Section championship week headlined by Poly vs. Cajon, but that one could be repeated in the regionals. This week's newcomers both from Northern California.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

(Contributing: Ronnie Flores, Steve Brand, Paul Muyskens, Harold Abend; Through games of Saturday, February 28; previous rating in parentheses)

1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 29-0
There have been several outings this year in which the Monarchs have looked absolutely unbeatable and last Saturday's CIF Southern Section Div. II-A semifinal against Villa Park was one of them. Playing a team that was 22-6 and lost to No. 4 Brea Olinda by 14 points last month, Mater Dei put up a 50-point win, 74-24, and advanced to the title game this weekend. Super soph Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis popped in 19 points and had 10 rebounds for the Monarchs while Alexyz Vaioletamma had 13 points and seven boards. Head coach Kevin Kiernan's team will play Beverly Hills next, a squad that just knocked off state-ranked Summit of Fontana in the other semi. With Brea and Mater Dei seemingly on a collision course for the CIF Div. II Southern Regional final, the comparison of scores involving Villa Park is sure to raise some eyebrows up in northern Orange County. Mater Dei girls fans also should pay attention to what happens in this weekend's Indiana Class 4A championship. There is a chance that if ESPN RISE FAB 50 No. 1 South Bend Washington loses to Ben Davis of Indianapolis that the Monarchs could get a piece of the mythical national title. That is, of course, if they do their part and win the D2 state title and finish unbeaten.

2. (2) Poly (Long Beach) 27-2
The Jackrabbits showed why they're one of the top teams in the state and the nation as they easily hopped right along and once again find themselves in the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA championship game after defeating Santiago of Corona and Troy of Fullerton last week in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Monique Oliver led the offense with 18 points for the Jackrabbits against Santiago as they led 34-19 at halftime before having the lead cut down to eight entering the final quarter of play in an eventual 60-46 final score. Thaddesia Southall also had an impressive night with seven points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and seven blocks. Brittany Wilson then led the way against the state-ranked Warriors with 11 points as Poly led by as many as 21 before a late rally cut down the lead in their 46-34 win. Poly's title game opponent is going to be No. 6 Cajon of San Bernardino. Even though the two could play again in the Southern Regional Div. I playoffs, it's a major rankings matchup.

3. (3) Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 24-1
After waiting out the first and second rounds with a double-bye, the Irish girls didn't even break a sweat in a 71-27 CIF Central Coast Section Division III quarterfinal victory over Soquel at Notre Dame High in Belmont. Coach Brian Harrigan's girls have now won 19 straight since a Dec. 13 loss to Long Beach Poly at the Iolani Classic. Next up is a semifinal against Notre Dame and the only negative is it's once again in Belmont. It didn't make much difference last time there as the Irish won 60-33 in WCAL play. Valley Christian (San Jose) and St. Ignatius (San Francisco) are in the other semifinal but it's hard for the girls to not be looking ahead to NorCals and a likely collision with St. Mary's of Stockton.

4. (4) Brea Olinda (Brea) 28-2
Hey, it took a half for the Lady Cats to solve fired-up Thousands Oaks which only trailed 30-26 at the break of the CIFSS Divl. II-AA semifinals. That's news for a team that went on to win the game, 79-43, behind 6-2 Justine Hartman's 23 points and 6-foot Kendall Rodriguez' 17 and five assists. Oh yes, Kelsey Harris added 14. With an 82-43 rout of Valencia (Valencia) in the quarters, Coach Jeff Sink's Lady Cats have won 24 straight heading into the title game against fellow Orange County opponent Edison (Huntington Beach). In the win over Valencia, Brea showed its real strength as five players – Rodriguez (18 points), Hartman (20), Harris (16), Jonae Ervin (10) and Lexi Perry (10) all scored in double figures. Brea has won its first four games of the playoffs by an average of 52 points a game as both Mater Dei and the Lady Cats drive toward the expected showdown in the Southern California Regional championships, March 14 at UCLA.

