ESPNHS California: Windward (Los Angeles)
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There won’t be a Long Beach Poly-Mater Dei showdown in the Southern Section after Jackrabbits get upset in Tuesday semifinal by Brea Olinda. Also on the move up are Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills.
For most of the season it has seemed that defending CIF Division I state champ Mater Dei of Santa Ana would get a stern test in this year’s CIF Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs from Long Beach Poly.
The Monarchs and Jackrabbits have been No. 1 and No. 2 in the divisional state rankings just about all season. They won’t be playing in that section final this weekend, however. The Jackrabbits were knocked off in a 49-43 upset in Tuesday’s semifinals by Brea Olinda.
While this Brea team isn’t as talented as teams that took on Mater Dei in recent years, the Ladycats played inspiring defense in shutting down Long Beach Poly and got a strong outing from senior guard Taylor Spears, who scored 14 points.
The Jackrabbits had cut the Brea lead down to two points with just under one minute play, but couldn’t get a key basket and then had to foul.
Mater Dei, meanwhile, had no trouble in its semifinal game against previously unbeaten Santiago of Corona. The Monarchs won 71-32 and will now face Brea in the finals.
All other section championships around the state will be determined by the end of this weekend. On Sunday, March 4, CIF section commissioners will gather in two locations to seed the Northern California and Southern California regional tournaments. We will have our recommendations for the top seeds posted here as soon as possible throughout the weekend so check back frequently to see if your school’s division is done.
With help from Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens, here is the fifth listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after section playoff games played on Tuesday, Feb. 28 but rankings do not include any results from later in the week; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 29-3
2. (7) Brea Olinda (Brea) 23-5
3. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 28-3
4. (3) Santiago (Corona) 30-1
5. (4) Summit (Fontana) 25-3
6. (5) Berkeley 22-2
7. (9) Huntington Beach 24-4
8. (6) Edison (Huntington Beach) 23-4
9. (8) Etiwanda 23-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 26-6
11. (11) El Toro (Lake Forest) 26-3
12. (12) Troy (Fullerton) 19-8
13. (14) San Diego 25-5
14. (15) Deer Valley (Antioch) 20-7
15. (NR) Hanford 22-4
Drops: Previous No. 13 Rialto.
Bubble: Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) 20-8, Granite Hills (El Cajon) 29-3*, Heritage (Brentwood) 22-4, Kennedy (Sacramento) 22-8, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 23-7, Rialto 25-2, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 25-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 21-2.
Comments: With Long Beach Poly going down and Mater Dei completely dominating previously unbeaten Santiago, it doesn’t look like the Monarchs are going to be denied a third straight CIF state title. They will now face Brea Olinda in the CIFSS Div. I-AA final on Friday, but the matchup certainly doesn’t have the impact as when the two teams played each other in 2010 and 2011. Another Orange County team advancing to the CIFSS Div. I-A final was Huntington Beach. The Oilers avenged an earlier loss by topping El Toro 51-39 and would now be back in front of the Chargers in the rankings. When we did the new overall top 20 on Tuesday, we put El Toro higher due to the previous win. Huntington Beach now gets Summit in this weekend’s title game.
There won’t be a Long Beach Poly-Mater Dei showdown in the Southern Section after Jackrabbits get upset in Tuesday semifinal by Brea Olinda. Also on the move up are Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills.
For most of the season it has seemed that defending CIF Division I state champ Mater Dei of Santa Ana would get a stern test in this year’s CIF Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs from Long Beach Poly.
The Monarchs and Jackrabbits have been No. 1 and No. 2 in the divisional state rankings just about all season. They won’t be playing in that section final this weekend, however. The Jackrabbits were knocked off in a 49-43 upset in Tuesday’s semifinals by Brea Olinda.
While this Brea team isn’t as talented as teams that took on Mater Dei in recent years, the Ladycats played inspiring defense in shutting down Long Beach Poly and got a strong outing from senior guard Taylor Spears, who scored 14 points.
The Jackrabbits had cut the Brea lead down to two points with just under one minute play, but couldn’t get a key basket and then had to foul.
Mater Dei, meanwhile, had no trouble in its semifinal game against previously unbeaten Santiago of Corona. The Monarchs won 71-32 and will now face Brea in the finals.
All other section championships around the state will be determined by the end of this weekend. On Sunday, March 4, CIF section commissioners will gather in two locations to seed the Northern California and Southern California regional tournaments. We will have our recommendations for the top seeds posted here as soon as possible throughout the weekend so check back frequently to see if your school’s division is done.
