SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: Boys Basketball Rankings, Jan. 9th, 2023
La Mirada, Damien and St. Francis head up a deep and talented list of teams.
La Mirada’s Sean Cervantes in action against La Serna. (La Mirada, Twitter)
The latest boys basketball rankings for Monday, January 9th, 2023.
La Mirada (14-6) – This was a tough call because you can make a case for any of the top six teams on this list to be at the top. The Matadores were one of the teams that made a lot of noise at “The Classic at Damien” Tournament, losing in a divisional final at the buzzer against Campbell Hall. If you know anything about the Matadores, you know how much Julien Gomez means to this team. He is the heart and soul. Sean Cervantes has improved his game and Athan Sierra has become a legitimate 3-point threat from behind the arc. Yes, I know that they lost to St. Paul, but the issue is that the Swordsmen are on a two-game losing streak and the loss came after La Mirada pushed St. John Bosco to the limit four days earlier in a tournament championship game. I seriously doubt that La Mirada would lose to St. Paul twice. This is one of the teams that is playing its best ball of the year right now. Showdown with Mayfair looms on Feb. 2nd.
Damien (17-2) – Yes, we know that Walnut defeated Damien earlier this season, but we are not going to be held prisoner of the past. Currently, the Spartans are playing great basketball. They got a lot of their tournament over the Christmas break and looked sharp in a 35-point win over Upland. What you need to understand is that this team is one of those teams that are fun to watch. In the past, it was give the ball to Malik Thomas (or Jimmy Oladukun who has since transferred to Sierra Canyon, gee I wonder how that is going) and let them do their thing. Now, it’s all about making the right pass to players such as Nate Garcia or Elijah Brown. Xavier Clinton is one of the better pure shooters in the area and Elijah Garner is going to be the next great player at Damien. Spartans have two home games against Chino Hills and Los Osos and should be 3-0 in league play at the end of the week.
St. Francis (15-5) - The Golden Knights snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a win over El Camino Real and then posted a nice Mission League opening night home win over Crespi (who I will still question for legitimacy until later on this in season – sorry, not buying into the Celts hype). You can’t help but fall in love with the way that Jackson Mosley has played for the coach Todd Wolfson all season. If you love watching quality defensive teams, then this team is right up your alley. The task gets much more difficult this week as St. Francis travels to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Chaminade. I think the Golden Knights come out of the week with a nice win over Notre Dame.
Diamond Bar (16-3) – The Brahmas got good at the right time with an outstanding performance at The Classic at Damien Tournament. They lost to Damien in the final but tell me of a team in the area that can stand up to the Spartans (Walnut fans, please don’t answer that question). What I saw last Wednesday night in a 68-59 win over Walnut, was a team that plays great defense, and can shoot the ball well from behind the 3-point arc with a bigger, faster, and stronger Malcolm Bell taking command of the game. It was very impressive to watch. And then to rally from a double-digit margin to defeat Los Altos on their home court is the stuff that legends are made of. The Maxpreps computers really like Diamond Bar, (which is too rich for my blood), but make no mistake – this team is the legitimate favorite to win the Hacienda.
Walnut (17-2) – Winners of two tournaments this year, you have to be asking “Why are they #5, Jimmy?” Well, the loss to Diamond Bar last week didn’t help matters. That was a very winnable game. They were up 40-39 midway through the third quarter before Malcolm Bell decided to take manners into his own hands. I can hear you saying, “OK, Jimmy, but that’s just one game. Are you going to be that harsh?” Not really. Walnut was going to be next to Diamond Bar, wherever the Brahmas were going to be slotted. Right now, the Mustangs are here at five, but they have plenty of upside on their side and, remember this, La Mirada, Damien, and St. Francis are getting to the meat of their schedule. Stay tuned.
St. Paul (15-7) – After 20+ games, I still don’t have a good feeling about the Swordsmen. It’s been a tough three-week schedule for St. Paul. They are 5-5 in the last 10 games and are on a two-game losing streak, having lost to St. Anthony and St. Bernard. They have quality wins over La Mirada and Bishop Amat, but the last week was not good for the psyche of the players of St. Paul or their fans. They only have one game this week and that is a road game against Serra on Friday. A home game against Bishop Montgomery on Wed. 1/18 will show us how far the Swordsmen have improved. It’s put up or shut up time for the Swordsmen.
Sonora (16-4) – This is one of the hottest teams in the area right now. They are on a 10-game winning streak and should be just fine before entering Friday night’s showdown on the road at La Habra, which figures to be one of the games of the year. The loss that jumps off the page is the four-point loss to Anaheim Canyon in early December. That is a very good team that will be in contention for a sectional title this year. Mike Murphy always does a great job and I can’t wait to see his team in person on Friday night.
La Serna (16-4) – This might be one of the better teams in the area that you may not be aware of. Marino Angulo always does a superb job year in and year out and this season is no different. They were no match for St. Francis and La Mirada but the wins over La Habra, Schurr, and Los Altos jump off the page. If we had to make a tier system for our rankings, the Lancers would easily be in the second tier of teams in the area. They are a cut below the elite teams, but better than 90% of the other teams in the area. Next Friday’s game vs El Rancho at home should be interesting.
La Habra (14-5) – They’re baaaacccckkk!!! After a 2021-22 season that saw them post a 9-17 record (highly unusual), the Highlanders are back and making some serious noise. The losses to La Serna, Huntington Beach, and Troy jump off the sheet, but I do like the fact that they rebounded from a loss to Troy and looked sharp in a 64-49 win over Sunny Hills. Those in the North OC have been raving about sophomore Grayson Sinek. He was outstanding in their win over Sunny Hills on Friday. We can’t wait to get our first look at him on Friday night against Sonora. Great to see the Highlanders back in the mix.
San Gabriel Academy (5-8) – Always one of the great mystery teams in the area. Notorious for always playing a tough schedule, that has been the case this year as they have losses to Lone Peak, St. Paul, Anaheim Canyon, and Eastvale Roosevelt. We’ll get a good feel for this team on Jan, 14th as they take on Maranatha in a showcase event. They should be just fine in the league, which starts on Tuesday. They have the talent, but if can they make a legitimate playoff run, time will tell.