Dougherty Valley head coach Mike Hansen responds to a referee’s decision during the first half of the North Coast Section High School Boys basketball championship open division game against De La Salle at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California, on Friday, February 24, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Dougherty Valley makes a strong comeback this season, earning a spot in the Bay Area News Group Top 20 after clinching the North Coast Section Open Division title last year. Despite facing tough competition in the East Bay Athletic League, with a 6-3 record including losses to De La Salle, Granada, and San Ramon Valley, the Wildcats showcased their resilience.
Having to fill the void left by four key seniors from the previous season, Dougherty Valley concluded the regular season with a commendable 45-32 win over the then-No. 11 Dublin team. They also secured victories against Monte Vista, previously ranked 10th.
The Wildcats break into the rankings at No. 14, marking their debut this season. Oakland, which dropped out of the Top 20 after starting the season at No. 8, reclaims a spot following an impressive home victory over Modesto Christian.
Oakland is positioned at No. 16 in the latest rankings. Conversely, Campolindo and Bishop O’Dowd, both facing two losses last week, have seen a decline in their rankings or dropped out of the Top 20. Half Moon Bay has also slipped off the rankings.
Let’s delve into the updated Top 20 list:
Bay Area News Group Top 20
( & )
(Current records as of Monday)
No. 1 SALESIAN (25-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Recent performances: Defeated St. Patrick-St. Vincent 69-36, De Anza 80-61
Upcoming: TCAL tournament, TBA
No. 2 DE LA SALLE (23-3)
Previous ranking: 2
Recent performances: Secured victories against San Ramon Valley (60-58) and California (59-47)
Upcoming: Thursday in EBAL tournament, TBA
No. 3 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (17-4)
Previous ranking: 3
Recent performances: Triumphed over Serra (74-48) and Valley Christian (88-59)
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Archbishop Mitty, 7:30 p.m.
No. 4 GRANADA (22-2)
Previous ranking: 4
Recent performances: Overcame Monte Vista (68-61) and Livermore (80-55)
Upcoming: Thursday in EBAL tournament, TBA
No. 5 SAN RAMON VALLEY (21-5)
Previous ranking: 5
Recent performances: Faced a loss against De La Salle (60-58) but bounced back against Monte Vista (62-53)
Upcoming: Wednesday in EBAL tournament, TBA
No. 6 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (16-5)
Previous ranking: 6
Recent performances: Dominated St. Francis (66-27) and Sacred Heart Cathedral (64-43)
Upcoming: Tuesday at Archbishop Riordan, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 ST. IGNATIUS (15-5)
Previous ranking: 9
Recent performances: Secured a victory against Sacred Heart Cathedral (75-55)
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Bellarmine, 7:30 p.m.
No. 8 SACRED HEART PREP (17-4)
Previous ranking: 12
Recent performances: Defeated Priory (66-40) and Pinewood (68-38)
Upcoming: Tuesday at Menlo School, 7:30 p.m.
No. 9 YGNACIO VALLEY (20-6)
Previous ranking: 14
Recent performances: Triumphed over Campolindo (70-59) and Miramonte (70-58)
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Miramonte in DAL tournament, 7 p.m.
No. 10 LIBERTY (21-3)
Previous ranking: 15
Recent performances: Beat Antioch (69-48) and Deer Valley (83-75)
Upcoming: Tuesday at Pittsburg, 7 p.m.
No. 11 SERRA (15-6)
Previous ranking: 8
Recent performances: Suffered a defeat against Archbishop Riordan (74-48) but bounced back against Bellarmine (66-59)
Upcoming: Tuesday at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.
No. 12 OAKLAND TECH (20-5)
Previous ranking: 18
Recent performances: Secured wins against Fremont-Oakland (66-62) and Castlemont (85-14)
Upcoming: Wednesday at Skyline, 7 p.m.
No. 13 BERKELEY (18-6)
Previous ranking: 17
Recent performances: Triumphed over San Leandro (73-44) and Bishop O’Dowd (49-42)
Upcoming: Tuesday at Castro Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 14 DOUGHERTY VALLEY (17-9)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Recent performances: Secured victories against Foothill (61-57) and Dublin (45-32)
Upcoming: Wednesday in EBAL tournament, TBA
No. 15 MONTE VISTA (20-6)
Previous ranking: 10
Recent performances: Faced defeats against Granada (68-61) and San Ramon Valley (62-53)
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Foothill, 7 p.m.
No. 16 OAKLAND (19-6)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Recent performances: Victorious against McClymonds (60-48), Skyline (55-34), and Modesto Christian (79-69)
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Fremont-Oakland, 7 p.m.
No. 17 DUBLIN (19-7)
Previous ranking: 11
Recent performances: Beat California (81-59) but suffered a loss to Dougherty Valley (45-32)
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Amador Valley in EBAL tournament, 7 p.m.
No. 18 BRANHAM (19-2)
Previous ranking: 16
Recent performances: Faced a defeat against Santa Teresa (70-66)
Upcoming: Wednesday at Independence, 7 p.m.
No. 19 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (19-7)
Previous ranking: 20
Recent performances: Triumphed over Benicia (58-46) and Berean Christian (59-29)
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Acalanes in DAL tournament, 7 p.m.
No. 20 CAMPOLINDO (20-6)
Previous ranking: 7
Recent performances: Suffered losses against Ygnacio Valley (70-59) and Northgate (68-64)
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. College Park in DAL tournament, 7 p.m.
Editor’s note: Teams considered for the Bay Area News Group rankings primarily represent leagues in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. The rankings were compiled by BANG’s Darren Sabedra and Joseph Dycus.