With help from Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens, here is the fifth listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after section playoff games played on Tuesday, Feb. 28 but rankings do not include any results from later in the week; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 29-3
2. (7) Brea Olinda (Brea) 23-5
3. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 28-3
4. (3) Santiago (Corona) 30-1
5. (4) Summit (Fontana) 25-3
6. (5) Berkeley 22-2
7. (9) Huntington Beach 24-4
8. (6) Edison (Huntington Beach) 23-4
9. (8) Etiwanda 23-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 26-6
11. (11) El Toro (Lake Forest) 26-3
12. (12) Troy (Fullerton) 19-8
13. (14) San Diego 25-5
14. (15) Deer Valley (Antioch) 20-7
15. (NR) Hanford 22-4
Drops: Previous No. 13 Rialto.
Bubble: Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) 20-8, Granite Hills (El Cajon) 29-3*, Heritage (Brentwood) 22-4, Kennedy (Sacramento) 22-8, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 23-7, Rialto 25-2, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 25-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 21-2.
Comments: With Long Beach Poly going down and Mater Dei completely dominating previously unbeaten Santiago, it doesn’t look like the Monarchs are going to be denied a third straight CIF state title. They will now face Brea Olinda in the CIFSS Div. I-AA final on Friday, but the matchup certainly doesn’t have the impact as when the two teams played each other in 2010 and 2011. Another Orange County team advancing to the CIFSS Div. I-A final was Huntington Beach. The Oilers avenged an earlier loss by topping El Toro 51-39 and would now be back in front of the Chargers in the rankings. When we did the new overall top 20 on Tuesday, we put El Toro higher due to the previous win. Huntington Beach now gets Summit in this weekend’s title game.
Mark Tennis/ESPNHSRejane Verin (second from left) and the rest of the Gardena Serra girls have earned a return trip to the CIFSS championships in Anaheim.Serra of Gardena posts two eye-opening wins and goes from unranked to No. 16 in this week’s rankings. The Cavaliers take on No. 1 Windward in CIFSS final.
The Cal-Hi Sports caravan was busy last week covering mostly boys in the CIF North Coast Section and CIF Central Coast Section, but we did have an opportunity to take in the Carondelet of Concord versus Northgate of Walnut Creek quarterfinal matchup in the NCS that preceded the host De La Salle boys game in Concord.
The Cougars led from start to finish, bolting out to a 24-9 lead after one quarter en route to an 87-58 victory.
Notre Dame-bound senior guard Hannah Huffman led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds with three assists. Super sophomore Natalie Romeo added 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior Melissa Russi chipped in with 11 points.
Top-ranked Windward, meanwhile, proved that no matter how good you are, a poor shooting night in the playoffs can keep a game close, especially against a quality opponent like St. Bernard of Playa del Rey, which moved up to D4 after finishing as the D5 state runner-up last season.
Windward prevailed 59-52 in the CIF Southern Section Div. 4AA semifinal, but it was anything but a cakewalk.
“It’s a good thing Imani (Stafford) showed up and that Jordin Canada wasn’t going to let us lose,” Windward coach Steve Smith told Cal-Hi Sports.
“We were 2-for-18 on threes and they dared us to shoot it,” continued Smith.
Stafford, who is still not totally at full tilt after rehabbing the summer and fall, missed several layups and only finished with 10 points, but the 6-foot-7 Texas-bound post had 21 rebounds, six blocks, and altered several shots that missed.
Sophomore Canada had a game-high 19 points (four rebounds, three steals, two assists) and along with Stafford, the pair keyed a 13-4 run that pushed the Wildcats' lead to 50-37 early in the fourth quarter and sealed the deal.
(Through games played on Saturday, Feb. 25)
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 27-3
Coach Smith has been raving about the play of sophomore Kristen Simon. “Next year, this will be her team, but right now she’s our second-leading scorer and rebounder coming off the bench as the sixth girl.” Against St. Bernard, Simon had eight points and 10 rebounds. Earlier in the week, in a 66-49 win over JSerra of San Juan Capistrano, she had 11 points and nine rebounds. Next up is a CIFSS D4AA championship game matchup with new No. 17 Serra of Gardena, a 73-62 upset winner of second-seed and previous No. 17 Oaks Christian of Westlake Village.
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.
