Inland Area Prep Basketball Top 10
1. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (5-0) — The Eagles had a tremendous week, defeating Inland Area No. 2 Centennial and No. 6 Summit in consecutive games. Senior forward Troy Fiawoo (6-foot-4, 185 pounds) scored a team-leading 20 points as Etiwanda withstood a fourth-quarter comeback attempt from Centennial to win the Pasadena HS Rose City Classic last Saturday. The Eagles begin play in the Inland Empire Classic on Monday.
LAST WEEK: (No. 1); d. Pasadena, 71-56, on 12/3; d. No. 2 Corona Centennial, 68-64, on 12/4; d. No. 6 Fontana Summit, 66-33, on 12/9.
THIS WEEK: vs. Vista Murrieta MONDAY; vs. Perris TUESDAY; vs. Fontana Miller THURSDAY.
2. Corona Centennial (4-1) — Despite outscoring No. 1 Etiwanda, 21-13, in the fourth quarter, the Huskies lost by four points in the championship game of the Rose City Classic last Saturday. It was a big test to fail for Centennial, which has now lost consecutive games to Etiwanda. There’s no doubt this result cements (for now) the pecking order in the Inland Area.
LAST WEEK: (No. 2); d. No. 6 Fontana Summit, 73-56, on 12/3; lost to No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 68-64, on 12/4; d. Pasadena Blair, 87-23, on 12/7.
THIS WEEK: vs. Compton TONIGHT; vs. Riverside King THURSDAY.
3. Murrieta Valley (5-0) — The Nighthawks downed Canyon Springs to win the Big Daddy Tournament title game last Saturday. Senior forward Justin Gudger (6-4, 210) looked downright unstoppable in the victory, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds for Murrieta Valley, which has begun its term as a CIF-Southern Section Division 1-AA team with a five consecutive victories.
LAST WEEK: d. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos, 68-57, on 12/3; d. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 59-41, on 12/4; d. La Quinta, 68-42, on 12/6; d. Yucaipa, 67-29, on 12/8.
THIS WEEK: vs. Perris Citrus Hill TONIGHT.
4. Upland (3-1) — The Highlanders lost to Orange County powerhouse Mission Viejo in the championship game of the Mission Viejo HS Diablo Inferno tournament last Saturday. Senior forward John Gilliam (6-4, 185) scored a team-high 15 points in the loss of the season for coach John McNally, which begins plays in the Inland Empire Classic on Monday.
LAST WEEK: (No. 3); lost to Mission Viejo, 59-54, on 12/4; defeated Jurupa Valley, 77-42, on 12/7.
THIS WEEK: vs. Pomona MONDAY; vs. Los Angeles Belmont TUESDAY; vs. No. 1o Redlands East Valley THURSDAY.
5. Rialto Eisenhower (2-1) — The Eagles are playing a brutal non-league schedule thus far, and will ultimately benefit from the experience. This team is going through the meat grinder — early. For instance, a game at “The Tournament” at Santa Monica HS against six-time CIF champion Compton, which Eisenhower lost by 22 points. That game cannot be replicated in the Inland Area. It’s just a fact.
LAST WEEK: (No. 5); d. Pacific Palisades, 91-88, on 12/7; lost to Compton, 83-61, on 12/9.
THIS WEEK: at “The Tournament” at Santa Monica HS.
6. Fontana Summit (2-2) — The SkyHawks fell short in their two attempts at earning an early season signature victory, losing to both No. 2 Centennial and No. 1 Etiwanda by 28 combined points. What lessons will coach Steve Hickey take from losses to the Inland Area’s best? We’ll see, starting Monday when Summit plays Claremont in the first round of the Inland Empire Classic.
LAST WEEK: (No. 6); lost to No. 2 Corona Centennial, 73-56, on 12/3; lost to No. 1 Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 66-55, on 12/9.
THIS WEEK: vs. Claremont MONDAY; vs. Pomona Garey TUESDAY; vs. Rancho Cucamonga THURSDAY.
7. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (5-1) — The Mustangs only blemish thus far is an 18-point loss to No. 3 Murrieta Valley in the championship game of the Big Daddy Tournament last Saturday. Coach Travis Showalter has this team off to an exceptional start.
LAST WEEK: (No. 7); d. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 59-50, on 12/3; lost to No. 3 Murrieta Valley, 59-41, on 12/4; d. Rubidoux, 69-32, on 12/6; d. Redlands, 61-49, on 12/9.
THIS WEEK: vs. Riverside Ramona TONIGHT; vs. Riverside Ramona WEDNESDAY; vs. Moreno Valley Vista del Lago FRIDAY.
8. Ontario Colony (2-2) — The Titans played well at the ultra-competitive Diablo Inferno Tournament at Mission Viejo HS, but lost to Orange County powerhouse Mission Viejo in a semifinal before losing to Corona del Mar in a consolation game. Both losses were by a combined total of just seven points. Colony begins play in the Inland Empire Classic Tuesday.
LAST WEEK: (No. 8); lost to Mission Viejo, 60-56, on 12/3; lost to Corona del Mar, 76-73, on 12/4.
THIS WEEK: vs. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos TUESDAY; vs. Chino Hills THURSDAY.
9. Victor Valley (6-0) — The Jackrabbits jump into the Inland Area Top 10 on the hells on a victory in the Serrano HS Diamonback Shootout in the championship game over Redlands East Valley last Saturday. Senior forward Isaiah Kepley (6-2, 175) scored a game-high 23 points in the victory.
LAST WEEK: d. Rancho Cucamonga, 65-49, on 12/3; d. Redlands East Valley, 78-67, on 12/4; d. Hanford West, 74-51, on 12/8; d. Hanford, 72-58, on 12/9.
THIS WEEK: Next Game on 12/10.
10. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos (4-1) — The Grizzlies played a close game but lost to No. 3 Murrieta Valley at the Big Daddy Tournament last Friday. They came back to win the consolation championship, defeating Canyon Springs and usurping the Cougars in the Inland Area Top 10.
LAST WEEK: (Not Ranked); lost to No. 3 Murrieta Valley, 68-57, on 12/3; d. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 86-71, on 12/4; d. Fontana Miller, 77-45, on 12/7.
THIS WEEK: vs. Chino Hills MONDAY; vs. No. 8 Ontario Colony TUESDAY; vs. Lake Elsinore Lakeside THURSDAY.
DROPPED OUT: No. 9 Moreno Valley Canyon Springs (1-3); No. 10 Redlands East Valley (3-1)
JUST MISSED: Temecula Chaparral (4-1); Moreno Valley (3-1); Claremont (4-1).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 