The first The San Diego Union-Tribune basketball poll has a couple old reliables, St. Augustine (6-1) and Torrey Pines (7-0 after a 70-57 win over Santa Fe Christian last night, after the poll was completed) at the top.

St. Augustine’s only loss was to Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, 51-46, in a game  the Saints led, 33-27, after three quarters in the Montgomery Tip-Off Challenge in November.

Sierra Canyon is 7-1 and ranked sixth in the California by Max Preps.  The Trail Blazers also defeated Montgomery, 72-19, and San Ysidro, 84-70, in the Chula Vista school’s event.

Torrey Pines has swept local opposition, more or less laying low until its annual Christmas tournament, when it opens Dec. 27 against Iona Prep of New Rochelle, N.Y. The Falcons are ranked second in the state, while St. Augustine is 14th, so says Max Preps.

Coach John Olive’s Torrey Pines Falcons are rated so high perhaps out of respect for the Falcons’ 20-21 team that was 30-1, losing only to Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 68-65, in the Southern California finals.

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.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES 

Francis Parker (2-2, 18 points), La Costa Canyon (17), Madison (5-1, 6),
El Camino (0-0, 5) The Bishop’s (5-2), Montgomery (4-1), University City (4-4), 1 point each.

VOTING PANEL
Fourteen sportswriters and sportscasters throughout San Diego County.

• John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune.
• Aaron Burgin Fulltime Hoops.com.
• Nick Pollino, KUSI Ch. 51.
• 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, Freelance correspondents.
• Brad Enright, LA Court Report.
• Ramon Scott, Eastcountysports.com.
• Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country, 107.9-FM. Christian 

San Diego Section teams won two of seven Southern California championship basketball games.

Mater Dei defeated host Mission Hills Bishop Alemany, 56-42, in Division II-AA and Rancho Bernardo topped visiting San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea, 72-44, in D-IIIAA.

The Crusaders were a No. 5 seed and Alemany No. 2.  Rancho Bernardo was a 2 seed against its 4-seed visitors from the area near the Palos Verdes peninsula.

School is out but there’s a sense of great accomplishment around Mater Dei’s Chula Vista campus.  The boys also won, defeating Fresno Central, 67-50.

El Camino suffered a three-point loss to higher seed Studio City Westlake Village and Victory Christian lost by four to higher seed Corcoran, which traveled more than 300 miles.

Seedings precede numbers in parenthesis, which represent the statewide pregame rating of the team by Max Preps.

CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, June 19

DIVISION II-AA
5 (51) Mater Dei (20-9) 56, @2 (20) Mission Hills Bishop Alemany (18-3) 42.

D-IIA
8 (46) Westlake Village Westlake (21-3) 50, @3 (28) El Camino (17-6) 47.

D-IIIAA
4 (77) San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea (22-1) 44, @2 (60) Rancho Bernardo (22-8) 72.

D-IIIA
6 (100) Del Norte (14-13) 62, @5 (71) Clovis Buchanan (15-8) 72.

D-IVA
3 (115) Our Lady of Peace (18-6) 45, @1 (152) Bakersfield Christian (18-6) 60.

D-VAA
Fallbrook (106) 23-9 54, @1 (83) Strathmore (21-6) 63.

D-VIAA
3 (250) Corcoran (19-5) 61, @1 (302) Victory Christian (14-7) 57.

SEMIFINALS
Thursday, June 17

OPEN DIVISION
4 (5) Cathedral (20-4) 54 @1 (1) Santa Ana Mater Dei (20-0) 66.

D-IIAA
8 (60) Menifee Paloma Valley (13-4) 45, @5 (71) Mater Dei (18-9) 60.

D-IIA
7 (208) Woodland Hills El Camino Real (6-6) 36, @3 (45) El Camino (17-5) 78.

D-IIIAA
4 (59) Newport Beach Newport Harbor (19-3) 36, @2 (60) Rancho Bernardo (21-8) 72.

D-IIIA
6 (52) Del Norte (14-12) 58, @2 (91) Termecula Chaparral (14-5) 52.

D-IVA
7 (117) Paso Robles (14-4) 31, @3 (115) Our Lady of Peace (18-5) 47.

D-VAA
5 (106) Fallbrook (23-8) 39, @1 (80) St. Joseph (23-3) 37.

D-VIAA
3 (458) Playa del Rey St. Bernard (8-6) 28, @2 (302) Victory Christian (14-6) 67.

