Upsets give CCCMBCA Poll a good shake; West Valley remains No. 1

Chabot's upset of San Francisco; Sequoias' 0-2 conference start influences this week's poll

1. West Valley (18-0) — West Valley, the state’s remaining unbeaten team, will put its 18-game win streak on the line on Tuesday when the Vikings host #7 Cabrillo in a key Coast-South game. Cabrillo comes into the contest with the state’s second best offensive unit at 93.9 points per game. Meanwhile, West Valley will run out the state’s best defensive unit. West Valley has had only three games decided by less that 10 points. 

2. West LA (14-2) — After West Valley, West LA has the state’s second longest win streak at 11 games. And nothing on the horizon appears to offer much of a challenge for the Wildcats (Bakersfield, Santa Monica, Canyons, LA Valley). West LA’s next challenge will be vs. #27 Citrus on Jan. 31.

3. San Diego City (14-3) — San Diego City is locked in a three-way tie for the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title. The Knights will see both teams before the next poll. Tuesday the Knights trek north to take on San Diego Miramar and then travel to MiraCosta on Jan. 24, both opponents are unranked.  

4. Fullerton (15-3) — Since losing to San Diego City on Dec. 8, Fullerton has won eight straight, one being a showdown with Santiago Canyon. The victory puts the Hornets in the nest to win the Orange Empire Conference title for the third straight season.

5. Mt. San Antonio (15-1) — Two weeks ago, Mt. San Antonio squeezed into the top 10. This week, the Mounties find themselves inside the top 5 thanks to upsets to San Francisco and Sequoias. Currently riding an eight-game win streak, Mt. San Antonio will play two ranked teams over its next three games — vs. LA Southwest (Jan. 19) and at East Los Angeles (Jan. 26). The Mounties will also see a hot Pasadena City team which is 7-3 in its last 10 games.

6. Mt. San Jacinto (16-1) — Mt. San Jacinto moves a spot up thanks to Chabot’s upset of San Francisco City. The Eagles are a half game back of Chaffey headed into the week but could emerge tied for the conference lead on Saturday with a victory over Chaffey on the road. The Panthers are 7-0 at home.

7. Cabrillo (17-1) — Winners of three straight since the last CCCMBCA poll, Cabrillo moves up a spot this week. Cabrillo, which has won five straight overall and is 9-1 in its last 10 contests, faces its biggest test on Tuesday with a road game at #1 West Valley. There have only been four programs to win the state title undefeated. Cabrillo is looking to ensure West Valley isn’t the fifth.

8.  Chabot (14-4) — For the second consecutive season, Chabot stunned San Francisco. Last year's loss snapped San Francisco City’s 68-game conference win streak. With this year's victory, Chabot was handsomely awarded with a six spot climb. Prior to beating San Francisco, the Gladiators had been 0-3 against top 10 games this season. The conference title is far from in the bag for the Gladiators. Chabot tests will continue to come, including this week with a game at #23 Skyline (Jan. 19) and next week in games against vs. #24 Las Positas (Jan. 24) and at #22 Ohlone (Jan. 31).

9. Yuba (14-2) — The 49’ers are riding a nine-game win streak. Yuba, which climbed two spots in this week’s poll, will get one of its two conference tests on Tuesday when the 49’ers host #30 Los Medanos. The Bay Valley Conference sports just two programs with records above .500.

10. San Francisco City (13-5) — The loss to Chabot dropped San Francisco City nearly out of the top 10. The Rams begin the week in a three-way tie for third place in the Coast-North. Ten conference games remain, including a rematch with Chabot on Feb. 14 in San Francisco. The Rams have hardly been out out to pasture.

11. Sacramento City (16-1) — Sacramento City maintains its No. 11 ranking. The Panthers are riding a seven-game win streak. Two of their conference wins have come against Santa Rosa and Cosumnes River, two challengers for the conference championship hopes. This week, Sacramento will travel to Stockton to meet second-place San Joaquin Delta (8-9).

12. Allan Hancock (13-4) — Allan Hancock started the year ranked No. 6. The Bulldogs fell as far as No. 18. But things are looking up as Allan Hancock is back inside the top 15. The Bulldogs have won nine straight since losing three consecutive games at the end of November. After beating Oxnard to begin Western State-North play, Allan Hancock faces a showdown with #16 Moorpark on Jan. 17 in Santa Maria.

13. Columbia (14-2) — Columbia climbs four slots this week after the Claim Jumpers’ impressive 83-80 victory over previously ranked No. 6 Sequoias. The victory means Columbia begins the week in a three-way tie for the Central Valley Conference title. Columbia travels to Reedley before a key game against #17 Merced on Jan. 20. In fact, three of Columbia’s next four games are against title contenders.

14. Chaffey (15-2) — Winners of seven straight, Chaffey moves to No. 15 after being No. 21 two weeks ago. The Panthers’ overtime win over San Bernardino Valley announced that they are serious about being in the running for the conference championship. Chaffey hosts Barstow before its next test, at home against #6 Mt. San Jacinto on Jan. 20.

