6A

1. Carver-Montgomery (24-1)

2. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (20-3)

3. Gadsden City (18-2)

4. Sparkman (15-6)

5. Bob Jones (18-8)

6. Homewood (20-3)

7. Central-Phenix City (17-7)

8. Spain Park (18-8)

9. Florence (17-6)

10. Mountain Brook (20-5)

CLASS 5A

1. Lee-Huntsville (17-7)

2. Woodlawn (19-5)

3. Pleasant Grove (18-5)

4. Parker (17-7)

5. Wenonah (20-4)

6. Sylacauga (15-7)

7. Albertville (20-5)

8. B.T. Washington-Tuskegee (13-2)

9. Wilcox Central (16-7)

10. Talladega (20-3)

CLASS 4A

1. Butler (22-2)

2. Andalusia (23-2)

3. Midfield (14-7)

4. Dallas County (19-4)

5. Calera (17-6)

6. Hillcrest-Evergreen (19-4)

7. Escambia County (15-6)

8. Dadeville (14-4)

9. Jackson (15-5)

10. Anniston (13-7)

CLASS 3A

1. Sumter County (23-3)

2. Carbon Hill (19-0)

3. Glencoe (19-4)

4. Holly Pond (20-4)

5. Greensboro (18-5)

6. Clarke County (19-1)

7. Lauderdale County (18-4)

8. Sardis (20-8)

9. Saks (14-5)

10. Piedmont (16-7)

CLASS 2A

1. Section (19-3)

2. Tanner (18-3)

3. Vincent (19-6)

4. Barbour County (21-3)

5. Cold Springs (18-6)

6. Mars Hill Bible (18-6)

7. Houston County (18-7)

8. Holy Family (12-8)

9. Central-Hayneville (16-9)

10. North Sand Mountain (15-8)

CLASS 1A

1. Pickens County (19-1)

2. Cedar Bluff (19-2)

3. Skyline (15-5)

4. J.F. Shields (14-7)

5. Parkway Christian (16-11)

6. St. Jude (17-3)

7. Holy Spirit (19-6)

8. Belgreen (17-3)

9. Collinsville (15-7)

10. Alabama School for the Deaf (20-1)

AISA

1. Evangel Christian (21-2)

2. Restoration (18-1)

3. Lee-Scott (20-3)

4. Prattville Christian (23-6)

5. Hooper (18-4)

6. Springwood (14-3)

7. Escambia Academy (15-0)

8. Crenshaw Christian (16-6)

9. Southern Academy (14-5)

10. Dixie Academy (17-4)