No changes in this week’s Super 8, but the race for top seeds in section playoffs has begun with Sierra Canyon getting it in the insanely loaded CIF Southern Section Open Division and Birmingham of Lake Balboa getting it in the L.A. City Section. We think it should be Woodcreek in the Sac-Joaquin, but it may go to Sacramento Sheldon instead.
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(Through games of Saturday Feb. 11; Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 25-1
As expected, Sierra Canyon was awarded the No. 1 seed in the rugged CIFSS Open Division playoffs and opens with 20-7 and state rank bubble club Heritage Christian of Northridge.
2. (2) Chino Hills 27-1
Lost in the hoopla of LaMelo Ball’s 92 points vs. Los Osos was that teammate Eli Scott got a triple-double with 29 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Huskies start CIFSS Open Division as No. 2 seed and will play 17-9 JSerra of San Juan Capistrano.
Junior big man Bol Bol dunks in one of his first games for No. 4 Mater Dei. Photo: BallisLife.com.
3. (3) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 23-2
The Knights only had one game last week to close out the regular season and came away with an easy 103-45 victory over Cathedral of Los Angeles.
4. (4) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 28-1
The Monarchs closed out the regular season with coach Gary McKnight winning his 29th consecutive league title and 34th in his 35 years as head coach. They also were seeded ahead of Bishop Montgomery at No. 3 in the CIFSS Open Division playoffs.
5. (5) Woodcreek (Roseville) 23-2
Yes, the Timberwolves had trouble at Granite Bay last week in a 69-60 win, but the team they are battling for the top seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, Sheldon of Sacramento, also had trouble in a four-point win vs. Grant.
6. (6) Birmingham (Lake Balboa) 24-3
After an easy win over El Camino Real, the Patriots earned the top seed in the L.A. City Section Open Division and will open the eight-team bracket against 15-16 Dorsey of Los Angeles.
7. (7) Alemany (Mission Hills) 24-3
In the CIFSS Open Division seedings, the Warriors were only No. 7 behind No. 5 Santa Margarita (our No. 10 team overall in the state) and No. 6 Roosevelt (see below). We’re still sticking with our order until proven otherwise on the court.
8. (8) Roosevelt (Corona) 18-6
Head coach Steve Singleton’s club finished unbeaten in a league that contains another CIFSS Open team (No. 14 Centennial of Corona) and did not lose to another unranked California opponent.
