The action in the final major California viewing period event for girls basketball may have been down the Peninsula in Redwood City, but the Summer in the City Tournament was dominated by a team of girls mostly from the East Bay and two Yellowjackets in particular.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Last weekend's Summer in the City Tournament at first glance looked like it would become a matchup of host Mark Anger's East Bay Explosion Black against Ray Mayes' FBC Blue, the Southern California team that couldn't quite close the deal last week at their own EA Sports National Showcase in Las Vegas.

Although the tournament was in the Bay Area at Sequoia High in Redwood City, the CalHiSports.com caravan only made the 200-mile round trip journey from its Sonoma County base on the final day's action of the July 29-31 event.

The one day of basketball we covered was outstanding even if the host EBX Black squad didn't hold up its end of the bargain, losing in the semifinals to Cal Ballaz after leading by eight points with around four minutes remaining.

"We just didn't take care of business,” said Anger, who refused to make excuses but told CalHiSports.com he was without Carondelet's Hannah Huffman (2012) whose overall guard play this summer has been exemplary and amongst the top incoming sophomores in the state.

That ballhandling deficiency against the ballhawking Ballaz would prove fatal not only for Anger's girls but also for the team Leroy Hurt's team of mostly East Bay girls met in the Black Division finals, Maye's FBC Blue girls from the Southland.

(Read full post)

It's Archbishop Mitty for the third consecutive year, and the fourth time in five years, for girls sports only. On the boys side, Loyola of Los Angeles edges Div. III winner Cathedral Catholic of San Diego for boys sports only. We also honor schools in other CIF enrollment divisions and give special mention to additional schools from around the state that enjoyed tremendous combined sports success during the 2008-09 school year.

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

Boys Sports Only
State School of the Year:
Loyola (Los Angeles)
The Cubs enjoyed their finest school year since taking home honors among boys sports during the 2004-05 school year. The Cubs had a solid football team in the fall whereas Cathedral Catholic won the Div. II state bowl game. Loyola, however, capped off its fall season by winning the Div. II cross country state title behind spectacular performances from sophomore Elias Gedyon. During the winter, Loyola's basketball team finished 26-7 and were section runner-ups, losing in the title game and the SoCal Div. II regional title game to eventual state champ Eisenhower of Rialto. There is no doubt the Cubs' hoops team was stronger than Cathedral Catholic's just as there is no doubt the Dons' section title winning baseball team was the stronger of the two. What gives the Cubs an edge for boys honors is its soccer team, which finished 20-5-5 and ranked No. 31 in the FAB 50, its track team (CIFSS Div. II champions) and its boys volleyball team. The Cubs' volleyball team won the CIFSS Div. I title and the SoCal Div. I regional title to earn the No. 1 spot in the ESPN RISE FAB 50. The previous school from the CIF Southern Section to take home honors among boys sports only was Mater Dei of Santa Ana during the 2006-2007 school year.

Girls Sports Only
State School of the Year:
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
The Monarchs are obviously no strangers to various State School of the Year awards. They took home overall school of the year honors in 2006-07 for their softball, boys' and girls' basketball, girls' soccer and girls volleyball teams. This year's boys' basketball team faltered, the girls' basketball team lost in triple overtime in the Northern Regional semifinal, and the girls' soccer team lost in the CCS Div. II title game. However, a special group of Mitty girl student-athletes did something none of the others could do: finish No. 1 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 ratings in two sports. The Mitty girls volleyball and softball teams not only finished ranked No. 1 nationally, they also produced two state players of the year as well. It's the third straight girls honor for the Monarchs. They've also been the state's best overall in girls sports for 2004-05, 2000-01, 1998-99, 1997-98 and 1994-95. Is there any doubt Mitty is America's best girls sports school in the last 10 years?(Read full post)

NorCal basketball power shows it still has plenty of pop at Golden Gate Summer Shootout.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Before hitting the road next week for the NCAA Summer Certified Event viewing period, where we try uncovering California girls basketball players not on any of the major radar screens, we decided to stay close to home for the 14th Annual Golden Gate Summer Shootout

The June 27-28 event, managed by former Redwood of Larkspur Athletic Director Jim Halm and with proceeds benefiting his non-profit organization's Education Assistance Fund, found 24 boys teams and six girls teams competing at a combined five gyms throughout Marin County.

Teams from as far away Reno, Merced, Sacramento, Roseville and San Jose competed in the boys division, while all of the girls' teams were from the Redwood Empire with the exception of Albany.

With events spread out over so many venues and temperatures well into the 100s outside and just as hot if not hotter in the gyms, CalHiSports.com decided to focus on a few of the top Redwood Empire teams and players in action.

The result is the four games at three different gyms got coverage over the two days of the Shootout.

(Read full post)

Routs on Tuesday in the first round of the regional playoffs should lead into some tough tussles on Thursday. New No. 1 this week is Cajon is Division I.

By Steve Brand & Mark Tennis

There were only two girls basketball regional playoff games in the entire state on Tuesday that were decided by a winning margin of less than 10 points.

The best of those two was in Ontario where Colony High outlasted L.A. City champ Chatsworth, 61-53, in a Division I South first-round contest. It was the final high school game for Chatsworth's Gennifer Brandon, our State Girls Athlete of the Week from last week. Hint: This week's State Girls Athlete of the Week was in the same game, which was an honor we selected on Monday.

The only other single-digit score was in Division V North where Bradshaw Christian of Sacramento ensured at least some of the folks in the doubleheader crowd would go home happy with a 62-53 win over Urban of San Francisco. Bradshaw Christian head coach Mike Ruble then quickly took over preparing his boys team, but that wasn't as pleasant as three-time defending state champ Branson opened defense of its regional title with a 48-34 win.

While the CIF can't be happy with the numerous blowouts, they should build some excitement for Thursday's regional semifinals and then into Saturday's regional championships.

