Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
A second Mater Dei joins this week’s divisional lists as the Crusaders from Chula Vista break through in Division IV. Three other new teams this week are from the CIF North Coast Section.
This week’s divisional state rankings for girls basketball do not include any results from section playoff games from Wednesday night. They do account for games played on Tuesday night and of course through the previous weekend.
Some section playoffs will be whittled down to the final two after the upcoming weekend. All section championships will be played from Feb. 29 through March 3.
With help from Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens, here is the fourth listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after section playoff games played on Tuesday, Feb. 21; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-3
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 26-2
3. (3) Santiago (Corona) 28-0
4. (4) Summit (Fontana) 22-3
5. (5) Berkeley 21-2
6. (6) Edison (Huntington Beach) 22-3
7. (7) Brea Olinda (Brea) 20-5
8. (8) Etiwanda 22-3
9. (9) Huntington Beach 21-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 25-6
11. (11) El Toro (Lake Forest) 24-2
12. (12) Troy (Fullerton) 18-7
13. (13) Rialto 24-1
14. (15) San Diego 23-5
15. (NR) Deer Valley (Antioch) 19-7
Drops: Previous No. 14 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove).
Bubble: Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) 20-7, Eastlake (Chula Vista) 25-3, Hanford 21-4, Heritage (Brentwood) 21-4, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 20-8, Sheldon (Sacramento) 21-7, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 24-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 20-2.
Comments: The lack of strong teams in the Sac-Joaquin, Central Coast and North Coast sections (other than Berkeley) means that the state final in this division could be more lopsided even than it has been in recent years. It’s not that there are no teams in the north that would be able to give Mater Dei or Long Beach Poly a tough game. It’s just that again other than possibly Berkeley none of those teams are Division I.
A second Mater Dei joins this week’s divisional lists as the Crusaders from Chula Vista break through in Division IV. Three other new teams this week are from the CIF North Coast Section.
This week’s divisional state rankings for girls basketball do not include any results from section playoff games from Wednesday night. They do account for games played on Tuesday night and of course through the previous weekend.
Some section playoffs will be whittled down to the final two after the upcoming weekend. All section championships will be played from Feb. 29 through March 3.
With help from Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens, here is the fourth listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after section playoff games played on Tuesday, Feb. 21; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-3
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 26-2
3. (3) Santiago (Corona) 28-0
4. (4) Summit (Fontana) 22-3
5. (5) Berkeley 21-2
6. (6) Edison (Huntington Beach) 22-3
7. (7) Brea Olinda (Brea) 20-5
8. (8) Etiwanda 22-3
9. (9) Huntington Beach 21-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 25-6
11. (11) El Toro (Lake Forest) 24-2
12. (12) Troy (Fullerton) 18-7
13. (13) Rialto 24-1
14. (15) San Diego 23-5
15. (NR) Deer Valley (Antioch) 19-7
Drops: Previous No. 14 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove).
Bubble: Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) 20-7, Eastlake (Chula Vista) 25-3, Hanford 21-4, Heritage (Brentwood) 21-4, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 20-8, Sheldon (Sacramento) 21-7, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 24-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 20-2.
Comments: The lack of strong teams in the Sac-Joaquin, Central Coast and North Coast sections (other than Berkeley) means that the state final in this division could be more lopsided even than it has been in recent years. It’s not that there are no teams in the north that would be able to give Mater Dei or Long Beach Poly a tough game. It’s just that again other than possibly Berkeley none of those teams are Division I.
Scott Kurtz/ESPNHSLucas Giolito may be a first round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft.Harvard-Westlake may have one of the best 1-2 pitching duos ever, but against the super-tough competition in Southern California it’s no guarantee for anything. The Wolverines start out the spring No. 2 in the state behind Mater Dei of Santa Ana.
Much of the preseason attention for California baseball this spring has centered on the pitching combination of Lucas Giolito and Max Fried at Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood.
Giolito was one of the top junior hurlers in the nation last season for the Wolverines and became teamed up with Fried when the athletic program at nearby Montclair Prep of Van Nuys, which is where Fried played last season, was discontinued.
Giolito was recently ranked as the No. 1 right-handed pitching prospect by ESPNHS Baseball while Fried was given the same ranking among lefties.
