Saints holds the No. 1 spot - The FTH Top 30
Many of you have been following along with the new IG Live show, so you know that two weeks ago, St. Augustine became my new No. 1 team in San Diego, following its undefeated start to the season coupled with San Ysidro's loss to El Camino.
The Saints (7-0) head into next week's Tarkanian Classic unblemished, though they face a very good Oak Ridge (7-0) team from Florida to open play at the Las Vegas tournament at 8:30 p.m. Monday.
San Ysidro (3-3) remains my No. 2 team in this week's updated rankings. Yes, the Cougars have lost three games, but outside of the loss to El Camino (in which they were shorthanded), the Cougars other losses are to nationally ranked Corona Centennial and Perry (AZ).
Torrey Pines has moved into the Top 3 after rattling off 7 straight wins after an opening night loss to a very good JSerra Catholic team. At 8-1, they will face two more San Diego opponents (Rancho Bernardo and SFC) before opening up the Holiday Classic with a strong Archbishop Mitty team from the Bay Area.
Montgomery jumps ahead of Carlsbad for the No. 4 position in the rankings after a very good nonleague victory over Burbank Providence. The Lancers round out the top 5, with wins over Parker, Sage Creek and Mt. Carmel after a 74-60 loss to Saints, their second loss on the year.
Mission Bay finds its way back to No. 6 in the rankings after winning the Hilltop Tournament, though not in convincing fashion. The Buccaneers are treading water due to injuries and sit-outs, but managed to escape the tournament with a 62-59 championship over an improved Eastlake.
San Diego follows at No. 7. At 5-2, the Cavers only losses were to Carlsbad and a 3-point loss at the Beverly Hills Tournament to the host Normans (8-1) in a game where they didn't have two of their six rotation players.
The biggest riser in the past two weeks, Otay Ranch, lands in the Top 10 at No. 8 following a 62-60 home win over Mission Hills. The Mustangs only loss on the year was to St. Augustine in the championship of the Regional Rumble.
At. No. 9, Mater Dei Catholic continues its solid start to the season, though its most recent game was an 80-57 defeat at the hands of a very strong Santa Margarita team on the road in Orange County. The Crusaders give the Mesa League four teams in the Top 10 to star the season.
And finally, Mission Hills rounds out the Top 10, with its lone losses to Montgomery and Otay Ranch in the South Bay.
The Full-Time Hoops Updated Top 30
St. Augustine (7-0) - Saints play in top division of Tarkanian Classic next week
San Ysidro (3-3) - Cougars head to Imperial for showcase game against Shadow Hills; then square off against Southern Section power Notre Dame
Torrey Pines (8-1) - Falcons have chance to run streak to 10 wins before Holiday Classic
Montgomery (5-1) Aztecs get major road test vs Del Norte tonight
Carlsbad (10-2) - Lancers roll to wins after loss to St. Augustine
Mission Bay (9-2) - Rematch of Bucs Thanksgiving Classic title game vs Carlsbad looms, but Bonita Vista rematch is up first
San Diego (5-2) - Cavers only losses to teams with a combined 19-3 record.
Otay Ranch (6-1) - Home win over Mission Hills a signature nonconference victory
Mater Dei (4-2) - Tough road loss against Santa Margarita nothing to hang head over
Mission Hills (7-2) - Rebounded from loss to Otay Ranch with 17-point win over Rancho Bernardo
La Jolla Country Day (6-2) - A blowout win over Helix and a 57-point drubbing of Foothills Christian to open Coastal League play
Del Norte (5-3) - Nighthawks blow out El Camino and Torrey Pines to the final minute
Cathedral Catholic (5-4) - Dons took games over Loyola and St. Patrick St. Vincent in annual Sacramento trip
Lincoln (6-1) - Hornets head to Tarkanian Classic on 4-game winning streak
Santa Fe Christian (5-2) - Opened Coastal League holding Parker to 14 points in 46-point win.
La Costa Canyon (4-4) - Enigmatic Mavericks cede big upset loss to Sage Creek
El Camino (4-3) - Impressive win over RBV and a sneaky good win over Sage Creek after loss to Del Norte
Bonita Vista (5-1) - Barons have a chance to pick up signature win tonight vs Mission Bay
Canyon Crest (4-0) - Big early season test against RBV tonight
Rancho Buena Vista (6-2) - Two losses to Torrey Pines and El Camino
Eastlake (6-3) - Titans took Mission Bay to the wire in Hilltop title game loss
Bishop's (6-3) - Three straight wins heading into important Coastal League tilt against LJCD
Scripps Ranch (4-4) - Big wins over Victory Christian and San Marcos part of 3-game winning streak
San Marcos (4-3) - Rebound from 1-point road loss at Scripps with 40-point win over SDA
Helix (5-6) - Snapped 3-game slide with convincing win over University City
High Tech SD (7-1) - Lone loss a close road loss to Bishop's
El Capitan (9-0) - Huge win over Kearny puts them atop the perch in Division 4 - for now.
Victory Christian (4-3) - Last game a close road loss to Scripps Ranch
University City (7-3) - Lone blemish in last 5 games was a road loss to Helix
Sage Creek (3-2) - Bobcats move up on the strength of major upset over LCC
Player of the Week
Noah Marte, San Diego
Marte was one of three players to cross the 1,000-point threshold in San Diego last week, and did it leading the Cavers to a 2-1 finish in the always tough Beverly Hills tournament. He's averaging 20 points per game to start the season.
Freshman of the Week
Jason Wilson, G, El Capitan
The 14-year-old East County guard is averaging 13.2 points per game for the 9-0 Vaqueros as well as 3.3 assists and 4 rebounds.
Team of the Week
El Capitan Vaqueros (9-0)
The Vaqueros, while they haven't played the strongest slate of games, are undefeated heading into the end of nonleague play. Their latest win, a 62-57 road win over Division 4 contender Kearny, was a huge one for the program, which is led by late-blooming 6-7 forward Micah O'Dell, who had a game-high 26 points and 15 rebounds in the victory.
Upcoming Tournaments
Tarkanian Classic
Website: Tarkanianclassic.com
St. Augustine, Montgomery, Poway, San Marcos and Lincoln head to the premier pre-Xmas tournament on the West Coast with games at Bishop Gorman High School and various sites around Las Vegas.
North County Classic Championship Day
Saturday, Dec. 17 at San Marcos High
The 12-team, four-pool tournament ends with a slate of games beginning at 11 a.m. with the JV 3rd place game and concluding with the championship game at 7:20 p.m.
Sweetwater Host Lions Club Classic
Dec. 19-23 at Sweetwater High
The 16-team pre-Christmas tournament includes Mater Dei Catholic, Coronado, Hoover, El Capitan and Morse among others.
