There was no movement this week as four of the teams in the Top 10 were off during the first week of 2013. They’ll all be in action this week. It's a week full of marquee matchups among the top 10, beginning with No. 8 Loyola taking on No. 7 Chaminade in West Hills on Monday and No. 3 Mater Dei traveling to No. 4 St. John Bosco on Wednesday.
No. 1 Bishop Montgomery (16-0) – After blowing past Palos Verdes and Narbonne in non-league games, the Knights finished the week receiving a scare in a heated affair with Redondo and first year head coach Reggie Morris Jr., squeaking by, 60-58. There were three technical fouls in the game, two assessed to the Knights. Up next is Del Rey League action. The opener is at Bishop Amat on Wednesday. On Friday, will be Serra, who just welcomed Price transfer Chris Sandifer. He scored a game-high 26 points in his season debut with the Cavs in their win over Inglewood at the Real Run Winter Classic on Saturday.
No. 2 Long Beach Poly (12-1, 1-0 Moore League) – The Jackrabbits opened the new year with some much needed rest after their Whataburger Basketball Tournament championship a couple of weeks ago. Poly returns to action this week in Moore League play against Long Beach Jordan.
No. 3 Mater Dei (16-0, 2-0 Trinity League) – JSerra pushed Mater Dei in the Trinity League opener last week. The Monarchs trailed at the half for the first time this season and needed 16 second-half points from Stanley Johnson to get past the Lions for the six-point win. After 15 games, Mater Dei finally played its first of five home games during the regular season, taking care of Santa Margarita, 65-47. The homestand is short lived as the Monarchs begin a three-game road trip with games this week at No. 4 St. John Bosco on Wednesday and at Orange Lutheran on Friday in Trinity League play.
No. 4 St. John Bosco (10-1, 2-0 Trinity League) – Mater Dei. That pretty much wraps of the week for St. John Bosco. They believe this is their year to get over the hump and be able to win a league title. If that’s the case under second-year head coach Derrick Taylor, Wednesday’s home game against the Monarchs is a game they have to win. Period. Under Gary McKnight, the Monarchs have won 24 straight league titles.
No. 5 Etiwanda (9-2) – Jordan McLaughlin (ankle) retuned to the lineup against Riverside King last week, contributing 11 points. The Eagles were led by Kenny Barnes’ 19 points in the win. They’ve now won seven in a row, despite not having McLaughlin for four of those games. Baseline League play gets started this week at Upland on Tuesday and at Los Osos on Friday.
No. 6 Corona Centennial (15-1) – The Huskies had a week off following their Oaks Christian Holiday Hardwood Invitational championship to end 2012. Tuesday is the Big VIII League opener at Corona. Sam Finley, Deontae North, and Sedrick Barefield are all averaging double figures for the Huskies led by Finley’s 21.1 points per game.
No. 7 Chaminade (12-2) – Chaminade easily took care of Burbank Providence, 88-67, at the Showdown at College of the Canyons despite 39 points from Providence sophomore Marcus LoVett. Freshman Trevor Stanback nearly had a triple-double with a career-high 24 points, 16 rebounds, and eight blocks for the Eagles. Jack Williams chipped in 26 points and 15 rebounds. Short-handed No. 8 Loyola awaits in the Mission League opener for the Eagles.
No. 8 Loyola (11-2, 1-0 Mission League) – Talented point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright has been shut down indefinitely as he attempts to recover from foot and ankle injuries. Head coach Jamal Adams told the LA Times, “We want him to get completely healthy before competing again.” The news comes just as the Cubs are opening Mission League play. Without Jackson-Cartwright, Loyola got past Notre Dame, 75-46, in the Mission League opener last Friday. Senior guard Trey Mason scored 18 points in the win for the Cubs. Up next is a game at No. 7 Chaminade.
No. 9 Mission Viejo (15-1) – The Diablos have had a long time to think about their first loss of the season, a 12-point defeat to La Costa Canyon. They’ll return home for the league opener against Aliso Niguel on Wednesday and travel to El Toro on Friday.
No. 10 Pacific Hills (10-2, 1-0 Alpha League) – The Bruins were off as well following their win at the VisitMesa.com Basketball Challenge in Arizona. They’ll open Alpha League play against Sierra Canyon and their talented freshmen guards, Derryck Thornton and Devearl Ramsey.
Dropped Out: None