QUARTERFINALS
Tuesday, June 15

OPEN DIVISION

5 (4) Studio City Harvard-Westlake (22-4) 53, @4 (6) Cathedral (20-3) 59.
6 (11) Bonita Vista (24-5) 46, @3 (7) Clovis West (20-0) 56.
7 (9) La Jolla Country Day (16-5) 44, @2 (2) Corona Centennial (23-1) 79.

D-IAA

8 (59) Lynwood (16-6) 61, @1 (10) Mission Hills (21-7) 54.
5 (33) Carlsbad (16-6) 54, @4 (21) Garden Grove Orangewood (14-8) 72.
7 (51) The Bishop’s (12-9) 53, @2 (34) West Torrance (18-4) 59.

D-IA

7 (22) Anaheim Fairmont Prep (17-7) 61, @2 (55) Mount Miguel (19-6) 37.

D-IIAA

5 (71) Mater Dei (18-9) 75, @4 (20) San Bernardino Cajon (13-2) 59.

D-IIA

5 (46) Westview (17-8) 65, @4 (39) Newport Beach Sage Hill (18-7) 71.
6 (32) Ontario Christian (22-3) 45, @3 (45) El Camino (18-6) 59.

D-IIIAA
7 (75) Temecula Rancho Christian (8-3) 38, @2 (71) Rancho Bernardo (20-8) 63.

D-IIIA
6 (113) Del Norte (13-12) 76, @3 (148) Lawndale Leuzinger (13-3) 69.

D-IVAA
6 (201) Burbank Providence (15-6) 33, @3 (151) Eastlake (16-9) 47.

D-IVA
6 (178) Newport Beach Pacifica Christian (15-6) 31, @3 (165) Our Lady of Peace (17-5) 58.

D-VA
6 (188) Catalina Avalon (9-4) 50, @3 (307) Classical (18-9) 52

D-VAA

1 (86) St. Joseph (23-2), bye.
5 (123) Fallbrook (22-8) 63 @4 (462) Capistrano Valley Christian (8-8) 28.

D-VIAA
1 (302) Victory Christian (13-6), bye.

After winning only one of seven games in the Open, I-AAA, and I-A divisions, San Diego Section entries in the Girls’ Southern California basketball playoffs rallied in the lower divisions.

At least one team is assured a place in finals on Saturday.  St. Joseph, the No. 1 seed, in Division V-AAA, plays host to neighboring Fallbrook in the semifinals tonight after receiving a first-round bye and will try to repeat its 45-44 victory over the Warriors in the San Diego D-III championship.

Another No. 1-ranked squad, Victory Christian, is host to No. 4 Playa del Rey St. Bernard in D-VIAA.

Seedings precede numbers in parenthesis, which represent the statewide rating of the team by Max Preps.

CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRINGS
Saturday, June 19

DIVISION II-AA
5 (51) Mater Dei (19-9), @2 (20) Mission Hills Alemany (18-2).

D-IIA
8 (46) Westlake Village Westlake (20-3), @3 (28) El Camino (17-5).

D-IIIAA
4 (77) San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea (22-0) @2 (60) Rancho Bernardo (21-8).

D-IIIA
6 (100) Del Norte (14-12) @5 (71) Clovis Buchanan (14-8).

D-IVA
3 (115) Our Lady of Peace (18-5), @1 (152) Bakersfield Christian (17-6).

D-VAA
Fallbrook (106) 23-8, @1 (83) Strathmore (20-6).

D-VIAA
3 (250) Corcoran (18-5) @1 (302) Victory Christian (14-6).

SEMIFINALS RESULTS
Thursday, June 17

OPEN DIVISION
4 (5) Cathedral (20-4) 54 @1 (1) Santa Ana Mater Dei (20-0) 66.

D-IIAA
8 (60) Menifee Paloma Valley (13-4) @5 (71) Mater Dei (18-9).

D-IIA
7 (208) Woodland Hills El Camino Real (6-6) 36, @3 (45) El Camino (17-5) 78.

D-IIIAA
4 (77) San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea (22-0) @2 (60) Rancho Bernardo (21-8).

D-IIIA
6 (52) Del Norte (14-12) 58, @2 (91) Termecula Chaparral (14-5) 52.

D-IVA
7 (117) Paso Robles (14-4) 31, @3 (115) Our Lady of Peace (18-5) 47.

D-VAA
5 (106) Fallbrook (23-8) 39, @1 (80) St. Joseph (23-3) 37.

D-VIAA
3 (250) Corcoran (9-7) @2 (302) Victory Christian (14-6).

