Top-ranked Archbishop Mitty has not missed a beat after graduating UConn guard Morgan Cheli, with junior McKenna Woliczko showing off an improved shooting stroke and key transfers instantly contributing during the team’s 4-0 start.
No. 5 San Ramon Valley, which graduated the majority of its starters and key reserves, has also come out strong in a start that includes a victory over Archbishop Riordan. The Wolves moved up two spots in this week’s Bay Area News Group rankings.
West Catholic Athletic League programs St. Francis and Sacred Heart Cathedral have yet to lose a game, and Piedmont has come out of the gate with a 3-0 record.
Northgate has been a pleasant surprise, entering the rankings after beginning the season 6-1.
With that said, on to the rankings:
Bay Area News Group Top 20
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (4-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: Beat Valley Vista 76-33, Francis Parker 77-40, McClatchy 70-51, La Jolla Country Day 65-40
Next game: Dec. 18 vs. TBA
No. 2 CARONDELET (4-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: Beat Colfax 57-36, Christian Brothers 62-54, lost to Union-Oklahoma 61-54, beat O’Connor-Phoenix 60-39, Windermere-Florida 73-56
Next game: Tuesday vs. Dougherty Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 3 PINEWOOD (1-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: Beat Los Gatos 72-45
Next game: Thursday vs. Mililani-Hawaii, 5 p.m.
No. 4 SALESIAN (2-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: Beat San Marin 61-32, lost to Clovis West 67-32, beat Bullard 73-68
Next game: Tuesday at Redwood, 7 p.m.
No. 5 SAN RAMON VALLEY (4-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: Beat Archbishop Riordan 66-42, Freedom 81-41, Northgate 75-30, Miramonte 53-36
Next game: Friday vs. clovis, 7:30 p.m.
No. 6 ACALANES (3-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Last week: Beat University-SF 70-42, Redwood 57-28, St. Ignatius 56-53
Next game: Tuesday vs. Christian Brothers, 7 p.m.
No. 7 OAKLAND TECH (3-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Last week: Beat Pleasant Valley 53-36, lost to Vanden 54-51, lost to De La Salle-Minneapolis 72-52, beat North Community-Minneapolis 60-41, California 56-51
Next game: Saturday vs. Clovis, 7 p.m.
No. 8 BISHOP O’DOWD (1-1)
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: Beat San Domenico 73-33, lost to St. Mary’s-Stockton 43-37
Next game: Saturday vs. Centennial-Las Vegas, 4 p.m.
No. 9 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (4-0)
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: Beat Oakland 73-43, Colorado Academy 58-31, Mullen-Denver 41-40, St. Michael’s-New Mexico 60-26
Next game: Tuesday at Lick Wilmerding, 5:30 p.m.
No. 10 ST. IGNATIUS (2-1)
Previous ranking: 11
Last week: Beat Colfax 60-47, Marin Catholic 69-53, lost to Acalanes 56-53
Next game: Saturday at Los Gatos, 6:30 p.m.
No. 11 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (2-2)
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: Lost to San Ramon Valley 66-42, Redwood 54-51, beat University-SF 78-29, Colfax 63-57.
Next game: Saturday vs. Heritage, 7:30 p.m.
No. 12 ST. FRANCIS (4-0)
Previous ranking: 15
Last week: Beat The King’s Academy 72-36, Fremont-Sunnyvale 63-23, California 54-48, St. Mary’s-Berkeley 78-43
Next game: Tuesday vs. Aragon, 7 p.m.
No. 13 LOS GATOS (1-1)
Previous ranking: 12
Last week: Beat Branham 66-22, lost to Pinewood 72-45
Next game: Saturday vs. St. Ignatius, 6:30 p.m.
No. 14 PIEDMONT (3-0)
Previous ranking: 14
Last week: Beat Arcata 56-41, Fernley 46-34, Spanish Springs-Nevada 57-43
Next game: Thursday at Damonte Ranch, 8:30 p.m.
No. 15 CALIFORNIA (3-2)
Previous ranking: 13
Last week: Beat Pinole Valley 62-50, Fremont-Sunnyvale 54-39, The King’s Academy 69-21, lost to St. Francis 54-48, Oakland Tech 56-51
Next game: Tuesday vs. Lincoln-Stockton, 7 p.m.
No. 16 NORTHGATE (6-1)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Last week: Beat Vintage 59-33, Cornerstone Christian 42-34, Antioch 57-43, San Marin 51-49, lost to San Ramon Valley 75-30, beat Arcata 50-49, Hayward 63-17
Next game: Thursday at Vacaville, 7 p.m.
No. 17 HERITAGE (2-2)
Previous ranking: 17
Last week: Beat Oakland 68-42, lost to Arcata 45-40, beat Foothill 50-34, lost to San Marin 32-20
Next game: Thursday vs. St. Mary’s-Berkeley, 5 p.m.
No. 18 PRIORY (3-1)
Previous ranking: 18
Last week: Lost to Clovis 59-40, beat Lowell-SF 70-33, Lick Wilmerding 69-34, Mills 45-27
Next game: Thursday vs. Clovis North, 5 p.m.
No. 19 CASTILLEJA (5-0)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Last week: Beat Burlingame 37-31, Monte Vista Christian 52-24, Lynbrook 39-31, Branham 37-33, American 42-37
Next game: Wednesday vs. Design Tech, 5:30 p.m
No. 20 MILLS (3-1)
Previous ranking: 20
Last week: Beat Santa Cruz 54-29, Cristo Rey-San Jose 51-22, Sacred Heart Prep 35-33, lost to Priory 45-27
Next game: Tuesday vs. Summit Shasta, 7 p.m.
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school staff chooses the teams.
