Riverside Makes Its Move In CCCMBCA Poll; Fullerton Falls One Spot

Last week was quite a week. The Santiago Canyon-Fullerton game didn’t disappoint. And then there was Chabot upsetting Las Positas; American River’s take down of Santa Rosa to keep the Big 8 Conference race close; Riverside shocking Fullerton to take the lead in the Orange Empire Conference; how about Santa Monica turning back Citrus in a key game; and Diablo Valley rolling off five wins to climb back into its conference race.

Wow, what a week.

And, the CCCMBCA should have a few more this week. This week’s poll was crazy as a number of spots in the poll were decided by one point. And some just ended in a tie — such as East LA pulling into a tie with Fullerton for No. 3. Then there was Riverside climbing to No. 16, up 14 from last week. And finally, four teams, yes, four tying for the final spot in the poll. Many of the spots weren’t decided until 1 pm when the polls closed. In the last 20 minutes, a number of teams slid one way or another in the poll.

The only thing that was guaranteed was San Francisco retaining the state’s top ranking.

Here is a look at this week’s CCCMBCA Poll.

1. San Francisco (18-0) — San Francisco is the lone remaining undefeated team in the state. Winners of 18 straight game, the Rams appear headed to the Coast-North title and the north’s No. 1 regional ranking. After lighting up the scoreboard, San Francisco was held to a season-low 73 points last week by Foothill — after scoring 100 points in its three previous games and seven of its last nine contests. This week, San Francisco hosts Canada and the visits Ohlone.

2. Santiago Canyon (18-1) — The Santiago Canyon-Fullerton showdown lived up it to its billing with Fullerton edging the Hawks in overtime. After the loss, the Hawks got back to business beating Riverside, who would then beat Fullerton. This week, Santiago Canyon, which is a half-game behind Riverside in the race for the conference title and tied with Fullerton for second place, hosts Irvine Valley and then visits Orange Coast.

3. East Los Angeles (19-1) — East Los Angeles is riding a college-record 15-game win streak, and appears the Huskies don’t plan on slowing down. East LA finally begins conference play this week with home games against LA Trade Tech and Pasadena City. The Huskies and LA Trade Tech are the only programs in the South Coast-North division with a record above .500.

(tie) Fullerton (17-1) — While Fullerton may not be leading the Orange Empire Conference race this week, the Hornets are certainly playing a role in perhaps the most talked about conference race this season. The preseason favorite, Fullerton begins the week deadlocked with Santiago Canyon for — second place. Everyone is chasing Riverside which produced the most unlikely upset when they beat Fullerton on the road. The Hornets are just a half-game behind the Tigers with five weeks and nine games remaining. This week, Fullerton faces road contests at Saddleback and Santa Ana.

5. Fresno City (15-3) — Fresno City continues its push to its 19th consecutive conference title. The Rams are 4-0 and hold a one-game lead over Columbia and Sequoias in the race for the title. Fresno City has won five straight, including wins over Columbia and Sequoias. This week, the Rams host West Hills Lemoore and then visit Reedley in a key game for Reedley who begins the week in a three-way tie for third place.

6. Yuba (17-3) - Yuba continues to pace the Bay Valley Conference. The 49’ers open the week with a 2 1/2 -game lead on Los Medanos (6-1) who the 49’ers host on Friday in its only game this week. A 49’ers victory would give Yuba, winners of 10 straight games, an insurmountable lead for the conference title. Yuba beat Los Medanos in both team’s Bay Valle Conference opener, but by just three points – 79-76.

7. Santa Monica (14-4) — Santa Monica has won six-straight games, one being over the hot-charging Citrus team last week. The Corsairs will begin the week with a one-game lead on West LA and Citrus and two games on LA Valley and Antelope Valley. Santa Monica visits LA Valley on Wednesday and then hosts Glendale.

8. Southwestern (15-4) — Winners of five straight, Southwestern continues to inch toward the Pacific Coast Conference title. The Jaguars open the week with a game lead on San Diego City, the preseason favorites. Southwestern will host Imperial Valley and Grossmont this week before another showdown with San Diego City on January 31.

9. Columbia (17-1) — Columbia recovered from its 20-point loss to Fresno with three consecutive wins. The victories keep the Claim Jumpers a game behind Fresno City and tied with Sequoias for second place. That position will be on the line Wednesday when Columbia takes on Sequoias in Visalia. The loser is probably out of the discussion for a share of the Central Valley Conference championship. Columbia closes out the week by hosting Merced on Saturday.