No matter what the two accomplish this spring and where they are picked in the Major League Baseball draft, it still will take many years before they can claim to be the best pair of pitchers any school in California has ever had.
That claim right now would have to go to Fresno High, which had two future 20-game winners in the big leagues leading the way for its famed 1958 team that went 25-1 with its only loss coming to a college freshman team. Those two were Dick Ellsworth (who later won 20 for the Chicago Cubs) and Jim Maloney (who won 20 for the Cincinnati Reds).
There’s more to elite level baseball teams, of course, than pitching. There’s defense, hitting for power, hitting in the clutch, base-running and sound coaching. Even the best and most talented baseball teams in the state we’ve seen in the last 30 years don’t always win in the playoffs. That’s just the nature of the sport itself.
The one team that seems to have the best combination of all of those factors – at least at the start of the season – is Mater Dei of Santa Ana. The Monarchs won the CIF Southern Section Division I title two years ago and should be outstanding this spring.
Here are the complete preseason top 20 state rankings (listed with last year’s records):
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-6
UCLA recruit Ty Moore hit .510 last year with 37 RBIs and went 10-2 on the mound en route to earning Orange County Player of the Year honors. But Moore isn’t the only elite player on coach Burt Call’s roster. Junior catcher Jeremy Martinez was on the USA Baseball 18U National Team that won a gold medal at the COPABE 18U/AAA Pan American Championships. Martinez also batted .388 last season for the Monarchs with 32 RBIs.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
There are no big upsets yet in any of the state’s section playoffs, but that could change by this weekend. This week’s biggest noise in the rankings comes from Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, which rolled in its league final against state-ranked St. Ignatius and had to jump into the top 15.
The Cal-Hi Sports caravan was at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills last Saturday for the West Catholic Athletic League playoff championships.
The Archbishop Mitty girls opened up the evening’s sweep by the San Jose school of both the girls and boys playoff titles with a convincing 63-47 victory over St. Ignatius of San Francisco.
In winning, coach Sue Phillips’ charges left no doubt as to who is the top team in the CIF Central Coast Section. The impressive win also enabled Mitty to jump up to No. 14 in this week’s overall state top 20.
Mitty trailed 10-7 early before going on a 17-2 run to take control. The lead got to 19 points on two occasions, and SI was never able to get closer than 13 points after trailing 52-33 early in the fourth quarter.
Monarchs’ sophomore Kelli Hayes led the way with 15 points. Senior guard Vanessa Garner had 13 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three assists. She was instrumental in taking control early and igniting the run.
Pepperdine-bound 6-foot-3 senior Amanda Lovely had a double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Emily Dinger scored 11 points with three 3-pointers, including two during the 17-2 run.
“After the loss to SI and especially this week in practice we really turned it on,” said Lovely on a post-game live video feed.
The victory was the third straight playoff title and fifth overall for the Monarchs since the league adopted girls playoffs 10 years ago.
(Through games played on Saturday, Feb. 18)
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 25-3
To say the girls flexed their muscles in the first week of the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs would be an understatement. First, the Wildcats smothered Nipomo 98-14 in the opening round. Then, in what was a display of total firepower, they posted a 115-46 blasting of Workman (City of Industry). The point total is the equivalent of 173-points in an NBA-length game. Nationally-rated sophomores Kristen Simon and Jordin Canada had double-doubles against Workman. Simon had 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Canada had 21 points and 10 assists with six rebounds and five steals. Texas-bound 6-foot-7 Imani Stafford also had a double-double 20 points and 13 rebounds with five blocks. Coach Steve Smith’s girls will ride a nine-game winning streak into a quarterfinal game with visiting JSerra of San Juan Capistrano.
There are no big upsets yet in any of the state’s section playoffs, but that could change by this weekend. This week’s biggest noise in the rankings comes from Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, which rolled in its league final against state-ranked St. Ignatius and had to jump into the top 15.
The Cal-Hi Sports caravan was at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills last Saturday for the West Catholic Athletic League playoff championships.
The Archbishop Mitty girls opened up the evening’s sweep by the San Jose school of both the girls and boys playoff titles with a convincing 63-47 victory over St. Ignatius of San Francisco.