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
No. 1 teams collide Saturday in Stockton when Bishop O’Dowd (Div. III) plays St. Mary’s (Div. II). New No. 2 Lynwood (D2) and new No. 3 Santiago of Corona (D1) among those climbing.
Two No. 1 teams as ranked by Cal-Hi Sports from different CIF divisions met last weekend when Windward of Los Angeles (D4) topped Mater Dei of Santa Ana (D1). This week, it will happen again when St. Mary’s of Stockton (D2) hosts Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland (D4).
All four teams continue to be No. 1 in this week’s divisional state rankings. The other No. 1 is Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo in D5.
Here is the second listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Feb. 4 with some teams that have results included for this week; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 21-3
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 22-2
3. (5) Santiago (Corona) 25-0
4. (6) Summit (Fontana) 19-3
5. (8) Berkeley 17-2
6. (3) Edison (Huntington Beach) 19-3
7. (4) Brea Olinda (Brea) 18-5
8. (9) Etiwanda 19-3
9. (NR) Huntington Beach 19-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 20-6
11. (12) El Toro (Lake Forest) 22-2
12. (7) Troy (Fullerton) 15-7
13. (13) San Diego 19-5
14. (NR) Rialto 21-1
15. (15) Lincoln (Stockton) 18-3
Drops: Previous No. 11 Centennial (Corona); No. 14 Poly (Riverside).
Bubble: Centennial (Corona) 20-5; Deer Valley (Antioch) 15-6, Eastlake (Chula Vista) 21-3, Hanford 18-4, Heritage (Brentwood) 18-4, Poly (Riverside) 17-7, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 20-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 16-2.
Comments: We couldn’t really drop Mater Dei at all in this division after its loss to D4 No. 1 Windward at the Nike Extravaganza. The defeat does have rankings ramifications, though, as it could prevent the Monarchs from a State Team of the Year three-peat. Edison’s loss to Huntington Beach did cause some changes as the Chargers had to fall behind three teams. It also pushed the victorious Oilers past several teams as a newcomer in this week’s rankings all the way up to No. 9.
No. 1 teams collide Saturday in Stockton when Bishop O’Dowd (Div. III) plays St. Mary’s (Div. II). New No. 2 Lynwood (D2) and new No. 3 Santiago of Corona (D1) among those climbing.
Two No. 1 teams as ranked by Cal-Hi Sports from different CIF divisions met last weekend when Windward of Los Angeles (D4) topped Mater Dei of Santa Ana (D1). This week, it will happen again when St. Mary’s of Stockton (D2) hosts Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland (D4).
All four teams continue to be No. 1 in this week’s divisional state rankings. The other No. 1 is Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo in D5.
Here is the second listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Feb. 4 with some teams that have results included for this week; previous ranking in parentheses):
CIF Division I
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 21-3
2. (2) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 22-2
3. (5) Santiago (Corona) 25-0
4. (6) Summit (Fontana) 19-3
5. (8) Berkeley 17-2
6. (3) Edison (Huntington Beach) 19-3
7. (4) Brea Olinda (Brea) 18-5
8. (9) Etiwanda 19-3
9. (NR) Huntington Beach 19-4
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City) 20-6
11. (12) El Toro (Lake Forest) 22-2
12. (7) Troy (Fullerton) 15-7
13. (13) San Diego 19-5
14. (NR) Rialto 21-1
15. (15) Lincoln (Stockton) 18-3
Drops: Previous No. 11 Centennial (Corona); No. 14 Poly (Riverside).
Bubble: Centennial (Corona) 20-5; Deer Valley (Antioch) 15-6, Eastlake (Chula Vista) 21-3, Hanford 18-4, Heritage (Brentwood) 18-4, Poly (Riverside) 17-7, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 20-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 16-2.
Comments: We couldn’t really drop Mater Dei at all in this division after its loss to D4 No. 1 Windward at the Nike Extravaganza. The defeat does have rankings ramifications, though, as it could prevent the Monarchs from a State Team of the Year three-peat. Edison’s loss to Huntington Beach did cause some changes as the Chargers had to fall behind three teams. It also pushed the victorious Oilers past several teams as a newcomer in this week’s rankings all the way up to No. 9.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Major changes this week after the first six due to Orange County and Inland Empire teams falling. Big movers led by Lynwood (now in the top 10), Carondelet and Huntington Beach.
There was a ceremony at halftime of the San Diego Mission Bay at Lynwood game last Saturday night to retire the jersey of current Mission Bay coach Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood, the 2002 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year who led Lynwood to the CIF Division I state championship that season as a sophomore.
