San Bernardino Valley, the state's lone remaining unbeaten team, overtakes San Francisco for California's No. 1 ranking in this week's California Community Colleges Men's Basketball Coaches Association poll. San Bernardino opened the season with seven consecutive wins and consecutive tournament titles. The Wolverines received 12 of the south's 15 first-place votes, while San Francisco, the defending state champions and the preseason No. 1 ranked team, claimed eight of the north's 15 first-place votes. San Francisco remains the north's top-ranked team, edging out Yuba, which has run off five straight wins since opening the season with a 93-85 loss to San Francisco. In all, eight of the top 11 teams in this week's poll have just one loss or less.
This week: There is 11 tournaments this week. The best may be the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament at Antelope Valley College. The tournament features three ranked teams, including #1 San Bernardino. Also in the field - all on San Bernardino's side of the bracket - are #13 Fullerton and #19 Bakersfield. The Wolverines open the tournament on Friday at 3pm against LA Harbor. The tournament also features host Antelope Valley, who has gotten off to a slow start at 3-4 and Rio Hondo and Ventura, two teams who just missed making the south's regional rankings this week. The Hemet Valley Kiwanis Hoops and Crops Tournament at Mt. San Jacinto are poised to meet in the semifinals if they can beat first-round opponents. Another tournament watch this week is the Mountie Classic at Mt. San Antonio where #7 Fresno City and #11 Citrus will meet in the first round on Friday. Mt. San Antonio has a #12 regional ranking and figures to meet the winner of the Fresno-Citrus game in the finals. At the Monterey Bay Classic #3 Yuba highlights the field and faces a previously ranked squad in Irvine Valley in the first round. The Lazers have lost two of its last three. Las Positas (#5) will look to roll through the James Clark Classic at Cosumnes River. The tournament also features Merced (#11 in north regional poll) and Feather River (#12 in the north). #20 Cabrillo will host #14 Butte and Lassen, northern ranked #12. #2 San Francisco will host the Golden Gate Classic, with a field that includes #15 Diablo Valley and Sequoias, which opens the week with a regional #14 ranking. San Diego City, the states #9 team, is the favorite in the Grossmont Tournament, which tips off Friday.
For results, scores and other information log on to www.CCCMBCA.org or follow the action on the association's Twitter account @CCCMBCA. Next poll date: December 13.
State Rankings
1. San Bernardino (7-0)
2. San Francisco (7-1)
3. Yuba (5-1)
4. Chaffey (6-1)
5. Las Positas (7-1)
6. East Los Angeles (5-1)
7. Fresno (4-2)
8. Saddleback (6-2)
9. San Diego City (9-3)
10. Ohlone (7-2)
11. Citrus (7-1)
12. Mt. San Jacinto (6-3)
13. Fullerton (4-2)
14. Butte (5-1)
15. Diablo Valley (4-2)
16. Santa Rosa (5-2)
17. Riverside (6-2)
18. Foothill (6-2)
19. Bakersfield (6-3)
20. Cabrillo (5-2)
Northern California
1. San Francisco (8)
2. Yuba (6)
3. Las Positas (1)
4. Fresno City
5. Ohlone
6. Butte
7. Diablo Valley
8. Santa Rosa
9. Foothill
10. Cabrillo
11. Merced
12. Feather River
13. Lassen
14. (tie) American River/Canada/Sequoias/San Joaquin Delta
Southern California
1. San Bernardino (12)
2. Chaffey (3)
3. East Los Angeles
4. Saddleback
5. San Diego City
6. Citrus
7. Mt. San Jacinto
8. Fullerton
9. Riverside
10. Bakersfield
11. San Diego Miramar
12. Mt. San Antonio
13. El Camino-Compton
14. Cuesta
15. (tie) Irvine Valley/Cerritos/El Camino