QUARTERFINALS RESULTS
Tuesday, June 15

OPEN DIVISION
5 (4) Studio City Harvard-Westlake (22-4) 53, @4 (6) Cathedral (20-3) 59.
6 (11) Bonita Vista (24-5) 46, @3 (7) Clovis West (20-0) 56.
7 (9) La Jolla Country Day (16-5) 44, @2 (2) Corona Centennial (23-1) 79.

D-IAA
8 (59) Lynwood (16-6) 61, @1 (10) Mission Hills (21-7) 54.
5 (33) Carlsbad (16-6) 54, @4 (21) Garden Grove Orangewood (14-8) 72.
7 (51) The Bishop’s (12-9) 53, @2 (34) West Torrance (18-4) 59.

D-IA
7 (22) Anaheim Fairmont Prep (17-7) 61, @2 (55) Mount Miguel (19-6) 37.

D-IIAA
5 (71) Mater Dei (18-9) 75, @4 (20) San Bernardino Cajon (13-2) 59.

D-IIA
5 (46) Westview (17-8) 65, @4 (39) Newport Beach Sage Hill (18-7) 71.
6 (32) Ontario Christian (22-3) 45, @3 (45) El Camino (18-6) 59.

D-IIIAA
7 (75) Temecula Rancho Christian (8-3) 38, @2 (71) Rancho Bernardo (20-8) 63.

D-IIIA
6 (113) Del Norte (13-12) 76, @3 (148) Lawndale Leuzinger (13-3) 69.

D-IVAA
6 (201) Burbank Providence (15-6) 33, @3 (151) Eastlake (16-9) 47.

D-IVA
6 (178) Newport Beach Pacifica Christian (15-6) 31, @3 (165) Our Lady of Peace (17-5) 58.

D-VA
6 (188) Catalina Avalon (9-4) 50, @3 (307) Classical (18-9) 52

D-VAA
1 (86) St. Joseph (23-2), bye.
5 (123) Fallbrook (22-8) 63 @4 (462) Capistrano Valley Christian (8-8) 28.

D-VIAA
1 (302) Victory Christian (13-6), bye.

 CHAMPIONSHIP
8 (46) Westlake Village Westlake (20-3), @3 (28) El Camino (17-5).

D-IIIA
CHAMPIONSHIP
6 (100) Del Norte (14-12) @5 (71) Clovis Buchanan (14-8).

D-IVA
CHAMPIONSHIP
3 (115) Our Lady of Peace (18-5), @1 (152) Bakersfield Christian (17-6).

D-VAA
CHAMPIONSHIP
Fallbrook (106) 23-8, @1 (83) Strathmore (20-6).

D-VIAA
CHAMPIONSHIP
3 (250) Corcoran (18-5) @1 (302) Victory Christian (14-6).

D-IIIAA
3 (67) Newport Beach Newport Harbor (19-2) @2 (71) Rancho Bernardo (20-8).
7 (208) Woodland Hills El Camino Real (6-5) @3 (45) El Camino (18-6).

D-IIIA
6 (113) Del Norte (13-12) @2 (19) Temecula Chaparral (19-4).

D-IVAA
3 (51) Eastlake (16-9) @2 (91) Fresno Roosevelt (19-2).

D-IVA
7 (170) Paso Robles (14-3) @2 (165) Our Lady of Peace (17-5).

D-VAA
5 (123) Fallbrook (22-8) @1 (86) St. Joseph.

D-VA
3 (307) Classical (18-9) @2 (133) Valencia Trinity Classical (13-4).

D-6AA
4 (457) Playa del Rey St. Bernard (8-6) 28, @1 (317) Victory Christian (14-6) 67.

Memories-for-a-lifetime victories and crushing defeats summed up the pandemic-altered San Diego Section season.

The big one eluded 30-1 Torrey Pines in the Open Division final, a 68-65 loss to Etiwanda, but area teams won 6 of 9 championships, a stunning accomplishment considering San Diego’s generally unsuccessful runs in Southern California postseason competition.

There should be a special “hat’s off” to:

–Mater Dei coach Jayson Bryant, who coached his second team to a state championship. Bryant was the Lincoln Hornets’ boss in 2009-10, when that 29-2 squad led by Norman Powell and Victor Dean,  defeated Mountain View St. Francis, 74-59, for the Division II championship.

–Santa Fe Christian, beaten by St. Augustine, 71-65, in the San Diego Open Division  title game, won three Southern California D-I games over Northridge Heritage Christian Carlsbad, and Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley.

–Sage Creek, 11-11 entering the San Diego Section tournament, won  its last 6, finishing with a 73-54 triumph over Fresno Roosevelt in D-VAA.