It is still on pace for several huge showdowns on Saturday, including Cajon of San Bernardino in a rematch of the CIF Southern Section Div. I-AA final against Long Beach Poly in Division I South, overall state No. 1 Mater Dei of Santa Ana against No. 3 Brea Olinda in Division II South and overall state No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral against No. 4 St. Mary's of Stockton in Division III North.

The schedule of championship games in the north and south, however, will be different. In the south at Pauley Pavilion, it will be the traditional schedule of Division III first and then Division II and Division I. In the north at Arco Arena, however, in an attempt to further showcase the likely Sacred Heart Cathedral vs. St. Mary's of Stockton matchup (which was perhaps the best girls playoff game in the entire state last year) the CIF has moved that start time way up to 6 p.m. The Division I girls game instead will start at 10 a.m.

In the south, this weekend's title games in Division IV and Division V will again be at Cal State Fullerton. In the north, those two division finals will be held at Folsom High School.

(Rankings based on results through Tuesday, March 3; unlike the boys, they will match the overall top 20 rankings posted on Monday since all top 20 teams won on Tuesday; previous ranking in parentheses; *indicates season complete.)

Division I
1.   (2)   Cajon (San Bernardino) 32-2
2.   (1)   Poly (Long Beach) 29-3
3.   (4)   Monte Vista (Danville) 27-2
4.   (5)   Troy (Fullerton) 31-2
5.   (9)   Colony (Ontario) 29-3
6.   (7)   Deer Valley (Antioch) 23-7
7.   (nr)  Chatsworth 24-9*
8.   (nr)  Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) 25-8
9.   (nr)  Perris 23-9*
10. (nr)  Kennedy (Sacramento) 26-7
Bubble: Ayala (Chino Hills) 22-9*, Berkeley 22-6*, Clovis West (Fresno) 23-7*, Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga) 21-8*, Lincoln (San Francisco) 28-4, Millikan (Long Beach) 23-6*, Santa Monica 22-8*, Stockdale (Bakersfield) 27-5*, Ventura 22-7*.

Division II
1.   (1)  Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 31-0
2.   (2)  Brea Olinda (Brea) 30-2
3.   (3)  Hanford  26-4
4.   (4)  Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 29-3
5.   (5)  Carondelet (Concord) 27-3
6.   (nr) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 22-8
7.   (6)  Edison (Huntington Beach) 25-5
8.  (10) Northgate (Walnut Creek) 24-4*
9.  (nr) Gunn (Palo Alto) 29-1
10. (8)  Beverly Hills 24-10*
Bubble: Garces (Bakersfield) 30-3*, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) 22-7*, Mount Miguel (Spring Valley) 26-6*, Norco 24-5*, Pinole Valley (Pinole) 21-6*, Pleasant Valley (Chico) 21-8*, Summit (Fontana) 26-5*, Vista del Lago (Moreno Valley) 25-3*.

Division III
1.   (1)   Sacred Heart Cathedral (SF) 27-1
2.   (2)   St. Mary's (Stockton) 28-3
3.   (3)   Foothill (Tustin) 30-1
4.   (4)   Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 28-2
5.   (5)   Sacramento  21-9
6.   (7)   Woodbridge (Irvine) 28-3
7.   (6)   Inglewood  29-4**
8.   (nr)  Marlborough (Los Angeles)  22-11
9.   (nr)  Muir (Pasadena) 22-4*
10.  (9)  St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 21-8*
**Indicates forfeit losses not included.
Bubble: Agoura (Agoura Hills) 25-4*, Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 18-12*, Del Oro (Loomis) 26-2*, East Union (Manteca) 27-3*, Las Plumas (Oroville) 24-2*, Roosevelt (Fresno) 28-3*, Valley Christian (San Jose) 22-7* Vanden (Travis AFB) 24-3*.

Division IV
1.   (1)   Bishop's (La Jolla) 29-2
2.   (3)   St. Mary's (Berkeley) 28-4
3.   (2)   Mater Dei (Chula Vista) 27-3
4.   (7)   Modesto Christian  25-7
5.   (6)   Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 25-6
6.   (4)   La Jolla Country Day  20-10*
7.   (5)   Lutheran (Orange) 25-4*
8.   (9)   Pacific Hills (Los Angeles) 23-10
9.   (nr)  Harvard-Westlake (N. Hollywood) 21-10
10.  (8)   St. Joseph (Santa Maria) 29-4*
Bubble: Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 21-9*, Christian Brothers (Sacramento) 23-7*, Corcoran 28-7*, LACES (Los Angeles) 21-10*, Linden 25-7, Moreau Catholic (Hayward) 22-6*, Santa Cruz 26-3*, St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs) 19-10*, Windward (Los Angeles) 20-8*.

Division V
1.    (1)   Bellarmine-Jefferson (Burbank) 30-2
2.    (2)   Branson (Ross) 29-3
3.    (3)   Pinewood (Los Altos) 29-4
4.    (4)   Santa Clara (Oxnard) 25-4
5.    (5)   Bradshaw Christian (Sacramento) 28-4
6.    (8)   View Park Prep (Los Angeles) 27-8
7.    (nr)  Coast Union (Cambria) 19-7*
8.    (6)  Fresno Christian 23-6
9.    (nr)  Castilleja (Palo Alto)  23-8
10.  (7)  Head-Royce (Oakland) 25-5*
Bubble: Chadwick (Palos Verdes) 23-4*, Christian Life (Escondido) 22-8*, Convent of the Sacred Heart (S.F.) 19-6*, Durham 25-4*, Montclair Prep (Van Nuys) 21-7*, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 25-5*, St. Joseph (Alameda) 21-8*, Urban (San Francisco) 21-12*, Vincent Memorial (Calexico) 20-7*, Wilton Christian (Wilton) 27-3*.

