INLAND FIELDHOUSE

Inland Area Prep Basketball Top 10

Posted by Inland Fieldhouse on December 2, 2011 · 1 Comment 

1. Murrieta Valley (2-0) — The Nighthawks and Coach Steve Tarabilda boast seven seniors this season. From 6-foot-6 Jackson Helms center and 6-foot-3 forward Darius Butler to guards like 6-foot Scott Tarabilda and 5-foot-11 Reid Shackleford, the ‘Hawks may have the best starting lineup in the Inland Area.
LAST RANKED: No. 3.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 10-0 Southwestern (1st), 24-4 overall.
LAST GAME: def. Corona 70-43 on Wednesday, Nov. 30, in a quarterfinal game at the Big Daddy Tournament at Perris Citrus Hill HS.
NEXT TIPOFF: vs. No. 9 Perris Citrus Hill TONIGHT.

2. Fontana Summit (0-1) — John Viencek got off to a bumpy start, dropping his first game as SkyHawks coach, but we’re willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Viencek takes over for Steve Hickey, who has become the school’s AD, and has a ton of talent at the ready. The senior trio of Devon Alexander, Darrick Arnold and Isaiah Taylor ooze charisma and experience.
LAST RANKED: No. 5.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 10-0 Sunkist (1st), 28-8 overall.
LAST GAME: vs. Riverside King on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Bronco/Ram Tip-Off Tournament.
NEXT TIPOFF: vs. Calvary Murrieta TONIGHT.

3. Corona Centennial (1-1) — Junior guard Sam Finley is the only real holdover from last year’s Huskies team, which came about as close you a team came to winning two titles… without actually winning a single one. Coach Chris Giles gets his guys to play, though, so you know this group will be very competitive.
LAST RANKED: No. 2.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 14-5 Big VIII (1st), 30-5 overall.
LAST GAME: lost 88-76 to No. 9 Perris Citrus Hill on Wednesday, Nov. 30, in a quarterfinal game at Big Daddy Tournament at Perris Citrus Hill HS.
NEXT TIPOFF: vs. Corona TONIGHT.

4. Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (1-0) — The Eagles fell prey to Long Beach Poly twice in the postseason last year, but life goes one. Coach Dave Kleckner’s search for offense begins now. No returning players scored more than 5 points per game in 2010′-11.
LAST RANKED: No. 1.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 9-1 Baseline (1st), 29-4 overall.
LAST GAME: def. Los Angeles Washington 72-48 on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Rose City Classic at Pasadena HS.
NEXT TIPOFF: at Rose City Classic TONIGHT.

5. Rialto Eisenhower (0-0) — Coach Steve Johnson and the Eagles always put together a very strong team capable of winning its league. Senior Terrance Sims (6-foot, 175 pounds) should be in the mix but what Johnson conjurs up beyond that is anyone’s guess.
LAST RANKED: No. 4.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 9-0 Citrus Belt (1st), 19-8 overall.
NEXT GAME: vs. Woodland Hills El Camino Real on TUESDAY.

6. Upland (1-0) — The Highlanders took some lumps last season but played with a ton of heart in its season-ending loss to No. _ Corona Centennial in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA quarterfinals. Coach John McNally has three forwards taller than 6-foot-4 this year, then gets 6-foot-3 Kenny Lawler when football ends. Yeah, they’re contenders.
LAST RANKED: No. 6.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 6-4 Baseline (3rd), 20-10 overall.
LAST GAME: def. Temecula Great Oak 57-55 on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
NEXT TIPOFF: at Pomona Ganesha on MONDAY.

7. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (2-0) — The Mutangs return six of 10 varsity players, including 6-foot-2 shooting guard Jordan Grace. Coach Travis Showalter has no patience for losing, and will likely mold another league title out of this group.
LAST RANKED: No. 7.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 11-3 Inland Valley (1st), 21-7 overall.
LAST GAME: def. San Bernardino Aquinas 80-52 on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Big Daddy Tournament at Perris Citrus Hill HS.
NEXT GAME: at Big Daddy Tournament TONIGHT.

8. La Verne Damien (1-0) — The Spartans are the reigning Sierra League champions and a CIF-SS Division 3A semifinalist, losing only to eventual champion Harvard-Westlake. Coach Matt Dunn’s team is loaded with size, with three players 6-foot-6 or taller, and five others above 6-foot-2.
LAST RANKED: Not Ranked.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 9-1 Sierra (1st), 26-4 overall.
LAST GAME: def. Bloomington 76-51 on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
NEXT TIPOFF: vs. Covina on TUESDAY.

9. Perris Citrus Hill (2-0) — There’s no question Anthony Rounds is the man in the middle for the Hawks. The leading scorer (19.2) and rebounder (10.1) from last season, the 6-foot-7 center/forward dominated Corona Centennial, a CIF-State finalist, Wednesday at the Big Daddy Tournament. Rounds scored 26 points — including three 3-pointers — in a 12-point victory.
LAST RANKED: Not Ranked.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 10-0 Mountain Pass (1st), 18-10 overall.
LAST GAME: def. No. 3 Corona Centennial 88-76 on Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the quarterfinals of the Big Daddy Tournament at Perris Citrus Hill HS.
NEXT TIPOFF: vs. No. 1 Murrieta Valley on TONIGHT.

10. Redlands East Valley (0-3) — The only holdover from last season’s CIF-State tournament qualifier is 6-foot guard Jamal Ellis, who will be joined by his younger brother Jarrett Ellis this season. Football’s Austin DeCoud (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) jumps in to add some beef under the basket.
LAST RANKED: No. 9.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: 8-2 Citrus Belt (2nd), 25-7 overall.
LAST GAME: lost 54-41 to Palmdale Highland on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the Serrano HS tournament.
NEXT TIPOFF: at Temecula Chaparral on Dec. 9.

JUST MISSED: Ontario Colony (2-0), Victorville Victor Valley (1-0), Chino Hills (1-0).