Carondelet moves back up to No. 11 after win over Monte Vista. Mitty also stays in at No. 19 despite 0-2 week.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Contributing: Harold Abend, Steve Brand, Paul Muyskens, Ronnie Flores

(After games of Saturday, Feb. 14; previous week ranking in parentheses)

1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 26-0
In earning the top seed for the CIF Southern Section Div. II-A playoffs, the Monarchs get a first-round bye and won't play until the second round against either Jurupa Valley of Mira Loma or Eisenhower of Rialto. The probability is that MD won't get test at least until the semifinals against probably either Norco or Villa Park and then would likely meet state-ranked Summit in the final. In the team's final regular season game, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis pumped in 27 points with talented freshman Jordan Adams adding 15 in a 67-35 victory over Lutheran of Orange.

2. (2) Poly (Long Beach) 23-2
Head coach Carl Buggs' team had a really easy week as it played just one game, defeating Compton, 65-6, to end the regular season. The Jackrabbits led 16-0 after a quarter of play and 35-6 at halftime before shutting out the Tarbabes in the second half. Ten different Jackrabbits scored at least two points with Olivia Montgomery leading the way with 12 points. Poly opens the postseason at home on Thursday against Paramount. Since suffering both of their losses in back to back games, in the middle of December, to teams from Ohio and Maryland, the Jackrabbits enter the postseason on a 15-game winning streak.

3. (3) Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 21-1
For those who still don't believe Washington State got a steal when it landed KiKi Moore, or that she isn't the best player in the Bay Area, Northern California or possibly the whole state, they should have seen her Friday night on the road in San Jose where she took control in a 64-51 defeat of host and defending D2 state champ Mitty. Mind you, the Irish only have eight girls and rarely play more than six except in blowouts, so Moore goes all the way every game against top-notch competition. Against Mitty, which stayed close for a half, she had 25 points and five steals and in the second half helped ignite a rally that "blew the doors off the gym,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle. In a five-minute stretch, the Irish forced six turnovers (part of 20 for the game), Kamilah Jackson (13 points) scored six points inside and Moore led the fast break with three hoops of her own. By then it was 45-27 and got to 61-40 before Mitty made a late run after the fact. Cal-bound Tierra Rogers was solid and finished with 15 points. The run towards ARCO begins in the WCAL playoffs on Feb. 19, when after a bye, Coach Brian Harrigan's girls play the highest remaining seed in the semifinals with the finals Feb. 21 at Foothill College.

4. (4) Brea Olinda (Brea) 24-2
The Lady Cats muscled up for the playoffs by outscoring their last two opponents 165-41 despite having 12 or more players score in each game. Brea Olinda, the No. 1 seed in the Southern Section's II-AA division, ran its winning streak to 20 straight after dismissing El Modena (Orange), 87-21, opening up with a 39-8 first quarter bulge. Justine Hartman led the way with 15 points in limited playing time. Earlier, the 'Cats downed Tustin, 78-20, with Kendall Rodriguez leading the way with 16 points. Coach Jeff Sink's club will open the II-AA playoffs by hosting La Serna (Whittier) on Thursday night and while a victory is expected, the game should be a lot closer than the two last week as Brea Olinda starts on the path of what the team hopes results in a ninth state title.

5. (5) St. Mary's (Stockton) 22-3
Head coach Tom Gonsalves told Cal Hi Sports that his girls were looking forward to their rematch against Clovis West with a chance to avenge one of their earlier losses and they did so in blowout fashion. Scoring a season low 50 points in their first matchup against the Golden Eagles, the Rams pleased the home crowd last Monday with an 84-point outburst while holding Clovis West to just 48 points. Chelsea Gray led the way with 23 points and 11 rebounds before finding a seat to watch the final minutes. Finishing the week at Tokay of Lodi, the Rams had no problems in concluding their fourth straight TCAL championship with a 99-38 win. Gray once again led the way with 20 points while Anissa Garcia scored 18 points for the Rams, who scored the first 22 points of the game and had 86 points before the final quarter. They will play Lincoln of Stockton on Thursday to conclude the regular season.

6. (6) Cajon (San Bernardino) 25-2
The Cowgirls finished a perfect 10-0 in San Andreas League play after a pair of 50+ point victories over Arroyo Valley and San Bernardino. Starting last week in San Bernardino to take on the Hawks, the Cowgirls led 42-22 at halftime on the way to the 84-29 win. Layshia Clarendon had a game-high 24 points to go along with eight assists and six steals while Jazzmeen Williams had a game-high 16 rebounds to go with her 10 points. The outcome was never in doubt as the regular season ended at home with a 87-37 win over San Bernardino as Clarendon recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Cajon opens the postseason on Thursday against Redondo, a team that played in the Div. II state finals a year ago.