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

Will both Mater Dei boys and girls basketball teams end up unbeaten and No. 1 in the state? That has never happened before, but there sure has been some phenomenal boys-girls combo schools in California history. Check out updated state record lists.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

After its 74-24 romp over Villa Park on Saturday night in the CIF Southern Section Div. II-A semifinals, the Mater Dei High of Santa Ana girls basketball team joined the boys as unbeaten teams that will be going for section titles next weekend.

Head coach Kevin Kiernan's team improved to 29-0 and will meet Beverly Hills next.
The Monarchs didn't start out No. 1 in the preseason state rankings, but moved there after teams ranked higher suffered early losses. They also are No. 2 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national poll.

The school's boys team, which has been No. 1 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national rankings and No. 1 in the CalHiSports.com state rankings since the preseason, did its part in earning a spot in the CIFSS finals but it wasn't as easy in a 70-60 victory on Friday night over Etiwanda of Rancho Cucamonga.

Mater Dei's boys are now 30-0 and will face M.L. King of Riverside next in the CIFSS Div. I-AA championship. The last two years Mater Dei lost in this title game, first to Artesia of Lakewood and last year to Dominguez of Compton.

Mater Dei's boys-girls combo record of 52-0 for the regular season has already given the school one state record this year. It's not the first time in state history that a school has had both boys and girls basketball teams go unbeaten for a regular season, but 52-0 is certainly superior to the 39-0 record established by the boys-girls teams at St. Joseph of Santa Maria in 1983.

The state record for best season combo record was set in 1982 when Drake of San Anselmo swept state titles and went a combined 65-2.

Since this story has become so big this year and since this weekend the staff of CalHiSports.com has sent in the seventh edition of the monstrous CalHiSports.com State Record Book and Almanac to the printer, it only seems right to post a few of the updated boys-girls basketball combo records.

This year's record book is 50 pages in length longer that the sixth edition even though some of the type sizes are smaller. We guarantee it will be the best state record book ever seen in the U.S., jam-packed with special features to go along with all of the numerous updates.

Due to a sponsorship from Power Bar, copies of the new book also will be sent free of charge to every high school athletic department in the state. Ordering information also will be provided on this web site.

Boys & Girls Basketball
Best Season Combo Records
65-2 - San Anselmo Drake, 1982  (97.0%) (34-0 boys, 31-2 girls)
50-2 - Santa Maria St. Joseph, 1983 (96.2%) (26-1 boys, 24-1 girls)
64-3 - Santa Ana Mater Dei, 1995  (95.6%) (36-1 boys, 28-2 girls)
41-2 - Oakland Fremont, 1977 (95.3%) (25-1 boys, 16-1 girls)
59-3 - Mountain View St. Francis, 1979 (95.2%) (32-2 boys, 27-1 girls)
52-3 - Sacramento Kennedy, 1991 (94.5%) (31-1 boys, 21-2 girls)
61-4 - Ripon Christian, 1992 (93.8%) (34-1 boys, 27-3 girls)
66-5 - Ross Branson, 2007 (93.0%) (33-2 boys, 33-3 girls)
Regular Season:
52-0 - Santa Ana Mater Dei, 2009 (26-0 boys, 26-0 girls)*
39-0 - Santa Maria St. Joseph, 1983 (21-0 boys, 18-0 girls)
50-1 - San Anselmo Drake, 1982 (26-0 boys, 24-1 girls)
49-1 - Thousand Oaks, 1993 (23-1 boys, 26-0 girls)
47-1 - Sacramento Kennedy, 1991 (27-0 boys, 20-1 girls)
44-1 - Mountain View St. Francis, 1979 (23-1 boys, 21-0 girls)

Boys & Girls Basketball
Same Year State Championships
1982 - San Anselmo Drake (boys Div. II, girls Div. II)
1988 - Ripon Christian (boys Div. V, girls Div. V)
1989 - Atherton Menlo (boys Div. V, girls Div. V)
1994 - Ripon Christian (boys Div. V, girls Div. V)
2000 - Torrance Bishop Montgomery (boys Div. lll,  girls Div. lll)
2001 - Torrance Bishop Montgomery (boys Div. lll, girls Div. lll)
2007 - Ross Branson (boys Div. V, girls Div. V)
2008 - Ross Branson (boys Div. V, girls Div. V)

Boys & Girls Basketball
Best Combo Record for Each Year
2008 - Santa Ana Mater Dei, 60-5 (35-1 boys, 25-4 girls)
2007 - Ross Branson, 66-5 (33-2 boys, 33-3 girls)
2006 - Ross Branson, 62-6 (33-1 boys, 29-5 girls)
2005 - Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 57-8 (31-2 boys, 26-6 girls)
2004 - San Diego, 58-8 (27-4 boys, 31-4 girls)
2003 - Oakland Bishop O'Dowd, 54-5 (29-2 boys, 25-3 girls)
2002 - Long Beach Poly, 63-6 (30-4 boys, 33-2 girls)
2001 - Torrance Bishop Montgomery, 59-8 (30-2 boys, 29-6 girls)
2000 - Torrance Bishop Montgomery, 57-8 (28-5 boys, 29-3 girls)
1999 - Brea Brea-Olinda, 58-7 (26-4 boys, 32-3 girls)
1998 - Brea Brea-Olinda, 57-6 (24-5 boys, 33-1 girls)
1997 - L.A. Crenshaw, 54-7 (27-3 boys, 27-4 girls)
1996 - Santa Ana Mater Dei, 63-5 (34-2 boys, 29-3 girls)
1995 - Santa Ana Mater Dei, 64-3 (36-1 boys, 28-2 girls)
1994 - Ripon Christian, 66-6 (35-1 boys, 31-5 girls)
1993 - Thousand Oaks, 56-4 (26-2 boys, 30-2 girls)
1992 - Ripon Christian, 61-4 (34-1 boys, 27-3 girls)
1991 - Sacramento Kennedy, 52-3 (31-1 boys, 21-2 girls)
1990 - Lynwood, 59-6 (31-3 boys, 28-3 girls)
1989 - Benicia, 55-6 (31-2 boys, 24-4 girls)
1988 - Union City Logan, 54-5 (24-4 boys, 30-1 girls)
1987 - Anaheim Katella, 50-6 (23-3 boys, 27-3 girls)
1986 - Pasadena Muir, 57-4 (28-3 boys, 29-1 girls)
1985 - Lynwood, 53-5 (26-2 boys, 27-3 girls)
1984 - Cloverdale, 49-5 (29-0 boys, 20-5 girls)
1983 - Santa Maria St. Joseph, 50-2 (26-1 boys, 24-1 girls)
1982 - San Anselmo Drake, 65-2 (34-0 boys, 31-2 girls)
1981 - Long Beach Poly, 51-5 (26-2 boys, 25-3 girls)
1980 - Fresno, 46-4 (23-2 boys, 23-2 girls)
1979 - St. Francis Mountain View, 59-3 (32-2 boys, 27-1 girls)
1978 - Ventura Buena, 45-6 (21-5 boys, 24-1 girls)
1977 - Oakland Fremont, 41-2 (25-1 boys, 16-1 girls)

