Saddleback at #1

Saddleback Secures Sole Possession of No. 1 Ranking

"Losses by San Francisco, defending state champions and last week’s co-No. 1, and East Los Angeles created a bit of a shake-up in this week’s poll. Some teams, which were perfect last week, found themselves falling a spot or two as coaches tried to assess where to move No. 20 Las Positas (upset co-No. 1 San Francisco), Mt. San Antonio, unranked (beat East LA), Santa Rosa (fell to unranked SJ Delta) and where to drop East LA and how far San Francisco should fall as well as should Delta and Mt. San Antonio climb into the Top 20. In the end, it left some good teams out of this week’s poll.

State Poll

2. San Francisco (19-2) — Despite falling out of a tie for the state ranking, San Francisco managed to maintain its hold on the north’s top ranking, edging Yuba. The Rams’ 91-90 loss to Las Positas at home snapped a 11-game win streak. This week, San Francisco continues a four-game road swing with stops at Ohlone (15-6, No. 11 in the regional poll) and at Chabot (4-16). The Coast-North has six teams (out of seven) with 11 wins or more and is looking to be a one of the best races in the state.  

3. Yuba (19-2) —Yuba, winners of 10 straight, nearly overtook San Francisco this week. Perhaps a stronger Bay Valley Conference would have swayed pollsters. The conference has just three teams with above .500 records, and one — Los Medanos — just moved into the red last week. The 49’ers have opened a 2 ½ game lead on Los Medanos headed into — ironically, a home game against Los Medanos on Wednesday. Yuba will also host 7-13 Solano this week. Los Medanos has quietly won six in a row, and a victory over Yuba would look awesome on its seeding sheet. Unfortunately, their last meeting resulted in a 20-point Yuba victory (90-70, Dec. 29).

6. Fresno (17-4) — Don’t look now, but the Fresno players have discovered scoreboards have three digits. The Rams have been on a tear — scoring over 100 points in four of their last six games, including hanging 125, a state-high, on Cerro Coso. Tyus Millhollin had 31 points off the bench as Fresno played its reserves extensively. This week, Fresno, which begins a three-game home stand, against its three biggest conference championship hope threats —Sequoias (No. 13 in the north) and No. 20 Merced. The last time Fresno and Merced got together, the Rams dropped 119 points on the Blue Devils, which began Fresno’s run on 100-point games. 

8. Feather River (15-3) — Feather River got in just one game last week due to the weather in California. And it was a nail bitter! The Golden Hawks needed double overtime to dispatch Shasta, 97-89. Feather River is faced with having to play five games over the next 13 days, luckily three will be at home. This week will be a normal week with games on Wednesday (vs. 12-7 Butte) and Saturday (at Redwoods, 7-10). However, next week, the Golden Eagles will play three games over eight days — weather permitting (never thought I would string those words together in a basketball poll). Feather River begins the week with a ½ game lead on Shasta.   

10. Canada (16-5) — Canada is one of five teams in the Coast-North with 11 wins or more. The Colts’ 16 wins is third best — in the division! But they begin the week tied with San Francisco for first place. Next week, Canada faces games against San Francisco and Las Positas, but before we can get to next week, we need to talk about this week. This week, Canada hosts 11-9 Foothill and then visits 15-6 Ohlone. Victories this week would set the stage for Canada’s conference championship hopes.

11. Santa Rosa (14-6) —Santa Rosa tumbles four places this week after dropping a conference game to San Joaquin Delta, 86-80. Despite the loss, the Cubs open the week with a game lead on San Joaquin Delta and Sierra for conference championship. Unfortunately, there is five teams within two games of Santa Rosa in the chase for the conference title. This week, 9-11 Sierra gets a shot at Santa Rosa. Then the Cubs meet 10-7 American River in Sacramento. This is one of those scenarios where every game is key to their title hopes — and probably a top four regional seed. 

13. Las Positas (17-4) — Behind its shocking victory over San Francisco, Las Positas climbs to No. 13 this week. The Hawks, however, still remain two games back of San Francisco and Canada in the race for the divisional title. The winner, however, has to rejuvenate Las Positas which lost two of its three conference games. As we have said before, this division is a &*(%$#. So, there is no time for Las Positas to savor its upset victory. There is still plenty of work ahead. The Hawks begin a three-game home stand, where they are 6-1 this season, beginning with 11-9 Skyline and then Foothill, which also begins the week 11-9.

15. San Joaquin Delta (11-8) — Hats off to San Joaquin Delta, I don’t think anyone saw the Mustangs fighting for the Big Eight Conference title. Spurred by the play of Jovian Cormier, who is averaging 19.2 points per game in conference games and Mike Anderson, who is averaging 13.5, SJ Delta appears to be a contender for the conference title down the stretch. After losing two of its first three conference contests, the Mustangs have run off three consecutive wins. The Mustangs are a game behind front-running Santa Rosa. This week, Delta faces two teams fighting for their post-season survival in 11-10 Cosumnes River and 15-6 Diablo Valley, losers of three of its last six games.

18. Cabrillo (13-6) — Cabrillo has quietly built a five-game win streak, the Seahawks longest of the year. That win streak has Cabrillo leading the Coast-South division by a game over De Anza. And, as luck would have it, Cabrillo hosts De Anza on Wednesday. A victory would open a two-game lead for the Seahawks with six games to play. Cabrillo also visits 7-12 San Jose on Friday.

20. Merced (12-7) — Merced wrestles the final spot in this week’s poll from Ohlone, West Hills and Sequoias (each was one point behind the other this week). Merced, which currently tied for second place with West Hills and Sequoias, has won three straight since losing two of its first three conference games. This week, the Blue Devils visit 6-13 Porterville, before getting another shot at Fresno, which scored 119 points in their first meeting back on January 4.

Northern California Regional Poll

1. San Francisco (9)
2. Yuba (6)
3. Fresno
4. Feather River
5. Canada
6. Santa Rosa
7. Las Positas
8. San Joaquin Delta
9. Cabrillo
10. Merced
11. Ohlone
12. West Hills
13. Sequoias
14. Diablo Valley
15. Butte

Others receiving votes: Marin, Skyline, Foothill, Sierra"