7. (7) Foothill (Tustin) 25-1
Wrapping up the Sea View League title was a little more challenging than expected for the Knights. After one quarter, they trailed upset-minded Northwood (Irvine), 17-15. But like all good teams, Foothill had the answer, going on a 18-7 run in the second quarter, followed that up with a 17-8 spree in the third and was able to coast in with a 60-41 victory. Christina Marinacci, who has signed with USC, led the way with 24 points and Makenzie Hirz added 17. The Knights, losers only to No. 4 Brea Olinda, ran their winning streak to 10 games with a 54-24 rout of El Toro with Marinacci's 13 points and Paulina Solis' 10 almost enough by themselves. Foothill opens the Southern Section Div. III-A playoffs on Saturday after drawing a first round bye. It plays the winner of the Cerritos-Santiago (Garden Grove) game.

8. (8) Troy (Fullerton) 25-1
Usually, getting the No. 3 seed means you line up in the same bracket with No. 2. The Warriors are listed as the No. 3 seed, however they landed in the top half of the Southern Section's I-AA bracket with top-seeded Poly (Long Beach). Coach Roger Anderson will tell you in order to qualify for the state championships, the Warriors would probably have to go through Poly's Jackrabbits at some point anyway. Troy dismissed a pair of Freeway League foes as a warmup for the playoffs where the Warriors can get an early gauge by hosting Jordan (Long Beach) on Thursday. Jordan finished fourth in the Moore League behind Poly. Alex Sanchez scored 19 points, Chrystal Guarin added 14, Kristen Chimani 13 and Stephanie Yano another 13 in a 76-39 romp over Buena Park before wrapping up the unbeaten league record with a 62-18 dismissal of Sonora (La Habra) where Guarin led the way with 15 points.

9. (9) Hanford 20-4
To show how dominant the Bullpups have become in the West Yosemite League, last week's 72-41 win over Hanford West was the first time a 40-point mercy-rule for league games didn't take effect. Despite a slow start, probably due to the after-taste of a tough nonleague loss to Brea Olinda, Hanford still took charge in the second quarter and wrapped up its fourth straight league title. Madison Parrish had 13 points, Courtney Rose 12 and Korin Macias 11 to lead the Bullpups, who close the regular season this week in likely league routs vs. Mt. Whitney of Visalia and Lemoore.

10. (10) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 22-3
The Trojans scored exactly 70 points in both wins last week as they defeated Union Mine and Christian Brothers. At home against Union Mine, Oak Ridge led 47-6 at halftime and 68-13 after three quarters of play before scoring just two points in the final quarter for the 70-18 win. Caitlin Welsch was one of four to score in double figures with a game-high 15 points. Up next was a 70-29 win at Christian Brothers as Sara James scored 19 points and Kristina Williams scored 17 points to go with seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals. There are still regular season games left this week as the team travels to take on Cordova before returning home to face Vista del Lago in the regular season home finale.

11. (13) Carondelet (Concord) 21-3
The Cougars overcame first-half foul trouble and Ricki Radanovich did what she couldn't do in the earlier 53-42 loss to Monte Vista, and that's knock down shots. The 5-10 Santa Clara committed junior guard had a team-high 19 points with five three-pointers as Coach Margaret Gartner's girls got revenge in a 60-50 home victory. After going to the bench with three fouls midway through the first quarter, sophomore star Erica Payne came back strong in the second half, finishing the game with nine points and 11 rebounds, with eight of her points in the fourth quarter. Athletic freshman Hannah Huffman chipped in with 11 points. Playing in place of Payne for much of the first half, Hilary Rosette (nine points) scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds before halftime. The Cougars final two East Bay Athletic League games before the start of the NCS Division II playoffs are on the road at San Ramon Valley in Danville and at home against California of San Ramon.

12. (12) Clovis West (Fresno) 19-5
Brianna Orlich tossed in 21 points while Janae Coffee hit for 15 and Se'ynce Parrish had 13 as the Golden Eagles bounced back from a bad loss to No. 5 St. Mary's with a 77-34 victory over Buchanan of Clovis. Clovis West also won last week, 74-33, against Clovis East. This week, head coach Craig Campbell's team is looking to wrap up a perfect run through the Tri-River Athletic Conference in games against Madera and Clovis. The Golden Eagles are then expected to get the top seed for the CIF Central Section Div. I playoffs.

13. (11) Monte Vista (Danville) 21-2
According to the Contra Costa Times, Niveen Rasheed almost single-handedly kept the Mustangs in the 60-50 loss to Carondelet, scoring 14 of her team-high 24 points after halftime. She struggled with foul trouble, though, having to sub in and out throughout the final two quarters because she picked up three fouls in the first half. Coach Ron Hirschman also got 11 points from Dani Rabago but the girls couldn't overcome 25 turnovers coupled with cold shooting. Before the NCS Division I playoffs begin next week, there are games on tap this week at home against Amador Valley of Pleasanton and at San Ramon Valley in Danville.

14. (14) Bishop's (La Jolla) 24-2
There is nowhere to move for the Knights, even though they scored a monumental victory over Coastal South League rival La Jolla Country Day, 51-44. LJCD had won eight straight league titles but came in under the weather, especially coach Terri Bamford, and slipped behind 42-24 early in the fourth quarter. But young LJCD (no seniors) would not release the title without a serious fight, chopping the margin to 45-40 with 1:48 to play before being forced to foul. Bishop's sophomore Alissa Campanero had scored just two points but she trooped to the free throw line and made six in a row to prevent the upset. Flashy Gizelle Studevent, last week's CalHiSports.com Athlete of the Week, led Bishop's with 17 points but Inga Orekhova was right behind with 14. Orekhova, bound for Northwestern in the fall, scored 14 in a 64-40 win over Horizon (San Diego) earlier in the week. The Knights wrap up the regular season against Canyon Crest (San Diego) this week, then look forward to the playoffs.

