Top 25 offers clues as to ultimate makeup of CIF SS Open playoff bracket

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LAGUNA NIGUEL – Rancho Christian ended the 2019 portion of the Southern California 2019-20 high school hoops season with an overtime victory over Sierra Canyon Monday night in the Platinum Division of the fourth Classic at Damien Tournament.

The 85-81 decision, in front of an SRO-only gathering in Damien’s Athletic Center, also moved the Trailblazers atop the BurlisonOnBasketball Southern California (CIF Southern Section and L.A. City Section programs) Top 25, just ahead of the Trailblazers – who were ranked No. 6 (Ballislife) nationally and were unbeaten going into the showdown.

With the top 14 slots occupied by Southern Section-affiliated programs, the rankings offer an in-depth look at the teams in strongest contention for the eight spots in the SS Open Division bracket about five weeks from now.

Rancho Christian’s hold on the top spot is well short of “vice grip-like”, considering that Coach Ray Barefield’s crew has a Saturday night (9 o’clock) clash with No. 7 Santa Clarita Christian – which handed the Trailblazers their first loss, on Dec. 6, in the Battle Zone tourney in Corona – at Bishop Montgomery in the Real Run Winter Classic.

Rancho Christian also has the second of what ultimately could be four games with Sierra Canyon this season on Jan. 11 in a “showcase” event at Pasadena City College.

It’s also well within the realm of projection that the Trailblazers and Eagles could meet in the Southern Section and State Southern Regional Open playoffs.

Beside the “Real Run Winter Classic”, Friday and Saturday at Bishop Montgomery, there are also showcase events at Redondo Union (Take Flight Challenge), also on Friday and Saturday, as well as Saturday events at St. Bernard and St. Francis.

Two Top 25 members, No. 9 St. John Bosco and No. 16 Damien, travel north for the Saturday “NorCal Catholic Challenge” at Chabot College in Hayward.

No.’s 2 Sierra Canyon (to Minnesota) and 5 Mater Dei (to West Virginia) travels are even longer as each will play a pair of games of well-thought of, non-California foes.

The Monarchs won the high-profile Les Schwab Tournament in Oregon, as University of Kentucky-bound guard Devin Askew (pictured) was the event’s Most Outstanding Player after the teams’ Monday night title victory over Sammamish (WA) Eastside.

 

Top 25

1. Rancho Christian (Southern Section D-1/14-2; Saturday, at Bishop Montgomery, vs. No. 7 Santa Clarita Christian, 9 p.m.).
2. Sierra Canyon (SS D-1/14-1; At Minneapolis Minnehaha; Friday, vs. Hillside (NJ) Patrick School; Saturday, vs. Minnehaha).
3. Harvard-Westlake (SS D-1/15-1; Saturday, at Redondo Union, vs. No. 11 St Anthony, 6 p.m.).
4. Corona Centennial (SS D-1/13-2; Saturday, at Bishop Montgomery, vs. Lynwood, 4 p.m.).
5. Mater Dei (SS D-1)/12-2; At Wheeling, WV; Friday, vs. Cumberland (MD) Bishop Walsh; Friday, vs. Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha).
6. Etiwanda (SS D-1/12-2; Saturday, At Redondo Union, vs. No. 18 Birmingham, 4:30 p.m.).
7. Santa Clarita Christian (SS D-2AA/11-3; Friday, at Lancaster Eastside; Saturday, at Bishop Montgomery, vs. No. 1 Rancho Christian, 9 p.m.).
8. JSerra (SS D-1/14-2; Saturday, at Newport Sage Hill, 6 p.m.).
9. Saint John Bosco (SS D-1/12-4; Saturday, at Hayward Chabot College, vs. Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, 2:30 p.m.).
10. Windward (SS D-1/13-4; Saturday, at St. Bernard, vs. Riverside Hillcrest, 7:30 p.m.).
11. Heritage Christian (SS 2AA/14-2; Saturday, at Bishop Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.).
12. Saint Anthony (SS D-1/16-1; Thursday, vs. La Mirada, 7 p.m.; Saturday, at Redondo Union, vs. No. 3 Harvard-Westlake, 6 p.m.).
13. Ribet Academy (SS D-2AA/11-1; Saturday, at St. Francis, vs. West Ranch, 4 p.m.).
14. Chaminade (SS D-2AA/14-3; Friday, vs. Victor Valley, 7:30 p.m.).
15. Saint Bernard (SS D-2AA/12-3; Friday, at Redondo Union, vs. L.B. Poly, 7 p.m.; Saturday, vs. King/Drew, 4:30 p.m.).
16. Fairfax (L.A. City SS D-1)/12-3; Saturday, at Redondo Union, vs. Phoenix Shadow Mountain, 7:30 p.m.).
17. Damien (SS D-1/11-4; Saturday, at Hayward Chabot College, vs. Alameda St. Joseph-Notre Dame, 4 p.m.).
18. Riverside Poly (SS D-1/11-3; Friday, at Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon, 6 p.m.).
19. Birmingham (City Section D-1/9-4; Saturday, at Redondo Union, vs. No. 6 Etiwanda, 4: 30 p.m.).
20. Westchester (City Section D-1/7-6; Saturday, vs. Lake Oswego (OR), 7:30 p.m.).
21. Renaissance Academy (SS D-4AA/12-4; Saturday, at Sierra Canyon, vs. El Camino Real, 4 p.m.).
22. Taft (City Section D-1/11-3; Saturday, at Redondo Union, vs. Colony, 4 p.m.).
23. Washington Prep (City Section D-1/9-9; Saturday, at Redondo Union, vs. Culver City, 9 p.m.).
24. Rolling Hills Prep (SS D-2AA/12-2; Saturday, at Bishop Montgomery, vs. Gahr, 5 p.m.).
25. Oak Park (SS D-2AA/13-2; Saturday, at St. Francis, vs. La Canada, 1 p.m.).