In winning, coach Sue Phillips’ charges left no doubt as to who is the top team in the CIF Central Coast Section. The impressive win also enabled Mitty to jump up to No. 14 in this week’s overall state top 20.
Mitty trailed 10-7 early before going on a 17-2 run to take control. The lead got to 19 points on two occasions, and SI was never able to get closer than 13 points after trailing 52-33 early in the fourth quarter.
Monarchs’ sophomore Kelli Hayes led the way with 15 points. Senior guard Vanessa Garner had 13 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three assists. She was instrumental in taking control early and igniting the run.
Pepperdine-bound 6-foot-3 senior Amanda Lovely had a double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Emily Dinger scored 11 points with three 3-pointers, including two during the 17-2 run.
“After the loss to SI and especially this week in practice we really turned it on,” said Lovely on a post-game live video feed.
The victory was the third straight playoff title and fifth overall for the Monarchs since the league adopted girls playoffs 10 years ago.
(Through games played on Saturday, Feb. 18)
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 25-3
To say the girls flexed their muscles in the first week of the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs would be an understatement. First, the Wildcats smothered Nipomo 98-14 in the opening round. Then, in what was a display of total firepower, they posted a 115-46 blasting of Workman (City of Industry). The point total is the equivalent of 173-points in an NBA-length game. Nationally-rated sophomores Kristen Simon and Jordin Canada had double-doubles against Workman. Simon had 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Canada had 21 points and 10 assists with six rebounds and five steals. Texas-bound 6-foot-7 Imani Stafford also had a double-double 20 points and 13 rebounds with five blocks. Coach Steve Smith’s girls will ride a nine-game winning streak into a quarterfinal game with visiting JSerra of San Juan Capistrano.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
It’s the calm before the storm as every ranked team except two has little difficulty in games played last week. Next week, changes should occur due to tough matchups in the CIF Southern Section.
Other highlights of this week’s rankings include:
Pacific Hills of Los Angeles returns at No. 20 in only change of the week with Sacred Heart Cathedral falling out.
Salesian, De La Salle and Newark Memorial wrap up regular seasons and move into the CIF North Coast Section playoffs as D4, D1 and D2 strong favorites.
Lamond Murray Jr. and Jason Kidd Jr. both have strong outings for their state-ranked squads.
Get all the details in the ESPNHS rankings tool.
It’s the calm before the storm as every ranked team except two has little difficulty in games played last week. Next week, changes should occur due to tough matchups in the CIF Southern Section.
Other highlights of this week’s rankings include:
Pacific Hills of Los Angeles returns at No. 20 in only change of the week with Sacred Heart Cathedral falling out.
Salesian, De La Salle and Newark Memorial wrap up regular seasons and move into the CIF North Coast Section playoffs as D4, D1 and D2 strong favorites.
Lamond Murray Jr. and Jason Kidd Jr. both have strong outings for their state-ranked squads.
Get all the details in the ESPNHS rankings tool.
Willie Eashman / Ronnie Flores/ESPNHSJeremy Lin was a 2005-06 first team Cal-Hi Sports all-state choice after leading Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.) to a Division II state title. The pride of Palo Alto is the rage of the sports world. We recall his senior year in high school and revisit all of the choices that had to made for the 2006 All-State Team.
Jeremy Lin’s incredible journey from NBA benchwarmer to worldwide sensation over the last two weeks seems even more amazing when you look back at what he did during his high school years at Palo Alto.
It’s not that he wasn’t a great player for the Vikings and later at Harvard, but there never was an inkling that he would ever score like he has over the last nine games as a starter for the New York Knicks.
On Sunday in a win over the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks and often in a head-to-head matchup against Jason Kidd, the greatest point guard to ever come from Northern California, Lin scored 28 points and handed out 14 assists. That boosted his scoring average to 25.0 since becoming a starter.
Compare that to Lin’s senior year at Palo Alto. His averages were 15.1 points and 7.1 assists per game. His career scoring average at Harvard was 12.9 points, although he did have a 30-point game in a nationally televised matchup against the University of Connecticut.
La Jolla Country DayUniversity of San Diego-bound senior Maya Hood of La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.) has over 1,600 career points.Emotional leader of nation’s No. 12-ranked team ready to join 1,500-point and 1,000-rebound club. She and her twin sister are the pair to go with team’s Plum.