For corrections or comments and to ask about the new state record book, email mark@studentsports.com.

Senior Nights are special for one re-born senior. Watch Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area on Sundays at 7 p.m. on YourTV 20, San Francisco with co-hosts Robert Braunstein and Amy Calderone for highlights and features on these teams. Replays throughout the week on Comcast SportsNet throughout Northern California.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Recently, yours truly officially became a senior citizen.

Not that there's anything wrong with attaining the age of a double-nickel. In fact, it isn't so bad at all, especially when you get to travel around the Bay Area as a basketball junkie, getting fixed on watching the top boys and girls talent in action.

Over the years, we've attended countless Senior Night games, but in the last two weeks and between the last three Senior Nights we attended, there ought the be a special record for our venture in the soon-to-be released new ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Record Book and Almanac.

Two of the three teams were undefeated (although one has lost – read on for more on that) and one had only one loss.

By the time the caravan left the De La Salle parking lot after the Spartans' 71-49 victory over San Ramon Valley of Danville on Feb. 17, the three Senior Night home winners had a combined record at the time of 73-1. Not too shabby!

While the Senior Night at Cardinal Newman two weeks ago was great, the two we were at last week were special for different reasons.

On Feb. 18. the caravan rolled to Palo Alto and Gunn High where we were there to write a story on last week's ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Girls State Athlete of the Week, Jasmine Evans. If you haven't read her story, it's well worth it. A truly remarkable young woman with perhaps an even more remarkable father.

The capper was the night before in Concord.

De La Salle Coach Frank Allocco, who quite possibly is the best high school coach in the nation, was not only gracious in introducing your humble servant as a legend to one of the Brothers who administer the Catholic school, but he even rewarded us with our own Senior Night gift.

The other two out of the four total stops for watering the caravan's camels were both in Larkspur on Friday and Saturday for the Marin County Athletic League playoffs.

As has been the case the past few years, it was Branson and more Branson.

The two-time defending Division V state champion girls won their third title in a row and fourth in the past five years behind a workwoman-like 12 points and nine assists from Princeton-bound Lauren Polansky in a 47-27 defensive crushing of a very good Marin Catholic team.

Bulls Coach Mike Fulton, who will leave Branson after this season to become coach at San Domenico (San Anselmo), where he's currently the middle school AD and a full-time PE teacher, just seems to have the Wildcats' number.

The Bulls boys won a 36-35 nail-biter over Terra Linda with their patented vise-like defense.

It was the capper so far for first-year coach Bob Donlan but as a team the three-time defending D5 state champions won their fourth-straight MCAL playoff title and fifth in six years.

For those who have emailed asking if we knew of locations for NCS playoffs when neutral sites are used, NCS Commissioner Gil Lemmon informs us NCS staff have arranged for St. Mary's College for six games, two on Friday, March 6th and four on Saturday, March 7th.

They have not decided which divisions. However, mostly likely to date are Division I, II and III. Divisions V location may be Redwood High School and Division IV may be Albany HS. Division VI play at home.

Boys Top 20 Teams
(Through games of Feb. 21)
(Not including forfeits)

1. De La Salle (Concord) 25-1 (1)
See state top 20 for writeup.

2. McClymonds (Oakland) 24-1 (2)
See state top 20 for writeup.

3. San Leandro 23-3 (3)
See state top 20 for writeup.

4) Berkeley 23-3 (4)
See state top 20 for writeup.

5. St. Francis (Mountain View) 25-2 (7)
See state top 20 for wrietup.  

6. Monte Vista (Danville) 23-3 (6)
It was two road wins in the final week of EBAL action, 57-44 and 67-54 over Amador Valley (Pleasanton) and San Ramon Valley, respectively. The NCS seeding committee saw the Mustangs as having better credentials than Berkeley. The result is Coach Bill Powers' boys get the third seed and will face the Deer Valley (Antioch) at Castro Valley winner on Friday.

7. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 22-4 (5)
The Irish didn't have a hard time in their first two WCAL playoff games, both easy victories, 77-47 and 81-60 over Valley Christian (San Jose) and Mitty of San Jose. Kevin Greene led the way against defending champion Mitty with 18 points. In the championship against St. Francis, the Irish fought back from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit behind Daryl Cooper (22 points) and WCAL co-Player of the Year Jerry Brown (15 points and 11 rebounds) but couldn't close out a victory. Now it's on to the CCS playoffs where Coach Darrell Barbour's squad has still earned the top seed in Division III.

