The discussion already is in full swing. Â Who’s No. 1?
The U-T San Diego preseason basketball poll has La Costa Canyon No. 1 and St. Augustine No. 2.
North County bias by a majority of the voters aside, Â I’ll take the Saints. Â Call me South-of-Highway-56-biased, at least for this vote.
Saints Coach Mike Haupt, 330-173 in 18 seasons, guides the state’s defending Division III champions, 29-4 in 2012-13 and returning, among others, four-star San Diego State commit Trey Kell.
La Costa Canyon, 28-6 last season, was eliminated by Westlake, 66-64, in the Southern California playoff quarterfinals in D-II.
The Mavericks opened with a 56-46 victory over Poway earlier this week. Â St. Augustine has beaten Serra, 70-47, and Santa Fe Christian, 80-38.
A top 10 Â adjustment should already be in the works. El Camino, No. 4, was edged by No. 6 Foothills Christian, 74-71, and unranked Poway topped Foothills, 72-70.
In other action:
No. 9 Mater Dei has been the busiest with wins over Chula Vista, 78-55; Rancho Buena Vista, 83-43; Castle Park, 66-33; Patrick Henry, 63-40, and Grossmont, 55-49.
No. 8 San Marcos eased up in the second half but still rolled over Castle Park, 102-18. Cathedral, No. 10, defeated Patrick Henry, 69-48.
Hoover, No. 3, topped Vista, also No. 10, 61-55.
| # | Team (1st place votes) | W-L* | Points** | Previous* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Costa Canyon (6) | 28-6 | 111 | 6 |
| 2 | St. Augustine (4) | 29-4 | 94 | 1 |
| 3 | Hoover | 31-6 | 88 | 3 |
| 4 | El Camino (2) | 26-7 | 87 | 7 |
| 5 | Torrey Pines | 20-10 | 67 | NR |
| 6 | Foothills Christian | 20-15 | 50 | NR |
| 7 | Francis Parker | 16-12 | 46 | NR |
| 8 | San Marcos | 27-6 | 43 | NR |
| 9 | Mater Dei Catholic | 26-7 | 32 | 8 |
| 10t | Cathedral Catholic | 29-5 | 38 | 5 |
| 10t | Vista | 15-13 | 38 | NR |
*Last year
**Points awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis
NR Not previously ranked.
Others receiving votes: Westview, 7; Escondido, Mission Bay, 5 each; Lincoln, Helix, 3 each; Eastlake, 2; Serra, Oceanside, Canyon Crest, 1 each.
Twelve sportswriters, sportscasters and CIF representatives from throughout San Diego County vote in the weekly poll:
John Maffei, Craig Malveaux and Don Norcross (U-T San Diego);
Terry Monahan (U-T San Diego stringer);
Bill Dickens (eastcountysports.com);
Steve Brand (San Diego Hall of Champions);
John Kentera and Jack ronin (The Mighty 1090);
John Labeta (CIF San Diego Section office);
Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com);
Jodie DeSilva (sandiegopreps.com);
and Aaron Burgin (fulltimehoops.tumblr.com).
