SBLive's L.A. City Section girls basketball rankings (2/7/2024): No. 4 King/Drew outduels Crenshaw for league title
Here are SBLive's L.A. City Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 5-11. Rankings will be released every week throughout the season.
(Team names are followed by record and previous ranking.)
MORE: CIF-LACS GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKETS
1. Birmingham (21-6 – 1st)
Photo by Lance Smith
Birmingham fulfilled its promise in the regular season, earning the top overall seed in the CIF-LACS playoffs for the first time ever and winning every West Valley League game by at least 14 points. It opens as the heavy favorite against Crenshaw, but can't afford to overlook the feisty Cougars despite the seeding difference.
2. Westchester (20-5 – 2nd)
With the regular season over, the Comets' Open Division title defense is officially underway. Awarded the No. 2 seed, Westchester was the No. 2 seed when it won it all last season, and Birmingham was No. 2 when it won the prior year. So don't expect the Comets to be discouraged by not getting the top seed.
3. Hamilton (23-5 – 3rd)
While it didn't come in undisputed fashion, Hamilton has finally ascended to being a Western League champion after a number of close calls. It defeated Palisades 69-55 to close the regular season, and opens up against Granada Hills Charter in a battle between speed (Hamilton) and size.
4. King/Drew (17-7 – 4th)
Photo by Lance Smith
With a 54-46 win over Crenshaw, King/Drew has broken through for a sweep of the Coliseum League. So, it's once again time to remind everyone that this fourth seed is a legitimate championship contender. Unbeaten against City Section competition, every one of King/Drew's losses have come against Southern Section powerhouses, mostly in close games.
5. Palisades (17-11 – 5th)
Even with an uninspiring record, Palisades was awarded the fifth seed in the Open Division, and it was well-deserved for navigating such a tough schedule. Playing King/Drew isn't exactly an easy draw for a playoff opener, and an upset win there would likely mean a rematch with Birmingham, a team that's had the Dolphins' number lately. But if Palisades were to go on a cinderella finals run, at least it would first get a two-game break from playing Western League champions.
6. Granada Hills Charter (17-10 – 7th)
In a season with no shortage of adversity, Granada Hills Charter ended up running away with second place in the crowded West Valley League. It's been over a month since the team lost to anybody besides Birmingham. Now matched up against Hamilton in the first round of the playoffs, Granada Hills Charter has the size to give the Lady Yankees fits inside – if it can keep their guards from controlling the game.
7. Crenshaw (17-8 – 6th)
For what's not the first time in recent history, eighth-seeded Crenshaw is still in the Open Division a season after graduating most of its production. That's an outstanding feat, but not one that'll make it any easier to open the playoffs against No. 1 Birmingham. The Cougars were able to play King/Drew down to single digits in the second go-around of Coliseum League play despite eventually falling.
8. El Camino Real (14-11 – 8th)
Open Division-bound once again. The end of the season got a little weird in the West Valley League, but ultimately didn't change the order we ranked its constituents. The Royals lost a stunner to Chatsworth – a team they led 54-18 after three quarters in their prior 60-33 win – nearly overcoming a 12-point halftime deficit but falling 52-49. On paper, El Camino Real couldn't be showing vulnerability at a worse time with its next game against reigning champion Westchester. But to be fair, the playoffs are a different animal.
9. Kennedy-Granada Hills (22-4 – 9th)
With the playoffs beginning, we have Kennedy as the highest-ranked team in not only Division 2, but all teams outside of the Open Division. It enters the playoffs having won eight in a row, 11 of its last 12, and 16 of its last 18.
10. Chatsworth (17-11 – 10th)
Going back to the El Camino Real win, Chatsworth would've moved up a spot or two if it didn't follow it up with a loss to Cleveland. Hard to tell what to make of it for all three teams, but Chatsworth is still arguably the team to beat in Division 1 if it was to begin with.
11. Cleveland (12-14 – 11th)
Injuries played a factor as the Cavaliers struggled for nearly all of West Valley League play. But they finished the regular season with arguably their best win, defeating a Chatsworth squad that was coming off an upset over El Camino Real. Record aside, Cleveland is probably set for a deep Division 2 run, and split regular meetings with the other favorite in D2, Kennedy.
12. San Pedro (16-9 – 12th)
Seniors Noelani Raigans (11 points) and Shalia Coleman (23 points) broke 1,500 and 1,000 career points, respectively, to help San Pedro clinch another Marine League sweep with a 50-45 win against Carson. Finally time to see what San Pedro can do in a very deep Division 1 field.
13. Sun Valley Polytechnic (15-7 – 13th)
Nothing like a 100-piece to close the regular season. Sun Valley Poly got some of its frustrations out from last week's upset loss to Verdugo Hills with a 106-2 victory over winless Monroe. Now it's time to see if the Parrots can go back-to-back in Division 1.
14. Eagle Rock (18-5 – 14th)
As usual, Eagle Rock is a clear threat to go on a deep Division 1 playoff run, and it enters on a nine-game tear. Don't be surprised to see the Eagles come out with tons of energy after getting shocked by Cleveland in last year's playoff opener.
15. Arleta (18-10 – 15th)
Arleta certainly isn't anyone's frontrunner in Division 1. But it also shouldn't be controversial to say that the fifth-seeded Mustangs have an outside shot at a championship. Their only big-name wins came against Verdugo Hills in league play, but that's a good start, and their losses to Sun Valley Poly (twice), Chatsworth, and Eagle Rock were all close.
ON THE BUBBLE:
Verdugo Hills, Van Nuys, Los Angeles CES, Franklin, Sylmar, Harbor Teacher, San Fernando