8. Salesian (Richmond) 24-4 (9)
Coach Bill Mellis's Pride took care of business and beat St. Mary's of Berkeley for the second time, 69-59, to secure the Bay Shore Athletic League playoff championship. It was also Salesian's eighth straight victory since a loss to Miramonte. The win earns Salesian the top seed in the NCS D4 playoffs and a first round bye. The Pride meets Healdsburg at Fort Bragg winner on Feb. 28 in Richmond.

9. St. Mary's (Berkeley) 24-4 (8)
Despite the loss to Salesian, the Panthers still snagged the second seed in the NCS D4 playoffs.

10. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 19-7 (10)
After losing to San Leandro, 49-42, the Dragons took a meaningless loss to Hayward that changed nothing in the HAAL and didn't deny them the top seed in the NCS Division III playoffs.

11. Newark Memorial (Newark) 24-4 (11)
We left the Cougars behind O'Dowd due to a head-to-head loss.

12. Castro Valley 22-4 (13)
Two wins last week for the Trojans earns the sixth seed in NCS D1 action.

13. Miramonte (Orinda) 22-4 (14)
The Mats own a head-to-head win over Salesian and go into NCS D3 action as the second seed.

14. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 27-1 (12)
Even though they already had two wins over Piner, the loss to the Prospectors, who lost to Salesian, who lost to Miramonte, drops Newman below the Matadors. The loss also cost Newman a potential top seed in NCS D4 action where it is now the third seed.

15. Castlemont (Oakland) 15-5 (16)
Two OAL wins last week. At Mack on Feb. 24.

16. Piedmont Hills (San Jose) 26-1 (17)
CCS D1 top seed and its hard to argue with the selection.

17. Bellarmine (San Jose) 18-8 (16)
Bells fall in behind Piedmont Hills with the second seed in CCS D1 action.

18. Burlingame 24-4 (19)
Finishing strong with 19 straight since a loss to Bellarmine in December earns the Panthers the second seed in CCS D3 playoffs.

19. Branson (Ross) 24-3 (20)
While it looked like the year the Bulls might tumble from the top of the MCAL, it didn't happen and the three-time defending D5 state champions won their fourth-straight league playoff title and fifth in six years. Now the top seed in NCS Division V playoffs.

20. San Ramon Valley (Danville) 17-9 (18)
Wolves took their lumps last week against De La Salle and Monte Vista but we'll leave them in one more week since as the No. 9 seed in NCS D1 they must win on the road at Logan in Union City to earn a third shot at the Spartans.

Boys Teams On the Bubble
Analy (Sebastopol) 22-6, Aptos 27-3, Carlmont (Belmont) 21-4, Castlemont (Oakland) 17-7, Drake (San Anselmo) 20-7, Dublin 18-8, Gunn (Palo Alto) 22-5, Hayward 17-8, Head-Royce (Oakland) 23-2, Heritage (Brentwood) 18-8, James Logan (Union City) 20-9, Menlo (Atherton) 20-3, Mitty (San Jose) 16-10, Monterey 22-4, Northgate (Walnut Creek) 21-5, Oakland Tech (Oakland) 10-8, Piner (Santa Rosa) 21-7, Pittsburg 20-6, St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) 19-8, Skyline (Oakland) 11-10, Terra Linda (San Rafael) 19-9.

Girls Top 20 Teams
(Through games of Feb. 21)
(Not including forfeits but)

1. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 23-1 (1)
See state top 20 for writeup.

2. Carondelet (Concord) 23-3 (2)
See state top 20 for writeup.

3. Monte Vista (Danville) 21-2 (3)
See state top 20 for writeup.

4. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 24-2 (4)
See state top 20 for writeup.

5. Berkeley 21-5 (6)
See state top 20 for writeup.

6. Deer Valley (Antioch) 20-6 (7)
As expected, the NCS seeding committee saw it differently from these rankings and made the Wolverines the No. 2 seed in the Division I playoffs instead of Berkeley. Besides, the committee doesn't take the Yellowjackets' change in the lineup into consideration. Even if Berkeley were No. 2, it doesn't matter as the two would probably play regardless. Last week Coach Lindsay Wisely's girls completed a perfect Bay Valley League season by trouncing Antioch and Liberty of Brentwood. They've also won 16 straight since back-to-back losses to Hanford and Sacramento in the West Coast Jamboree. The Wolverines have a bye before meeting the San Ramon Valley at Mission San Jose of Fremont winner Friday night in Antioch.     

7. Valley Christian (San Jose) 19-5 (8)
This is a tough call on whether to jump Valley Christian over Deer Valley. We went back and forth on this because of the Warrior girls picking up two wins in two weeks versus Mitty with one being a 62-42 blowout of the Monarchs in the WCAL semifinals – and then giving the Irish all they could handle in the championship. We decided not to jump them over Deer Valley for two reasons. Even a good, solid team like Mitty or a great team like SHC is vulnerable to a tough team like VC when you meet them a third time in a season. Second, both will have to prove themselves in their respective section playoffs with the Warriors snagging the second seed in the CCS D3 playoffs. In order to get a fourth shot at the Irish, Valley Christian will have to probably go through third-seeded St. Ignatius in the semifinals, a team that beat them this year. After a double bye, VC is in action Feb. 28 in the quarterfinals at Notre Dame in Belmont.

8. Mitty (San Jose) 18-8 (5)
After losing two out of three this year to Valley Christian, the Monarchs have to drop below them so this is where they fall in these rankings. As the top seed in D2 in the CCS, the Sue Phillips-led squad from San Jose still looks like it is on a collision course with either Carondelet or Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills in the NorCals.