5. (5) St. Mary's (Stockton) 25-3
About the only reliable thing that can partly contain the Rams' offense lately is the running clock as they scored 99 and 95 points in their first two playoff victories. Hosting Livingston in their first CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Div. III playoff game, it was quickly decided as they lead 38-3 at the end of the first quarter and 79-8 at halftime in a 99-15 win. Anissa Garcia outscored Livingston on her own with 22 points and Sarah Norcup scored 17 points as both Afure Jemerigbe and Chelsea Gray saw limited action. Just like its opening game, St. Mary's wasted no time in getting out to a quick start in its next outing against Sonora with a 56-14 halftime lead. The a running clock for much of the second half, the final score was 95-39. Gray had a game-high 20 points to go with nine assists and six rebounds while Alle Moreno made five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points. The will now play No. 4 seed East Union of Manteca in the semifinals on Wednesday in Galt.

6. (6) Cajon (San Bernardino) 29-2
Boy, the intensity level for the CIFSS I-AA title game between the Cowgirls and No. 2 Poly (Long Beach) should be thicker than a slab of bacon. You know Cajon will be bringing its up-tempo game after the Cowgirls dispatched two high-quality teams last week. Against traditional power Lynwood in the quarterfinals, Layshia Clarendon almost single-handedly scored enough to win the game, tossing in 37 points in a 70-45 victory. Perris, which also is a very quick team, decided Clarendon would not match that total and although she only scored 19 points, her ball-handling and passing were key in an impressive 66-32 victory. Instead, it was Darshae Burnside who dominated inside with 18 rebounds, not to mention 15 points, as a 26-0 scoring run sent Perris packing. Next to a Brea Olinda-Mater Dei game that will have to wait, this one should be the most fun. Exhausting, but fun.

7. (7) Foothill (Tustin) 28-1
If Christina Marinacci brings the kind of game she's played this year to USC next season, look for the Trojans to be challenging the likes of Stanford. Marinacci simply scored 33 points and pulled down 20 rebounds as the Knights collected a 78-69 victory over high-scoring Monrovia in the CIFSS Div. III-A semifinals, earning a spot in the title game against fast-finishing Inglewood. McKenzie Hirz collected 24 points against Monrovia after leading the Knights past Sonora (Anaheim) in the quarters, 57-35, as the typically stingy defense was just that. Then there is UC Davis-bound Blair Shinoda, who steadily scored 13 against the Wildcats and Paulina Solis, who had a like number against Sonora.  Coach Bill Seibert's well-balanced club has now won 14 straight after a 12-point loss to Brea Olinda.

8. (9) Hanford 23-4
With an easy 65-22 triumph over Sunnyside of Fresno in the CIF Central Section Div. II playoffs, the Bullpups cruised into a semifinal matchup this week against Yosemite of Oakhurst. Just about everyone scored and played significant minutes against Sunnyside with Lacey Gibbons' 12 points leading the way. Hanford will play an opponent that is very familiar with playoff success in the Central Section. Yosemite, which beat Redwood of Visalia, 63-39, in its quarterfinal game, also is led by a hot player in center Sydnee Fipps, who has had 16 straight double-doubles, including 25 points and 12 rebounds against Redwood.

9. (10) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 26-3
The Trojans showed why they earned the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs by opening the postseason with two large margin wins against Rocklin and Woodcreek of Roseville.  Much to the surprise of no one, the Lady Trojans were led by junior standout Sara James, who scored 10 of her 26 points in the opening quarter as they jumped out to a 23-2 lead. Oak Ridge led at halftime 42-11 and eventually picked up the win by a 74-21 final score.  In their second game of the week against the Timberwolves, the Trojans nearly led at halftime by the same score as their first game of the week as they were up 39-11 at the break before a nearly even second half resulted in the 59-30 final score. Kristina Williams led the Trojans with 16 points as they earned the trip to the semifinals on Wednesday at the University of the Pacific in Stockton to face Grant of Sacramento.

