Here’s a quick look at the top 10 teams that will be highlighted in this week’s new Cal-Hi Sports State Top 20 rankings for boys and girls basketball. These are the next-to-last rankings for the season.
Note: For more complete breakdowns on each top 10 team and for the next 10 teams plus more teams on the bubble, all of that info is for our Gold Club members only. We do have a three-month subscription going right now, however, that is just $9.99 and in addition to all of our rankings that also will include state record updates plus additional, exclusive Gold Club content. For details, CLICK HERE.
(After games of Saturday, March 19)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(Ronnie Flores is our lead analyst for the boys; Harold Abend for the girls)
TOP 10 STATE BOYS
BASKETBALL TEAMS
1. (1) Chino Hills 34-0
Still one more big win needed by the Huskies before we can really start comparing them to other all-time best teams in the state. Only Mater Dei from two years ago has ended 35-0.
2. (2) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 28-3
Two of the three losses by the Knights have come to Chino Hills, including last Saturday’s 84-62 defeat in the CIF SoCal Open Division final.
Last Saturday’s Chino Hills-Bishop Montgomery game tips off at Long Beach State. Photo: Andrew Drennen.
3. (3) Foothills Christian (El Cajon) 25-5
The Knights ended with three losses to Chino Hills, one to Mater Dei (later avenged) and one to Corona Centennial (also defeated).
4. (6) De La Salle (Concord) 31-2
Close wins over Sacramento and Modesto Christian pushed the Spartans into their first CIF Open Division state final where they will attempt to deny Chino Hills’ place in the history books. They simply move up this week to same spot that Modesto Christian was sitting in last week.
5. (5) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 26-5
An argument could be made to rank the Trailblazers higher, but that will have to be considered after all of the upcoming CIF state finals are played.
6. (4) Modesto Christian 32-2
The Crusaders finished the season with two losses – one in the first game by two points and one in the CIF NorCal Open Division final by one point.
7. (7) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 27-5
Like Foothills Christian and Sierra Canyon, the Monarchs also could move up in next week’s final rankings, depending on what happens in Saturday’s Chino Hills-De La Salle matchup.
8. (10) Crespi (Encino) 31-4
No, they didn’t get that far in the CIFSS Open Division but the Celts clearly can now be ranked ahead of many of other teams from that division after winning CIF SoCal D1 championship.
9. (11) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) 28-7
It’s easy to move up Redondo ahead of Sacramento and Cathedral Catholic after losing in overtime to Crespi. The Seahawks’ loss to Chino Hills also makes them look good, considering the scores of some of the other games.
10. (8) Sacramento 30-2
The Dragons came through down the stretch to beat Folsom in the CIF NorCal Open Division, then lost on the road to No. 4 De La Salle.
TOP 10 STATE GIRLS
BASKETBALL TEAMS
1. (2) Miramonte (Orinda) 32-0
Say what you will about the Matadors getting lucky and not having to play either Mitty or Stockton St. Mary’s in the NorCal Open Division, but they did win it fairly easily in the end and now have a chance to finish 33-0.
2. (3) Chaminade (West Hills) 30-4
At full strength and with both Leaonna Odom and Valerie Higgins hitting their stride, the Eagles have added the CIF SoCal Open Division title to the CIF Southern Section Open Division crown they won two weeks ago.
Clair Steele canned four 3-pointers and had 14 points in Miramonte’s win vs. Pinewood. Photo: Mark Tennis.
3. (1) St. Mary’s (Stockton) 28-1
After their stunning upset loss to Pinewood in the NorCal Open Division semifinals, the highest the Rams can finish in the final state rankings is second. It’s absurd that MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25 still has them first in state. We know the computers have it that way as well, but those things have been absurd for many years.
4. (4) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 27-5
Head coach Carl Buggs won’t be able to join his son, Drew, for the CIF state finals after his girls fell to Chaminade on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Leaonna Odom. Drew is on the LB Poly boys’ team that plays San Mateo Serra for D2 state crown.
5. (9) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 23-4
With a 19-point win over Pinewood in the CCS Open Division final and with wins over state champs from Arizona and Florida, the Monarchs can come back up in this week’s rankings.
6. (7) Pinewood (Los Altos Hills) 23-6
Where to put the Panthers was the big question of the week after the upset of St. Mary’s and then the blowout loss to Miramonte. We think back behind Mitty but now in front of both Mission Hills and Clovis West. The St. Mary’s win also allows them to finish ahead of La Jolla Country Day despite head-to-head loss.
7. (5) Mission Hills (San Marcos) 29-4
The Grizzlies were outclassed in their loss to Chaminade, but it was more having to move up Mitty and Pinewood that causes them to drop two spots.
8. (6) Clovis West (Fresno) 30-4
Despite being at home, the Golden Eagles couldn’t score in long stretches and lost to No. 4 Long Beach Poly in SoCal Open Division semifinals.
9. (8) Salesian (Richmond) 27-6
The Pride lost in the NorCal Open Division semifinals to new No. 1 Miramonte. We are going to rank Mitty higher despite recent result due to Mitty’s overall resume.
10. (10) La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla) 24-5
No change for the Torreys in this week’s rankings and this is probably where they’re going to finish.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