9. St. Mary's (Berkeley) 24-4 (9)
It wasn't easy against an Encinal team playing on adrenalin after the death of assistant coach Ken Babers but the Panthers got the job done in a 60-53 victory in the BSAL finals at Albany high. Danielle Mauldin scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Sonia Aguilar chipped in with 13 points. The top seed in the NCS D4 bracket has a bye before meeting the Justin-Siena (Napa) versus Ursuline winner on Saturday in Berkeley.

10. Pinole Valley (Pinole) 20-5 (11)
Spartans get second seed in NCS D2 playoffs and meet Clayton Valley (Concord) at Heritage (Brentwood) winner Friday night in Pinole.

11. Northgate (Walnut Creek) 22-3 (12)
A one spot bump based on a closer loss to Mitty than St. Ignatius got in its first look at the Monarchs. Broncos get third seed in NCS D3 and take on Windsor at Montgomery (Santa Rosa) winner at home Friday before a possible showdown with Pinole Valley.

12. St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 19-6 (10)
After a close loss to Presentation in the WCAL's first round, the Wildcats temporarily stay ahead of Branson, whom they beat early in the season. The third seed in the ultra-tough CCS D3 playoffs will have to get by Valley Christian most likely in the semis.

13. Branson (Ross) 22-3 (13)
With lots of young players stepping up as the season has progressed, this is not anywhere the same team that lost to SI in the Marin Catholic tournament. One of those that has stepped up is 5-11 sophomore Lisa Coito, who's starting to come into her own and was named the Marin Independent Journal prep of the week. The Bulls forward rose to the occasion in the MCAL playoffs, scoring 16 points to help Branson beat Drake in the semifinals, then adding 11 points in the final against Marin Catholic. Branson is the NCS D5 top seed and opens Wednesday at Redwood in Larkspur against the Bay School of San Francisco.

14. Gunn (Palo Alto) 26-0 (14)
One of the most enjoyable road trips the CalHiSports.com caravan has ever made was to Gunn to see Harvard-bound Jasmine Evans. What an incredible player and even more incredible young woman. In the game we saw against Leigh (San Jose) she didn't even break a sweat in an 81-31 victory. Evans played around 15 minutes (with one of them under a running clock in the fourth quarter), but still finished with 24 points, 17 steals, six assists, four rebounds and was 3 of 5 from outside the arc. The girls are itching to get a shot at Mitty and as the second seed in the CCS D2 bracket can get that shot if they also get to 28-0 in the next two weeks.

15. Dublin 21-5 (15)
The Gaels, who have five girls averaging over nine points a game, led by Jasmine Smith at just over 10, won their first ever Diablo Foothill Athletic League title with victories last week over Acalanes (Lafayette) and Las Lomas of Walnut Creek. The reward is the second seed and a first round bye in the NCS D3 playoffs. This team could give O'Dowd a lot of trouble if they meet as seeded in the finals.

16. Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 21-5 (15)
Even with the loss to Branson, we kept the Wildcats ahead of teams below them based on strength of schedule. Next is the NCS D4 playoffs where MC is the second seed.

17. Pinewood (Los Altos Hills) 25-4 (17)
As usual, Coach Doc Scheppler brings a solid squad into the CCS Division V playoffs as the top seed. They open at home on Saturday against York of Monterey.

18. Wilcox (Santa Clara) 14-5 (18)
As fourth seed in CCS D2, the Warriors have a double bye and open in the quarterfinals on Saturday with the venue Oak Grove in San Jose

19. McClymonds (Oakland) 19-4 (19)
It's 16 straight since a loss to Northgate with one more OAL regular season game remaining at Castlemont.

20. Campolindo (Moraga) 21-5 (20)
Tough choice for last spot between Campo and Encinal but it'll be decided in NCS D3 playoffs where Cougars are fourth seed and on O'Dowd's side while Encinal is third seed and on Dublin's side.
 
Girls Teams On the Bubble
Aragon (San Mateo) 20-5, Convent of the Sacred Heart (San Francisco) 17-4, Encinal (Alameda) 20-9, Granada (Livermore) 17-9, Miramonte (Orinda) 18-8, Moreau Catholic 21-5 (Hayward), North Salinas (Salinas) 22-3, Notre Dame (Belmont) 10-16, Petaluma 23-5, Piedmont 19-9, Presentation (San Jose) 15-12, St. Joseph-Notre Dame (Alameda) 19-7, San Benito (Hollister) 21-4, Santa Cruz 23-3.

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

Should losses by Monte Vista of Danville boys and girls cause changes? S.F. Chronicle said no, but we said yes. For highlights and more, watch Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area on Sunday night at 7 p.m. on YourTV 20, San Francisco. Replays are throughout the week on Northern California Comcast SportsNet.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Last week was one of the busiest for the CalHiSports.com Bay Area Top 20 caravan this school year.

First stop was a Branson at Marin Catholic doubleheader on Feb. 10 with both the visiting defending Division V state champion Bulls boys and girls squads earning victories.

The next night we were in Oakland to watch the Mack Warriors boys at Oakland Tech and to find out about that debacle you'll have to read on.

We took one night off but on Feb. 13 the location was Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, where we witnessed Newman complete its first undefeated regular season in the 45-year history of the school.

Saturday night the spot was San Marin in Novato, where in a "play-in” game the host Mustangs knocked Marin Catholic out of the MCAL playoffs for the first time since 1992.

Boys Top 20 Teams
(Through games of Feb. 14)
(Not including forfeits)

1. De La Salle (Concord) 23-1 (1)
Coming off the big win against Dominguez two weeks ago, the Spartans toyed with Amador Valley of Pleasanton, with a 58-27 victory that tuned them up for the re-match with Monte Vista. It was physical all the way, but in the end it was a nice homecoming for Danville resident John McArthur. The 6-foot-8 junior returned to his hometown and provided a strong defensive presence in the paint and a little more point production than usual in a 60-52 victory over the Mustangs. McArthur finished with 17 points and six rebounds, Jefferson Powers added 14 points, Jordan Estrada had nine points and Brandon Smith had six assists and played lockdown defense Monte Vista's Brian Barbour. Against Amador Valley, Beau Levesque led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds. Smith added 11 points and seven assists. On tap for the final week of EBAL play is San Ramon Valley at home and California (San Ramon) on the road.

