Undefeated Cerritos Assumes the State’s No. 1 Ranking

Cerritos, one of the three unbeaten teams in the state, has moved into the top spot in this week’s CCCMBCA Top 30 Poll.

The Falcons, winners of seven straight and holder a state-leading .689 score in the NCRPI, just edged Fullerton, previously No. 1, and San Francisco City, the defending state champions. And, when we say edged, we mean edged as the Falcons received one point more than Fullerton and three more than the Rams.

Not sure how long the Falcons will enjoy their perch on the poll as Cerritos’s next four games feature contests against No. 8 Riverside (Wednesday on the road), No. 12 East Los Angeles (at Riverside on Wednesday), and No. 13 Saddleback (Saturday at Riverside) and then on December 16 at No. 11 Sequoias in the Wyndham Classic in Visalia.

No. 2 Fullerton closed out November with a 14-point loss on the road to San Bernardino Valley. Meanwhile, San Francisco City’s lone loss to a California program was to Fullerton in overtime at the Giant Classic at Sequoias. Fullerton’s final three nonconference games feature No. 5 San Diego City (Thursday), unranked, but dangerous, West Los Angeles on Friday and No. 29 Chaffey on Saturday in the 36th annual Fullerton Classic.

Meanwhile, San Francisco City, who is coming off a 97-89 loss to North Idaho in overtime, has one ranked opponent left on its 2022 schedule in No. 4 West Valley on Saturday, December 10. West Valley, which is undefeated, on the other hand will play its first ranked opponent on Wednesday when the Vikings visit No. 17 Las Positas before squaring off against San Francisco City.

After securing the Grossmont Tournament title, San Diego City, which beat previous unbeaten Yuba in the finals, moves to No. 5. The Knights will be tested this week as they travel to Fullerton to mee the Hornets, No. 21 Los Angeles Southwest and No. 10 Citrus.

Yuba settled at No. 6, but the 49’ers’ ranking figures to be tested as they travel to No. 20 San Jose City on Thursday. San Bernardino Valley behind its homecourt upset of Fullerton, climbed 22 spots to No. 7. This week, the Wolverines will play in the Santa Barbara Classic, an event that will feature just one other ranked opponent in No. 24 Long Beach City. Riverside, which fell to San Bernardino Valley, snaping its season-opening six-game win streak, comes in at No. 8. The Tigers will host a three-day event that will feature No. 1 Cerritos, No. 12 East Los Angeles, No. 18 Ventura, which is coming off the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament at Antelope Valley, No. 13 Saddleback, and 7-1, but unranked Mt. San Jacinto.

Winners of eight straight, Columbia secured the No. 9 spot. The Claim Jumpers have yet to play a ranked opponent, and probably won’t until Columbia visits current No. 25 Contra Costa on December 30. Citrus, with losses to No. 1 Cerritos and No. 8 Riverside, lands at No. 10. The Owls will need to hoot this week to remain in the top 10. Citrus takes on No. 21 Los Angeles Southwest, No. 29 Chaffey and No. 5 San Diego City at the Fullerton Classic this week.

Next poll with be conducted on December 19.

CCCMBCA Top 30 Poll
1. Cerritos (7-0)
2. Fullerton (8-1)
3. San Francisco (6-2)
4. West Valley (10-0)
5. San Diego City
6. Yuba (6-1)
7. San Bernardino Valley (3-2)
8. Riverside (6-1)
9. Columbia (9-1)
10. Citrus (6-2)
11. Sequoias (6-3)
12. East Los Angeles (3-2)
13. Saddleback (6-2)
14. Los Angeles Harbor (7-1)
15. San Diego Miramar (8-1)
16. Redwoods (9-1)
17. Las Positas (8-2)
18. Ventura (8-2)
19. Ohlone (8-0)
20. San Jose City (7-3)
21. Los Angeles Southwest (5-2)
22. San Mateo (8-2)
23. Santiago Canyon (6-3)
24. Long Beach City (7-3)
25. Contra Costa (4-3)
26. Palomar (8-3)
27. Los Medanos (5-3)
28. West Hills Coalinga (6-3)
29. Chaffey (6-1)
30. (tie) Fresno City (5-1), Orange Coast (7-2), Mt. San Jacinto (6-1)
Note: 10 other teas received votes.