Subtle Movement in Basketball Rankings; Berkeley Top-Ranked Girls Team
Bishop O'Dowd remains at No. 1 in the boys rankings.
The Patch.com East Bay basketball rankings are composed of teams primarily from cities covered by Patch and include all teams which play in the following leagues: ACCAL, BSAL, DFAL, DVAL, EBAL and HAAL. The rankings are a collaboration between Patch writers and take into account record, strength of schedule and the opinions of local coaches.
BOYS
| Teams | Record | Last Poll | Comment |
| 1. Bishop O'Dowd | 14-3 | 1 | The Dragons collapsed in the second half in a loss to Sacramento on MLK Day, but we're not ready to drop them down yet. |
| 2. Castro Valley | 17-1 | 3 | Castro Valley has a chance to jump O'Dowd as it plays the Dragons on Wednesday at Chabot College. |
| 3. De La Salle | 15-2 | 4 | Looks like clear sailing for the Spartans in the down EBAL. |
| 4. Newark Memorial | 13-5 | 5 | The Cougars go by Logan, but have a bigger test Wednesday against Kennedy-Fremont. |
| 5. St. Joseph ND | 15-5 | 9 | The win over Salesian was huge because it was the first loss the Pride suffered on the court this year — and Jabari Bird was in the line-up. |
| 6. El Cerrito | 14-5 | 6 | The Gauchos are the team to beat in the ACCAL and have a big game with Pinole Valley on Tuesday. |
| 7. Salesian | 2-17 | 2 | Rough week for the Pride. After suffering their first loss of the season — to St. Joseph — star sophomore Jabari Bird was ruled ineligible and the team has to forfeit its first 16 games (all wins). Salesian is still a dangerous team, but we'll wait to see how it responds playing without Bird before ranking it higher. |
| 8. San Ramon Valley | 16-2 | 7 | San Ramon is better than it played in a 57-56 loss to Cal on Friday, but the Wolves have had several other close calls: 39-38 against Foothill, 42-39 against Dougherty Valley. To be considered an elite team, SRV will need to start winning some one-sided games. |
| 9. Berkeley | 14-3 | 8 | Still owns the nice win against #2 Castro Valley, but a 19-point loss to El Cerrito shows Berkeley can be up and down. The 'Jackets play EC again on Feb. 3. |
| 10. Pinole Valley | 14-4 | 10 | The Spartans' win against Las Lomas is keeping them this high. Losses to ranked teams DLS, Berkeley. |
| 11. Las Lomas | 15-3 | 11 | There is a case for LL to fall after its loss to Dougherty Valley, but the Knights still sit atop the DFAL standings and have wins against Cal and Foothill, both of which are playing well. |
| 12. Northgate | 14-5 | 12 | The Broncos' win streak is at nine, but the 66-64 loss keeps them behind Las Lomas (for now). |
| 13. St. Mary's | 13-7 | 15 | St. Mary's isn't what it has been over the past few years, but there is still enough talent there to do some postseason damage. |
| 14. Dougherty Valley | 13-5 | NR | No. 11-15 are all interchangeable. There is solid reasoning for DV to be as high as No. 11, but we'll wait to see how the 'Cats do this week before moving them higher. Good win against LL last week. |
| 15. Campolindo | 13-6 | NR | Campo has won six of eight headed into Monday's game with Las Lomas. |
Also considered: Acalanes, Amador Valley, Arroyo, California, College Park, Dublin, Foothill, Hayward, Miramonte, Monte Vista, Moreau Catholic, San Leandro.
Dropped out: San Leandro, Amador Valley.
GIRLS
| Teams | Record | Last Poll | Comment |
| 1. Berkeley | 15-1 | 2 | Berkeley avenged its only loss by beating #2 Carondelet in a rematch. We'll look forward to seeing these teams play again in the NCS championship and the NorCal Div I championship. |
| 2. Carondelet | 15-3 | 1 | Carondelet is still a contender for a state title. Flip a coin when it plays Berkeley. |
| 3. Dougherty Valley | 16-2 | 3 | Even with Rayven Brooks sidelined for much of Saturday's win against Mitty due to fouls, the Wildcats pulled out an impressive win. |
| 4. St. Mary's | 16-4 | 4 | Almost took down national power St. Mary's-Stockton. The Panthers are the clear NorCal favorite to play for the state title. |
| 5. Bishop O'Dowd | 11-7 | 6 | The Dragons have played a national schedule and their only local losses are to Berkeley and St. Mary's. |
| 6. Campolindo | 15-4 | 8 | Topped previous #5 Miramonte last week before losing to Sacramento power St. Francis. At #3 DV on Friday. |
| 7. Miramonte | 13-3 | 5 | The Mats have a chance to go 4-0 this week before they get another crack at Dougherty. |
| 8. Logan | 12-3 | 7 | Logan has an important test vs. MVAL unbeaten Mission San Jose on Tuesday. |
| 9. St. Joseph ND | 13-2 | 9 | Fell to St. Mary's but beat previously undefeated Salesian since our last poll. |
| 10. Acalanes | 13-5 | 10 | Acalanes isn't ready to hang with the DFAL's Big 3, but put the Dons in nearly any other league and they'd be competing for a league title. |
| 11. Clayton Valley | 18-2 | 13 | A 13-game winning streak has the Eagles flying high. |
| 12. Salesian | 16-1 | 12 | Salesian split its games with #9 St. Joseph (L) and previous #15 Piedmont (W). A game with previously ranked Albany Tuesday will be big for both teams. |
| 13. Moreau Catholic | 11-6 | 14 | Don't let it come as a surprise if Moreau advances to the NorCal playoffs later this year. |
| 14. Monte Vista | 12-5 | NR | Ron Hirschman is one of the section's better coaches and the Mustangs are always in the mix. This year is no different. |
| 15. Albany | 12-5 | 11 | It's been tough of late for the Cougars, but they should be a factor come playoff time. |
Also considered: Arroyo, Alameda, California, Castro Valley, Dublin, Foothill, Hercules, Livermore, Northgate.
Dropped out: Piedmont
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Give us your East Bay Top-15.
Tell us in the comments.
Jim Mannion
10:45 am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
No. 11 Las Lomas responded from its first DFAL loss last week with a big win over No. 15 Campolindo last night. Duffy and Stafford continue to impress.
James Harris
10:57 am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
How is Encinal doing in Basketball
Kyle Bonagura
11:27 am on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
James, The boys team is 6-13 and just snapped a 7-game losing streak in a win against Albany. The girls are 2-13.
Laurie
9:50 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Are MVAL teams included? The blurb above doesn't have MVAL in it but there's clearly teams like Logan and Newark Memorial.
Kyle Bonagura
10:22 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Laurie, we include Newark and Logan in the rankings because we have sites that cover Union City and James Logan. If Patch were to expand to Fremont at some point, we would definitely include the rest of the MVAL. Mission San Jose's girls team would definitely be somewhere in the top-10.
Laurie
7:57 pm on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I see. Thanks, I think expanding to Fremont would be a great idea.