By the time the game was over, despite a 31-point performance by previous State Athlete of the Week Briteesha Solomon, the pupil was schooled by the teacher, as longtime Lynwood coach Ellis Barfield and his Lady Knights breezed to a 70-51 victory over the Bucs.
Cal-Hi SportsSa'de Wiley-Gatewood, who had her No. 15 retired last weekend when her Mission Bay team lost to Lynwood, led the Lady Knights to the 2002 FAB 50 national title. It’s been a while since Barfield, now in his 19th season at Lynwood, has had a team in the spotlight.
The 2003 team with Wiley-Gatewood as a junior got Barfield his third CIF Division I state championship, but since then, while they’ve been taking care of business in the San Gabriel Valley League and making some noise in the CIFSS playoffs, it hasn’t been until this year that Barfield has had a team capable of making a run to Sacramento.
Plus, with the new Southern Section playoff format based on enrollment and performance over the past four years, Lynwood is now Division II and avoids the crowded D1 bracket.
Like his teams of old, Barfield has a lot of girls that can play, with seven of them averaging over five points a game.
“We have a lot of kids under the radar that don’t know how good they are,” Barfield said.
Barfield has coached senior point guard Shahana Zeigler (8.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals) since sixth grade. Versatile 6-foot senior Jolana Ford can play any of the positions down low. Amber Blockmon, a 6-foot-2 junior, is long, slender and quick, and she can hit the outside shot. According to Barfield, she’s getting a lot of looks from colleges.
“Putting the kids in college, that’s what keeps me here,” Barfield told Cal-Hi Sports.
Unfortunately, due to a tragic loss to the California girls basketball community, the start time of Saturday’s jersey ceremony and game with Mission Bay had to be pushed back to accommodate a memorial service for former Long Beach Poly star Judith Smith. Smith recently passed away at the age of 25 after battling health issues for several years.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 4)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 21-3
The Wildcats proved on the court they are deserving of top billing in California after winning 65-62 at No. 2 Mater Dei in the Nike Extravaganza on Friday night in Santa Ana. That makes it two straight weeks the Wildcats have beaten a California heavyweight after the close win over Long Beach Poly. Macchi Smith, the hero of the victory over Poly, came through again. The sophomore guard had a team-high 16 points, including a rebound and putback off a missed free-throw by Imani Stafford with 26 seconds left that pretty much sealed the deal. The Wildcats now finish up Alpha League play and then the CIFSS playoffs, but at this point it’s hard not to look ahead to a Division IV SoCal showdown with La Jolla Country Day.
Major changes this week after the first six due to Orange County and Inland Empire teams falling. Big movers led by Lynwood (now in the top 10), Carondelet and Huntington Beach.
There was a ceremony at halftime of the San Diego Mission Bay at Lynwood game last Saturday night to retire the jersey of current Mission Bay coach Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood, the 2002 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year who led Lynwood to the CIF Division I state championship that season as a sophomore.
By the time the game was over, despite a 31-point performance by previous State Athlete of the Week Briteesha Solomon, the pupil was schooled by the teacher, as longtime Lynwood coach Ellis Barfield and his Lady Knights breezed to a 70-51 victory over the Bucs.
Cal-Hi SportsSa'de Wiley-Gatewood, who had her No. 15 retired last weekend when her Mission Bay team lost to Lynwood, led the Lady Knights to the 2002 FAB 50 national title. The 2003 team with Wiley-Gatewood as a junior got Barfield his third CIF Division I state championship, but since then, while they’ve been taking care of business in the San Gabriel Valley League and making some noise in the CIFSS playoffs, it hasn’t been until this year that Barfield has had a team capable of making a run to Sacramento.
Plus, with the new Southern Section playoff format based on enrollment and performance over the past four years, Lynwood is now Division II and avoids the crowded D1 bracket.
Like his teams of old, Barfield has a lot of girls that can play, with seven of them averaging over five points a game.
“We have a lot of kids under the radar that don’t know how good they are,” Barfield said.
Barfield has coached senior point guard Shahana Zeigler (8.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals) since sixth grade. Versatile 6-foot senior Jolana Ford can play any of the positions down low. Amber Blockmon, a 6-foot-2 junior, is long, slender and quick, and she can hit the outside shot. According to Barfield, she’s getting a lot of looks from colleges.
“Putting the kids in college, that’s what keeps me here,” Barfield told Cal-Hi Sports.