15. (16) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 22-2
The Dragons are still without 6-2 post Brieanna Ashley, out with a bad ankle, but they didn't need her in two lopsided victories, 66-41 and 59-24 over Castro Valley and Mt. Eden of Hayward, respectively. Against Castro Valley, junior star Robie Mayberry led the way with 24 points and sophomore Lariel Powell added 14. Junior Alexis Bostick, out since Jan. 29 with a sprained knee, had eight points in her return against Castro Valley. Before heading into the NCS Division III playoffs next week, Coach Kevin Cushing's girls finish up Hayward Area Athletic League play this week with San Leandro at home and Hayward on the road.

16. (17) Mater Dei (Chula Vista) 22-2
Slowly moving up the rankings, the Crusaders polished off two more victories to run the streak to 17 straight since dropping a game to Colorado's ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch). The only other loss is to Archbishop Mitty (San Jose). Reserve Ocean Escalante led three players in double-figure scoring in a 77-14 rout of Otay Ranch (Chula Vista) where the Mater Dei defense did not allow more than four points in any one quarter. At least Chula Vista avoided a running clock in the fourth quarter but the Spartans suffered the same fate, losing 77-44 as 6-3 Soulijah Evans pitched in 23 points and Kamela Jackson 16. Only Hilltop (Chula Vista) and Bonita Vista (Chula Vista) remain this week before what figures to be a very competitive San Diego Section Division IV playoff begins. Mater Dei, Bishop's and La Jolla Country Day are all Division IV teams.

17. (18) Bellarmine-Jefferson (Burbank) 25-2*
Shelley Gupilan scored 12 of her game-high 26 points in a game-deciding third quarter run as the Guards rallied to defeat St. Mary's Academy of Inglewood 63-50 to wrap up a perfect 8-0 Santa Cruz League record. Trailing 26-21 at halftime against the Belles, Bell-Jeff  came out strong in the second half winning the third quarter by a 26-11 margin. With the win, the Guards captured their second straight league title and didn't have to share the championship with St. Mary's Academy like they did last year before getting knocked out of the postseason by the Belles. Shelley Gupilan scored 12 of her game-high 26 points in the game deciding third quarter run. Heading into the postseason, Bell-Jeff is top-seed in the CIFSS Div. V-A playoffs with a 12-game win streak. The team will play either Sherman Indian or Holy Martyrs after a first-round bye.

18. (19) Summit (Fontana) 23-4
The Skyhawks remained undefeated in 2009 as the offense continued to light up the scoreboard as they concluded a perfect 10-0 record in Sunkist League play. First, they exploded for 31 points in the opening quarter against Bloomington, which was already enough for the win as they defeated the Bruins, 80-21. Meghin Williams was one of four Skyhawks in double figures with a game-high 18 points. Adrianne Williams filled the stat sheet up as well with six points, 12 assists, seven steals, and six rebounds. Summit then defeated Jurupa Valley 79-37 to improve to a perfect 12-0 since the calendar turned to 2009. As the No. 2 seed behind Mater Dei in the CIFSS Div. II-A playoffs, the Skyhawks open the playoffs at home on Thursday against Lakeside of Lake Elsinore.

19. (15) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 17-7
Despite losing 55-47 to Valley Christian of San Jose and 64-51 to Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Coach Sue Phillips' squad still has wins over Monte Vista of Danville and Mater Dei of Chula Vista, as well as two wins over 18-4 St. Ignatius (San Francisco) and an earlier win over Valley Christian. After it all gets chewed up and spit out, the Monarchs stay in the top 20 even with the two losses last week. Drew Gordon's little sister, Elizabeth, who looked good in the previous loss to the Irish and who has been steadily improving, led Mitty with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting and added 14 rebounds. Courtney Wilson added 12 points.

20. (20) Berkeley 18-5
For the second straight week, the Yellowjackets hold down the final spot after two blowout Alameda Contra Costa League wins, 60-16 and 63-6 over De Anza of Richmond and Richmond, respectively. Interim un-retired Coach Gene Nakamura's team finishes up league with a road game at Hercules, where there might be some jeers for sophomore transfer Brittany Boyd from the home crowd of the 6-17 Titans. After the trip to Hercules, the Yellowjackets should make some noise in the NCS Division I playoffs beginning next week.     

Dropped Out: None.

On the Bubble: Buena (Ventura) 21-6, Colony (Ontario) 23-2, Edison (Huntington Beach) 20-4, Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga) 19-7, Deer Valley (Antioch) 18-6, Inglewood 25-3*, Muir (Pasadena) 20-3, Sacramento 18-8, Santa Monica 20-6, St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 18-4, St. Mary's (Berkeley) 22-4, Woodbridge (Irvine) 23-3.

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