What does it mean when an unprecedented five different teams receive first-place votes in John Maffei’s latest The San Diego Union poll?
It could mean that area hoops are mediocre, at best, this year. No team stands out and the usual powers have done little to get excited about.
Or could it be Covid, which won’t go away and which already has caused postponements and cancelations of games and at least one tournament (Mt. Carmel)?
The Max Preps computer deals in cold, hard results. Cal-Hi Sports offers more of an eye test and, in this case, reality.
Max Preps has eight San Diego Section teams in its state top 100, but the first is San Marcos at No. 53, followed by Mission Hills (68), La Costa Canyon (73), Torrey Pines (80), St. Augustine (85), Mission Bay (90), Cathedral (93), and San Diego (98).
Cal-Hi Sports has St. Augustine 20th, down from No. 7, and is almost apologetic, noting that it “threw out with the bathwater” the Saints’ disappointing results last week in the Torrey Pines tournament, citing the fact that coach Mike Haupt was missing four starters with Covid.
I like the eye test and the newsletter’s respect was validated last night when the revived Saints defeated Madison, 97-56.
The newsletter also accorded “On the Bubble” status to San Marcos and San Ysidro.
Let’s see what this challenged season holds as play continues.
RATINGS GAME
The San Diego Union poll. First-place points in parenthesis. Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | LAST WEEK |
| 1. | St. Augustine (7) | 9-6 | 132 | 1 |
| 2. | San Marcos (5) | 8-3 | 118 | 3 |
| 3. | Torrey Pines (1) | 10-4 | 111 | 2 |
| 4. | Cathedral (2) Catholic | 12-5 | 102 | 4 |
| 5. | Mission Bay | 11-4 | 100 | 5 |
| 6. | Mission Hills (1) | 10-5 | 86 | NR |
| 7. | San Ysidro | 8-5 | 76 | 6 |
| 8. | La Costa Canyon | 9-4 | 69 | 9 |
| 9 | Mater Dei | 8-3 | 27 | 7 |
| 10. | San Diego | 9-2 | 22 | 8 |
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
La Jolla Country Day (9-2, 15 points), Carlsbad (9-7, 6) Otay Ranch (9-34. 4), Scripps Ranch (12-5, 3).
- John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Aaron Burgin Fulltime Hoops.com.
- Nick Pollino, Fox 5 San Diego.
- John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3-FM The Fan.
- Adam Paul, ECPreps.com.
- Bodie DeSilva, scorebooklive.com.
- Rick Smith, Partletonsports.com.
- Terry Monahan, Eric Williams, Steve Brand, Freelance correspondents.
- Brad Enright, LA Court Report.
- Ramon Scott, Eastcountysports.com.
- Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country, 107.9-FM. Christian
- Christian Pedersen, San Diego Sportts Association.
- Max Preps.
WEEK 4
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | LAST WEEK |
| 1. | St. Augustine (13) | 8-2 | 155 | 1 |
| 2. | Torrey Pines (3) | 8-1 | 143 | 3 |
| 3. | San Marcos | 6-3 | 115 | 2 |
| 4. | Cathedral Catholic | 8-3 | 113 | 4 |
| 5. | Mission Bay | 7-2 | 99 | 5 |
| 6. | San Ysidro | 6-3 | 79 | 6 |
| 7. | Mater Dei | 6-2 | 54 | 8 |
| 8. | San Diego | 6-1 | 50 | 9 |
| 9 | La Costa Canyon | 5-3 | 23 | NR |
| 10. | La Jolla Country Day | 8-2 | 21 | 10 |
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Mission Hills (5-4, 17 points), Montgomery (7-2, 6), Otay Ranch (5-1, 3), El Camino (3-0, 2).
WEEK 3
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | PRESEASON | |||
| 1. | St. Augustine | 7-1 (15) | 159 | 1 | |||
| 2. | San Marcos | 5-1 | 142 | 3 | |||
| 3. | Torrey Pines | 7-1 (1) | 114 | 2 | |||
| 4. | Cathedral | 7-3 | 101 | 4 | |||
| 5. | Mission Bay | 5-2 | 96 | 5 | |||
| 6. | San Ysidro | 5-3 | 76 | 6 | |||
| 7. | Mission Hills | 5-2 | 73 | 7 | |||
| 8. | Mater Dei | 4-2 | 41 | 8 | |||
| 9. | San Diego | 5-1 | 38 | 10 | |||
| 10. | La Jolla Country Day | 7-2 | 24 | 9 | |||
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Otay Ranch (4-1, 4 points), Francis Parker (4-2, 2), La Costa Canyon (2-3, 2), The Bishop’s (8-2, 2), Madison (5-1, 6), Montgomery (6-1, 2). El Camino (0-0, 5) The Bishop’s (5-2), Montgomery (4-1), University City (4-4), 1 point each.
Hi
My name is John Gillilan. I’m 79 years old now & played Basketball for Kearny High School 1958-1960 & Coached Boys Varsity Basketball at Valhalla H.S. 1985 – 1987 & I also started an ran an coached a county wide youth basketball league for 7th through 9th grades from approximately 1980 thru 1994 because I was moving out of state & then turned the league over to Jimmy Thompson & another person I’m wondering is that league still going on. It was a great youth league playing in high school gyms & using the probational Referees I was the first person in San Diego history to start this type of a youth league Hopefully you remember that league I’m sure Rick Smith does plus knows of me ??
Thanks for the updates
John Gillilan
John: Thrre are youth leagues and Club leagues everywhere. I’m not aware of your league’s presence status. RS.
Thanks Rick
These leagues were around then also But the one I started was a development league to prepare for high school & college. From the different junior high schools in the county. They would have tryouts & the top 10 to 12 players would make that team. That was the difference. So I guess the ones I turned it over too closed it down after a couple of years. It took a lot work. I’m proud I started the league
John Gillilan
Thanks Rick.