–San Ysidro, invited to the playoffs after Cathedral and Mission Bay bailed, topped Temecula Linfield Christian, 73-71, in D-IVAA.

Seedings precede numbers in parenthesis, which represent the statewide rating of the team by Max Preps. Numbers change after each game.

CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRINGS/RESULTS
Saturday, June 19

OPEN DIVISION
3 (7) Etiwanda (14-2) 68, @1 (1) Torrey Pines (30-1) 65.

D-IA 
5 (15) Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley (17-4) 38, @3 (21) Santa Fe Christian (20-4) 65.

D-IIA
5 (85) Fresno Central (12-7) 50, @3 (17) Mater Dei (18-4) 67.

D-IIIAA
3 (58) La Costa Canyon (13-11) 41, @1 (39) San Bernardino /Aquinas (23-1) 57.

D-IIIA
6 (82) L.A. Shalhevet (22-4) 71, @2 (55) Bonita Vista (18-7) 73.

D-IVAA
6 (69) San Ysidro (22-7) 73,@4 (48) Temecula Linfield (25-3) 71.

D-IVA
2 (56) Orange Glen (25-7) 57, @1 (38) Coronado (23-5) 60, OT.

D-VAA
2 (181) Sage Creek (17-11) 73, @1 (114) Fresno Roosevelt (16-5) 54.

D-VIAA
2 (129) Maranatha (24-6) 48, @1 (119) Fowler (18-1) 50.

SEMIFINALS RESULTS
Thursday, June 17

OPEN DIVISION
4 (16) La Verne Damien (29-4) 42, @1 (1) Torrey Pines (30-0) 63.

D-IA
3 (30) Santa Fe Christian (19-4) 72, @2 (26) Clovis West (20-5) 70.

D-IIA
3 (28) Mater Dei (18-4) 80, @2 (69) Carlsbad (14-10) 62.

D-IIIAA
3 (86) La Costa Canyon (13-10) 75, @2 (64) Riverside King (12-8) 63.

D-IIIA
6 (146) Francis Parker (11-9) 77, @2 (92) Bonita Vista (17-7) 94.

D-IVAA
6 (105) San Ysidro (22-7) 60, @2 (108) Chatsworth (11-5), 55.

D-IVA
5 (182) L.A. Pilibos (19-5) 44, @1 (56) Coronado (22-5) 56.
3 (217) Wildomar Elsinore (14-5) 64, @ 2 (75) Orange Glen (25-6) 88.

D-VAA
6 (210) Atascadero (17-6) 63, @2 (242) Sage Creek (16-11) 86.

D-VA
5 (211) Hoover (16-10) 60, @1 (79) Kingsburg (12-4) 66.

D-VIAA
4 (454) Crawford (13-8) 53, @1 (130) Fowler (17-1) 77.
3 (350) Bell (8-6) 38, @2 (155) Maranatha (24-5) 66

QUARTERFINALS RESULTS
Tuesday, June 15.

OPEN DIVISION
1 (1) Torrey Pines (29-0), bye.
D-IAA
5 (29) L.A. Ribet (12-4) 68, @4 (15) San Marcos (25-2) 60.
7 (27) St. Augustine (14-7) 59, @2 (6) Bellflower St. John Bosco (21-4) 61.
D-IA
6 (31) Northridge Heritage Christian (20-8) 58, @3 (30) Santa Fe Christian (18-4) 65.
D-IIAA
5 (39) Hacienda Heights Los Altos (17-2) 52, @4 (53) El Camino (24-6) 49.
7 (70) Mission Hills (16-9) 42, @2 (10)  San Pedro Rolling Hills (13-2) 51.
D-IIA
6 (38) Compton Dominguez (16-2)74, @3 (28) Mater Dei (16-4) 91.
7 (81) Murrieta Valley (13-6) 52, @2 (69) Carlsbad (14-9) 67.
D-IIIAA
6 (154) Burbank (10-5) 60, @3 (86) La Costa Canyon (12-10) 72.
D-IIIA
(146) Francis Parker (11-8) 63, @3 (132) Huntington Beach Marina (15-9) 55.
7 (250) Redlands Citrus Valley (10-8) 52, @2 (92) Bonita Vista (16-7) 66.
D-IVAA
6 (105) San Ysidro (21-7) 87, @3 (316) Arcadia (11-9) 74.
D-IVA
8 (609) Long Beach Millikan (3-10) 44, @1 (56) Coronado (22-5) 67.
7 (422) Oxnard Rio Mesa (12-10) 41, @2 (75) Orange Glen (24-6) 67.
D-VAA
7 (275) Valley Village Valley Torah (13-3) 61, @2 (242) Sage Creek (15-11) 84.
D-VA
5 (211) Hoover (16-9) 57, @4 (556) Canoga Park Faith Baptist (14-9) 54.
D-VIAA
5 (652) Malibu (7-5) 53, @4 (454) Crawford (13-7) 62.
7 (756) Covina Edgewood (7-9) 60, @2 (155) Maranatha (23-5) 94.