15. Sequoias (12-4) — Sequoias opened Central Valley Conference play with consecutive losses for the first time in who knows how long, that is how long it has been. The losses drop the Giants to No. 15 this week. Sequoias begins the week in (a shocking) sixth place in the conference standings headed into a key game against #23 West Hills-Lemoore on Jan. 17.

16. Moorpark (13-5) — Moorpark’s 30-point loss to Citrus on Jan. 20 led to the Raiders falling in this week’s poll. Still a contender for the Western State-North title, Moorpark opened conference play with consecutive wins last week. This week, Moorpark faces its biggest threat to its conference title hopes when the Raiders host #12 Allan Hancock on Jan. 20.

17. Merced (13-3) — Merced’s 69-67 victory over Sequoias wasn’t enough to keep Merced from falling in this week’s poll. The Blue Devils are 8-2 in their last 10 games, but just 2-2 in their last four. The biggest shot to Merced’s poll ascent was its 120-108 setback to previously unranked Fresno. Merced begins the week a game behind Columbia, West Hills-Lemoore and Fresno in the race for the Central Valley Conference title. This week, Merced travels to #14 Columbia in a key game for the Blue Devils.

18. Santiago Canyon (13-4) — Santiago Canyon moves to No. 13 after a strong showing against #4 Fullerton. The Hawks trailed Fullerton by just four points with four minutes remaining. Each of Santiago Canyon’s next four games are against teams fighting for a post-season berth.

19. San Jose City (13-5) — San Jose City, which has played one of the north’s toughest schedules, falls after going 4-6 in its last 10 games and losing three of its last four. The Jaguars will begin the week tied for last place in the Coast-South after losses to West Valley and Cabrillo. This week, San Jose City will face a key game against Monterey on Jan. 17.

20. Cerro Coso (14-3) — Cerro Coso is 9-1 in its last 10 games, its lone blemish a 12-point loss to San Bernardino Valley. Over the course of the next two weeks, the Coyotes face key games against Chaffey and Mt. San Jacinto, games that will determine Cerro Coso’s conference championship hopes.

21. West Hills-Lemoore (12-3) — West Hills-Lemoore gets a bump this week, climbing three slots after opening Central Valley Conference play with consecutive wins. West Hills-Lemoore joins Columbia and Fresno as the only unbeaten teams in conference after the first week. The Golden Eagles, however, face a tough, tough stretch of games with Sequoias, Fresno and Columbia over the next two weeks.

22. Ohlone (11-6) — Ohlone continues its climb up the rankings after starting the Coast-South schedule with a one-point victory over Skyline. The Renegades face a key stretch of games with a road game at Las Positas and then home game against San Francisco City.

23. Skyline (14-4) — Skyline beats Las Positas and then falls to Ohlone to open conference play, resulting in a No. 23 ranking. The Trojans will see Chabot and San Francisco over the course of the next two weeks that will determine Skyline’s capability to remain in the conference race.

24. Las Positas (13-4) — Speaking of staying in the race. Las Positas begins the week in sixth place in the Coast-South and the Hawks haven’t seen Chabot or San Francisco, or even Ohlone. A conference title, or even a runner-up finish, may be tough this season.

25. East Los Angeles (11-5) — The Huskies have found their bark. After losing five of its first eight games, East Los Angeles has won eight straight. However, none of the wins have come against ranked opponents. But that can change this week when East Los Angeles travels to No. 26 LA Southwest.

26. LA Southwest (11-5) — LA Southwest fall this week to No. 26 after losing to unranked Pasadena by 19 points. LA Southwest faces two tough tasks coming up – vs. #27 East Los Angeles on Jan. 17 at then at #5 Mt. San Antonio on Jan. 19. The games mark the end of South Coast Conference crossover games.

27. Citrus (11-5) — Citrus has won its first two conference games, but pollsters are waiting to see the Owls on Jan. 31 when they travel to West LA in a showdown that will go a long way to deciding the conference title and a possible ascent in the poll.

28. San Bernardino Valley (11-7) — Currently, San Bernardino Valley sits in fourth place in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. Unfortunately, both of their loses have come against two of the conference favorites – Chaffey and Mt. San Jacinto. The Wolverines road win over Cerro Coso kept San Bernardino Valley in the race for the title. San Bernardino Valley’s next shot at the three (Chaffey, Mt. San Jacinto and Cerro Coso) begins on Feb. 3.

29. Monterey (13-5) — While everyone is focused on West Valley and Cabrillo, Monterey has quietly opened Coast-South play with consecutive wins. But the volume is about to be turned up as the Lobos face games at San Jose City; vs. West Valley and Cabrillo over the course of their next four games.

30. (tie) Los Medanos (11-6) — Los Medanos begins the week a ½ game behind Yuba in the race for the Bay Valley Conference title. We will have an idea on Tuesday night of Los Medanos’ conference title hopes as Yuba hosts the Mustangs in a key game.

Fresno (9-7) — After a 2-0 start in Central Valley Conference play, one being a shocking 124-108 victory over Merced, Fresno makes an appearance in the CCCMBCA Top 30. The Rams hopes for a conference title will be determined over the next two weeks as Fresno faces games back to back to back games with West Hills-Lemoore, Sequoias and Columbia over the next two weeks.

(Robert Schmidt, CCCMBCA)