SoCal Rankings: Bishop Montgomery, Westchester in rematch
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – The top-two ranked clubs in Southern California kept cranking out impressive victories since our last updated rankings.
Bishop Montgomery improved to 17-zip by way of Del Rey League road victories over Serra and St. Bernard, as well as a win in Utah Monday over Bingham.
And Etiwanda continued to look like the team most capable of dethroning the Knights as the Southern Section and State Open Division champion – especially in its 67-53 Baseline League victory at Onyeka Okongwu-led Chino Hills Thursday night.
That victory over the Huskies is even more impressive when it’s considered that the Huskies won at Damien two days earlier in a Baseline opener, and then, two days later, beat Spartanburg of South Carolina – led by the nation’s best player, Zion Williamson – in the Springfield, MA, Hoop Hall Classic.
Wednesday’s Harvard-Westlake at Crespi clash is not only important in terms of helping determine ultimate Mission League winner but in also helping shape the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division playoff bracket.
Another biggie this week is a rematch between No. 1 Bishop Montgomery and No. 5 Westchester Saturday night (at Bishop Montgomery).
The squads played in the Dec. 2 championship game of the Trevor Ariza Tournament (at Westchester) with Bishop Montgomery prevailing.
Westchester won a Western League clash with Fairfax last league behind the strong post play of Kaelin Allen (PICTURED).
SoCal Top 10 Plus 15
(Records as of Jan. 16)
- Torrance Bishop Montgomery (Southern Section/17-0)
- Etiwanda (SS/19-1)
- Bellflower St. John Bosco (SS/15-2)
- Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (SS/12-3)
- Westchester (L.A. City Section/17-3)
- Temecula Rancho Christian (SS/17-2)
- Santa Ana Mater Dei (SS/11-6)
- Encino Crespi (SS/18-2)
- Studio City Harvard-Westlake (SS/16-2)
- Santa Margarita (SS/13-5)
Next 15 (alpha listing): Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart (SS/15-4); Anaheim Canyon (SS/18-2); San Bernardino Cajon (SS/12-6); L.A. Cathedral (SS/9-4); Chino Hills (SS/10-8); La Verne Damien (SS/16-3); L.A. Fairfax (LAC Section/11-6); El Cajon Foothills Christian (SD Section/14-5); Hacienda Heights Los Altos (SS/16-2); San Diego Mission Bay (SD Section/17-3); Oak Park (SS/12-6); Eastvale Roosevelt (SS/14-2); Long Beach Saint Anthony (SS/16-2); Playa del Rey St. Bernard (SS/11-6); Vista (SD Section/14-5).