Rio Lindo Adventist's girls crack first Patch prep basketball ratings

Patch Sonoma County High School Basketball Top 10

(Through Jan. 17)

BOYS

1. Casa Grande, Petaluama, 14-4:  The Gauchos have won 13 of 15 to lead the Sonoma County League with a 4-0 record. They lost to Montgomery as football season was ending in a season-opening tourney, then beat Analy. Analy, in turn, defeated Montgomery. Josh Hayworth (13.4 ppg, 104 rpg) and Joey Rodriguez (17.3 ppg) form a potent 1-2 punch.

2. Montgomery, Santa Rosa, 14-2: The Vikings’ loss to Sonoma County League foe Analy, 55-41, cost them the No. 1 spot in the first set of weekly rankings. They’re 4-0 in the North Bay League.

3. Analy, Sebastapool, 13-4: There’s no reason to think that this team won’t be a force through the competitive SCL race and in the North Coast Section playoffs.

4. Cardinal Newman, Santa Rosa, 13-3: The private school power is 4-0, tied with Montgomery atop the NBL. Eight consecutive victories position the club to climb the rankings quickly.

5. Rincon Valley Christian, Santa Rosa, 12-4: The North Central League II South isn’t a powerhouse division, but the league leaders are 4-0 and would give teams just below the upper echelon of big-school powers a tough game.

6. Windsor, 11-5:  Big games ahead against the likes of Casa Grande will prove that this team belongs a little higher … or a little lower … in the ranking of the county’s top 10 boys teams.

7. Rancho Cotate, Rohnert Park, 8-8: The .500 overall mark and a 2-2 record in the North Bay League gives Rancho the edge in a battle for the final three spots in the rankings.

8. Maria Carillo, Santa Rosa, 10-5: The 3-1 record in the NBL indicates that the jury’s out until the club plays Montgomery and Cardinal Newman.

9. Petaluma, 5-13: The abysmal overall record shows that improvement is in order to do more than rank in the top 10 – the section playoffs remain a goal for the Trojans.

10. Rio Lindo Adventist, Healdsburg, 8-4:  Small schools rarely get respect when ranked with bigger schools, but this team has played well overall and is 2-2 in the NCL South II. No reason to think they couldnh’t handle a big school team.

Girls

1.Montgomery, Santa Rosa, 14-3: Nine straight wins. 5-0 Sonoma County League record. Still gets an argument from Analy fans.

2. Analy, Sebastapool, 11-5: 3-0 in the SCL, tied with Windsor, and carrying a 10-game winning streak. Analy won’t play Montgomery until a potential section playoff matchup. Debate over the 1-2 spots will be heated.

Santa Rosa, 11-6: There’s a drop off behind the top two teams, but the Panthers are 4-1 in the NBL and have big nonconference wins.

Windsor, 10-6: A sizeable homecourt advantage has paid off for the team that is 3-0 with a showdown against Analy still pending.

Petaluma, 8-8: The Trojans have won two in a row and remain in the thick of the SCL race with a 2-1 mark. This team is improving quickly.

Sonoma Valley, 10-7: The perennial strong Lady Dragons have hit a dry spell – losing three in a row. But, the club is 2-2in the SCL and will bounce back.

Rincon Valley Christian, Santa Rosa, 13-1: No way a big school wouldn’t take a game against this small school anything but seriously. RVC is 4-0 in a competitive, three-team NCL South II race.

Sonoma Academy, 13-3: Oh, big-school boosters will argue that a small school record doesn’t mean much. Until big schools have 13 wins … Sonoma Academy earns this ranking.

 Rio Lindo Adventist, Healdsburg, 10-1: Look, there are three good teams in a tiny league…so, Rincon Valley, Sonoma Academy and Rio Lindo will prove their worth as the season unfolds.

10 (tie.) Rancho Cotate, 6-10: A 2-3 NBL record doesn’t bode well, but there are plenty of games to played for a talented Rancho club.

10 (tie). Maria Carrillo, Santa Rosa, 10-6: Those in the know feel that MC has room to improve despite an impressive 10-6 mark and a 4-1 NBL record.

(Patch Sonoma County High School Basketball Top 10 rankings will appear every Monday and Tuesday through the remainder of the basketball season.)