Santiago Canyon's Loss Opens the Door for East LA

And then there was one. One being the final week of the 2019-20 CCCMBCA basketball season. A number of conference races are still in play and there are several teams who need to finish this strong this week to improve their post-season hopes. Reminder, 19 teams from the north make the post-season and 22 from the south, so just 41 percent of the teams who started this season will qualify for the post-season tournament.

The biggest news this week in the CCCMBCA Poll is East Los Angeles moving into the No. 2 spot, Fresno City going to No. 3 and Santiago Canyon, which was upset by Riverside and probably will share the Orange Empire Conference title, falling to No. 4. Still like Santiago Canyon for the south’s No. 1 regional seed as the Orange Empire Conference seems to be stronger this season than the South Coast-North. But that decision will be made next week by the south seeding committed.

1. San Francisco (26-0) — San Francisco City wrapped up the Cost-North title and the region’s top seed. The Rams close out the season home to Ohlone and then at Las Positas. Since 2000, the Rams’ program has won 17 championships, including 10 in a row.

2. East Los Angeles (25-1) – East Los Angeles gets the nod over Santiago Canyon this week for the No. 2 spot in the CCCMBCA poll. It may not hold for next week’s seeding meeting, however, unless of course the Hawks fail to get at least a share of the Orange Empire Conference title. Santiago Canyon is No. 2 in the Massey Ranking, .037 better than the Huskies. The South Coast-North is seventh in the Massey Ranking as a conference power, well behind the Orange Empire Conference which is No. 2. Winners of a school-record 21 straight games, East Los Angeles needs victory this week over either Mt. San Antonio or Rio Hondo, or a LA Trade Tech loss to wrap up the conference title.

3. Fresno City (23-3) — Fresno City successfully wrapped up at least a share of the Central Valley Conference championship. The championship is the Rams’ 19th consecutive conference title. The 19 straight conference titles is a state and national record — at every level. Look for the Rams to secure the No. 2 seed in the regional playoffs. Fresno City concludes the regular season home to Reedley and Merced. They’ll need just one to secure the title outright.

4. Santiago Canyon (24-2) — Santiago Canyon has lost all of two games all year, unfortunately both have come in Orange Empire Conference play. The losses mean the Hawks are ½ game behind Riverside City with two games to play. Riverside closes out the season against Fullerton, the defending state championships and who have been struggling. Santiago Canyon, on the other hand, finishes at home against Santa Ana and on the road at Irvine Valley. Previous wins by the Hawks have been by double digits. Santiago Canyon needs a share of the conference title to be in the conversation or the south’s top seed over East Los Angeles and Southwestern.

5. Southwestern (23-4) — Champions of the Pacific Coast Conference; Southwestern closes out its season at Imperial Valley on Friday.

6. Yuba (22-5) — Bay Valley Conference champions, top four seed for the north regionals. Fourth consecutive conference title and 13th in the last 14 years for the 49’ers.

7. Chaffey (21-5) — Chaffey ran its season-best win streak to 15 games as the Panthers continue to play toward a top seed in the southern regionals. The Panthers, champions of the Inland Empire Athletic Conference, close out the regular season with home games against Desert and Victor Valley. Both teams appear to be on the bubble for a post-season bid.

8. Ventura (19-7) — Ventura wrapped up its fifth consecutive title after being picked to finish third in the Western-State-North Conference. The Pirates (19-7) used a 10-game win streak to pull away from the field. Ventura concludes the season with a road contest against Oxnard and then a home game with Cuesta.

9. Santa Rosa (19-7) — Looks like the Big 8 Conference title will go down to the wire as Santa Rosa and Diablo Valley both begin the week 11-3. Santa Rosa, a state tournament qualifier last season, hosts American River and then visits Cosumnes River. Diablo Valley, which has the tougher schedule, hosts San Joaquin Delta on Tuesday and then visits Modesto. Right now, Santa Rosa is a big San Joaquin Delta fan.

10. Citrus (18-8) — Winners of four straight, Citrus has emerged from a three-team field for the conference championship in the Western State-South Conference. The Owls hold a one-game lead on Los Angeles Valley. Last week, Citrus was one of three teams tied for the conference lead. This week, the Owls, needing one win to secure at least a share of the conference title, trek to Antelope Valley before returning home to for a game against Glendale. A sweep and Citrus wins the title outright.

