Seven Catholic high schools are ranked Number 1 in the initial CIF-Southern Section basketball polls released Nov. 26.
Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Salesian, Providence/Burbank, and Don Bosco Tech hold the top spots in their respective boys’ divisions, while St. Paul, St. Mary’s Academy, and Villanova Prep are No. 1 among girls’ teams in their divisions.
There are 10 divisions each in the CIF-SS for boys’ and girls’ basketball in 2018-19, with Open Division rankings in boys’ and girls’ to be determined after Jan. 1.
No rankings have been released in soccer and girls’ water polo, the other major sports contested in winter, though Catholic schools are included in the “Teams to Watch” lists compiled in early November. Following is a breakdown of current rankings in each sport:
Boys’ basketball
D-1: St. John Bosco (3), Mater Dei (4), Bishop Montgomery (5), Santa Margarita (6), Damien (9), J.Serra (14), St. Anthony (16).
D-2AA: Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks (1), St. Bernard (7), Chaminade (9).
D-3AA: St. Francis (4), Paraclete (14), Servite (16).
D-3A: Salesian (1), St. Bonaventure (6), Mary Star (15).
D-4AA: St. Monica/Santa Monica (8).
D-4A: Providence/Burbank (1).
D-5AA: Don Bosco Tech (1), Santa Clara (3), Verbum Dei (15).
D-5A: Villanova (5).
Girls’ basketball
D-1: Bishop Montgomery (1), Mater Dei (5), Alemany (6), Rosary (9), Serra (12).
D-2AA: St. Paul (7).
D-2A: St. Mary’s Academy (1), Cantwell Sacred Heart (13).
D-3A: St. Bonaventure (11).
D-4AA: Marymount (6), Providence (9).
D-4A: Mayfield (9).
D-5AA: Mary Star (8), Sacred Heart (T11)
D-5A: Villanova (1).
Soccer
Teams to watch in boys’ soccer include Cathedral, Loyola, Santa Margarita and Servite (D-1); Salesian (D-3); Bishop Montgomery (D-4); Santa Clara (D-6); and Providence, St. Bonaventure and St. Pius X-St. Matthias (D-7).
In girls’ soccer, the list includes J.Serra and Santa Margarita (D-1); Bishop Amat (D-2); La Salle and San Gabriel Mission (D-4); St. Genevieve (D-5); and St. Monica Academy and St. Pius X-St. Matthias (D-7).
Girls’ water polo
Teams to watch are Mater Dei and Santa Margarita (D-1 & D-2), and St. Lucy’s (D-3). Divisions 1 and 2 will be separated come playoff time in February.
Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).
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