The San Diego Section’s Big Four, listed numerically in the weekly The San Diego Union-Tribune poll below, has beaten some very good intersectional teams but not gained traction with ratings experts.
Wins like Foothills Christian’s 83-74 over Sacramento Sheldon, the state’s No. 9 team according to Cal-Hi Sports and St. Augustine’s 64-49 victory over No. 12 Orange Lutheran have been sandwiched around missed opportunuties against other formidable opposition.
Make no mistake, San Diego’s best annually take on the best. Winning league championships and section titles are foremost but coaches also have an eye on the state playoffs and try to steel their squads for the challenges in March.
Mission Bay got most of the votes for No. 1 this week, although I voted for St. Augustine after having hung with Foothills Christian through most of December.
St. Augustine handled Mission Bay, 64-55, in in a physical, clean game in the first Western League showdown last night at St. Augustine.
The Buccaneers’ Boogie Ellis scored 14 points but did not shoot well. Ellis looked for open teammates and played his usual solid floor game, but was escorted everywhere by Saints defenders.
St. Augustine fell from its No. 18 position in Cal -Hi‘s weekly top 20 and now is a “bubble team”, along with Mission Bay, Torrey Pines, and Foothills Christian.
Max Preps ranks the Saints 16th in California, Foothills Christian 27th, Torrey Pines 37th, and Mission Bay 64th.
Union-Tribune poll through Monday, Jan. 7:
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Last Poll |
| 1 | Mission Bay (10) | 8-6 | 131 | 1 |
| 2. | Torrey Pines (2) | 13-5 | 125 | 3 |
| 3 | St. Augustine (2) | 13-4 | 109 | 4 |
| 4 | Foothills Christian | 10-4 | 98 | 2 |
| 5 | Francis Parker | 11-3 | 80 | 5 |
| 6 | La Jolla Country Day | 10-6 | 65 | 6 |
| 7 | Santa Fe Christian | 13-4 | 52 | NR |
| 8 | San Marcos | 10-6 | 43 | 7 |
| 9 | Poway | 15-5 | 29 | 8 |
| 10 | Montgomery | 12-2 | 10 | 9 |
Others receiving votes: Rancho Buena Vista (16-2, 8 points),Cathedral (11-7, 6). Vista (11-7, 4), Westview (15-4, 2), Valhalla (12-2, 1).
Voters: John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association; Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul, Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.