2. McClymonds (Oakland) 22-1 (2)
The CalHiSports.com caravan was in the house at Oakland Tech on Feb. 11, but we're still having a hard time believing what we saw. First-year Warriors Coach Brandon Brooks put it all on the line when he made one of the boldest moves we've ever witnessed in 27 years of covering high school basketball. On the road across town, the Warriors came out looking sparkling. Faster then the blink-of-an-eye, the full court press Brooks employed had built an 11-0 lead and Tech was reeling after less than two minutes had elapsed in the contest. After Will Cherry (team-high 19 points, eight rebounds, six steals, five assists) hit a long trey to make it 14-2, the team somehow got sidetracked. Mack started playing to the crowd on offense, and not moving the feet on defense. The result was Tech got back in the game, and even though Mack led by 47-40 lead going into the final period, Brooks, who was fuming the whole time about his team's lack of execution of what he wanted, had seen enough. He pulled all five starters. When the hosts closed to 49-48 with 5:54 left and Brooks didn't motion to the starters, you knew he was serious. And because of some sparkling play down the stretch by the reserves, particularly Maceo and Barry Bell and 6-9 freshman Jamaree Strickland, who had a key block in the closing moments, Mack escaped 56-54, with its 55th victory in the last 56 games. Cherry cheered on the subs but others sat stunned. "He did what he had to do. I'm just glad he got the W,” said a smiling ex-Mack coach Dwight Nathaniel, who was also in attendance. We'll see the results of the benchings this week in games at Fremont and home against Skyline.

3. San Leandro 21-3 (3)
On Friday night against the Hayward Farmers Oregon-State bound Jared Cunningham stole all their fruits and vegetables, finishing with 25 points including 12 of 12 from the free-throw line. He even added another highlight-reel play when he threw down an emphatic, one-handed jam in the fourth quarter, which brought the fans to their feet and sealed the Pirates' 81-65 victory over the neighboring visitors. Earlier in the week, the 6-4 Cunningham had a season-high 35 points (8 of 10 from beyond the arc, eight rebounds) and the team went for 90 or more points for the fourth time in a 97-59 blowout of San Lorenzo. Friday night the Pirates complete league play in Hayward at Moreau Catholic, then move on to next week's NCS Division I playoffs.

4) Berkeley 21-3 (5)
As was the case in the overall state rankings released on Feb. 16, the CalHiSports.com No. 17 state ranked Yellowjackets get a one-spot bump in these rankings. Last week they exploded offensively in 91-32 and 109-42 wins against De Anza of Richmond and Richmond respectively. It was the second time they went for 109 this season, both against Richmond. All 12 players in uniform scored in the win over Richmond led by sophomore Jalil Eppenger with 16 points. Before the NCS D1 playoffs begin, a final Alameda Contra Costa League game remains at home on Friday against Hercules.

5. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 20-3 (6)
Likewise, the No. 19 state ranked Irish move up a notch in both rankings after Coach Darrell Barbour's team won its first West Catholic Athletic League title since 2002 with a 68-57 victory over Mitty of San Jose last Saturday. USC-bound football defensive end Kevin Greene and Jerry Brown, both four-year varsity players, led the Irish on senior night in San Francisco with double-doubles. Greene finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Brown had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Next up is the WCAL playoffs where the top-seeded Irish host Valley Christian (San Jose) on Tuesday.

6. Monte Vista (Danville) 21-3 (4)
The San Francisco Chronicle chose not to drop the Mustangs in its Top 20 but in these rankings this is where they have to pay for the split with St. Mary's of Berkeley, who beat a Sacred Heart Cathedral team that beat a Salesian team that beat St. Mary's. We'd have needed an abacus and slide rule to figure it out, so we left the decision up to ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Managing Editor Ronnie Flores who coordinates the boys overall state rankings. Even though the Mustangs scored 17 more points in the 60-52 loss to Sparta than DLS gives up on average, nothing came easy against their new league nemesis, as the team shot 2-of-10 from the field in the final quarter while De La Salle made eight of 10 foul shots down the stretch to seal the win. Senior guard Brian Barbour led the scoring with 18 points and Mark Appel chipped in for 12. Earlier in the week Coach Bill Powers' boys won 58-37 at Livermore.

7. St. Francis (Mountain View) 22-2 (7)
The Lancers rebounded from the loss to Sacred Heart Cathedral by picking up two wins in the final week of league action to secure second place in the WCAL. First they took out Bellarmine 65-49 on the road before an 86-47 blowout of Riordan at home. They earned the second seed in the league playoffs and opened on Feb. 17 at home against Serra.

8. St. Mary's (Berkeley) 23-3 (8)
9. Salesian (Richmond) 22-4 (9)
10. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 19-5 (11)
11. Newark Memorial (Newark) 22-4 (12)
12. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 26-0 (13)
13. Castro Valley 20-4 (10)
14. Miramonte (Orinda) 20-4 (14)
15. Castlemont (Oakland) 15-5 (16)
16. Bellarmine (San Jose) 17-7 (15) 1-1
17. Piedmont Hills (San Jose) 24-1 (17)
18. San Ramon Valley (Danville) 17-7 (18)
19. Burlingame 21-4 (19)
20. Branson (Ross) 23-3 (20)

Boys On the Bubble
Analy (Sebastopol) 20-6, Aptos 23-3, Carlmont (Belmont) 16-3, Drake (San Anselmo) 20-6, Dublin 17-7, Gunn (Palo Alto) 19-5, Hayward 17-7, Head-Royce (Oakland) 23-2, Heritage (Brentwood) 17-7, Leigh 16-7, Menlo (Atherton) 15-3, Mitty (San Jose) 14-8, Monterey 19-4, Northgate (Walnut Creek) 20-4, Oakland Tech (Oakland) 10-8, Piner (Santa Rosa) 19-7, Pittsburg 18-6, St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) 19-7, Skyline (Oakland) 11-8, Terra Linda (San Rafael) 17-9.