Maya Hood of the nationally ranked La Jolla Country Day girls basketball team near San Diego doesn’t get the hype of teammate and junior phenom Kelsey Plum, but the reality is that the 5-foot-10 senior who plays like a girl 6-foot-3 is the heart and soul of the team.
“She’s a tremendous leader, our emotional and physical leader,” said 13-year La Jolla Country Day Coach Terri Bamford of her player who is headed to the University of San Diego.
The “double-double” as Bamford calls her, or “my-oh-my” as she’s known by teammates and friends, can score and rebound as well.
Last week on Senior Night, Hood poured in 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds with three steals and two assists in a 77-25 win over league rival San Diego Horizon.
As a result of that performance, a season that shows her with eight double-doubles, and an approximate 3.3 GPA, Hood joins Plum, who won the award last year, as an ESPNHS Cal-Hi Sports State Athlete of the Week.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Folsom’s Justin Woody has one of the more improbable 47-point explosions we’ve ever seen. Plus, big numbers for big-time junior athlete Tyree Robinson of San Diego Lincoln.
Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school basketball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 11 and some games as of Tuesday, Feb. 14; contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)
Joel Anderson (Banning, Wilmington)
In a game that just didn't seem like it wanted to end, Anderson had 12 points in the extra periods to finish with 35 points in a 83-80 triple overtime win against Narbonne of Harbor City. Anderson is averaging 26 points per game.
Jamir Andrews (Dublin)
The 6-foot-2 junior went for a season-high 34 points in a 66-63 win over Martinez Alhambra.
Aaric Armstead (Bullard, Fresno)
The senior by the way of Chicago scored a career high 36 points, the fourth best in school history according to Central Section historian Bob Barnett, in a wild 87-86 overtime win by the Knights over Edison of Fresno. Armstead had 24 points after halftime.
Folsom’s Justin Woody has one of the more improbable 47-point explosions we’ve ever seen. Plus, big numbers for big-time junior athlete Tyree Robinson of San Diego Lincoln.
Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school basketball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 11 and some games as of Tuesday, Feb. 14; contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)
Joel Anderson (Banning, Wilmington)
In a game that just didn't seem like it wanted to end, Anderson had 12 points in the extra periods to finish with 35 points in a 83-80 triple overtime win against Narbonne of Harbor City. Anderson is averaging 26 points per game.
Jamir Andrews (Dublin)
The 6-foot-2 junior went for a season-high 34 points in a 66-63 win over Martinez Alhambra.
Aaric Armstead (Bullard, Fresno)
The senior by the way of Chicago scored a career high 36 points, the fourth best in school history according to Central Section historian Bob Barnett, in a wild 87-86 overtime win by the Knights over Edison of Fresno. Armstead had 24 points after halftime.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Hannah Huffman heating up for Carondelet as playoffs loom. Plus, huge triple-doubles for Cajon duo along with Fresno Central’s Tina Maxwell.
Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school basketball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 11 and some games as of Tuesday, Feb. 14; contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)
Sophie Bhasin (Cajon, San Bernardino)
She has been a triple-double machine all year long and she had two more last week as she scored 30 points with 11 rebounds and 11assists in a 73-46 win over Arroyo Valley. She later scored 38 points to go along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a 77-52 win over Carter of Rialto.
Tekerra Borden & Dalonna Jones (Merced)
Borden scored 29 points while Jones recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 21 rebounds and 12 blocks as the Bears defeated Atwater 59-38.
Hannah Huffman heating up for Carondelet as playoffs loom. Plus, huge triple-doubles for Cajon duo along with Fresno Central’s Tina Maxwell.
Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school basketball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 11 and some games as of Tuesday, Feb. 14; contributing: Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis)
Sophie Bhasin (Cajon, San Bernardino)
She has been a triple-double machine all year long and she had two more last week as she scored 30 points with 11 rebounds and 11assists in a 73-46 win over Arroyo Valley. She later scored 38 points to go along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a 77-52 win over Carter of Rialto.
Tekerra Borden & Dalonna Jones (Merced)
Borden scored 29 points while Jones recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 21 rebounds and 12 blocks as the Bears defeated Atwater 59-38.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Eight teams go into this week’s lists as newcomers, led by D5 Ribet Academy, which is going in way up at No. 4. Bullard of Fresno also jumps in front of several teams in Division I.