10. Sequoias (14-4) — Sequoias begins the week tied for second place in the Central Valley Conference with Columbia. Sequoias will host Columbia on Wednesday. The winner remains within striking distance for a share of the conference title. The Giants travel to Porterville on Saturday to close out the week.

11. San Diego City (15-4) — With just one game this week, San Diego City continues to anticipates its second meeting with Southwestern on January 31. However, to get there, San Diego City needs to get through Grossmont Wednesday, Cuyamaca on Friday and San Diego Mesa next Wednesday.

12. Santa Rosa (14-5) — American River brought Santa Rosa back to earth last week with its shocking 64-63 victory over the Cubs. The loss keeps Santa Rosa and four other teams in the discussion for the Big 8 Conference title. Santa Rosa will begin the week leading the pack. At 6-1, the Cubs hold a one-game lead over Diablo Valley and American River. Diablo Valley (5-2) may be the conference’s hottest team after winning five straight and 7 of its last 10. American River begins the week a game back of Santa Rosa, followed by Modesto (2 games back) and San Joaquin Delta (2 ½ back). Santa Rosa will have homecourt advantage this week as the Cubs host Cosumnes River and Folsom Lake.

13. Redwoods (16-3) — Redwoods begins the week with a two-game lead on the Golden Valley Conference field, but it is a bit miss leading as a couple teams had games pushed back due to dangerous road conditions last week. Regardless, the Corsairs remain the favorite for the conference title. But their championship hopes will be put to the test this week when Redwoods hosts Siskiyous on Wednesday and travel to Shasta on Saturday.

14. West Los Angeles (14-4) — West Los Angeles remains in the hunt for the division crown. The Wildcats trail Santa Monica by just one game. This week. West Los Angeles travels to Bakersfield and hosts Canyons. Next week is a showdown with Santa Monica, but West Los Angeles needs to survive LA Valley and Bakersfield, two programs desperate for wins to keep their conference title hopes alive.

15. Chaffey (13-5) — Chaffey begins the week with a two-game lead in the race for the first-ever Inland Empire Athletic Conference championship. The Panthers, winners of 8 of their last 10 games, have four teams hot on their tails. Chaffey will meet two of them this week, both on the road — Desert on Monday and Victor Valley on Wednesday before closing out the week with their trek to Palo Verde.

16. Riverside (12-8) — Riverside skyrockets up the poll this week after beating Saddleback and then upsetting Fullerton by 10 points, but losing to Santiago Canyon. What does it all mean? It means, Riverside begins the week a half-game ahead of Santiago Canyon and Fullerton in the race for the Orange Empire Conference. This week, the Tigers begin the second round of conference competition by visiting Golden West on Friday in its only game this week. Riverside concludes the regular season with home games against Santiago Canyon and Fullerton.

17. San Bernardino Valley (13-5) — Since losing three straight, San Bernardino Valley has won four straight games. Whatever was ailing the Wolverines must have cleared. The four straight wins re-enters the preseason favorites into discussion for the conference title. But it is an uphill battle with Chaffey playing its basketball of the season. San Bernardino Valley will begin the week two games behind Chaffey. This week, the Wolverines take on Barstow before returning home to take on Mt. San Jacinto in a key game for SBVC and MSJC.

18. Ventura (13-7) — Ventura begins the week with a 1 ½ game lead on LA Pierce and Cuesta and a two-game lead on Allan Hancock, the preseason favorite. Ventura, which has eight remaining games, hosts Oxnard on Saturday in its only game this week.

19. Desert (12-6) — Since its upset of San Bernardino Valley, Desert is just 1-2. The losses have dropped the Roadrunners into a three-way tie for second place with San Bernardino and Mt. San Jacinto as well as in the poll. This week, Desert faces a showdown with conference-leading Chaffey in Palm Desert. After Chaffey, Desert travels to Cerro Coso and then hosts Victor Valley.

20. Los Angeles Valley (14-4) — Losses to Citrus and West Los Angeles have dropped Los Angeles Valley from the conversation as a contender for the conference crown. But it isn’t totally outreach. The Monarchs begin the week two games behind Santa Monica and a game behind West Los Angeles and Citrus for second place. Los Angeles Valley’s title hopes will be on the line on Wednesday when the Monarchs host Santa Monica. They also get Bakersfield at home on Saturday.