Girls Top 20 Teams
(Through games of Feb. 14)
(Not including forfeits but)

1. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 21-1 (1)
The Irish girls only had one game last week and it was against league rival Mitty.  Just like she's done so many times this season Washington State-bound KiKi Moore took over and stamped herself as a legitimate contender for Ms. Basketball this season in California. Friday night on the road in San Jose the former ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Girls State Athlete of the Week took control in a 64-51 defeat of host and defending D2 state champ Mitty. Against the Monarchs, who 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. 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. After a bye, the Irish take on the team with the worst seed remaining in the semifinals Feb. 19 at Riordan in San Francisco.

2. Carondelet (Concord) 21-3 (3)
After going 1-19 combined in the first half of the 53-42 loss to Monte Vista in Danville last month, Ricki Radanovich and Erica Payne did what they couldn't do in that game in the rematch, knock down shots. Radanovich, a 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 being forced to the bench with three fouls midway through the first quarter, sophomore star 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. Hannah Huffman chipped in with 11 points and Hilary Rosette, who played in place of Payne for much of the first half and finished with nine points, scored eight of them and grabbed eight rebounds before halftime.

3. Monte Vista (Danville) 21-2 (2)
As was the case on the Mustang boys' side, the San Francisco Chronicle chose not to drop the team in its rankings despite a loss. However, in these rankings, based on strength of schedule, and personal observation, a switch is in order. Coach Ron Hirschman's girls are a sound fundamental team that could make some noise in the upcoming NCS Division I playoffs, but Carondelet is a better all-around team. 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. Foul trouble was a problem, though, as Rasheed had to sub in and out throughout the final two quarters because she picked up three fouls in the first half. Dani Rabago chipped in with 11 points 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.

4. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 22-2 (5)
Just like they did in the overall state rankings, Coach Kevin Cushing's No. 15 ranked Dragon girls get a one-spot bump as a result of Mitty's two losses last week. The big tests for O'Dowd would seem to be even beyond the NCS Division III playoffs. Last week was rather ho-hum with two lopsided victories, 66-41 and 59-24 over Castro Valley and Mt. Eden of Hayward, respectively. The Dragons are still without 6-2 post Brieanna Ashley, out with a bad ankle, but they didn't need her last week. Against Castro Valley, junior star Robie Mayberry led the way with 24 points and sophomore Lariel Powell added 14.

5. Mitty (San Jose) 17-5 (4)
Coach Sue Phillips Monarchs took a four spot drop to No. 19 in the CalHiSports.com overall state girls rankings released earlier this week, but only drop one spot here despite losing to both the Irish and Valley Christian (55-47) last week. They still have wins over Monte Vista and Mater Dei of Chula Vista, as well as two wins over St. Ignatius (San Francisco) and an earlier win over Valley Christian. Mitty has opened the WCAL playoffs with a 56-33 win Feb. 17 not included in the listed record and move into the semifinals on Feb. 19 at Riordan.

6. Berkeley 20-5 (6)
After making a meteoric rise last week in these rankings, and cracking the state top 20 by snagging the final spot, there's no room to move up in either, despite two total blowout 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.

7. Deer Valley (Antioch) 18-6 (7)
A couple of emails did roll in from disgruntled Wolverine fans out in East Contra Costa County after Deer Valley dropped below Berkeley in the rankings despite not having lost a game since its New Year's Eve defeat by Sacramento in the West Coast Jamboree. Last week Coach Lindsay Wisely's girls barely broke a sweat in 62-22 and 78-34 wins over Freedom of Oakley and Pittsburg respectively. They finish up Bay Valley League action this week with Antioch and Liberty of Brentwood. Then comes the NCS Division I playoffs where Wisely's squad has a very good chance of snagging the title.

8. Valley Christian (San Jose) 19-5 (7)
There's just nowhere to go despite a two-win week, including one against Mitty. With Mitty winning the first time and still owning more quality wins against ranked opponents than the Warriors, it will take another similar win to really shake things up.

9. St. Mary's (Berkeley) 22-4 (9)
10. St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 19-5 (10)
11. Pinole Valley (Pinole) 17-5 (11)
12. Northgate (Walnut Creek) 20-3 (12)
13. Branson (Ross) 22-3 (13)
14. Gunn (Palo Alto) 25-0 (14)
15. Dublin 19-5 (17)
16. Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 21-5 (15)
17. Pinewood (Los Altos Hills) 22-4 (16)
18. Wilcox (Santa Clara) 14-5 (18)
19. McClymonds (Oakland) 19-4 (19)
20. Campolindo (Moraga) 19-5 (20)
 
Girls On the Bubble
Aragon (San Mateo) 16-4, Convent of the Sacred Heart (San Francisco) 17-4, Encinal (Alameda) 18-8, Granada (Livermore) 17-7, Miramonte (Orinda) 17-8, Moreau Catholic 19-5 (Hayward), North Salinas (Salinas) 20-3, Notre Dame (Belmont) 10-14, Petaluma 21-5, Piedmont 16-8, Presentation (San Jose) 14-11, St. Joseph-Notre Dame (Alameda) 19-6, San Benito (Hollister) 19-4, Santa Cruz 22-2.

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