La Canada: Damien, Sierra Canyon head for Top 10 clash
Unbeatens Bishop Montgomery, Mater Dei and Rancho Christian sit atop my first in-season Southern California team rankings.
Programs from the CIF’s Southern, L.A. and San Diego sections are eligible to be ranked.
A notable Top 10 showdown will take place in the La Canada High Tournament championship game Saturday night if – as is oh-so-very-probable – No.’s 6 Damien and 7 Sierra Canyon hook up.
Each is led by one of California’s best senior guards, Cameron Shelton (a Northern Arizona signee/pictured) for Damien and Duane Washington (Ohio State-bound) of Sierra Canyon.
Sierra Canyon knocked off Damien in the second round of last season’s CIF SS Open Division playoffs.
Every kid member of that Sierra Canyon team has departed (by graduation or transfer) but the Trailblazers’ roster has been replenished via some high-profile transfers, notably Washington (from Michigan) and juniors K.J. Martin (Chaminade High) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (Florida).
The Top 10 (records as of Dec. 11)
- Torrance Bishop Montgomery (Southern Section/4-0)
- Santa Ana Mater Dei (Southern Section/5-0)
- Temecula Rancho Christian (Southern Section/5-0)
- Westchester (L.A. City Section/7-1)
- Fairfax (L.A. City Section/5-1)
- La Verne Damien (Southern Section/6-0)
- Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (Southern Section/1-1)
- Bellflower St. John Bosco (Southern Section/8-0)
- Woodland Hills Taft (L.A. City Section/10-0)
- Santa Margarita (Southern Section/7-1)
Next 10 (alphabetical): Chino Hills (SS/3-3); Corona Centennial (SS/4-1); Encino Crespi (SS/9-1); Etiwanda (SS/5-1); Studio City Harvard-Westlake (SS/8-1); Oak Park (SS/6-2); Pasadena (SS/3-1); Long Beach Poly (SS/6-2); Eastvale Roosevelt (SS/4-0); Vista (San Diego Section/5-1)