21. Allan Hancock (15-5) — After two poor showings to open conference play, Allan Hancock appears to have righted its doghouse. The Bulldogs, who are two games out of first place, posted wins over Oxnard and Cuesta last week. This week, Allan Hancock travels to Santa Barbara on Wednesday in its only game.

22. Las Positas (13-5) — Las Positas begins the week a game behind San Francisco in their race to a conference championship. Las Positas championship hopes took a hit when the Hawks were grounded by Chabot, 86-81. Chabot’s victory keeps the Gladiators in the hunt for the conference title. This week, Las Positas hosts Skyline and then travels to San Mateo.

23. Long Beach City (13-5) — Long Beach had its win streak snapped by East Los Angeles. The Vikings had been riding a six-game win streak. Long Beach City begins South Coast-South play this week and it won’t be long before we know who is the front runner. After opening at home against LA Southwest, the Vikings travel to Norwalk for an important game with Cerritos.

24. Saddleback (12-7) — Saddleback begins the week a game out of second place and 2 ½ games behind Riverside, the conference leader. The Gauchos are just 6-4 in their last 10 games. This week, Saddleback has the task of trying to defend homecourt when Fullerton to comes to town. The Gauchos close the week with a road contest at Cypress.

25. Butte (11-7) — Butte is 5-5 in its last 10 games, but figures to still be a threat to Redwoods’ championship hopes. The Roadrunners face must-win games this week when they host Lassen and then trek to Feather River on Saturday.

26. Palomar (14-5) — Since winning nine straight, Palomar has been hot and cold. Losses to Southwestern and San Diego City have taken the Comets out of the discussion for the Pacific Coast Conference title. However, Palomar remains just a game behind second-place San Diego City and two behind Southwestern with nine games to play. At the same time, Palomar is in a battle with Mira Costa, a team that is just a half game behind Palomar in the race for third place. This week, Palomar hosts Cuyamaca and San Diego Miramar before taking on MiraCosta on January 31.

27. Los Medanos (15-4) — Los Medanos, winners of six straight, faces a must-win scenario on Friday when the Mustangs ride into Marysville for a showdown with Yuba. Los Medanos begins the week 2 ½ games behind Yuba. The Mustangs know they can beat Yuba, after losing by just three points, 79-76, on December 18 in both team’s Bay Valley Conference opener. In that game, Los Medanos feel behind by 11 at halftime, but outscored Yuba by 8 in the final 20 minutes. 

28. Cerritos (11-7) — Cerritos opens South Coast-South on a six-game win streak. This week, the Falcons visit LA Harbor before returning home on Friday for an important game with Long Beach City, the other conference favorite. The Falcons have easily played one of the state’s toughest schedules. We will see if it pays off on Friday.

29. Mendocino (13-6) — Mendocino continues to slide in the poll and standings. The Eagles have lost three straight games. Mendocino will begin the week tied for third place in the Bay Valley Conference with Solano. This week, Mendocino gets Merritt at home and Marin on the road as the Eagles try to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

30. (tie) Diablo Valley (12-7) — In the Big 8 Conference there is no hotter team than the Vikings who have won five straight conference games to climb back into contention for the conference title. In its only game this week, Diablo Valley hosts Modesto on Tuesday before hosting Santa Rosa next Tuesday.

American River (10-7) — American River kept the Big 8 Conference title from being a one-team show when the Beavers upset Santa Rosa last week. The victory kept a number of teams in the race for the conference title, including the Beavers. American River begins the week tied with Diablo Valley for second and a game behind Santa Rosa. This week, American River hosts Sierra and Sacramento City.

Chabot (12-6) — Chabot’s upset of Las Positas last week keeps the Gladiators in the talk for the conference title, although, it is may be nearly impossible for someone to unseat San Francisco for its perch. Chabot has won three straight conference games since falling to San Francisco by 42 points. This week, Chabot hits the road for road contest with Ohlone and Foothill.

Citrus (11-7) — Citrus begins the week in a tie for second place and a game behind Santa Monica is the race for the conference title. The Owls visit Canyons before hosting Antelope Valley on Saturday.