Inland Area Prep Basketball Top 10
1. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (14-0) – The Eagles have won the Baseline League three consecutive seasons, and if not for a loss to No. 4 Upland last season, coach Dave Kleckner’s team would be 30-0 in league since 2008. But they lost, 69-68, at Upland on 2/9/10 to eliminate the possibility of three consecutive undefeated league campaigns. FYI: The loss was one of two to the Highlanders last season.
LAST RANKED: (No. 1). LAST GAME: d. Los Angeles Loyola, 70-61, on 12/30.
THIS WEEK: vs. Rancho Cucamonga TONIGHT; vs. Glendora TUESDAY.
2. Corona Centennial (10-3) — The Huskies dominated Riverside Poly at home, and then went on the road to Riverside North and won by 25 points. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where coach Josh Giles’ team wins by fewer than 20 in any Big VIII League game this season.
LAST RANKED: (No. 2). LAST WEEK: d. Riverside Poly, 74-30, on 1/4; d. Riverside North, 67-42, on 1/6.
THIS WEEK: vs. Corona Santiago on MONDAY; at Norco TUESDAY; at Corona THURSDAY.
3. Murrieta Valley (12-2) – Led by senior forward Justin Gudger (6-foot-4, 215 pounds), the Nighthawks began 2011 with a tough non-league victory over Bishop Amat. Gudger scored a season-high 32 points on 11 of 18 shooting — including four three-pointers — and had six rebounds, five assists and five steals for Murrieta Valley, which opens Southwestern League play Tuesday.
LAST RANKED: (No. 3). LAST WEEK: d. La Puente Bishop Amat, 67-55, on 1/4.
THIS WEEK: vs. San Diego TONIGHT; vs. Temecula Valley TUESDAY; at Temecula Great Oak THURSDAY.
4. Upland (11-3) – With a starting five as experienced as any in the Inland Area, don’t be surprised if the Highlanders take down No. 1 Etiwanda at least once in 2011. And though they’ve already lost to the Eagles this season (70-59 in the Inland Empire Tournament title game), John McNally’s team gets another crack at their Baseline League rivals on 1/14.
LAST RANKED: (No. 4). LAST GAME: d. Pacific Palisades, 69-62, on 12/30.
THIS WEEK: vs. Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma TONIGHT; vs. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos TUESDAY.
5. Rialto Eisenhower (8-6) – The Eagles played one of their best games of the season, defeating No. 6 Summit by 19 points in the only game last week pitting ranked teams. Coach Steve Johnson’s squad begins Citrus Belt League play this week.
LAST RANKED: (No. 5). LAST GAME: d. No. 6 Fontana Summit, 64-45, on 1/5.
THIS WEEK: vs. Fontana Miller TUESDAY.
6. Fontana Summit (10-5) – The SkyHawks’ loss to Eisenhower snapped a season-high five-game winning streak, and makes coach Steve Hickey oh-for-2011. But that’s OK. Early Sunkist League games against Jurupa Valley and Bloomington will allow Summit to get into the win column very soon.
LAST RANKED: (No. 6). LAST GAME: lost to No. 5 Rialto Eisenhower, 64-45, on 1/5.
THIS WEEK: at Jurupa Valley TUESDAY; at Bloomington THURSDAY.
7. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (11-3) – The Mustangs begin defense of their 2009-’10 Inland Valley League title tonight at Riverside Arlington. Coach Travis Showalter’s team was perfect (14-0) in the IVL last season.
LAST RANKED: (No. 7). LAST GAME: lost to Westlake Village Oaks Christian, 53-48, on 12/30.
THIS WEEK: at Riverside Arlington TONIGHT; at Moreno Valley Canyon Springs MONDAY; at Moreno Valley Valley View on WEDNESDAY.
8. Victorville Victor Valley (13-2) – The Jackrabbits went on the road to open 2011 and defeated Granite Hills by 21 points. Senior guard Zeke Deblase (5-11, 180) scored a game-high 22 points in the victory.
LAST RANKED: (No. 8). LAST GAME: d. Apple Valley Granite Hills, 64-43, on 1/5.
THIS WEEK: vs. Ridgecrest Burroughs TONIGHT; vs. Victorville Silverado WEDNESDAY.
9. Redlands East Valley (13-3) — The Wildcats went on the road to open 2011 and defeated Great Oak by 23 points. Senior center Paulin Mpawe scored 14 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had three blocks in the victory.
LAST RANKED: (No. 9). LAST GAME: d. Temecula Great Oak, 66-43, on 1/5.
THIS WEEK: vs. Redlands TUESDAY.
10. Chino Hills (12-3) — The Huskies played a tight game into the fourth quarter but couldn’t come up with enough defensive stops in a narrow eight-point loss to L.A. Price in a non-league game. Coach Steve Baik’s team faces another stiff challenge tonight at Bishop Amat.
LAST RANKED: (No. 10). LAST GAME: lost to Los Angeles Price, 67-59, on 1/4.
THIS WEEK: at La Puente Bishop Amat TONIGHT; at Claremont WEDNESDAY.
JUST MISSED: Temecula Chaparral (13-4), Elsinore (11-3), Glendora (13-2).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 