10. (11) Carondelet (Concord) 24-3
The CIF North Coast Section Division II top-seeded Cougars put the defensive vise on visiting Livermore, limited the Cowboys to two points in the first quarter and eight points in the first half on their way to a quarterfinal 75-32 blowout victory. Ricki Radanovich scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the second quarter, including two of her four 3-pointers, as the Cougars took a 42-8 halftime lead. It's a little hard for Coach Margaret Gartner's girls to not look past a Wednesday matchup at home against Petaluma in a double-header with the De La Salle boys. Either Pinole Valley (Pinole) or Northgate (Walnut Creek) would await the Cougars in the finals but the real test will probably be in the Northern Regionals against Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills. And would anyone be surprised if Mitty ends up making a lot noise in those playoffs as well despite its recent stuggles? Didn't think we'd see any hands go up.

11. (12) Clovis West (Fresno) 22-5
If head coach Craig Campbell can continue to get strong games at the same time from his standout trio of Morgan Hatten, Briana Orlich and Janae Coffee, then the Golden Eagles will continue to be tough to beat. In their 59-27 win last Friday in the Central Section quarterfinals over Centennial of Bakersfield, Hatten (16 points), Orlich (15) and Coffee (15) all had their moments. The win advanced Clovis West into this week's semis opposite Bakersfield. The Drillers won their quarterfinal game, 44-28, against Buchanan of Clovis.

12. (13) Monte Vista (Danville) 24-2
Last week's NCS Division I playoff game against Logan of Union City started late because the bus driver for Logan headed to Monta Vista in Cupertino instead of Danville. Niveen Rasheed and her mates waited patiently for the Colts, then rounded them up and sent them back to Union City with no hay and oats in a 60-24 victory. The 6-foot Princeton-bound Rasheed had 24 points and 11 rebounds and added six assists. Alex Snoler added 12 points - all on three-pointers. Next up is a semifinal matchup at home on Wednesday with fifth seed Granada (Livermore), a 54-44 winner over fourth seed Newark Memorial of Newark. Either Berkeley or Deer Valley of Antioch awaits the winner.

13. (14) Bishop's (La Jolla) 26-2
After a well-earned first round bye, Coach Marlon Wells' Knights had little trouble dispatching fellow Coastal South League member Francis Parker (San Diego), 73-27, with a running clock in the fourth quarter. High-scoring Gizelle Studevent (Penn State) tossed in 14 points, 6-3 Austrian (born in Russia) Inga Orekhova (Northwestern) added another 14 and sophomore Alissa Campanero pitched in 13 as 10 players scored. The Knights have won 13 straight with the only losses coming to Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and ThunderRidge of Colorado. However, Bishop's must take care of business against Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach) in the semis Tuesday while awaiting the result of the La Jolla Country Day at Mater Dei (Chula Vista) game, which will also be played Tuesday night.

14. (15) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 25-2
Coach Kevin Cushing's top-seeded NCS Division III girls squad had little trouble with visiting Drake (San Anselmo) in a 70-42 quarterfinal victory. Robie Mayberry (game high 21 points) hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it a 39-15 game at halftime, pretty much sealing it at that point. Lariel Powell chipped in with 12 points. The Dragons'semifinal opponent is the fourth seed Campolindo of Moraga, coached by Clay Kallam. Since an MLK Day loss to a Sacred Heart Cathedral team, O'Dowd would like to get a rematch with the Irish in the Northern Regionals, O'Dowd has won 11-straight. There is adversity, however, down the road. Cushing may not need them in the NCS playoffs, but with 6-2 post Brieanna Ashley out after a third knee injury that ends her high school career and Mayberry hobbled after a traffic mishap, O'Dowd's prospects in the D3 Northern Regionals just dimmed.

15. (8)  Troy (Fullerton) 28-2
It was a team's worst nightmare. Star player (Alex Sanchez) picks up third foul less than halfway through the first quarter, shooters go cold (13 of 48) and the higher-ranked opponent dominates the boards (36-25). A recipe for a loss, for certain, as Troy tumbled to Poly (Long Beach) 46-34 in the CIFSS I-AA semifinals. Although Sanchez finished with 13 points, the Warriors were down 18-5 after the first quarter and only shaved the deficit below double-figures once in the second half as the Jackrabbits simply would not allow them back in the game. Earlier in the week Sanchez, only scored 13 again but this time she had nine assists and Chrystal Guarin also pitched in with 13 points in a 52-40 victory over Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga), running the Warriors' winning streak to 20 games. The loss to Poly was the first to a California team.