11. Riverside (18-9) — Eight games into the season, Riverside was 4-4 and appeared destined for a mid-of-the-road finish in the Orange Empire Conference. But after the Tigers’ shocking 76-72 victory over previous No. 2 Santiago Canyon, and victories in 14 of its next 19 games, Riverside is one game away from securing at least a tie for the Orange Empire Conference title. Riverside holds a ½-game lead on Santiago Canyon, which has two game remaining. Wins by both teams to close out the season will create a co-championship scenario. Riverside will take on No. 14 Fullerton on Wednesday to close out its season. The Hornets are just 4-4 in their last eight games.

12. Cerritos (18-8) — Cerritos leads the South Coast-South by a game over a surprising LA Southwest team. A win on Wednesday over Compton would insure a share of title and a win over LA Southwest on Friday would give the Falcons the outright championship, and cap perhaps one of the best coaching jobs in CCCMBCA history when you consider coach Russ May and Falcons were just 2-5 in November. 

13. Redwoods (19-5) — Redwoods clinched a share of the Golden Valley Conference title on Saturday. But to claim the title outright, the Corsairs have to beat second-place Shasta on Wednesday at home. Redwoods is 6-0 at home, but Shasta did score an 87-76 victory in the two team’s first meeting.

14. Fullerton (21-4) — Fullerton begins the week tied with Saddleback for third place in the Orange Empire Conference. Lately, it has been an uphill battle for the defending state champions. The Hornets have lost four of its last eight games. The frustration the Hornets have felt the last four weeks could be erased this week with wins over Riverside and Saddleback. Such a feat would ensure a third-place finish in the Orange Empire Conference.

15. Columbia (23-3 ) — Columbia has won four straight and in doing so the Claim Jumpers look like they, along with Sequoias, will finish the season tied for runner-up in the Central Valley Conference. Columbia, which concludes the season at Merced and then West Hills-Coalinga, begins the week with a better Massey Ranking than Sequoias (15 to 19) .

16. Sequoias (20-6) — Sequoias missed an opportunity to lock up the runner-up title to Fresno City in the Central Valley Conference. The Giants’ 87-72 loss to Columbia means the two programs will enter the final week tied for second place. Sequoias finishes the season hosting Porterville and then West Hills-Lemoore.

17. Los Angeles Valley (21-5) — Last week, Los Angeles Valley suffered an 81-75 loss to West Los Angeles. At the time, many, okay we did, thought it would cost the Monarchs the conference title. However, Los Angles Valley rallied, scoring a 73-64 victory over Santa Monica, the preseason favorite in the Western State-South Conference. The victory kept Los Angeles Valley’s championship hopes alive, but the Monarchs will need help, beginning with Antelope Valley and Glendale who face Citrus this week. Los Angeles Valley concludes the season with a road game at Bakersfield and then a home contest against Antelope Valley. The Monarchs hold a one-game lead on West Los Angeles and Santa Monica, so the Monarchs could finish anywhere from first to fourth.

18. San Diego City (21-5) — San Diego City has insured itself a tie for second place in the Pacific Coast Conference, but a victory over third-place MiraCosta on Wednesday would give the Knights the runner-up title outright.

19. Diablo Valley (18-8) — A late-season charge has Diablo Valley in a tie for the Big 8 Conference championship with two games to play. The Vikings begin the week tied with Santa Rosa at 11-3. Diablo Valley has a key game on Tuesday, at home, against San Joaquin Delta. San Joaquin Delta is the hottest team in the conference, winning its last five games. In the team's first meeting, Diablo Valley scored a 14-point victory. The Vikings play Modesto to close out the season.

20. Saddleback (17-9) — Saddleback begins the week in a tie with Fullerton for third place. The difference between third and fourth could mean the difference between a first-round bye . . . for the third-place team. At this point of season, off days are nice and beneficial. Loser of Friday’s game, between the Gauchos and Fullerton, figures to miss out on a first-round playoff bye. Saddleback also hosts Irvine Valley in an inter-district battle.

21. Allan Hancock (21-6) — Allan Hancock will have to settle for second place in the Western State-North, that is if the Bulldogs can beat Los Angeles Pierce on Friday. Worse case is the Bulldogs share runner-up title with Los Angeles Pierce.

22. Santa Monica (18-8) — Santa Monica has lost two straight games, and they were costly as the Corsairs would need a miracle now to win the Western State-South title. Santa Monica, however, does have something to play for — a possible first-round bye for the playoffs. Santa Monica is tied with West Los Angeles for third place, a game behind Los Angeles Valley and two behind front-running Citrus. The Corsairs close out the season at Glendale and then host West Los Angeles in a key game.

