John Maffei’s weekly The San Diego Union poll. First-place votes in parenthesis.
Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Bold entries in columns are up-to-date rankings, followed by previous.
Cal-Hi Sports’ and Max-Preps’ represent state rankings. NR—Not ranked.
Records as of Feb 2.

Others receiving votes
La Jolla Country Day (14-10, 8 points), Christian (17-5, 6), Sage Creek (15-7, 6), Francis Parker (15-10, 2), Mission Hills (16-8, 2), Crawford (20-4, 1), Mira Mesa  (18-4, 1), Madison (16-7, 1).

Voting panel: 18 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators who cover the San Diego Section, plus MaxPreps:

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune).
Aaron Burgin (Full-time hoops).
Steve Brand,  Bodie DeSilva (Union-Tribune freelance correspondents).
Todd Cassen (CIF office).
Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com).
Joe Evangelist (Coaching Legends).
Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference).
Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee).
Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan).
John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Eric Williams, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors).

The January grind continues with virtually no change in the Top 10 last week as teams try to position themselves for the February stretch run.

The only movement was all the way down in ninth and 10^th places. St. Augustine moved up to No. 9, and San Diego High made its first appearance at No. 10.  The first eight teams were unchanged from Week 3.

Montgomery defeated Francis Parker in a nonleague game, 71-56, in its only activity (the Aztecs knocked off Victory Christian, 70-46, on Monday, Jan. 27, after voting had taken place.  Montgomery and Victory each is 2-1 in the Metropolitan South Bay League).

The Aztecs will get a chance to reverse one of their two losses when coach Ed Martin’s team plays host in nine days to host 17-2 and 3-0 league-leading Olympian, which stunned Monty, 53-47, a couple weeks ago.  Montgomery’s other loss was 61-57 to 19-5 San Juan Capistrano, the No. 6 squad in California, according to Cal-High Sports.

John Maffei’s weekly The San Diego Union poll. First-place votes in parenthesis.
Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Bold entries in columns are up-to-date rankings, followed by previous.
Cal-Hi Sports’ and Max-Preps’ represent state rankings. NR—Not ranked.
Records as of Jan 26.

Others receiving votes
La Jolla Country Day (12-10, 6 points), Mission Hills (14-8, 4), Mira Mesa  (17-3, 3), Francis Parker (14-10, 2), Madison (16-6, 1).

Voting panel: 18 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators who cover the San Diego Section, plus MaxPreps:

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune).
Aaron Burgin (Full-time hoops).
Steve Brand,  Bodie DeSilva (Union-Tribune freelance correspondents).                                                                                                                      Todd Cassen (CIF). Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).                                                                                                                                            Joe Evangelist (Coaching Legends).                                                                                                                                                                          Tom Helmantoler ( Southern Conference).                                                                                                                                                              Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee).                                                                                                                                                                          Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).                                                                                                                                              Braden Suprenant (97.3 The Fan).                                                                                                                                                                              John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Eric Williams, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors).

Olympian upset (?) Montgomery, 53-47, in a Metro Mesa League game but the voters weren’t too impressed. The Aztecs remained No. 1 in the poll and the Eagles advanced only from eighth to fifth despite an overall record of 16-2.  Montgomery is 18-2.

Olympian’s losses were 60-56 to Francis Parker and 63-60 to now-No. 2 San Marcos.  Montgomery’s other defeat was 61-57 to San Juan Capistrano JSerra.

Most surprising score of the week was Torrey Pines’ 76-45 rout of Carlsbad, which withered under the heat of a game-ending 41-6 run by the Falcons.  The Lancers had led, 39-35.

John Maffei’s weekly The San Diego Union poll. First-place votes in parenthesis.
Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Bold entries in columns are up-to-date rankings, followed by previous.
Cal-Hi Sports’ and Max-Preps’ represent state rankings. NR—Not ranked.
Records as of Jan 19.

Others receiving votes
La Jolla Country Day (11-10, 16 points) Mira Mesa  (16-2, 11), San Diego (14-3, 2).

