SBLive's California Girls Basketball Top 25 (Feb. 13-19)
With some sections getting a brief rest and top teams in other sections blowing out lower seeds in their playoff openers, last week was very quiet in the rankings world. But as the postseason unfolds, that'll change quickly.
Here are SBLive's statewide girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 13-19. The rankings are released every Monday throughout the season.
1. Sierra Canyon (27-0 – 1st)
So far so good for the Trailblazers in CIFSS Open Division pool play. They routed Bishop Montgomery 74-35 in their playoff opener.
2. La Jolla Country Day (25-3 – 2nd)
The heavy favorite to repeat atop the San Diego Section, LJCD opens the playoffs against Scripps Ranch.
3. Etiwanda (27-2 – 3rd)
After Etiwanda's 82-43 win over Santiago (Corona), it's fair to ask – when was the last time an Inland Empire public school team was this far ahead of the public IE powers?
4. Archbishop Mitty (22-2 – 4th)
Another year, another WCAL title, and this one was even more convincing than usual. Mitty will enter the Central Coast Section playoffs as the top seed and heavy favorite.
5. Piedmont (24-0 – 5th)
Undefeated regular season: check. Instead of going into the Open Division, the clear No. 1 team in the section is still in Division 4. However, the status of San Diego State commit Trinity Zamora still unknown because of an injury that's cost her about 10 games. The fact that that the Highlanders have kept their No. 5 ranking in the state without her is an incredible feat by Natalia Martinez, Eva Levingston and co.
6. Clovis West (27-1 – 7th)
The Golden Eagles' league title streak lives on. They got revenge against Clovis in a 53-39 win to force a tie atop the TRAC, and also got the top seed in the CIFCS playoffs.
7. Mater Dei (26-2 – 6th)
The Monarchs' opportunity to get back atop the ranks and win another Southern Section title is here. They took care of business against Windward and now face Santiago (Corona) – the only California team to beat them this year. This time around, Mater Dei should have its full squad available.
8. Folsom (22-2 – 8th)
Folsom officially went unbeaten this regular season against the rest of the Sac-Joaquin Section. Can it do the same in the playoffs and break all the way through?
9. St. Mary's Stockton (20-8 – 9th)
With the 15-point loss to Mater Dei now almost four weeks ago, the Rams managed to build some momentum back up again before beginning their bid to reclaiming the CIFSJS throne. They've since beaten Manteca, Christian Brothers, Pinewood, Bishop O'Dowd, and Lincoln (Stockton) by an average of well over 20 PPG.
10. Salesian (23-4 – 11th)
With the Pinewood loss now quite a while ago, SCP is back in the top 10 thanks in part to its 1-0 head-to-head record against Oakland Tech. Salesian also had an impressive 63-30 win against Pinole Valley to close the regular season.
11. Oakland Tech (23-5 – 10th)
As if the Bulldogs didn't look scary enough coming down the stretch of the season, they mixed in a 76-70 win against Carondelet last week while coasting through the OAL. They're already quite used to trips to the state finals, and this is very likely their best team yet.
12. Sage Hill (20-8 – 12th)
The Lightning's first ever Open Division playoff game was a success. They played Ontario Christian (again) at home and won 63-53.
13. Ontario Christian (26-3 – 13th)
Saturday was the Knights' Open Division debut as well. However, it was not the day for them to get past Sage Hill. But they have a good chance to get their first Open Division win at home next Saturday against Bishop Montgomery, which they narrowly defeated in the regular season.
14. Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (20-3 – 14th)
It wasn't easy, but SHCP was able to hold its status as the No. 2 team in the CCS for the entire regular season. If it makes the finals, it does get a third shot at Mitty, which defeated SHCP by a combined 43 points in two league games.
15. San Ramon Valley (25-3 – 15th)
After a clean sweep of the EBAL, the Wolves beat Foothill (Pleasanton) and Monte Vista (Danville) in the league tournament to make the title official.
16. Carondelet (21-5 – 16th)
The good news for Cougars fans is that they earned a home game to start the NCS Open Division playoffs. The bad news is that they got a tough first round draw in Acalanes. Carondelet is a light favorite, but don't be surprised if it turns out to be one of the best games of the season.
17. Cardinal Newman (20-6 – 19th)
Still unbeaten in the new year, Cardinal Newman is on a 13-game winning streak. It'll now be the third seed in the NCS Open Division playoffs after tearing through league play.
18. Windward (18-7 – 17th)
Windward managed to stay competitive despite losing its CIFSS Open Division opener, a 67-54 road defeat at the hands of Mater Dei. It's now an even heavier underdog on Wednesday at Etiwanda, but then gets a home game against Santiago.
19. Santiago-Corona (21-8 – 18th)
After opening with a blowout loss against Etiwanda, the Sharks look to break through for an Open Division victory against Mater Dei and/or Windward. Santiago is the only team in the state to beat MD so far this season, and a month ago, Santiago took a 21-point beating from Windward, which happened to be on MD's floor. Let's see what they have left in the tank.
20. Mount Miguel (22-6 – 20th)
Their wins weren't as glamorous last week, but the Matadors still took care of business to win league and push the winning streak up to 14 games. Bookended by blowouts of Monte Vista (Spring Valley) and Helix were defensive grinders against Poway and Mater Dei Catholic, by scores of 49-45 and 47-35, respectively.
21. Mission Hills (19-9 – 21st)
Mission Hills probably isn't in love with its fifth-seed placement in the Open Division playoffs, as it opens up with Bonita Vista and will then have to play La Jolla Country Day – which beat Mission Hills by 20 on Feb. 4 – if it wins. With that said, the Grizzlies know they'd have to beat LJCD either way to make it to the top.
22. San Joaquin Memorial (18-8 – 22nd)
It doesn't seem unreasonable to suggest that the Panthers may feel slighted by only getting the sixth seed in the Central Section D1 playoffs. Either way, they're in the top division and open with a home game, which is Wednesday against Nipomo. But if SJM needed to enter the postseason with a fresh chip on its shoulder, here's the chip.
23. Rosary Academy (22-6 – 23rd)
Arguably the team to beat in Division 1, Rosary has beaten Crean Lutheran and North (Torrance) by 20 points apiece. It now has an opportunity to avenge a D1 semifinals from loss two years ago against Esperanza, with both teams still having some key players from that time.
24. Brentwood School (24-6 – 24th)
You never know til you know, but Brentwood School may very well be two games away from the CIFSS 2-A title game. It's opened with statement wins, absolutely thrashing Beckman and Northview.
25. Christian Brothers (26-2 – 25th)
Is it ring season for the Falcons? They get a first round bye as the top seed in the CIFSJS D2 playoffs. With the Division 2 playoff field not as deep as usual this year, there's a good chance we'll see No. 1 Christian Brothers versus No. 2 Vista Del Lago – a pair of league foes who split two meetings and a CAL title this season.
ON THE BUBBLE:
Clovis, Antelope, Lynwood, St. Joseph (Santa Maria), Leuzinger, Los Osos, Orange Lutheran, Acalanes, Bonita Vista, Westchester, Vanden, Bishop Montgomery, Chaminade
