Thanks to a 5-0 Start, San Francisco Remains the State?s Top Team

City College of San Francisco, which is off to a 5-0 start after wins over previous No. 2 San Diego City, No. 13 Yuba, No. 20 Santa Rosa and No. 27 Cabrillo, earned the top spot in this week's CCCMBCA poll. The Rams, the state runner-up last season, has one game remaining in November, Nov. 26 at Monterey Peninsula. December offers a number of challenges, however for San Francisco, including a Dec. 4 visit to No. 6 Yuba; home game No. 19 San Joaquin Delta, and No. 30 Diablo Valley in the San Joaquin Delta Tournament.

Santa Monica replaces San Diego City as the south's top-ranked team. The Corsairs are off to a 5-0 start after winning the Gehler Memorial Tournament and going 2-0 at the Citrus Tournament. Santa Monica, however, faces perhaps the toughest stretch over the next week with a Wednesday home game against No. 3 Fullerton, a road contest with unranked Cerritos (tough place to play) on November 22 and then No. 10 East Los Angeles on November 27 at home.

Fullerton, the defending state champions are No. 3 after getting off to a 5-0 start. The Hornets, who get head coach Perry Webster back on the bench this week, will take on No. 2 Santa Monica on Wednesday in Santa Monica. Fullerton possesses the state's No. 16 scoring offense (84.8 points a game) and Santa Monica is 18th at 84.4 a game. Game could produce some NBA numbers, although Fullerton is allowing just 58.4 points a contest.

Sequoias comes in at No. 4 behind a defense that is allowing the opposition just 66 points a game, 14th best in the state. The Giants' signature win came against No. 15 Allan Hancock, 75-69. Two of its next three games will be against ranked opponents — No. 30 Diablo Valley (allowing 60.5 points a contest) and No. 21 Santa Rosa.

With a state-leading seven victories, Santiago Canyon finds itself at No. 5 this week after starting the season ranked No. 26. Only two victories have come against programs ranked in this week's poll — Long Beach City and Chaffey. The Hawks' next two games may provide a better barometer of their chances in the Orange Empire Conference. Santiago Canyon travels to No. 20 Copper Mountain on November 22 and then hosts No. 8 Citrus on November 27. The Hawks visit (November 20) Mt. San Antonio first, however.

Yuba's lone blemish is a 98-67 beatdown by No. 1 San Francisco on November 3. Since then, the 49'ers, ranked sixth this week, beat Folsom Lake and No. 19 San Joaquin Delta — by 22 points. Yuba also knocked off previous No. 2 San Diego City, 81-75, in the season opener. This week, Yuba gets No. 10 Las Positas and No. 15 Allan Hancock at the Home Motors Tournament in Santa Maria.

San Bernardino Valley, who was just one point behind Yuba, settles in at No. 7. The Wolverines' lone loss was to No. 2 Santa Monica by three points. Otherwise, it has been pretty good hunting for the Wolverines. San Bernardino Valley defended homecourt, winning its own tournament with an 87-78 victory over No. 20 Copper Mountain. In its final game of November, San Bernardino Valley treks to Imperial Valley on November 22.

Two unbeaten teams take the No. 8 and No. 9 slots. Las Positas carries a four-game win streak into the week, although the four wins have come against unranked teams. We will see just how high the Hawks can soar as Las Positas meets No. 6 Yuba in the first of three games in Santa Maria. The Hawks will also take on No. 23 Cypress.

Thanks to a 5-0 start, Columbia comes in at No. 9. The Claim Jumpers travel to Butte this week before hosting a two-day classic beginning on November 30. Although, Columbia won't see a ranked opponent until December 15 when they square off against No. 17 Chabot, the Claim Jumpers hold the state's 16th best non-conference RPI this week.

East Los Angeles comes in at No. 10 after suffering a 78-76 setback to No. 20 Copper Mountain in the semifinals of the Hunter Classic at San Bernardino Valley. The Huskies started the season ranked No. 4 in the state so it appears the lost to Copper Mountain proved costly. But there is always another opportunity and that comes on November 27 when the Huskies take on Santa Monica on the road. East Los Angeles has nine days to prepare for Santa Monica.

In all, 65 of the 100 teams received votes this week, and 13 teams remain unbeaten headed into this week's action. Bakersfield at No. 27 is the lowest ranked unbeaten after winning all three games at the West Hills Coalinga Tournament.

1. San Francisco, 804 points, 24 first place votes (5-0)
2. Santa Monica, 731, 3 first place votes (5-0)
3. Fullerton, 728 (5-0)
4. Sequoias, 709 (5-0)
5. Santiago Canyon, 689 (7-0)
6. Yuba, 660 (4-1)
7. San Bernardino Valley, 659 (6-1)
8. Las Positas, 645 (4-0)
9. Columbia, 640 (5-0)
10. East Los Angeles, 639 (5-1)
11. Citrus, 635 (5-1)
12. Fresno, 630 (4-2)
13. San Diego City, 628 (5-3)
14. Irvine Valley, 605 (4-0)
15. Allan Hancock, 601 (3-1)
16. West LA, 595 (5-1)
17. Chabot, 560 (4-0)
18. Long Beach City, 547 (3-1)
19. San Joaquin Delta, 534 (4-1)
20. Copper Mountain, 497 (3-2)
21. Santa Rosa, 480 (2-2)
22. Los Angeles Valley, 435 (3-0)
23. Cypress, 430 (3-0)
24. Reedley, 398 (5-0)
25. Chaffey, 375 (3-3)
26. Southwestern, 370 (1-1)
27. Bakersfield, 350 (3-0)
28. Mt. San Jacinto, 348 (3-2)
29. Los Medanos, 320 (3-1)
30. (tie) Desert, 310 (4-2); Saddleback, 310 (2-3); Diablo Valley, 310 (3-1)