Unfortunately, due to a tragic loss to the California girls basketball community, the start time of Saturday’s jersey ceremony and game with Mission Bay had to be pushed back to accommodate a memorial service for former Long Beach Poly star Judith Smith. Smith recently passed away at the age of 25 after battling health issues for several years.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Feb. 4)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 21-3
The Wildcats proved on the court they are deserving of top billing in California after winning 65-62 at No. 2 Mater Dei in the Nike Extravaganza on Friday night in Santa Ana. That makes it two straight weeks the Wildcats have beaten a California heavyweight after the close win over Long Beach Poly. Macchi Smith, the hero of the victory over Poly, came through again. The sophomore guard had a team-high 16 points, including a rebound and putback off a missed free-throw by Imani Stafford with 26 seconds left that pretty much sealed the deal. The Wildcats now finish up Alpha League play and then the CIFSS playoffs, but at this point it’s hard not to look ahead to a Division IV SoCal showdown with La Jolla Country Day.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
Four of the No. 1 teams in our first statewide look at each CIF state playoff division are all in the top five overall. The only suspense was in D5 where Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo is No. 1 for now.
Mater Dei of Santa Ana, St. Mary’s of Stockton, Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, Windward of Los Angeles and Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo have been given No. 1 rankings in the first Cal-Hi Sports girls basketball rankings this season according to the CIF state playoff divisions.
Here is the first listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Jan. 28 with some teams that have results included for this week):
CIF Division I
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 20-2
2. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 20-2
3. Edison (Huntington Beach) 18-2
4. Brea Olinda (Brea) 16-4
5. Santiago (Corona) 22-0
6. Summit (Fontana) 17-3
7. Troy (Fullerton) 13-6
8. Berkeley 16-2
9. Etiwanda 16-3
10. Narbonne (Harbor City) 18-6
11. Centennial (Corona) 18-4
12. El Toro (Lake Forest) 21-2
13. San Diego 17-5
14. Poly (Riverside) 17-5
15. Lincoln (Stockton) 16-3
Bubble: Deer Valley (Antioch) 13-6, Hanford 16-3, Heritage (Brentwood) 17-3, Millikan (Long Beach) 15-6, Poway 17-4, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 18-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 16-1.
Comments: Other than Summit, all of the CIF Southern Section teams in the top 10 above will be in the loaded Div. IAA playoffs. Mater Dei plays D4 No. 1 Windward on Friday at the Nike Extravaganza in a game that also will be No. 1 vs. No. 2 for the state. And if both team win CIF state crowns, remember that the outcome of this game also will probably decide the ESPNHS Cal-Hi Sports State Team of the Year honor.
Four of the No. 1 teams in our first statewide look at each CIF state playoff division are all in the top five overall. The only suspense was in D5 where Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo is No. 1 for now.
Mater Dei of Santa Ana, St. Mary’s of Stockton, Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, Windward of Los Angeles and Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo have been given No. 1 rankings in the first Cal-Hi Sports girls basketball rankings this season according to the CIF state playoff divisions.
Here is the first listing of girls teams this season with analysis and bubble teams for each division (records listed after games of Jan. 28 with some teams that have results included for this week):
CIF Division I
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 20-2
2. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 20-2
3. Edison (Huntington Beach) 18-2
4. Brea Olinda (Brea) 16-4
5. Santiago (Corona) 22-0
6. Summit (Fontana) 17-3
7. Troy (Fullerton) 13-6
8. Berkeley 16-2
9. Etiwanda 16-3
10. Narbonne (Harbor City) 18-6
11. Centennial (Corona) 18-4
12. El Toro (Lake Forest) 21-2
13. San Diego 17-5
14. Poly (Riverside) 17-5
15. Lincoln (Stockton) 16-3
Bubble: Deer Valley (Antioch) 13-6, Hanford 16-3, Heritage (Brentwood) 17-3, Millikan (Long Beach) 15-6, Poway 17-4, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 18-3, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 16-1.
Comments: Other than Summit, all of the CIF Southern Section teams in the top 10 above will be in the loaded Div. IAA playoffs. Mater Dei plays D4 No. 1 Windward on Friday at the Nike Extravaganza in a game that also will be No. 1 vs. No. 2 for the state. And if both team win CIF state crowns, remember that the outcome of this game also will probably decide the ESPNHS Cal-Hi Sports State Team of the Year honor.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
No. 1 Windward doesn’t think of itself as being state’s best heading into Saturday matchup with No. 2 Mater Dei. “They’re No. 1,” says Windward coach Steve Smith. This week’s only newcomers, by the way, are St. Ignatius of San Francisco and Lynwood.
