Fullerton, San Francisco City Co-No. 1

Fullerton and San Francisco, the defending state champions, split the top two votes in this week's voting by coaches. This marks the first time that the CCCMBCA poll has had a co-No. 1s this late in the season. Previous unbeaten and No. 1 Cerritos fell to No. 22 after losing four straight road contests just days after the last CCCMBCA poll was released.

The Rams, winners of 11 of 13 games, won the championship at the San Joaquin Delta Tournament last weekend. Meanwhile, Fullerton, the lone California community college team to beat San Francisco, has been perfect since losing to San Bernardino Valley on November 29. The Fullerton Hornets have won four straight, and open Orange Empire Conference play this week.

West Valley moves to No. 3 after a strong showing against San Francisco. After falling behind 38-29 at halftime against San Francisco on December 10, West Valley rallied, eventually falling 73-72. It is the Vikings’ lone loss this season. Columbia, winners of nine straight, jumped from No. 9 to No. 4 this week. East Los Angeles was another big mover as the Huskies jumped 10 spots to No. 5. East Los Angeles has won five straight with three of coming against Ventura, Cerritos and Riverside.

San Bernardino Valley, winners of seven straight since losing to Saddleback and East Los Angeles on consecutive nights, lands at No. 6. Citrus, which has been perfect since the last poll, climbs to No. 7, just a point ahead of Yuba. The Owls have won seven straight contests and had an impressive win over previous No. 5 San Diego City by 17 points.

Winning the Kris Kringle Tournament at Santa Rosa did little to keep Yuba. The 49’ers are No. 8, down two slots as losses to San Diego City and San Jose City weighed on their polling numbers. Sequoias, which has run off four straight wins since losing three of four, edgied out San Diego Miramar for the No. 9 spot. San Diego Miramar, however, does unseat fellow Pacific Coast Conference member San Diego City for a top 10 spot. San Diego Miramar put its disappointing loss to Orange Coast in the rearview mirror with a six-game winning streak that included an 82-62 victory over Orange Coast.

Forty-seven games are scheduled over the next four days. Three more conferences — Orange Empire, Bay Valley and Big Eight — open conference play. There are several key contests to watch prior to the four-day dead period for the holiday, such as Gavilan at Columbia tonight; then there is Tuesday’s slate of East Los Angeles at West Valley; Saddleback at Santiago Canyon; LA Harbor at Citrus; Sacramento City at Diablo Valley; followed by Cerritos vs. San Diego Miramar from MiraCosta College on Wednesday; then Santiago Canyon at Riverside; and Cerritos at MiraCosta on Thursday. 

The remainder of the Top 30 is below. Next poll willl be held on January 3, the same day the first Winning Percentage Index report will be released. Records are through Sunday (December 18) play.

CCCMBCA Top 30

1.(tie) Fullerton (11-1)/San Francisco (11-2) 
3. West Valley (13-1)
4. Columbia (11-1)
5. East Los Angeles (8-2)
6. San Bernardino Valley (8-2)
7. Citrus (10-2) 
8. Yuba (10-2)
9. Sequoias (9-3)
10. San Diego Miramar (11-1)
11. San Diego City (10-3)
12. Redwoods (16-2) 
13. LA Harbor (10-1)
14. San Jose (12-3)
15. Ventura (11-4)
16. Los Medanos (8-4)
17. Mt. San Jacinto (10-2)
18. Fresno (9-1)
19. Riverside (7-4) 
20. Saddleback (8-4)
21. Las Positas (9-4)
22. Cerritos (8-4) 
23. Gavilan (10-3) 
24. Santiago Canyon (7-4)
25. Long Beach City (10-5)
26. Mt. San Antonio (6-6) 
27. Contra Costa (5-5)
28. Chaffey (9-3)
29. San Mateo (9-4)
30. (tie) Palomar (9-5); Diablo Valley (7-5), MiraCosta (7-4)­­