Inland Area Prep Basketball Top 10
1. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (2-0) — The Eagles were the top team in the Inland Area last season. With the return of leading-scorer Byron Wesley (18.8 ppg last season) and four other seniors, there’s no reason the expect anything less from coach Dave Kleckner’s team this season.
LAST SEASON: 9-1, 1st in Baseline League; 24-10 overall, lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei, 68-65, in CIF-Southern Section Division 1-AA championship game; lost to Long Beach Poly, 67-64, in the 2nd Round of the CIF-State Tournament.
LAST WEEK: d. Valley Torah, 68-23, on 11/30; d. L.A. Birmingham, 77-48, on 12/2.
THIS WEEK: vs. Pasadena TONIGHT; vs. No. 6 Fontana Summit THURSDAY.
2. Corona Centennial (2-0) — The Huskies’ dominating threesome of Galeun Wheelwright, Dominic Dunning and Michael Caffey have championship aspirations. They’re well-founded, Centennial fell two games short, losing to Etiwanda in the CIF-SS playoffs. Can coach Josh Giles get this team over the hump?
LAST SEASON: 13-1, 1st in Big VIII League; 25-5 overall, lost to Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 67-64, in CIF-SS D1-AA quarterfinal.
LAST WEEK: d. L.A. Marshall, 87-36, on 11/29; d. Reseda Cleveland, 73-65, on 12/1.
THIS WEEK: vs. No. 6 Fontana Summit TONIGHT; vs. Pasadena Blair TUESDAY.
3. Upland (3-0) — Senior guard John Gilliam (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) sets the pace for the high-octane Highlanders. He led coach John McNally’s team with 17.5 points per game as in 2009-’10.
LAST SEASON: 7-3, 2nd in Baseline League; 21-9 overall, lost to Moreno Valley Rancho Verde, 79-74, in CIF-SS D1-AA quarterfinal.
LAST WEEK: d. San Juan Capistrano Hills, 76-70, on 11/30; d. Irvine Woodbridge, 76-60, on 12/1; d. Newport Beach Corona del Mar, 79-63.
THIS WEEK: vs. Mission Viejo TONIGHT; vs. Jurupa Valley THURSDAY.
4. Murrieta Valley (2-0) — The Nighthawks are tough and aggressive and molded into the image of coach Steve Tarabilda, who led Murrieta Valley to its first ever CIF boys basketball championship in ’09-’10. Key among returning players is senior guard Justin Gudger (17 ppg), the team’s emotional leader and the scrappiest player in the Inland Area.
LAST SEASON: 7-3, 2nd in Southwestern League; 28-5 overall, d. Compton, 50-44, in CIF-SS D2-AA championship game; lost to Pasadena, 49-43, in the 2nd Round of the CIF-State Tournament.
LAST WEEK: d. Riverside Poly, 63-41, on 11/30; d. Woodcrest Christian, 82-33, on 12/1.
THIS WEEK: vs. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos TONIGHT; vs. La Quinta MONDAY; vs. Yucaipa WEDNESDAY.
5. Rialto Eisenhower (1-0) — That the Eagles are ranked so low is a testament to the growing strength of boys basketball in the Inland Area. Coach Steve Johnson has built a powerhouse in his time, and this season Keyon Sayles and Bernard Ireland will be the ones to play key roles in defending a CIF title.
LAST SEASON: 12-0, 1st in Citrus Belt League; 29-6 overall; d. Pasadena, 52-43, in CIF-SS D2-A championship game; lost to Compton, 64-61, in 2nd Round of CIF-State Tournament.
LAST WEEK: d. San Juan Capistrano JSerra, 72-35, on 12/1.
THIS WEEK: vs. Pacific Palisades TUESDAY.
6. Fontana Summit (2-0) — The SkyHawks face perhaps their toughest tests of the regular season over the next seven days. Coach Steve Hickey’s team plays Inland Area No. 2 Centennial tonight, and No. 1 Etiwanda on 12/9. A victory in either game could catapult Summit to even greater heights.
LAST SEASON: 10-0, 1st in Sunkist League; 29-4 overall, lost to Murrieta Valley, 71-67, in CIF-SS D2-AA semifinal; lost to San Diego Lincoln, 72-67, in 2nd Round of CIF-State Tournament.
LAST WEEK: d. San Bernardino Arroyo Valley, 87-41, on 11/29; d. L.A. Price, 77-69, on 12/1.
THIS WEEK: vs. No. 2 Corona Centennial TONIGHT; at No. 1 Etiwanda THURSDAY.
7. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (1-0) — The Mustangs, led by coach Travis Showalter, are deep, talented and experienced. Showalter is sure to lean on his pair of 6-foot-5 forwards Aaron Cheatum and Fred Collins for points, rebounding and leadership.
LAST SEASON: 8-0, 1st in Inland Valley League; 27-5 overall, lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei, 94-58, in CIF-SS D1-AA semifinal; lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei, 80-48, in the 2nd Round of the CIF-State Tournament.
LAST WEEK: d. Hemet West Valley, 62-30, on 12/2.
THIS WEEK: at Notre Dame HS Big Daddy Tournament TONIGHT and SATURDAY; vs. Rubidoux WEDNESDAY.
8. Ontario Colony (2-1) — After ending such a successful ’09-’10 with back-to-back losses, coach Jerry De Fabiis jumped right back on the horse this season. The Titans began the season in the ultra-competitive Diablo Inferno Tournament at Mission Viejo HS, winning their first two before losing narrowly to the tourney hosts.
LAST SEASON: 10-0, 1st in Mt. Baldy League; 24-8 overall; lost to Santa Monica, 70-53, in CIF-SS D1-A semifinal; lost to L.A. Westchester in the 1st Round of CIF-State Tournament.
LAST WEEK: d. Irvine Beckman, 61-59, on 11/29; d. Dana Hills, 57-56, on 12/1; lost to Mission Viejo, 60-56, on 12/2.
THIS WEEK: Next Game on 12/14.
9. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs (2-0) — Coach Jeff Stovall’s job just got a little easier if the Cougars can continue to have five players score in double-figures, as they did Thursday in a victory over Big VIII League stalwart Corona.
LAST SEASON: 9-4, 3rd in Inland Valley League; 15-13 overall; lost to Fontana Summit in CIF-SS D-2AA 2nd Round game.
LAST WEEK: d. Corona, 70-63, on 12/2.
THIS WEEK: at Beaumont on THURSDAY.
10. Redlands East Valley (2-0) — The Wildcats make it as the last entry in the Inland Area Top 10 based mostly out of curiosity about 6-foot-9 senior center Paulin Mpawa. The Area’s best big man averaged 9.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game last season.
LAST SEASON: 9-5, 4th in Citrus Belt League; 17-11 overall, lost to Dana Hills in a CIF-SS D1-A 1st Round game.
LAST WEEK: d. Quartz Hill, 96-79, on 11/30; d. Apple Valley Granite Hills, 93-54, on 12/1.
THIS WEEK: Next Game on 12/10.
JUST MISSED: Temecula Chaparral (2-0); Moreno Valley (3-0); La Verne Damien (3-0).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 