Inland Area Prep Basketball Top 10
1. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (21-0) — The Eagles are sort of “head-and-shoulders” above everyone else in the Inland Area at the moment, though coach Dave Kleckner’s team does face a tough non-league test against Los Angeles Loyola on Saturday.
LAST RANKED: (No. 1). LAST WEEK: d. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos 68-61, on 1/21; d. Ontario Colony, 66-62, on 1/22; d. Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma, 76-35, on 1/25.
THIS WEEK: at Rancho Cucamonga TONIGHT; vs. L.A. Loyola SATURDAY; at Glendora TUESDAY.
2. Corona Centennial (18-3) — The Huskies have won 10 consecutive going back to Dec. 29, and remain undefeated in the Big VIII League. With only five games remaining in the regular season, coach Josh Giles’ team needs to avoid any letdowns in order to secure a top playoff seeding.
LAST RANKED: (No. 2). LAST WEEK: d. Riverside King, 85-76, on 1/25; d. Riverside Poly, 71-42, on 1/27.
THIS WEEK: vs. Riverside North TUESDAY; at Corona Santiago THURSDAY.
3. Murrieta Valley (19-3) – The Nighthawks remain the class of the Southwestern League after putting up strikingly similar performances last week. Senior forward Justin Gudger (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) had team-highs with 18 points and four assists in a win over Chaparral on 1/26.
LAST RANKED: (No. 3). LAST WEEK: d. Vista Murrieta, 63-43, on 1/21; d. Temecula Chaparral, 62-43, on 1/26.
THIS WEEK: at Temecula Valley TONIGHT; vs. Temecula Great Oak WEDNESDAY.
4. Rialto Eisenhower (13-7) – The Eagles continue to face tough non-league opponents while thrashing their way through the Citrus Belt League. It a combination that is sure to serve coach Steve Johnson’s team well in the playoffs, slated to start in just a few weeks.
LAST RANKED: (No. 4). LAST WEEK: lost to Richmond Salesian, 57-54, on 1/22; d. Yucaipa, 93-47, on 1/25; vs. Fontana Miller on 1/27.
THIS WEEK: vs. No. 9 Redlands East Valley TUESDAY; vs. Redlands THURSDAY.
5. Fontana Summit (17-6) – The SkyHawks jump one spot in this week’s Inland Area Top 10 on the heels of a seven-game winning streak, far-and-away their best of the season. Junior guard Isaiah Taylor (5-10, 170) scored a game-high 20 points in a 35-point victory over lowly Jurupa Valley on 1/27.
LAST RANKED: (No. 6). LAST WEEK: d. Riverside Patriot, 64-50, on 1/25; d. Jurupa Valley, 85-50, on 1/27.
THIS WEEK: vs. Bloomington TUESDAY; at Riverside Norte Vista THURSDAY.
6. Upland (13-8) – The Highlanders have now lost five of their last six, and — with only three home games remaining and a 2-3 record in the Baseline League — are in danger of having to qualify for the playoffs as an at-large selection. Coach John McNally must be sweating.
LAST RANKED: (No. 5). LAST WEEK: d. Rancho Cucamonga, 78-74, on 1/21; lost to Newport Beach Corona del Mar, 80-67, on 1/22; lost to Glendora, 57-56, on 1/25.
THIS WEEK: vs. Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma TONIGHT; at Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos TUESDAY.
7. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (18-3) – The Mustangs survived a scare at Ramona last week, coming from behind to defeat the Rams in overtime. Senior wing Aaron Cheatum scored a game-high 18 points in the victory
LAST RANKED: (No. 7). LAST WEEK: d. Riverside Ramona, 47-45 in OT, on 1/24; d. Moreno Valley Vista del Lago, 50-43, on 1/26.
THIS WEEK: vs. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs TONIGHT; at Riverside Arlington WEDNESDAY.
8. Victorville Victor Valley (18-3) – The Jackrabbits have won four consecutive since losing at home to Silverado on 1/12. Coach Matt Denny’s team gets a chance to avenge the loss with two consecutive games at Silverado this week.
LAST RANKED: (No. 8). LAST WEEK: d. Apple Valley Granite Hills, 69-53, on 1/21; d. Ridgecrest Burrough, 67-57, on 1/26.
THIS WEEK: at Victorville Silverado TONIGHT; at Victorville Silverado MONDAY.
9. Redlands East Valley (19-4) – The Wildcats’ four losses have been to teams currently ranked above them in this week’s Inland Area Top 10. They have a rematch with No. 4 Eisenhower, who they lost to on 1/14, on Tuesday.
LAST RANKED: (No. 9). LAST WEEK: d. Santa Barbara San Marcos, 58-53, on 1/22; d. Fontana Miller, 66-42, on 1/25; d. Redlands, 74-62, on 1/27.
THIS WEEK: at No. 4 Rialto Eisenhower TUESDAY; vs. Fontana THURSDAY.
10. Eastvale Roosevelt (14-5) — The Mustangs may have found their signature win, defeating last season’s San Diego Section Division II champion, San Diego Hoover, on 1/22. Senior forward Shannon Fowler (6-8, 210) scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory.
LAST RANKED: (No. 10). LAST WEEK: d. San Diego Hoover, 68-62, on 1/22; d. Corona Santiago, 60-48, on 1/25; d. Norco, 50-24, on 1/27.
THIS WEEK: at Riverside Poly TUESDAY; at Corona THURSDAY.
JUST MISSED: Chino Hills (19-4), Corona (14-6), Elsinore (19-4).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 