16. (16) Mater Dei (Chula Vista) 25-2
The Crusaders could easily have been caught looking ahead to their showdown Tuesday night at home against traditional Division IV power La Jolla Country Day. Didn't happen. After a competitive first half against Horizon (San Diego), Ebone Henry led Mater Dei to a 39-17 second half bulge en route to a 71-41 victory, the 20th straight victory for Coach David Monroe's club. Henry scored 27 and leads the Crusaders against LJCD, a team they beat by two on a half-court shot at the buzzer at the start of the season. Both teams have improved considerably over the year, especially LJCD, which has played a tougher league schedule and does not field a single senior. But Mater Dei has shown great poise all season, losing only to Division II Archbishop Mitty and Colorado's ThunderRidge.  

17. (17) Bellarmine-Jefferson (Burbank) 28-2*
Make it 15 wins in a row for Bell-Jeff, which is headed to the CIFSS Division V-A championship game for the second year in a row as they continued their playoff perfection last week with a pair of large victories. First, the Guards led St. Margaret's of SJ Capistrano 42-12 at halftime as they already had enough points in the 74-26 win.  They had a bit of a closer game in the semifinals but still easily defeated Chadwick of Palos Verdes Peninsula by a 68-42 final to book their appearance in the upcoming championship game against Santa Clara of Oxnard. Bell-Jeff faces a Saints team that enters on a 20-game winning streak. This matchup also could be a preview of the Southern Regional Div. V final.

18. (19) Berkeley 22-5
Un-retired interim Coach Gene Nakamura played every girl on the bench but even so the Yellowjackets won 77-24 going away over visiting American of Fremont. Since super-sophomore Brittany Boyd joined the team at the end of January, the girls have won seven straight with the closest game a 62-50 victory over Pinole Valley of Pinole. Now comes the real test for the third seed against a veteran second-seeded Deer Valley of Antioch in the NCS Division I semifinals. One of these top two Northern California D1 teams will not advance to the Northern Regionals.

19.  (nr) Sacramento 21-8
Despite a 3-5 start to the season with a brand new coach, the Dragons have turned it around improved their current win streak to 10 straight with Sac-Joaquin Section Div. III playoff wins last week over Oakdale and Vanden of Travis AFB. The No. 3 seeded Dragons came out blowing fire as Brittany Shine scored 20 points and Chamiua Reaves added 19 points in a 78-33 blowout victory over Oakdale to open the postseason. Hosting Vanden in the second round, the Dragons opened up a comfortable lead with a 23-7 advantage in the second quarter and they held on for a 60-52 victory. Katrina Salinas led the Dragons with 16 points while Shine added 14 points and both Erica Barnes and Kyra Dunn also scored in double figures with 13 points. Vanden had a school-record 14-game winning streak end. Sac High will next play No. 2 seed Del Oro of Loomis in the semifinals where a win would likely set the stage for another championship game against St. Mary's of Stockton.

20.  (nr) Deer Valley (Antioch) 21-6
After winning 17 straight, including a 57-29 drubbing of San Ramon Valley in the NCS Division I quarterfinals, Coach Lindsay Wisely's girls make their first appearance in the state rankings this season. In the win last week, it was the senior duo of Emily Allard and Patrice Saindon leading the way. Saindon had 15 points and a game-high five steals, while Northwestern-bound softball hurler Allard notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Keyontee White chipped in with nine points and eight rebounds in the win. Now comes Wisely's and the Wolverines nemesis Berkeley, but not in the finals but in the semis with the winner probably facing Monte Vista but being guaranteed a spot in the Northern California regional playoffs.

Dropped Out: Previous No. 18 Summit of Fontana (lost to Beverly Hills); No. 20 Santa Monica (lost to Canyon Springs, 50-48).

On the Bubble: Chatsworth 22-8, Beverly Hills 24-8, Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) 24-6, Edison (Huntington Beach) 24-4, Santa Monica 23-7, St. Mary's (Berkeley) 25-4, Valley Christian (San Jose) 22-6.

Corrections or comments? Email mark@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment so others can check out what you have to say.