With the regular season coming to an end throughout the state this week, the No. 1 teams in the Cal-Hi Sports divisional state rankings for boys are Mater Dei of Santa Ana (D1), Archbishop Mitty (D2), Alemany (D3), Salesian of Richmond (D4) and St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda (D5).
Here is the third listing of boys teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Feb. 11 with some teams that have results included for this week):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-2
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 23-1
3. (3) Etiwanda 26-1
4. (4) De La Salle (Concord) 22-2
5. (5) Taft (Woodland Hills) 24-3
6. (6) Loyola (Los Angeles) 21-4
7. (7) Sheldon (Sacramento) 21-5
8. (9) Jesuit (Carmichael) 21-5
9. (11) Oxnard 24-2
10. (NR) Bullard (Fresno) 24-3
11. (8) Westchester (Los Angeles) 20-6
12. (13) Piedmont Hills (San Jose) 23-1
13. (NR) Mission Viejo 23-3
14. (NR) Fairfax (Los Angeles) 19-0
15. (14) Santa Monica 18-8
Drops: Previous No. 10 Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo); No. 12 Buchanan (Clovis); No. 15 Lutheran (Orange).
Bubble: Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 22-4, Central (Fresno) 18-6, Clovis West (Fresno) 17-5, Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta) 22-5, Foothill (Tustin) 21-5, Lutheran (Orange) 15-11, Palisades (Pacific Palisades) 16-10.
Comments: There seems to be a significant drop in the quality of teams after the first seven or eight in this division. We had three teams from down below drop out for the second straight week, partly because a lot of these teams are inconsistent. Bullard of Fresno avenged a loss to San Joaquin Memorial with a win over the Panthers early this week and has been ranked on top by the Fresno Bee for most of the season. Mission Viejo also avenged a loss last week by knocking off Capistrano Valley.
Eight teams go into this week’s lists as newcomers, led by D5 Ribet Academy, which is going in way up at No. 4. Bullard of Fresno also jumps in front of several teams in Division I.
With the regular season coming to an end throughout the state this week, the No. 1 teams in the Cal-Hi Sports divisional state rankings for boys are Mater Dei of Santa Ana (D1), Archbishop Mitty (D2), Alemany (D3), Salesian of Richmond (D4) and St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda (D5).
Here is the third listing of boys teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Feb. 11 with some teams that have results included for this week):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-2
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 23-1
3. (3) Etiwanda 26-1
4. (4) De La Salle (Concord) 22-2
5. (5) Taft (Woodland Hills) 24-3
6. (6) Loyola (Los Angeles) 21-4
7. (7) Sheldon (Sacramento) 21-5
8. (9) Jesuit (Carmichael) 21-5
9. (11) Oxnard 24-2
10. (NR) Bullard (Fresno) 24-3
11. (8) Westchester (Los Angeles) 20-6
12. (13) Piedmont Hills (San Jose) 23-1
13. (NR) Mission Viejo 23-3
14. (NR) Fairfax (Los Angeles) 19-0
15. (14) Santa Monica 18-8
Drops: Previous No. 10 Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo); No. 12 Buchanan (Clovis); No. 15 Lutheran (Orange).
Bubble: Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 22-4, Central (Fresno) 18-6, Clovis West (Fresno) 17-5, Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta) 22-5, Foothill (Tustin) 21-5, Lutheran (Orange) 15-11, Palisades (Pacific Palisades) 16-10.
Comments: There seems to be a significant drop in the quality of teams after the first seven or eight in this division. We had three teams from down below drop out for the second straight week, partly because a lot of these teams are inconsistent. Bullard of Fresno avenged a loss to San Joaquin Memorial with a win over the Panthers early this week and has been ranked on top by the Fresno Bee for most of the season. Mission Viejo also avenged a loss last week by knocking off Capistrano Valley.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
There are only four new teams this week in the five CIF divisions combined. Still No. 1 are Mater Dei of Santa Ana (D1), St. Mary’s of Stockton (D2), Bishop O’Dowd (D3), Windward (D4) and Mission Prep (D5).
Beginning this week, state-ranked teams by Cal-Hi Sports can theoretically lose in a section playoff game and see their seasons come to a quick and stunning end.