The Union-Tribune ‘s final poll included only the regular season.  We’ve included San Diego Section and Southern California playoff results in teams’ records but the rankings do not change.

Others receiving votes: Orange Glen (25-7, 17 points), San Ysidro (23-7, 8), San Diego (16-14, 7),  Mission Bay (17-10, 4), Valhalla (18-5, 3), Bonita Vista (18-7, 2), Madison (19-8, 1).

First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on scale of 10 down to 1.

Poll voters:13 sportswriters, sportscasters from around San Diego County.

• John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
• Aaron Burgin, fulltimehoops.com
• Terry Monahan, Steve Brand, Union-Tribune correspondents
• John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
• Bodie DeSilva, scorebooklive.com
• Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
• Adam Paul, ECPreps.com
• Steve Dolan Mountain Country 107.9 FM
• Christian Pedersen, San Diego Sports Association
• Rick Smith, partletonsports.com
• Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report

How others see San Diego Section’s top 10 in their final California ratings*.

Sa’de-Wiley Gatewood is back in the hunt.

The Victory Christian coach sends her No. 1 seed against No. 4 Playa del Rey St. Bernard Thursday in a Southern California Division VI-AA semifinals game at the Knights’ Chula Vista venue.

The winner will meet  the survivor of he Corcoran-Los Angeles Franklin game for the championship.

Four teams are entered in the bracket.  Others opted out for a variety of reasons, including the pandemic,

Wiley-Gatewood, who was born in San Diego but moved to the Los Angeles area when she was 10 and became a legendary, superstar player at Lynwood, was head coach of the Serra Conquistadores in 2019-20 and won the San Diego Section D-I championship.

The Q’s were beaten by Santa Monica, 49-44, in the Southern California playoffs and finished 20-10.

Victory Christian was joined by St. Joseph, the tiny school in San Marcos, as one of the San Diego’s Section’s two No. 1 seeds.

St. Joseph has a quarterfinals bye and will play the winner of Fallbrook-Capistrano Valley Christian in the semifinals.  St. Joseph defeated Fallbrook, a school with several hundred more students, 45-44, for the San Diego Section D-III title last week.

Seeds precede numbers in parenthesis, which represent the statewide rating of the team by Max Preps.

QUARTERFINALS
TUESDAY, JUNE 15
OPEN DIVISION

5 (4) Studio City Harvard-Westlake (22-3) @4 (6) Cathedral (19-3).
6 (11) Bonita Vista (24-4), @3 (7) Clovis West (19-0).
7 (9) La Jolla Country Day (16-4) @2 (2) Corona Centennial (22-1).

D-IAA

8 (59) Lynwood (15-6) @1 (10) Mission Hills (21-6).
5 (33) Carlsbad (16-5) @4 (21) Garden Grove Orangewood (12-8).
7 (51) The Bishop’s (12-8) @2 (34) West Torrance (17-4).

D-IA

7 (22) Anaheim Fairmont Prep (16-7) @2 (55) Mount Miguel (19-5).

D-IIAA

5 (71) Mater Dei (17-9) @4 (20) San Bernardino Cajon (13-1).

D-IIA

5 (46) Westview (17-7) @4 (39) Newport Beach Sage Hill (18-6).
6 (32) Ontario Christian (22-2) @3 (45) El Camino (17-6).

D-IIIAA
7 (75) Temecula Rancho Christian (8-2) @2 (71) Rancho Bernardo (19-8).

D-IIIA
6 (113) Del Norte (12-12) @3 (148) Lawndale Leuzinger (13-2).

D-IVAA
6 (201) Burbank Providence (15-5) @3 (151) Eastlake (15-9).

D-IVA
6 (178) Newport Beach Pacifica Christian (15-5) @3 (165) Our Lady of Peace (16-5).

D-VAA

1 (86) St. Joseph (23-2), bye.
5 (123) Fallbrook (21-8) @5 (462) Capistrano Valley Christian (8-7).

D-VA
6 (188) Catalina Avalon (9-3) @3 (307) Classical (17-9).

D-6AA

4 (457) Playa del Rey St. Bernard (8-5) @1 (317) Victory Christian (13-6).