23. Cabrillo (15-11) — Consecutive wins, coupled with back-to-back losses by West Valley, has Cabrillo a ½ game up on 10-15 Monterey and one on West Valley with two games to play. Doesn’t get any better – at least for fans – as Cabrillo travels to Monterey on Wednesday and then turns around and hosts West Valley on Friday. A win Wednesday would ensure at least a share of the conference title, but it will take a clean sweep to win the title outright.

24. Las Positas (19-7) — A three-game win streak has secured at least a share of second place for Las Positas in the Coast-North. Las Positas can wrap up second place with a win against San Mateo on Wednesday or a Chabot loss this week. San Mateo, which restarted its program this season, has dreams of playing in the north playoffs, so expect the Bulldogs to come redy to play Wednesday. Las Positas closes out the season at home against San Francisco City.

25. San Joaquin Delta (17-10) — Five consecutive wins has San Joaquin Delta back in playoff contention. The Mustangs are a game up on Sacramento for third place in the Big 8. Thinking, four teams make the playoffs from the conference. SJ Delta faces a tough game on Tuesday when the Mustangs travel to Diablo Valley, a team which is currently deadlocked with Santa Rosa in the race for the conference title.

26. Sacramento City (18-8) — Sacramento City continues its fight to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Panthers won both games last week and eight of their last nine. Sacramento is in fourth place in the Big 8 Conference, a game behind San Joaquin Delta. The Panthers finish the season at home against Cosumnes River and Folsom Lake.

27. Mt. San Jacinto (14-12) — Mt. San Jacinto, which at one point this season lost seven stright games, appears to be on the verge of locking down a post-season bid with a second-place finish. The Eagles begin the week with a 1 1/2-game lead on a struggling San Bernardino Valley club. Mt. San Jacinto, the 24th best team in the Masse Ranking, travels to Palo Verde on Wednesday and then returns home to host San Bernardino Valley. 

28. Los Angeles Southwest (15-10) — Los Angeles Southwest has turned it on of late, winning 8 of its last 10 games and three in a row. All of that winning has pulled Los Angeles Southwest into playoff contention. The Cougars trail Cerritos by game for the conference title and lead Long Beach City by two games in the race for the runner-up title. Los Angeles Southwest can wrap up second place with a win over El Camino on Wednesday before meeting Cerritos on Friday for a possible shot at halving the conference title.

29. San Bernardino Valley (17-9) — San Bernardino Valley appears stuck in reverse. The Wolverines have lost two straight and four of its last six. The losses have cost San Bernardino Valley dearly as the Wolverines appear headed to a third-place finish in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. This week, San Bernardino Valley hosts Barstow then treks to Mt. San Jacinto. Looks like the best the Wolverines can finish is third, unless Mt. San Jacinto has a total melt down this week.

30. Chabot (16-10) — Chabot is in a three-team race for third place with two games remaining. The Gladiators are tied with Foothill and San Mateo at 7-5. There is a very good chance the Coast-North gets a third team into the post-season, so these games this week are key. Chabot hosts Foothill on Wednesday, while San Mateo visits Las Positas. Chabot finishes the season at San Mateo. Chabot needs a sweep this week to secure third-place, and possibly the final post-season slot from the conference.

West Valley (15-10) — The Coast-South appears to be a title West Valley doesn’t want. The Vikings are 6-4 in their last 10 games, have lost two straight games. Because of all the losing, the Vikings begins the week in third place with two games to play. West Valley is still in the game for the title, but the Vikings will need help from Monterey on Wednesday and then beat Cabrillo on the road. But before we get to Friday, West Valley needs to get by 12-14 DeAnza.

West Los Angeles (19-7) — Tied with Santa Monica for third place and a game behind Los Angeles Valley for second place, West Los Angeles is in a battle for a bid to the southern playoffs. The Wildcats conclude the season on the road with games at Canyons and then at Santa Monica, in just another key game in the tough Western State-South Conference.

Mendocino (18-8) — A three-game winning streak and three consecutive losses by Los Medanos has the Eagles in a tie for second place with Los Medanos. Mendocino and Los Medanos split their season series, so the next two games – home to Solano and at Merritt — are key. Las Positas has the edge in Massey Ranking headed into the week. The Mustangs are 33rd, while Mendocino is 38th.

Los Medanos (18-8) — Three consecutive losses have the Mustangs in a tie with Mendocino for second place in the Bay Valley Conference, and possibly the only other playoff position from the conference. Mendocino and Los Medanos shouldn't lose site on late-charging Alameda team, winners of six straight. Alameda is just a game behind. Los Medanos finishes the season by hosting Napa Valley and then travels to Contra Costa.