Most of the state still has one week to go in the regular season, but the massive CIF Southern Section will begin to pare down teams this week.
Here is the third listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Feb. 11 with some teams that have results included for this week; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 23-3
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 24-2
3. (3) Santiago (Corona) 27-0
4. (4) Summit (Fontana) 21-3
5. (5) Berkeley 19-2
6. (6) Edison (Huntington Beach) 21-3
7. (7) Brea Olinda (Brea) 20-5
8. (8) Etiwanda 21-3
9. (9) Huntington Beach 21-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 23-6
11. (11) El Toro (Lake Forest) 23-2
12. (12) Troy (Fullerton) 17-7
13. (14) Rialto 23-1
14. (NR) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 19-7
15. (13) San Diego 21-5
Drops: Previous No. 15 Lincoln (Stockton).
Bubble: Centennial (Corona) 21-6; Deer Valley (Antioch) 17-7, Eastlake (Chula Vista) 23-3, Hanford 19-4, Heritage (Brentwood) 19-4, M.L. King (Riverside) 16-10, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 22-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 18-2.
Comments: The very top teams in this division probably won’t get tested until the later rounds of the section playoffs, even the top four who are in the Southern Section. That section, along with the L.A. City, is done for the regular season. Pleasant Grove is this week’s only newcomer. We already know that the Eagles have a win this week over previous No. 15 Lincoln of Stockton, but the Trojans were going to drop anyway due to a different loss last week to St. Francis of Sacramento. Pleasant Grove also has a head-to-head win over San Diego.
There are only four new teams this week in the five CIF divisions combined. Still No. 1 are Mater Dei of Santa Ana (D1), St. Mary’s of Stockton (D2), Bishop O’Dowd (D3), Windward (D4) and Mission Prep (D5).
Beginning this week, state-ranked teams by Cal-Hi Sports can theoretically lose in a section playoff game and see their seasons come to a quick and stunning end.
Most of the state still has one week to go in the regular season, but the massive CIF Southern Section will begin to pare down teams this week.
Here is the third listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Feb. 11 with some teams that have results included for this week; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 23-3
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 24-2
3. (3) Santiago (Corona) 27-0
4. (4) Summit (Fontana) 21-3
5. (5) Berkeley 19-2
6. (6) Edison (Huntington Beach) 21-3
7. (7) Brea Olinda (Brea) 20-5
8. (8) Etiwanda 21-3
9. (9) Huntington Beach 21-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 23-6
11. (11) El Toro (Lake Forest) 23-2
12. (12) Troy (Fullerton) 17-7
13. (14) Rialto 23-1
14. (NR) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 19-7
15. (13) San Diego 21-5
Drops: Previous No. 15 Lincoln (Stockton).
Bubble: Centennial (Corona) 21-6; Deer Valley (Antioch) 17-7, Eastlake (Chula Vista) 23-3, Hanford 19-4, Heritage (Brentwood) 19-4, M.L. King (Riverside) 16-10, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 22-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 18-2.
Comments: The very top teams in this division probably won’t get tested until the later rounds of the section playoffs, even the top four who are in the Southern Section. That section, along with the L.A. City, is done for the regular season. Pleasant Grove is this week’s only newcomer. We already know that the Eagles have a win this week over previous No. 15 Lincoln of Stockton, but the Trojans were going to drop anyway due to a different loss last week to St. Francis of Sacramento. Pleasant Grove also has a head-to-head win over San Diego.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Alemany knocks off Chaminade and makes a move into this week’s rankings. The only other change sees St. Mary’s of Stockton and Bishop O’Dowd switching positions with the Rams going up after last Saturday’s win.
This is the time of the season when the cream rises to the top, as the best teams are either in their respective section playoffs, finishing up league play, or in league playoffs in preparation of section playoffs.
The bottom line is at this time of the year there are very few surprises.
Certainly the 76-67 win by St. Mary's of Stockton over Bishop O'Dowd of Oakland last Saturday wasn't really a surprise, considering the last time the three-time defending state champions lost at home was to the Danielle Robinson-led Archbishop Mitty of San Jose team six years ago.
The bottom line was St. Mary's was the better prepared team and executed its game plan of all-out pressing and excellent 3-point shooting perfectly, especially early on.
