Twas a time when San Diego Section teams finished their tournament and intersectional obligations as the calender moved to the New Year and league play began, determining the playoffs picture.
That’s not the case today as teams continue to play nonleague games against out-of- the-area competition and make quick, weekend trips for so-called “classics.”
St. Augustine still has a game scheduled against Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley in a Santa Ana Mater Dei event on Feb. 1, but top teams Foothills Christian and Cathedral will almost wholly be focused on league games the rest of the way.
Foothills Christian has an important contest against visiting No. 7 Francis Parker tonight in a matchup of two, 5-0 Coastal League squads.
League championships today are mostly for bragging rights and look good on banners hanging in gymnasiums, but strength of schedules and computer rankings take precedent.
John Maffei’s Union-Tribune poll this week revealed a rare, first-place tie among voters between Foothills Christian and Cathedral. Poway and Francie Parker also were tied in Max Preps‘ state rankings.
| Union-Tribune | Team
|
Record | Points | Last Week | Max Preps | Cal-Hi Sports |
| 1. | Foothills Christian (7) | 14-5 | 121 | 2 | 13 | 14 |
| 1. | Cathedral (5) | 15-5 | 121 | 3 | 29 | Bubble |
| 3. | St. Augustine (1) | 17-4 | 109 | 1 | 35 | Bubble |
| 4. | Torrey Pines | 15-4 | 87 | 4 | 83 | NR |
| 5. | Mater Dei | 15-3 | 80 | 5 | 73 | NR |
| 6. | Poway | 16-4 | 63 | 6 | 38 | NR |
| 7. | Francis Parker | 15-2 | 53 | 9 | 72 | NR |
| 8. | Christian | 16-4 | 33 | 8 | 51 | NR |
| 9. | Santa Fe Christian | 14-6 | 24 | 7 | 50 | NR |
| 10. | Carlsbad | 13-6 | 11 | 10 | 134 | NR |
Others receiving votes: 11. Helix (14-6, 5 points), 12. El Camino (13-5, 4), 13. San Marcos (12-6, 3), 14. Bonita Vista (14-6, 1).
Voting Panel: John Maffei (The San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, (Union-Tribune) correspondent, Aaron Burgin (Fulltime Hoops), Steve Brand (San Diego Sports Association), John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, (97.3 FM The Fan), Steve (Biff) Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9 FM), Christian Pedersen (SoCal Preps Insider), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com); Adam Paul (ecpreps.com), Brad Enright (L.A. Court report), Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).
Voting Panel: John Maffei (The San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, (Union-Tribune) correspondent, Aaron Burgin (Fulltime Hoops), Steve Brand (San Diego Sports Association), John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, (97.3 FM The Fan), Steve (Biff) Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9 FM), Christian Pedersen (SoCal Preps Insider), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com); Adam Paul (ecpreps.com), Brad Enright (L.A. Court report), Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).
