What does it say when the highest ranked San Diego Section basketball teams are Max Preps‘ state ranked 29th and Cal-Hi Sports’ 22nd? And that No. 30 is Francis Parker, which has lost nine games but leads The San Diego Union-Tribune poll with 11 of 18 first-place votes?
Basketball here is down this season, compared to the rest of California.
Torrey Pines and St. Augustine, coached by legendary war horses Mike Haupt and John Olive, have teams with a combined record of 27 wins and 23 losses and are out of the Section top 10 poll this week.
No. 1 Parker, No. 2 Victory Christian, and No. 3 Santa Fe Christian are small, private schools with alleged advantages in resources. Cathedral is sixth and Christian 10th. No. 4 Mission Bay is the highest ranked public school.
There’s an axiom I heard many years ago: “Good coaching can’t win with bad players; bad coaching will lose with good players.” I prefer to think there are more good coaches than not but the overall team talent level here is diminished this season.
The “Maffei Madness” top 10 poll, conducted by the very sane John Maffei of the Union-Tribune:
First-place votes in parenthesis. Previous ranking in bold italics, if changed.
Cal-Hi Sports rankings are by Mark Tennis, the newsletter’s publisher, with contribution from statewide correspondents.
Max Preps essentially relies on individual school representatives.
| TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS | MAXPREPS.COM | CAL-HI SPORTS |
| 1. Francis Parker | 17-9 (11) | 172 | 3 | 59 (63) | 29 (30) |
| 2. Victory Christian | 22-4 (6) | 159 | 2 | 26 (27) | NR (Not Ranked) |
| 3. Santa Fe Christian | 23-3 (1) | 154 | 1 | 22 (21) | 30 (29) |
| 4. Mission Bay | 18-8 | 118 | 5 | 67 (80) | NR (NR) |
| 5. San Marcos | 20-6 | 113 | 4 | 54 (46) | NR (NR) |
| 6. Cathedral | 17-9 | 83 | 6 | 103 (108) | NR (NR) |
| 7. La Costa Canyon | 20-6 | 59 | 9 | 68 (71) | NR (NR) |
| 8. Mira Mesa | 19-7 | 46 | 7 | 80 (67) | NR (NR) |
| 9. Olympian | 20-6 | 44 | 8 | 88 (81) | NR (NR) |
| 10. Christian | 17-8 | 17 | Not Ranked | 145 (164) | NR (NR) |
Others receiving votes: Torrey Pines (14-12, 15 points), St. Augustine (13-11, 2 points), Calexico (19-4, 2), Patrick Henry (18-8, 2), Ramona (18-8, 2), Del Lago (20-5, 1).
VOTING PANEL (18)
John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune).
Aaron Burgin (Full-Time Hoops),
Steve Brand, Bodie DeSilva (Union-Tribune freelance contributors).
Todd Cassen, Ron Marquez (San Diego Section honchos).
Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).
Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference).
Joe Evangelist, Rex Johnson (San Diego Section Advisory Committee).
Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan).
Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, John (Coach) Kentera, Adam Paul, Tom Ronco, Eric Williams (freelance contributors).
Hello Rick & other readers, It is the “same-old-same o’ “. Before the San Diego Section was created, there was disdain of the teams and SCCIF officials directed at San Diego County by the Southern Section of the CIF. We, the SD Section, were always mistreated by play off travelling and seeding schedules as far as the 1920s and 1930s! I can list many examples, but will not waste your time. As far as the current basketball listings, what do “you” expect? Not objectivity. Metaphorically, we are the “red headed step-child”! (I can say that as my beard used to be red and I had red hair mixed with other hues!) Happy Valentines Day to All SD coaches and athletes.
Carroll McNab, 1962-1965, Caveman.
You’re so right, Carroll. Complaints about travel to and from the “Border Town” were heard by San Diego High’s Coast League brethren a hundred years ago. Things were alleviated somewhat with creation of the City Prep League in 1950. Many coaches, however, liked playing Northern schools in the playoffs, travel or not. San Diego High’s Duane Maley was an outspoken critic when steps were taken to form the San Diego Section in the 1960-61 school year.