What did the recent spate of holiday tournaments tell us about this year’s San Diego Section boys and girls basketball rankings?
It affirmed what many already felt: St. Augustine is the top boys team in the section.
The Saints closed out the 2019 portion of their 2019-20 season schedule with a 15-3 record after topping Riverside Poly, 75-59, in the National Division’s fifth-place match at the massive 76-team Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.
St. Augustine entered the 2020 calendar year undefeated against San Diego County competition (8-0). The Saints finished 4-1 at the Torrey Pines tournament, grabbing a 61-60 overtime decision from San Jose Archbishop Mitty while dropping a 67-63 decision to division champion JSerra Catholic, ranked seventh in the Southern Section and 28th overall in the state.
The section’s top 10 rankings among Division I boys teams entering 2020 featured No. 2 Poway (12-3), No. 3 Foothills Christian (9-4), No. 4 Cathedral Catholic (10-5), No. 5 Christian (11-2), No. 6 Mater Dei Catholic (11-3), No. 7 Santa Fe Christian (11-4), No. 8 Mission Hills (12-3), No. 9 Torrey Pines (12-4) and No. 10 San Marcos (10-2).
Montgomery (7-5) was further down the Division I rankings at No. 17.
Three Metro Conference teams were ranked among the top 10 Division II schools: Otay Ranch (14-2) at No. 3, Bonita Vista (8-3) at No. 5 and Olympian (10-3) at No. 9.
The conference was well represented in the Division III rankings with San Ysidro (8-7) at No. 1 and Eastlake (9-6) at No. 3.
Hilltop (6-9) and Chula Vista (6-7) were ranked ninth and 11th, respectively, among Division IV teams
Four local squads made the top 10 cut at the Division V level: Mar Vista (7-4) at No. 3, Calvary Christian Academy (5-3) at No. 5, Ocean View Christian Academy (5-2) at No. 7 and Bayfront Charter (7-3) at No. 9.
The section’s top 10 Division I girls teams were ranked as follows: La Jolla Country Day (16-1) at No. 1, Westview (14-1) at No. 2, Cathedral Catholic (7-7) at No. 3, La Costa Canyon (11-3) at No. 4, Christian (9-4) at No. 5, Mater Dei Catholic (7-4) at No. 6, Bonita Vista (5-3) at No. 7, Bishop’s (7-4) at No. 8, San Marcos (9-4) at No. 9 and Mission Hills (6-6) at No. 10.
Among other Metro Conference teams, Otay Ranch (14-2) had logged the top ranking among the section’s Division II teams, followed by Eastlake (12-6) in the No. 2 position in the division.
Also in Division II, Montgomery (10-4) entered the 2020 calendar year ranked sixth while Chula Vista (10-7) was ranked 10th. Castle Park (6-7) was ranked fourth among Division IV teams.
Four area teams made the top 10 rankings for Division V schools: Ocean View Christian Academy (5-2) at No. 5, San Ysidro (4-9) at No. 6, Bayfront Charter (4-6) at No. 9 and Southwest (2-7) at No. 10.
Helix (11-2) and Point Loma (8-2) were ranked first and second, respectively, among Division III teams, followed by Hilltop (4-9) at No. 13.
Southern exposure
San Ysidro freshman Mikey Williams, who poured in 77 points to set a new San Diego Section single-game scoring record in a 116-42 non-league win over Kearny on Dec. 13, is averaging 32.6 points per game through 15 games for the Cougars (8-7).
Jurian Dixon, another freshman on the San Ysidro roster, is averaging 20.7 ppg.
The Cougars have hit for 100 or more points four times this season and have eclipsed 90 points a total of nine times.
San Ysidro finished 0-4 at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, dropping matchups against Phoenix St. Mary’s (89-82), Saugus (94-60), Las Vegas Arbor View (94-76) and Dallas Lake Highlands (95-86 in overtime).
Mater Dei Catholic’s boys team finished runner-up to Poway by a 56-50 score in the Armstrong/Horsman tournament championship game on Dec. 7 before posting a 5-0 showing at the Sweetwater Host Lions tournament Dec. 14-21.
The Crusaders finished runner-up to Orange Lutheran, 72-64, in the finals of the MaxPreps Holiday Tournament Dec. 30.
Mater Dei Catholic tips off Mesa League play on Jan. 15 against visiting Eastlake while Bonita Vista hosts Otay Ranch the same night in another high profile league encounter.
Tony Sanchez earned selection to the 2019 Torrey Pines Holiday Classic all-tournament team after helping Otay Ranch secure a runner-up finish in the Mayors Division.
Mater Dei Catholic’s girls squad finished 3-1 at the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic. The Lady Crusaders tip off Mesa League play at Eastlake on Jan. 15 and play at Bonita Vista in a top 10 encounter on Jan. 29.
NFL Star Watch
Wildcard weekend: Mater Dei Catholic High School alumnus Jason Myers kicked a 49-yard field goal and tacked on a pair of extra-point conversions as the visiting Seattle Seahawks defeated the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles, 17-9, on Sunday. The Seahawks (12-5) advance to meet the second-seeded Green Bay Packers (13-3) in the divisional round on Sunday, Jan.12, at 3:40 p.m. Pacific Time (NBC-TV broadcast).