Courtney Range was dominant in the paint, Charise Holloway converted scoring opportunities, Regina Camera hit from outside and played good defense, and Onome Jemerigbe was a significant contributor on both ends of the court.
The strategy of Coach Tom Gonsalves also successfully got O'Dowd's two big girls, K.C. Waters and Oderah Chidom, in foul trouble early.
Was this the same team that lost 71-52 in early January to La Jolla Country Day?
"We're a much better team than we were then. We're at a different level now," Gonsalves told Cal-Hi Sports after the O'Dowd win.
"We needed this game," said Range, who finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. "In Arizona and against Country Day we didn't play that well. As a team, we needed to prove we could play against good teams."
The only other rumble in the rankings this week occurred toward the bottom where Alemany of Mission Hills won the grudge match of the three games with West Hills Chaminade to reclaim that spot.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 11)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 23-3
After the big win over Mater Dei two weeks ago, the Wildcats finished Alpha League play with running-clock victories over Campbell Hall of North Hollywood and crosstown Pacific Hills. No one gets a bye in the 32-team CIF Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs, so the top seed will open at home on Thursday against Nipomo.
Alemany knocks off Chaminade and makes a move into this week’s rankings. The only other change sees St. Mary’s of Stockton and Bishop O’Dowd switching positions with the Rams going up after last Saturday’s win.
This is the time of the season when the cream rises to the top, as the best teams are either in their respective section playoffs, finishing up league play, or in league playoffs in preparation of section playoffs.
The bottom line is at this time of the year there are very few surprises.
Certainly the 76-67 win by St. Mary's of Stockton over Bishop O'Dowd of Oakland last Saturday wasn't really a surprise, considering the last time the three-time defending state champions lost at home was to the Danielle Robinson-led Archbishop Mitty of San Jose team six years ago.
The bottom line was St. Mary's was the better prepared team and executed its game plan of all-out pressing and excellent 3-point shooting perfectly, especially early on.
Courtney Range was dominant in the paint, Charise Holloway converted scoring opportunities, Regina Camera hit from outside and played good defense, and Onome Jemerigbe was a significant contributor on both ends of the court.
The strategy of Coach Tom Gonsalves also successfully got O'Dowd's two big girls, K.C. Waters and Oderah Chidom, in foul trouble early.
Was this the same team that lost 71-52 in early January to La Jolla Country Day?
"We're a much better team than we were then. We're at a different level now," Gonsalves told Cal-Hi Sports after the O'Dowd win.
"We needed this game," said Range, who finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. "In Arizona and against Country Day we didn't play that well. As a team, we needed to prove we could play against good teams."
The only other rumble in the rankings this week occurred toward the bottom where Alemany of Mission Hills won the grudge match of the three games with West Hills Chaminade to reclaim that spot.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 11)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 23-3
After the big win over Mater Dei two weeks ago, the Wildcats finished Alpha League play with running-clock victories over Campbell Hall of North Hollywood and crosstown Pacific Hills. No one gets a bye in the 32-team CIF Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs, so the top seed will open at home on Thursday against Nipomo.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
No. 1 Mater Dei starts the CIFSS Div. IAA playoffs as the top seed, but an even tougher bracket in that section could be Div. IVAA where No. 11 Serra of Gardena, No. 15 Bishop Montgomery, No. 16 La Verne Lutheran, No. 17 Price and No. 18 Windward all reside.
Other highlights of this week’s rankings include:
De La Salle of Concord getting back into the top five with two more wins keyed by senior point guard Amadi Udenyi.
McDonald’s All-American Grant Jerrett and Eric Cooper Jr. both shine for La Verne Lutheran in overtime win against Price.
Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco does not drop after losing overtime thriller to higher-ranked Archbishop Mitty
Get all the details in the ESPNHS rankings tool.
No. 1 Mater Dei starts the CIFSS Div. IAA playoffs as the top seed, but an even tougher bracket in that section could be Div. IVAA where No. 11 Serra of Gardena, No. 15 Bishop Montgomery, No. 16 La Verne Lutheran, No. 17 Price and No. 18 Windward all reside.
Other highlights of this week’s rankings include:
De La Salle of Concord getting back into the top five with two more wins keyed by senior point guard Amadi Udenyi.
