After a month-long hiatus, the CIF-Southern Section basketball rankings resumed Jan. 7 with three Catholic schools occupying the top spots in their respective divisions: Providence/Burbank and Santa Clara (boys) and St. Bonaventure (girls).

The boys’ Open Division “watch list” of 25 teams included nine Catholic schools: Bishop Montgomery, Damien, J.Serra, Loyola, Mater Dei, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Santa Margarita, St. Anthony and St. John Bosco.

In Division 1, Mater Dei is third, Bishop Montgomery sixth, Santa Margarita seventh, Damien eighth, St. John Bosco tenth, Crespi 15th and Loyola 16th. The 2AA poll shows Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks sixth and Chaminade 12th.

St. Francis is third and Paraclete seventh in 3AA; Salesian sixth, Mary Star ninth and St. Bonaventure 14th in 3A; St. Monica/Santa Monica 12th in 4AA; Providence/Burbank first in 4A; and Santa Clara first in 5AA.

Nationally, Mater Dei is 14th in Maxpreps’ Computer Rankings. The Monarchs (18-1 entering this week) are also eighth in Maxpreps’ statewide poll with Damien (14-2) 11th and Santa Margarita (13-5) 13th.

Girls’ basketball

Six Catholic schools are among the 18 teams listed in the girls’ Open Division “watch list,” including Alemany, Bishop Montgomery, Chaminade, Mater Dei, Rosary and Serra.

Bishop Montgomery, Mater Dei and Rosary rank 4-5-6 in Division 1, with Alemany 11th and Serra 14th. St. Paul is tenth among 2AA teams, while St. Mary’s Academy is second in 2A.

St. Bonaventure is No. 1 in 3A; Marymount is third, Providence 12th and Flintridge Sacred Heart 16th in 4AA; St. Genevieve 16th in 4A; Sacred Heart 15th and Mary Star 16th in 5AA; and Villanova tenth in 5A.

Mater Dei (21-2) is eighth in Maxpreps Computer Rankings and fifth in California.

Soccer

The Jan. 7 CIF-SS boys’ soccer rankings — the first released since Dec. 17 — find Loyola and Cathedral still listed 1-2 in Division 1, the third straight poll in which the two L.A. schools lead the pack. Servite is fourth, Mater Dei eighth and Santa Margarita ninth.
In Division 7, Paraclete is sixth and St. Michael’s Prep ninth, the only other Catholic boys’ teams ranked in any top 10.

In girls’ soccer, J.Serra and St. Genevieve are atop Divisions 1 and 5, respectively. Mater Dei is tenth is D-1; Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks tenth in D-3; La Salle fourth in D-4; Pomona Catholic third in D-6; and St. Bonaventure eighth in D-7.

Girls’ water polo

Mater Dei is sixth and Santa Margarita seventh in the combined Divisions 1 and 2 poll issued Jan. 7; the divisions will be separated at playoff time in February). Villanova Prep is third and J.Serra ninth in D-6.

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

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