2014-15: Saints Can Look Ahead With Confidence

Wait till next year seems appropriate in San Diego Section basketball, according to the Cal-Hi Sports newsletter.

The Stockton-based publication is suggesting that St. Augustine could be a Top 20 team in the 2015-16 season.

That would be an accomplishment, since no San Diego squad finished in Cal-Hi Sports’ Top 20 this season.

St. Augustine was 23rd, Torrey Pines 24th, and Foothills Christian 26th in the online publication’s final top 40.

La Jolla Country Day was 15th in the girls’ ratings, Mission Hills 30th.

“”Pencil in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division champs (St. Augustine’s Saints) as a State Top 20 team next season, with five returning starters, including freshman standout Taeshon Taylor,” wrote Cal-Hi honcho Mark Tennis.

“The game that boosts the (Torrey Pines) Falcons up for the final rankings was their 54-49 win over No. 25 Long Beach Poly in one of the bigger upsets in the SoCal regionals,” said Tennis.

St. Augustine and Torrey Pines had not been ranked in prior Cal-Hi ratings.  Foothills Christian jumped from 35th after a one-point loss to Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (No. 5) in the regionals.

La Jolla Country Day’s girls achieved a lofty position with the poorest record (18-11) of any Boys’ or Girls’ Top 20 club.

“Anyone who saw the Torreys in person (on television or at the University of California’s Haas Arena) could see this is a team of the future that arrived in the state playoffs,” said Tennis.

“Because of injuries to several girls, including promising sophomore Alaysia Styles, 2012 coach of the year Terri Bamford had to retool the team,” Tennis noted.  “LJCD definitely will be the top preseason team to beat from the San Diego Section.”