McDonald’s All-American Grant Jerrett and Eric Cooper Jr. both shine for La Verne Lutheran in overtime win against Price.
Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco does not drop after losing overtime thriller to higher-ranked Archbishop Mitty
Get all the details in the ESPNHS rankings tool.
Mark Tennis/ESPNHSCourtney Range and Charise Holloway both shined for St. Mary's in big win over Bishop O'Dowd.Special night for longtime L.A. Fremont boys coach Sam Sullivan
Rams beat Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland in matchup of region’s top two teams. Courtney Range, Charise Holloway both star for St. Mary’s.
Since winning a memorable 2009 CIF Division III Northern California title game over Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco, the St. Mary’s of Stockton girls basketball team has for the most part ruled the region.
According to the final Cal-Hi Sports state rankings, the Rams were the top-ranked team in Northern California after winning CIF state titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011, but in order to make it an unprecedented four in a row it was paramount for them to beat visiting Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland on Saturday afternoon at Morelli Gym in Stockton.
Bishop O’Dowd actually came into Saturday’s game as the higher-ranked team at No. 5 in the state and No. 1 in the region. The Dragons also will be in a different state playoff division than St. Mary’s, which meant the winner Saturday would have the rankings edge at the end of the season.
With the home crowd rocking, the Rams buried eight of their first 11 shots from beyond the 3-point line and were successful getting the game into a frantic pace in the first half. The Dragons mounted a fourth quarter comeback, but had to come from too far behind and ended up with a 76-67 defeat.
Harold Abend/ESPNHSESPNHS Cal-Hi Sports State Athlete of the Week Gokul Natesan of Cupertino has a 4.38 GPA to go with 253 career three-pointers. Gokul Natesan will end up No. 2 on the Cupertino all-time scoring list behind Kurt Rambis and knows when to take over a game. He’s perhaps even more impressive academically with a 4.38 GPA.
It was late in the third quarter and the Cupertino boys basketball team only led visiting Los Gatos 32-27 when star player Gokul Natesan got even busier than he already had been.
Natesan (pronounced Nah-tay-san) already had 19 of his team’s points, but then he completely took over. He scored off a steal, then drained an NBA-range 3-pointer to make it 39-31 entering the final period.
Gokul started the first two minutes of the fourth quarter with a block and a basket off a steal, another steal, another block and another NBA-length trey ball that pretty much sealed a 58-41 victory.
Even the Cal-Hi Sports caravan’s presence at the Wednesday night game earlier this week couldn’t kibosh Natesan’s performance. The 6-foot-3 senior finished with 31 points on six 3-pointers, five rebounds, five steals, three assists and three blocks.
Last week, in a 54-47 win on the road at De Anza League rival Palo Alto, the 4.38 GPA student-athlete had 32 points and drained seven 3-pointers.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Sacramento’s Schwartz-Edmisten pushes scoring average near 35 points per game. Plus, more big numbers for Aaron Gordon and Grant Verhoeven.
Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school basketball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 4 and some games as of Tuesday, Feb. 7)
Sam Borst-Smith (Peninsula, Rolling Hills Estates)
He scored a team-high 31 points as the Panthers picked up a 64-56 Bay League win over Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach.
Jordan Franklin (Trinity Prep, Napa)
It would be wise for opponents to learn the name of this talented sophomore as he scored 34 points for the second game in a row earlier this week in a 52-34 win over Freedom Christian.
Sacramento’s Schwartz-Edmisten pushes scoring average near 35 points per game. Plus, more big numbers for Aaron Gordon and Grant Verhoeven.
Note: We’re proud once again to collect weekly writeups of the most significant individual high school basketball totals in California. We use these as the basis for updating the state record book, which has been published seven times, most recently in the spring of 2009. To report a state stat star of your own, please email highlights to Mark.Tennis@espn.com.
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 4 and some games as of Tuesday, Feb. 7)
Sam Borst-Smith (Peninsula, Rolling Hills Estates)
He scored a team-high 31 points as the Panthers picked up a 64-56 Bay League win over Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach.
Jordan Franklin (Trinity Prep, Napa)
It would be wise for opponents to learn the name of this talented sophomore as he scored 34 points for the second game in a row earlier this week in a 52-34 win over Freedom Christian.
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