Last Saturday’s marquee game of the eight-team Real Run Classic at Long Beach City College featured state No. 1 Windward of Los Angeles against No. 3 Long Beach Poly and as one would expect it went down to the wire with Windward holding on for a 54-53 win.
After opening a 51-42 lead with 3:45 left, Windward saw it evaporate after an 11-1 Jackrabbit run gave Poly a 53-52 advantage with 1:28 remaining.
Three lead changes later, Macchiati Smith hit a left-handed running layup with 11.5 seconds remaining for the game-winner.
Even after the sophomore’s basket, the game was far from over. The Wildcats used a foul at the seven-second mark. Courtney Jaco then forced a jump ball with 1.4 seconds remaining. With the 6-foot-7 Imani Stafford defending the inbounds and forcing a pass out beyond the arc, a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer by Poly’s Justyce Dawson clanked off the rim.
Jordin Canada dazzled the Long Beach City College crowd with a game-high 22 points and four assists.
Sophomore Arica Carter paced the Jackrabbits with 18 points while Destiny King scored 16 and added five steals and four rebounds.
The reward for coach Steve Smith and his girls is a road game at No. 2 Mater Dei where the state’s top spot will be at stake in a much-anticipated game Friday at the Nike Extravaganza in Santa Ana.
“It’s just like boxing. You have to knock out the champion,” Smith told Cal-Hi Sports.
“Hey, I saw them destroy Poly by 42 points in a game during fall when they were healthy,” Smith continued. “We may be the top-ranked team right now, but until someone in-state beats Mater Dei they’re number one in the state.”
Smith has a point. The Monarchs also have been State Team of the Year for 2010 and 2011.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Jan. 28)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 18-3
Prior to the win against Long Beach Poly, the Wildcats had a running clock win over crosstown Pacific Hills. Sophomore 6-foot Kristen Simon had a double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds. This week, before taking on Mater Dei, the girls have two Alpha League games at nearby Brentwood and at home against Chatsworth Sierra Canyon.
No. 1 Windward doesn’t think of itself as being state’s best heading into Saturday matchup with No. 2 Mater Dei. “They’re No. 1,” says Windward coach Steve Smith. This week’s only newcomers, by the way, are St. Ignatius of San Francisco and Lynwood.
Last Saturday’s marquee game of the eight-team Real Run Classic at Long Beach City College featured state No. 1 Windward of Los Angeles against No. 3 Long Beach Poly and as one would expect it went down to the wire with Windward holding on for a 54-53 win.
After opening a 51-42 lead with 3:45 left, Windward saw it evaporate after an 11-1 Jackrabbit run gave Poly a 53-52 advantage with 1:28 remaining.
Three lead changes later, Macchiati Smith hit a left-handed running layup with 11.5 seconds remaining for the game-winner.
Even after the sophomore’s basket, the game was far from over. The Wildcats used a foul at the seven-second mark. Courtney Jaco then forced a jump ball with 1.4 seconds remaining. With the 6-foot-7 Imani Stafford defending the inbounds and forcing a pass out beyond the arc, a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer by Poly’s Justyce Dawson clanked off the rim.
Jordin Canada dazzled the Long Beach City College crowd with a game-high 22 points and four assists.
Sophomore Arica Carter paced the Jackrabbits with 18 points while Destiny King scored 16 and added five steals and four rebounds.
The reward for coach Steve Smith and his girls is a road game at No. 2 Mater Dei where the state’s top spot will be at stake in a much-anticipated game Friday at the Nike Extravaganza in Santa Ana.
“It’s just like boxing. You have to knock out the champion,” Smith told Cal-Hi Sports.
“Hey, I saw them destroy Poly by 42 points in a game during fall when they were healthy,” Smith continued. “We may be the top-ranked team right now, but until someone in-state beats Mater Dei they’re number one in the state.”
Smith has a point. The Monarchs also have been State Team of the Year for 2010 and 2011.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Jan. 28)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 18-3
Prior to the win against Long Beach Poly, the Wildcats had a running clock win over crosstown Pacific Hills. Sophomore 6-foot Kristen Simon had a double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds. This week, before taking on Mater Dei, the girls have two Alpha League games at nearby Brentwood and at home against Chatsworth Sierra Canyon.
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