With a record of 14-2, Santa Barbara High’s girls basketball team is off to one of its best starts in several years.
The start has caught the attention of the voters of the CIF-SS polls. In the first poll of the regular season, the Dons are No. 1 in the 3AA Division. Their only losses have come against Camarillo, the top-ranked team in the 1A Division and Sierra Canyon, No. 1 in Division 4A.
Santa Barbara opens Channel League play Tuesday at home against Dos Pueblos, which is ranked 12th in the 2A Division. It then travels Thursday to defending league champion Ventura, which is second in the 1A Division.
Santa Barbara’s boys basketball team (13-2 and 3-0 in Channel League) is third in the 3A Division while San Marcos (12-5, 1-2) is 13th in 3AA. The crosstown rivals face each other on Wednesday at San Marcos to complete the first round of Channel League play. Santa Barbara’s two losses have come against ranked teams, Sierra Canyon (No. 3 in Division 4A and Newbury Park (12th in 2A).
Bishop Diego (10-4, 1-0 Frontier League) is tied for fourth with Chadwick in 5AA . In Division 6, Laguna Blanca (5-6, 1-0 Condor League) is ranked sixth and Providence (3-5) is 15th.
Also ranked in girls basketball is Bishop Diego (9-5, 2-0 Frontier League) at No. 5 in 5AA.
CIF-SS GIRLS BASKETBALL POLLS
DIV. 3AA
1. Santa Barbara; 2. Lakeside; 3. Diamond Ranch; 4. San Juan Hills; 5. Corona del Mar; 6. Pacifica/Garden Grove; 7. South Hills; 8. Esperanza 9. Murrieta Mesa; 10. Hawthorne; T11. Irvine, Tustin; 13. El Modena; 14. Palos Verdes; 15. Yorba Linda; T16. Wilson/Hacienda Hts., Western.
DIV. 2A
T1. El Dorado, West Torrance; T3. Patriot, South Torrance; 5. Moorpark; 6. Royal T7. Golden Valley, North Torrance; 9. Claremont; 10. Hart; 11. Jurupa Hills; 12. Dos Pueblos; T13. Cerritos, Redlands East Valley; 15. San Jacinto; 16. Rio Mesa.
DIV. 4A
1. Sierra Canyon; 2. Brentwood; 3. Fairmont Prep ;4. Cantwell-Sacred Heart; 5. St. Joseph/Santa Maria; 6. Maranatha; 7. Campbell Hall; 8. St. Monica; 9. Providence; 10. St. Bonaventure; 11. Flintridge Prep; 12. Crossroads; 13. La Reina; 14. St. Margaret’s; 15. Loma Linda Academy; 16. Laguna Beach.
DIV. 5AA
1. Notre Dame/Riverside; 2. Santa Clara; 3. Poly/Pasadena; 4. Saddleback Valley Christian; 5. Aquinas; 6. Buckley; 7. Silver Valley; 8. Woodcrest Christian;; 9. Linfield Christian 10. Calvary Chapel/Downey; 11. Temecula Prep; 12. Kern Valley; 13. Bishop Diego; 14. Sacred Heart of Jesus; 15. Desert.
BOYS BASKETBALL POLLS
DIV. 3AA
1. Santa Margarita; 2. Brea Olinda; 3. Atascadero; 4. Corona del Mar; 5. La Mirada
6. Bonita; 7. Beverly Hills; 8. Western; 9. Servite; 10. Tahquitz; 11. San Bernardino; 12. Gahr; 13. San Marcos; 14. Yorba Linda; 15. Leuzinger; 16. Palm Desert
DIV. 3A
1. Chaminade; 2. Cathedral; 3. Santa Barbara; 4. St. Francis; 5. La Canada; 6. Pioneer 7.Oak Park 8. Artesia 9. Paso Robles 10. Cabrillo/Lompoc 11. Antelope Valley 12. Bishop Amat 13. Gladstone 14. Burroughs/Ridgecrest 15. El Monte 16. Indio
DIV. 4A
1. Cantwell Sacred Heart; 2. Village Christian; T3. Price, Sierra Canyon; 5. Windward; 6. Campbell Hall; 7. Brentwood; 8. St. Anthony; 9. St Margaret’s; 10. Viewpoint; 11. Crossroads; 12. St Bonaventure; 13. St Monica Catholic; 14. St Joseph/Santa Maria; 15. Yeshiva; 16. Salesian
DIV. 5AA
1. Saddleback Valley Christian; 2. San Gabriel Academy; 3. Brethren Christian; T4. Bishop Diego, Chadwick; 6. Poly/Pasadena; 7. Santa Clara; T8. Western Christian, Xavier Prep; 10. New Community Jewish; 11. Linfield Christian; 12. Woodcrest Christian; 13. Pilibos; 14. Oakwood; 15. Thacher; 16. Pacifica Christian
DIV. 6
1. Trinity Classical Academy; 2. Desert Chapel; 3. Joshua Springs; 4. Valley Christian/Santa Maria; 5. Los Angeles Adventist; 6. Hesperia Christian; 7. Baptist Christian; 8. Palm Valley; 9. Laguna Blanca; 10. Liberty Christian; 11. Eastside Christian; 12. Acaciawood Academy; 13. Besant Hill; 14. Apple Valley Christian; 15. Providence; 16. Westview
