The Bee recently published its updated rankings for high school basketball teams, revealing significant changes in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. St. Joseph remains at the forefront of the boys’ rankings with an impressive 10-0 record, culminating in a remarkable 74-60 victory over Lincoln Park-Pa. Meanwhile, Clovis West, previously holding the No. 2 spot, experienced three consecutive losses to out-of-state teams at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas. The Golden Eagles are now preparing for the Mesa Basketball Challenge in Mesa, Ariz. Clovis North claimed the third spot after emerging victorious in the Mission Prep Christmas Classic with a 67-49 win over Woodinville-Wash. Sitting in fifth place, Buchanan, under the leadership of Tom Orlich, has made a strong start with an 11-2 record, a significant improvement from their 8-17 standing last season. The team is set to participate in the upcoming 43rd Clovis Elks Classic.
On the girls’ side, Clovis West maintained its position as the top team in the Central Section. The Golden Eagles recently journeyed to Hawaii for the Nike Iolani Classic, where they achieved a 2-1 record. They are now preparing to compete in the Nike POA Holiday Classic in Portland, Ore. Buchanan and Monache both had impressive performances in recent tournaments, with Buchanan finishing 2-1 in the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis Tournament and Monache maintaining an undefeated 3-0 record.
Below are the updated top 25 rankings for boys and girls:
Boys
1. St. Joseph (10-0)
2. Clovis West (10-3)
3. Clovis North (8-3)
4. Clovis East (9-3)
5. Buchanan (11-2)
6. San Joaquin Memorial (8-3)
7. Bullard (8-5)
8. Dinuba (11-2)
9. Centennial (7-3)
10. Frontier (8-1)
11. Arroyo Grande (10-5)
12. Templeton (10-3)
13. Sanger (7-4)
14. Liberty-Bakersfield (5-4)
15. Ridgeview (7-5)
16. Lemoore (8-5)
17. Selma (6-3)
18. Highland (12-1)
19. Fresno Christian (8-2)
20. Templeton (9-2)
21. Kerman (9-3)
22. McFarland (10-2)
23. Corcoran (9-2)
24. Sunnyside (9-3)
25. Edison (6-5)
Girls
1. Clovis West (12-2)
2. St. Joseph (9-2)
3. Clovis (6-5)
4. Monache (11-1)
5. Buchanan (11-4)
6. Bullard (11-5)
7. Central (10-3)
8. Arroyo Grande (9-2)
9. Cabrillo (10-1)
10. Clovis East (11-4)
11. Centennial (8-3)
12. Tehachapi (10-2)
13. Frontier (11-2)
14. Tulare Western (8-3)
15. North (8-2)
17. Mission Oak (8-3)
18. El Diamante (7-4)
19. Liberty-Bakersfield (6-6)
20. Bakersfield Christian (6-5)
21. Morro Bay (9-3)
22. Exeter (13-4)
23. Edison (10-6)
24. Coalinga (12-3)
25. Santa Maria (10-3)
It is evident that the competition in high school basketball is intensifying, with teams competing for supremacy and striving to solidify their positions in the rankings. The upcoming games and tournaments are certain to bring even more excitement and action as these talented young athletes continue to showcase their skills on the court.