Voting panel: 18 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators who cover the San Diego Section, plus MaxPreps:

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune).
Aaron Burgin (Full-time hoops).
Steve Brand,  Bodie DeSilva (Union-Tribune freelance correspondents).
Todd Cassen (CIF office).
Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com).
Joe Evangelist (Coaching Legends).
Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference).
Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee).
Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan).
John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Eric Williams, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors).

John Maffei’s weekly The San Diego Union poll. First-place votes in parenthesis.
Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Bold entries in columns are up-to-date rankings, followed by previous.
Cal-Hi Sports’ and Max-Preps’ represent state rankings. NR—Not ranked.
Records as of Feb. 12.

Others receiving votes
Francis Parker (11-7, 7 points), Mira Mesa  (13-2, 6), San Diego (11-2, 6), St. Augustine (5-12, 6).

Voting panel: 18 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators who cover the San Diego Section, plus MaxPreps:

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune).
Aaron Burgin (Full-time hoops).
Steve Brand,  Bodie DeSilva (Union-Tribune freelance correspondents).
Todd Cassen (CIF office).
Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com).
Joe Evangelist (Coaching Legends).
Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference).
Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee).
Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan).
John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Eric Williams, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors).

San Diego Section basketball teams, after hundreds of games and enough travel to catch the attention of Triple-A, are settling into the January-February grind of league play and selected intersectionals before the Southern California playoffs.

Montgomery is No. 1 in John Maffei’s latest The San Diego Union-Tribune poll and No. 8 in California, according to Max Preps and Cal-Hi Sports.

Montgomery coach Ed Martin, a 1996 graduate of the school, which opened in 1970, has built a power since taking direction of the program 17 seasons ago, elevating the Aztecs into regional prominence.

(Martin also boldly brought attention to his team when he scheduled three consecutive years of home games and certain losses, but capacity crowds, against Chatsworth Sierra Canyon and LeBron’s son Bronny James).

The Aztecs are 16-1 with only a 61-57 loss to 15-3 JSerra of San Juan Capistrano after trailing, 36-20, at halftime. Carlsbad is 12-2 and Cal-Hi Sports’ No. 14 and has losses to JSerra, 91-77, and Philadelphia’s Father Judge, 80-70.

Carlsbad won a November game against Santa Ana Mater Dei, 74-72, in overtime.  The usually powerful Monarchs are 13-4 and defeated San Diego Section No. 3 San Marcos, 71-63, last week.

John Maffei’s weekly The San Diego Union–Tribune poll:
*First-place votes in parenthesis.
*Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
*Cal-Hi Sports’ and Max Preps’ represent state rankings.
*NR—Not ranked.

Records as of Monday, Jan. 6.

Others receiving votes
Francis Parker (11-5, 21 points), Mission Hills (10-6, 9), San Diego (9-2, 3), Calexico (12-4, 2).

Voting panel: 18 sportswriters, sportscasters and administrators from throughout the San Diego Section:
John Maffei (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Aaron Burgin (Full-time hoops).
Steve Brand,  Bodie DeSilva (Union-Tribune correspondents).
Todd Cassen (CIF San Diego Section).
Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com).
Joe Evangelist (Coaching Legends Committee).
Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference Advisor).
Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee).
Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan)
John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Eric Williams, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors).

Nick Barkett was determined to improve his lot in the Hoover basketball program after serving as the fifth of five guards on the 26-2 team of the 1959-60 Cardinals.

“He lived at Muni Gym all Summer with (John) Bocko,” remembered Cardinals coach Charlie Hampton.

Barkett and Bocko spent many days, and evenings, in the vintage emporium, Bocko preparing for his college career at San Diego City College and Fresno State, and Nick striving to take his game to a higher level and earn a starting role in his senior year at Hoover.

Barkett, who passed away recently at age 81, did not just improve.  He etched his name in the lore of Hoover’s great basketball history.

The skinny, 6-foot guard became a lean, almost 6-foot 2-inch forward and led the 1960-61 Cardinals to a 24-3 record and the first San Diego Section championship. Nick also was the first CIF San Diego Section Section player of the year, scoring 356 points for a 13.2 average.

Barkett was a starter on the 25-5 San Diego City College squad that was runner-up to Fresno City in the 1962-63 state junior college championship game and he started for two seasons at Cal Poly-Pomona.